While going through my wife's BMW's owners manual to figure out how to reset the tire pressure warning light, I came across a statement that, while tires may be rated for a ten year life span, BMW recommends changing tires no later that every six years, regardless of wear.

Which brings me to my tires, not only period correct, but absolutely vintage Michelin 165R15s. (Read: 40+ years old). I'm not sure it's a great idea to take these out on the highway anymore but for obvious reasons (money, time, etc), I'd rather keep what I have.

I've never seen this discussed in any of the vintage car magazines, etc that I read. Any comments? Any science?

Thank you.

KaiS
'67 Duett

I posted a pic of the repro michelins that Coker Tire caries. Imagine a volvo steel wheel in place of the wire rim in the pic...
The link to the tire listing in thier online store:
http://store.coker.com/product.php?productid=17679&cat=0&page=1
I have a customer who puts these tires on his '71 145S, and on his '71 VW Beetle. I encouraged him to replace the ancient rubber that was on them. I've driven the car and they seem to work well and have the right look. At $137 each they're a bit pricey. I can buy a generic set of 165/R15's for not much more than that, but the tires from Coker definitly make the car look right. BTW, he uses both his vintage cars for commuting daily, and has had the Volvo wagon since new. Either way, you should definitly look into replacing the originals. Like someone else suggested, if you have a spare set of wheels you can mount new ones, and keep the originals. I probably have a decent set of wheels out on the rack beside my storage shed.

-Nick

I agree with the other posts, they're way past their use by date. I recently picked up a 1958 Citroen 2CV in Paris. It had last been used in the early 80's. All the tyres held airand looke OK, I winched it up onto my car transporter and strapped it down. I use ratchet straps with a secondary strap so I strap on the tyre itself. I got about 10 miles and there was an almighty bang as one of the tyres spontaneously blew.

This was a car just standing on a flatbed transporter, the only additional strain was from the strap! Don't risk it.

Agree with all previous posts, I would not touch those tires with a 10-foot pole.

Your life depends on it, looks are secondary.

Decent rubber will make the drive a lot more pleasant as well...


--
Scott 'Bricking on Japan time' Night shift is ON
--------1993 945 GLT 74,000--------1973 Suzuki Jimny 'Brute' 61,000--------

These are my personal experiences and observations. Even on a daily driver, I never keep a set of tires beyond 4-5 years, regardless of how much tread remains. I've found the rubber gets hard and tends to slip on any wet surface, even on leafs. The sidewalls and likely the metal belts tend to deteriorate and as suggested, cause tire destruction - not safe at any speed.

Specialty tire shops can supply almost any variety of vintage replacement tires. I have original bias-ply BF Goodrich 5.90 x 15 on my vintage Volvos. The rubber used on these "new" tires seems to be longer lasting than the original rubber compounds. One supplier in particular Coker Tires even make radial tires with the vintage wide whitewall.

Driving a 50 year old vintage car is enough of a challenge (mechanically speaking) to have to worry about the rubber your valued car (and body) are running on.
--
Cam a.k.a. CVOLVO.COM

Back when I was in San Diego we had a club member damage his 1800 when a ~10 year old tire let go causing him to loose it, it's just not worth it to run on old tires.

There are some close to original tires out there, I'm running Michelin 165R/15s on my Duett that were new when I bought it~ 3 years ago.
--
Dave Shannon
Durango, CO
'63 P-210
'67 1800s
'88-240
'01 Wrangler
'06 F250 Diesel 4X4
my pages

Comment -- As a teenager I had reason to use my grandfather's trailer that had been in the same position in the barnyard for as long as I could remember. It was built out of an old truck straight axle with spoke wheels and original tires. The tires were holding air. I added more with a handpump to get them up to 32psi. Two miles from the house the yet to be loaded trailer had to be uncoupled when the tires went flat. The sidewalls were badly cracked. Check your sidewalls and between the tread blocks for cracking. I think you will find disaster awaiting. Really old tires will develop a spiderweb of tiny cracks.

Science -- Just Google the term "old tire safety". There is a wealth of information out there.

About your other post -- If you are going to leave these tires on there, trailer it.

Just a thought -- Do you have another set of wheels? You could run a new tire setup and leave your originals intact for static display.
--
Mr. Shannon DeWolfe -- (I've taken to using Mr. because my name tends to mislead folks on the WWW. I am a 51 year old fat man ;-) -- KD5QBL