Tire Safety

[Jim Rose]

I don't know if this has ever been posted on the board---

Click on the link below for the video.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Very interesting and little known information.

[DonTom]

I don't know if this has ever been posted on the board---

Click on the link below for the video.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Very interesting and little known information.

Are those three digit numbers on motorcycle tires too? I have to check my bikes, I think the tires are more than ten years old on two of them. They have not been ridden much in the last ten years so they still look fine.

But I have to wonder if there were other factors besides age in those accidents in that video. Such as being under inflated. Also, they might drive like Eric.

-Don-

[Eric]

Are those three digit numbers on motorcycle tires too? I have to check my bikes, I think the tires are more than ten years old on two of them. They have not been ridden much in the last ten years so they still look fine.

But I have to wonder if there were other factors besides age in those accidents in that video. Such as being under inflated. Also, they might drive like Eric.

-Don-

10 years is old for tires - even if the tread is plentiful, the rubber/materials may have decayed significantly. I would only keep such tires on a (very) limited use antique-type vehicle (car or bike) that is never driven at high speeds, etc.

[Ken]

10 years is old for tires - even if the tread is plentiful, the rubber/materials may have decayed significantly. I would only keep such tires on a (very) limited use antique-type vehicle (car or bike) that is never driven at high speeds, etc.

I think bike riders, being generally more mechanically aware and safety conscious, are more aware of tyre age problems than car drivers. I wouldn't allow 'new' tyres more than a year or so old to be fitted to my car or bike. As they are changed roughly every eighteen months to two years they should never suffer age deterioration. Usually my tyres are called in to the depot 'to order' and are current year manufacture.

I've just pulled back an article I posted in the 'On Two Wheels' forum some time ago. It gives a reasonable explanation of the myriad markings on modern tyres/tires.

http://www.tyresafe.org/data/files/T...Motorcycle.pdf

Ken.