[TR] Tire age Query

[Randall]

> Seems that I vaguely recall a thread on tire age as 
> determined by a code on
> the tire wall? Can't seem to find the key to this code. Can 
> somebody remind
> me? The only thing I've found resembling codes on my tires are 25266-2
> followed by DESIGN 9526.

Should be much more than that, assuming the tires were sold in the US within
the last 15 years or so.  Here's a couple of links that may help :
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=33&currentpage=11
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

> Following that, how does one determine replacement age of 
> tires if car is
> driven very little (<500 miles/year) and tires look very good 
> externally?

Different sources give different numbers.  I believe Ford & Chrysler
recommend tires be replaced after 6 years, even if they have never been
used.  

Tire failure is no fun at all, so I feel this is an area where it pays to be
conservative, unless you only drive in parades.  When I bought my Stag, the
tires still had plenty of tread and I thought I could let them go until I
bought new wheels.  Less than 100 miles later, one of the rear tires flew
apart, and the belts flayed all the paint off the fender before I could pull
over.

Randall 
(Tedious but unavoidable disclaimer follows) 






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