Spare tires after 20 years

Post by **scot850** » 03 Nov 2022, 16:20

Now that is VERY scary! I spoke to the local dealer parts department and still not heard anything from them regarding new tires. All they could find at the time was the wheel rim and tire! Now how old do you think the tire is they will supply you...............??!!

Neil.

Post by **BlackBart** » 03 Nov 2022, 17:13

OK, I found a pre-2000 date code decipher on Tire Rack -

First two numbers are the week, last number is the year of the decade, so mine is the 18th week of '94. Yike.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech ... lsrc=aw.ds

"The Tire Identification Number for tires produced prior to 2000 was based on the assumption that tires would not be in service for ten years."

Post by **abscate** » 03 Nov 2022, 18:31

I have a small boat trailer that rolls about 5 miles down to the river with tires from 1976. At this point I’m curious to see when they will actually fail.

Post by **volvolugnut** » 03 Nov 2022, 19:01

I would guess tire failure is like most things. Average life is just the average of many samples. BUT, there will also be the long tail of samples that may not fail for 2, 3, 4? times the average life.

Higher loads, more sun, higher pressure, and more heat would be expected to cause earlier failures.

volvolugnut

Post by **FireFox31** » 04 Nov 2022, 22:03

That 850 tire is shocking. The 1999 original spare in my V70 is only five years newer and looks flawless. Makes me wonder what problems could be lurking below the surface.

Tire Rack sells replacement Continental doughnut spares, though not the same CST 17 as on my 2000 V70 and my family 2013 XC70. I'd buy another Continental considering how the two I've seen have held up. Perhaps it's better value to get a used wheel and put on a full sized tire.

But yeah, public service announcement: Check your spares.

454cid · Post by **454cid** » 05 Nov 2022, 00:29

Blown out spares due to age was a common thing on the Saturn forum, too. I found mine that way, when I got the car and I assumed it was from my BIL putting it away like that, but then read of several people finding their spare blown out.

Hopefully, I'll check my Volvo's spare this weekend. I don't think mine has ever been used, as the jack looks brand new.

Post by **foggydogg** » 05 Nov 2022, 08:41

The tire in the pic I posted had obviously never been on the ground. When I get back to DE, I'll look for the date code.

Post by **BlackBart** » 05 Nov 2022, 09:38

I’m finding several Out Of Stock results with this size. Maybe I’ll put a new full-size on one of the snow wheels.

Post by **BlackBart** » 05 Nov 2022, 10:05

FireFox31 wrote: ↑04 Nov 2022, 22:03 That 850 tire is shocking. The 1999 original spare in my V70 is only five years newer and looks flawless. Makes me wonder what problems could be lurking below the surface.

Now I’m wondering if maybe someone used it previous to my ownership, and maybe too fast.

Post by **scot850** » 05 Nov 2022, 17:07

Yes handbook says max. speed is 80km/50mph on donut spare.

I finally took a look at the spare in the 'R' to confirm tire size. It is T125/80/R17. Tire Rack has the tire but it is $200 US shipped! Not clear if there are any cross border charges. That translates to about $270 CDN!! That does not include fitting and balancing. Ouch!!

Last time I looked, Canadian Tire did not list it. Now they do? The price is a little more reasonable at about $120 CDN + fitting for a Continental tire.

Neil.

Spare tires after 20 years

Re: Spare tires after 20 years