C2 Spare Tire/tire age help

[Brian K.]

I have an old 775x15 bias ply with plenty of meat on it (probably 30 years old) on the original steel rim but it doesn't hold air for more than 8 months or so. So that I don't have to deal with tub fitment issues I thought I would put a tube in it. Is using a 30 year old bias ply as a spare foolish?

On the same line I have a set of Pirelli radials that I put on about 20 years ago. The still look brand new treadwise but the whitewalls are dry/cracked. They seem fine and I don't imagine a catastophic failure on a steel belt radial likely. Am I being foolishe here too?

Thanks,

Brian

[Stephen L.]

Re: C2 Spare Tire/tire age help

The spare tire is typically there for emergencies.... A tube in a tire that is in the tub (probably to never be used... at least not for long periods of travel) would work just fine for me.

The old tires on the ground are another story. If you are driving this car more than off/on a trailer then you are "betting" $600 (new set of tires) against damage $$$$$$$ to the car and surroundings (you...others) if a tire blows out. That appears to be a no brainer to me.

[Stuart F.]

Re: C2 Spare Tire/tire age help

I agree with Stephen on this one. I still have my original spare 6.70x15 U.S. Royal in the tub on my 63. It's never been on the ground and I don't intend to put it down if ever except in an emergency, and then for no longer than needed to get to a repair facility.

My last set of show bias ply's were only about 10 years old when I took the car out for one last red line visit before shipping it to Florida from Illinois for our last move. When I got back to my garage I noticed big chunks of tread had torn out of my right rear! I said to myself; "Self! That's it. We're going to the store for some new Radials!" Put them on one day and shipped the car the next, resigning myself to cruising with the top down and no more judged shows. I got nothin more to prove anyway so I'm just having safe fun with it now.

Stu Fox