Tires: How old is too old?

[ponyo]

Rear right tire on my 2002 Tundra blew out last week on the highway. Current tires are some cheap Goodyear Tracker tires I paid less than $60 each at Walmart in 2004. The remaining 3 tires have plenty of treads left. I only put about 15k miles in the 6 years I had them on.

Would you replace all four tires out of safety precaution considering the tires are 6 years old? Or just replace the rear two? Costco has Michelin LTX M/S2 for $168 each. I can get $70 off if I get 4. I drive this truck less than 3k miles a year.

 

[jlee]

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.htm

You had one blowout already - I'd replace them all.

 

[Meghan54]

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.htm

You had one blowout already - I'd replace them all.

So true.....6 years is plenty long enough life, despite the low mileage. Age is just as much a killer as wearing out.

 

[Rifter]

I would not run tires over 6 years old, bad idea.

 

[Kadarin]

I would not run tires over 6 years old, bad idea.

The rubber dries out and cracks, and bad things happen. Definitely replace them.

 

[thescreensavers]

If the tire is 6 years or older its time to change em!.

I just got new tires and they are only 2 months old

 

[bruceb]

Tires can suffer from dry rot over time. 6 years is a long time. Most drivers wear out a set of tires in about 40,000 miles or on average 3 years, based on typical mileage of 12-15K miles per year.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

Shelf life of a tire in storage is 7 years I have been told. That's not inflated and not used.

 

[ponyo]

Ordered four Michelins. Wife said I had to.

 

[JSt0rm]

Ordered four Michelins. Wife said I had to.

well you know she loves you. She could of ordered you to not spend the money and upped the ol' life insurance policy.

 

[Howard]

Consider yourself lucky. The tires could've been 5 years old when you bought them.