Old Tires - Is it True?

[Toedtoes]

Today, I went out to meet a friend.  As we were standing in the parking lot, she said "what's wrong with your tire?"   The tread had peeled off the tire!!  Straight to the tire shop I went.

Now, I have read about old tires being dangerous on an RV and have been watching my tires on the clipper very carefully - they are only about 3 years old, so are still good.

What I didn't think about is that for the past 7 years, I have seriously reduced my drive time with my Durango.  Taking the bus to work for 5 years, and now driving a mere 12 miles per day for work.  For the past 3 years, I've used the clipper to go long distance.  So, my Durango has been getting much less than 6,000 miles per year.  I bought the Durango in 2005 (it's a 2002) and thinking back, don't believe I have ever changed the tires out.  So, that puts the tires at least at 10 years old.  The tire shop guy said those tires haven't been produced in about 7 years.  I had planned on buying new tires after the new year - the tread was getting down there - but this damage was completely due to the age of the tires.

So, yes, old tires ARE DANGEROUS!!!!  No matter how good the tread is on them.

[kenmel]

When buying tires, always look at the date code on the sidewall, it will tell you how old the "new" tires the tire shop is selling you.   I won't buy tires that are over a year from manufacture date from a dealer for any vehicle, Glad nothing happened but losing the tread. Ken

[Toedtoes]

In this case, it wasn't that the tires were old when bought - it was simply that they spent a lot of time sitting in the driveway while I commuted to work and drove the clipper on weekends. Just not putting enough use on them so the tread doesn't wear out first.

I was so worried about that happening to the clipper tires, I didn't even connect that the Durango tires were just as susceptible.