How old were your tires

[bagpipeswest]

I started shopping around for new tire because the ones on the trailer were showing signs of age. My trailer is a 1955 and the date code on the tires were 1158. That is march 1958.
BM

[Bow_Tied]

What is the source for your date decoding?

[65callie]

We were lucky. Ours were only 2 years old with lots of tread left. Found a spare rim and tire at junk yard for $35.00

[youngfd]

Curious. What brand and size of tires? jim

[bagpipeswest]

This is right from the uniroyal web site


The date when a tire was manufactured is located on the sidewall of each tire. Consumers should locate the Department of Transportation or DOT code on the tire which begins with DOT and ends with the week and year of manufacture. For example, a DOT code ending with "2204" indicates a tire made in the 22nd week (May) of 2004.

[Bob]

My tires were so old that I couldn't find a date code on them. I didn't even try to roll on them. I've read that (US) date codes prior to the year 2000 were only 3 digit.

[Bow_Tied]

Nov 21, 2011 6:39:46 GMT -5 Bob said:

My tires were so old that I couldn't find a date code on them. I didn't even try to roll on them. I've read that (US) date codes prior to the year 2000 were only 3 digit.

This is why I ask. To the best of knowledge the date codes were 3 digit only prior to 2000. I was wondering if possibly misread your tire. It is possible your tires are 50 years old but the odds are very low.

[bagpipeswest]

I'll do some more research. I remember some where the codes started off at 4 then went to 3. Then change again.

[offspringin]

Im looking at replacing my tires now too. I believe that they are from 96 (or 86)

The research i have done online also agrees with the 3 digit prior to 2000 and 4 digit since. I checked and double checked. I was outside with a flashlight under the carport in the rain under the camper with a jack just high enough to spin the wheel and recheck again.

I couldn't get a photo but i sketched what i saw. I cannot find a 10-12 digit string of numbers in a row

Here is the info from my side walls

Tow Master
B78-13ST
C-863-12 (dont know what this is, small letters on street side of tire)
On the inside wall you see whats in the photo

up above and stamped a little larger is 606305

and then down by the rim is DOT7FFV then +096+

My research is telling me that the 096 is the number im looking for. if this is the case it would mean it was made the 9th week of 1996 (or 86) There is some cracking on the tire.

I'm a little leary of towing something with tires this old. Doesn't seem worth the 160 or so bucks to replace both tires in comparison to trailer damage or possible rolling of the truck.

Can anyone confirm my thoughts that these tires are AT LEAST 16 years old?

Attachments:

[vikx]

I swear some of mine have original tires. If not, they must be older than me...

[offspringin]

I talked to a few folks at work who have what i consider to be a handyman mindset like myself. They all agree with my findings both online and with my tires in particular that they are in fact at least 16 years old.

Guess baby is gonna get some new shoes!!!

[offspringin]

Whats the preference for radial vs ply-bias? I read the differences online (and shared some of what i found below) but they dont really sway me. What experiences has anyone on here had with either?

The difference is the way the tires are constructed as well as the materials used. Bias ply tires have the plies (layers of rubberized nylon or polyester mesh) laid in at a 30 – 45 degree angle to the centerline of the tire and in alternating directions. There are usually fiberglass belts added for strength.

In the Radial design, Polyester cords are laid in and overlapped at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tire and then steel mesh belts are added. The Radial design prevents the point of contact (where the rubber meets the road) from deforming, unlike the Bias Ply, which does deform under load.

Radial
There are a number of benefits to the Radial design for the trailer operator.
1) Softer, smoother, quieter ride
2) Improved fuel economy
3) Flat, wider footprint for better tire wear
4) Runs cooler than a bias ply, minimizing risk of a blowout on the highway
5) Longer tire life
6) Better tracking – Improved sway control

Bias
The main benefit for the Bias-Ply design is that the sidewall is more rugged and bruise resistant, plus Bias-Ply tires are usually less expensive. This could be an important consideration in a trailer application because many trailers are used infrequently, minimizing some of the Radial’s benefits.

info above from "http://blog.easternmarine.com/trailer-tires-bias-ply-vs-radial/"

[vikx]

Bias were more expensive for me. I like them but maybe I'm crazy. (you know, old style and all)

The main thing with our trailers is fit; they have to clear the wheel trim and fit the wells. I buy trailer tires, usually radials but the bias seem to sway less. That's just personal experience, not scientific at all.

