safulop

I got a set of Falken ZIEX tires on my 18" wheels back in 2013. They are getting worn down, not bald yet. But lately, this year, I felt they were slipping and spinning more than before. This morning on the way to work, I hit the gas to go around some clod who got in the way of traffic, caught a 1st gear downshift, and it all broke loose.

So there I was, snaking and swerving up the avenue for a couple of blocks! I tripped the wipers with my frantic steering. Kept it together and away from the curbs, everybody gave me a wide berth for a minute or so.

Since owning this car I have never broken loose like that on dry pavement. It scared the crap out of me to be honest. Got to the office and saw that the rear tires have got cracks along the edges of the tread, the tread surface itself seems as hard as wood. I ordered a new set of P-zeros this afternoon. Taking no chances. Performance tires don't last, change your old tires before they land you in a ditch, folks.

FredR

My experience with tyres is that generally speaking you get what you pay for. That being said I am somewhat surprised that the rubber is cracking after only 3 years of service. that sort of thing happens over here after three years of service and they are well shot by the time 4 years has gone by and that no matter the make. Cheaper tyres I have seen cracking after two years but that is with our high ambient temps. No idea what temps you see in your neck of the woods but I appreciate there are some pretty hot desert climates in your neck of the woods.

Prime makes like Pirelli, Michelin and Continental perform consistently with Continental faring better than the others. Only once did I go cheap and ended up binning the things after 6 months - lesson learned.

Once cracks start appearing that is nature calling time. A neat little trick I was taught by Michelin is to look at those little casting flashes. Just tug on them to test their elasticity. If they expand and contract the tyre is good if they snap easily time to bin them.

Rgds

Fred

jcorenman

Cracks and hard-as-wood in three years? Yikes!!

cali4sun

Thanks for the reminder! I have to change out my tires fronts are 9 years and rears are 8 years old . I don't think I've put 20K on them.

'89 928 S4 GP White/Black

terry gt

tires have a manufactured date code
last group of 4 numbers at the end of the DOT numbers
for example 1508 is 15th week 2008
so the age of the tire is much more relevant the date of purchase
tires are done at 5-7 years old
how old were your tires ?

RammerJammer13

Change your old tires....or maybe lift your foot off the gas after you've swerved the first block?

terry gt

Now that you know about tires .... can you arrange a car wash ?

worf928

This -^

It's not uncommon, if you buy tires from a "local store," to get tires that are 2 or 3 years old already.

When I don't buy from The Tire Rack, I make it crystal clear to whomever is selling me the tires that I will not pay for tires that are more than a year old.

hernanca

I read a convincing article that suggested old tires as the culprit of Paul Walker's fatal Carrera GT crash. The car had been bought from a collection and still had its original tires on it. Relatively low miles, but nine years old!

Yet another reason cars are meant to be driven!

booch

I went out on 11 year old race tires this summer (RA-1s at full tread depth), and aside from some chunking, they weren't that bad. As stated above, though, the date code is the key. I wouldn't think twice about tires that were 4-5 years old for my street car, though. Storage conditions probably play as big of a factor as anything else.
The tires on my 928 have to be probably 12 years old, and they will be swapped as soon as the car is in driving shape. Full tread depth Cooper Cobras ARE tempting, but I think they can be swapped.

GregBBRD

I'm trying to imagine a 928 spinning the rear tires for two blocks....doing "tank slappers".

While being in 1st gear.

Is this one of those "And then I woke up" threads?

GregBBRD

Yeah, the 140mph in a 35 zone had nothing to do with it....

hernanca

Nope. I don't see how that could factor in at all.

So, here's a question for any track junkies - what kind of scrutiny do tires get at tech inspection?

crustychief

Sliding like a mustang leaving a cars and coffee. I need to look at the tires on my truck

77tony

Last week the seller offered to drive the MY79 50 miles south to put in our garage. Said the car had a slight buzz on the way down and never noticed it before. He said the car has not been on the highway since he purchased it 5 years ago from original owner. Asked when was the last time tires were changed and he said 2004 ! I ordered tires today from Tire Rack and asked for date code. Said they were made 4 months ago. Ship em. T