Tires

[Bill B.]

My 1965 Corvette coupe has had the same tires on it for about 10 years. They still have lots of tread and show no sign of deterioration like cracking etc. Is there a rule of thumb for how long tires can be safely used on a car. I don't need the problems that a blow out can cause. Is there also a time for belts and hoses. Thanks in advance.

Bill Bonnichsen

[Duke W.]

Re: Tires

If the car is kept in a garage and only driven occassionally, tire life is somewhat indefinite. Tires degrade with exposure to UV light, ozone, and heat, so if you know the history and tire quality, it's a judgement issue.

Assuming you're not interested in reproduction type bias ply tires, and you have radials without nylon cap belts, I would recommend considering a tire with at least a H speed rating. This speed rating and above will have nylon cap belts, which will keep the tire from disintegrating if there is an internal structural failure. I consider tires without nylon cap belts (generally a speed rating less than H) to have a life of zero - I would not even consider mounting such a poor quality tire on any car I own.

Similar considerations apply to hoses. Deterioration increases exponentially with temperature, so if the car has low milege accumulation the hoses can last a long time. They can be inspected by feeling for soft spots or bulges, especially when they are hot.

Duke