I don't want to take even the slightest risk with my tires, though. I agree completely with JoeWras about that.
While getting new batteries for my truck last week at WallyWorld I was looking at a group of tires marked for sale at 50% off. Several of them had three digit date codes - meaning they were manufactured prior to January of 2000. Yikes.
Yikes indeed! I wonder if their legal staff has a clue as to what the liability is putting those out on the shelf?
Any attorney with at least a double-digit IQ could win a lawsuit from one of those tires failing.
No doubt they were carefully stored in a facility with temperature and humidity control.While getting new batteries for my truck last week at WallyWorld I was looking at a group of tires marked for sale at 50% off. Several of them had three digit date codes - meaning they were manufactured prior to January of 2000. Yikes. How to Find Out How Old Your Tires Are
The hot and dry weather around here is rough on tires. I replace all of my auto/truck/RV tires once they reach their sixth birthday. Most have a lot of tread left on them.
No doubt they were carefully stored in a facility with temperature and humidity control.
Seriously, I'd never heard of a 6 year lifespan for tires, and when it comes from this thrifty bunch there must be something to it.
As a precaution, the Department of Transportation recommends changing even new-looking tires once they hit 10 years old, and many manufacturers recommend swapping them out at six years old. Of course, this aging is highly dependent on where the tires live. Tires in hot dry climates have much shorter lives than those in moderate, moist climates.
Seriously, I'd never heard of a 6 year lifespan for tires, and when it comes from this thrifty bunch there must be something to it.
OK, after reading this thread, checking the internet, and especially talking it over with Frank, we're headed for the tire place tomorrow to see about replacing my tires.
Although it is not as dry here in the summer as it is in Texas, still it does get very hot and I parked outside 100% of the time until a couple of months ago.
Oh man, it's going to cost a lot. I'm almost tempted to trade in the Venza on a new car instead.
When you buy new tires make sure to check the manufacture date. They should be less than 2 years old. If you put on few miles then you want the newest tires possible. Use this site to learn how to determine the manufacture date:
Tire Date Code: What it is and where to find it | TireBuyer.com
Since you don't put on a lot of miles you can probably go with the lowest mileage warranty available. The Venza has either size 19 or 20in tires so they're not cheap but you can get a set mounted and installed for $800-$1000 I would guess. You can afford that every 6 years without worry. That said, if you do trade in the Venza you may want to consider a vehicle with 15 or 16in tires instead. They cost half as much.
I'm sure getting rid of the Venza was tongue in cheek (right??) but this is an example of things people need to think about in their budgets. If you've got 2 cars, figure perhaps $400/car every 4 years, so set aside $200/yr in your budget just for tires (if that is an accurate price for your car's tires). Then there's other car maintenance items like the bigger maintenance intervals, new brakes, batteries, etc. You can't just look at what you spent in the last year or two if you haven't had expenses like this come up, or bought a new car but throw it out as an irregular expense.OK, after reading this thread, checking the internet, and especially talking it over with Frank, we're headed for the tire place tomorrow to see about replacing my tires.
Although it is not as dry here in the summer as it is in Texas, still it does get very hot and I parked outside 100% of the time until a couple of months ago.
Oh man, it's going to cost a lot. I'm almost tempted to trade in the Venza on a new car instead.
I'm sure getting rid of the Venza was tongue in cheek (right??) but this is an example of things people need to think about in their budgets. If you've got 2 cars, figure perhaps $400/car every 4 years, so set aside $200/yr in your budget just for tires (if that is an accurate price for your car's tires). Then there's other car maintenance items like the bigger maintenance intervals, new brakes, batteries, etc. You can't just look at what you spent in the last year or two if you haven't had expenses like this come up, or bought a new car but throw it out as an irregular expense.
Got new tires, and thanks to all of you for alerting me that it was time. The man at the Goodyear tire store said that even with low mileage, they usually recommend no more than 5 years before getting new tires.
They weren't as expensive as I feared, either, thank goodness.