Also, passenger car tires really tend to cause a lot of sway. Many of mine have had decent tires but they had to be changed out for trailer tires.

The radial trailer tires I have are fine; no issues.

[offspringin]

I'm thinking it just comes down to preference then.

My spare tire is brand new ( i know this because i bought it ;0 ) and it was a cheaper bias tire. I would like to put something better as the main tires.

Alot of reviews I'm reading is telling me to stay away from Carlisle Tires (5 of 7 that Kauffman tire offers). They also offer one from Gladiator and with a little research found this is made by LPI Inc. which is a "union between major tire manufactures of Asia". Only other one they offer in the size currently on the trailer is a Goodyear that has mixed reviews, its a radial but its also 101 dollars.

I looked at tirerack for the same size tires and they only offer the one Goodyear

If i change my size to 185 wide (up from 175) i only get 3 results, 2 of which are carlisle, the other is the same Goodyear.

A google search yields alot of tires but either the same brands or other super unknown brands. I looked into those as well and they come back to Asia made tires.

Found this site
www.americanmadetires.com/where-tires-are-made.html

But a search on google for my tire size with these manufacturers behind it doesn't yield any results (other than the Goodyear and from what i have read most the ST Goodyear series are Asia made.

I guess I'm stuck with a non-us made tire, none of which have impressive reviews and most of which have no reviews at all. I like to research everything before i buy anything and feeling like I'm being forced to pick blindly here.

If I'm being forced to pick blindly it comes down to cost and radial vs bias. Maybe the $54 bias has the same reliability of the $101 radial, and then there are choices between that.

Lots of info online for car/truck tires. Even read that i could technically put LT tires on here but i don't know that they would fit right and i thought car/truck tires had softer sidewalls making them more likely to sway.

ARG this aggravating........

[vikx]

You weren't kidding-I didn't find any trailer tires made in the USA. That is terrible!

[Hamlet]

Hamlet has Coker 2.5" whitewalls that were about $175 apeice. There was a choice between radial and bias. We chose bias just because that's what Hamlet originally rolled on. We were under the assumption that they were made in the USA. As we did the rebuild, we tried to get as much US made as we could because that's what was there first. Even down to dishes, pots and pans, etc. Not always easy, sometimes impossible, but the searching was fun.

[offspringin]

SOOO... after some more research and talking to my dad about the tires he put on his trailer a little while back (his came with car tires on it when he bought it). He replaced with Maxxis M8008 tires and has had good service with them. They still are not made in USA but have better reviews online than all the other tires i have looked at. They are listed at $107 with discoun tire. can buy them on amazon cheaper but once you pay shipping they cost the same, then when you take it somewhere you have to pay them to mount it so your out even more $$$. Guess ill be checking into these tires. Standard product line at Discount Tire. Id prefer to get them through Kauffman tire (since all my other tires come from there). I know its not apples to apples but all my bikes have Maxxis tires and i have been very happy with their preformance on there as well, dont know if that translates into their car/truck/trailer tire line.

[65jet]

My tires are original from 1965...I drove the '65 Jet home (about 25 miles) without any problems. Trust me, the Jet will only be pulled to the tire store. The tires are sure cute though with those fat, white sidewalls!

[youngfd]

I was going to put original BF GOODRICH bias ply tires on my 1959 Shasta. Checked and they are expensive and imported!! PLUS I also have a Model T and most of those imported tires are getting a BAD review. After checking I think I am leaning to Good Year Marathon radial trailer tires. I have radial passenger tires on it now and they are extremely DANGEROUS. At 65 mph plus it takes two lanes to tow it. Purchasing the new tires shortly and will report back. j

[offspringin]

i didnt read many good reviews on the goodyear marathons. i could never find a 100% solid answer on if they were usa or china made but i read MULTIPLE reviews of the tires separating. Also looked at carlisle tires and read many bad reviews on those. went to a tire place and they tried to sell me on those and i told them they had bad reviews, they said something to the extent of "well people dont review things they like, only things they have problems with" which i dont agree with. and if there werent a bunch of issues there wouldnt be a bunch of horrible reviews. I have not had any personal experience with the marathon tires just havent heard much good stuff, thats all. Possible the bad reviews came from people running the tires too soft, overloaded or road debris blowing it etc etc. who knows.