Look at these dang tires.

[TMG51]

This is what my tires have looked like. They were 7 years old when I bought the van but they had good tread on them so I stubbornly ran them to death. These things carried me to the RTR and have been across the US twice. When I took this picture last week they were about totally devoid of tread and those cracks in the sidewall were really starting to make me nervous. I was afraid I'd have a blowout doing 80 on the interstate and roll my vanhouse. I finally bought new ones...

Anyway, don't follow my example, check your date stamps and buy new tires. Just showing how sketchy these got.

 

[highdesertranger]

yep, they have had it. highdesertranger

 

[wagoneer]

I don't understand the dates stamp thing, could someone dummy it down?? please

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Here ya go on the date code...
http://www.tirebuyer.com/education/how-to-determine-the-age-of-your-tires

Glad TMG didn't have a blowout.
New tires really improve the ride...feels so good

 

[wagoneer]

OK (extending my coffee cup to clink) I can do this thanks

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Back at ya my friend
Stay safe.

 

[LostlnTransit]

Our tires wasn't so easy.. I knew what I wanted but finding the correct load rated that matched up with the correct wheels was hard and even after all the searching I still feel we got the wrong size tires.. But according to the manufacture of the Maxxis Victra tires (which are now on the van) they had a date code as of Sept of 2013.. this mean that although they (the manufacture) list these tires as being "new" they are 2 3/4 years old.

One should be aware of tire dry rot and using alcohol based cleaners/tire shines only added to the disintegration of the rubber compound. Also, when the warranty says 30K miles extra.. this only means that you should start checking the tires on regular intervals. I've had a set of tires listed as 60K miles.. they wore out at 35K.. thus I was able to acquire a new set.

 

[SternWake]

Petroleum distillates in tire shine products is what eats rubber. Alcohol is either the nemesis of rubber, or has no effect whatsoever on its longevity, depending on the internet source one chooses to believe.

TMG, I see your sidewall cracks, and raise you sidewall canyons:

Those were 8 year old michelins

 

[TMG51]

Dang, I definitely would have retired those sidewall gorges.

 

[SternWake]

I used to yodel into those tires and listen to the echoes. Then the guys in the white uniforms came for me

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I'd say those tires served you well. Funny how you can get attached to them after they bring you around the country and then some. New pair of shoes on the vehicle is always exciting too though. Best I ever did was 108k miles on a set of new Michelins on a 1994 Ford E250 Econoline. The guy at the shop said he thinks I could have probably squeezed another 10k outta them, but at a certain point you just gotta throw in the towel. Now I'm driving a 2013 Silverado I bought new, tires have 45k on them and they def won't see 60k before they are done in for.