Replace tires?

[Bill Tattersall]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

 

[Gambles]

I would. Human lives are at stake.
That being said, about two years ago I bought a 2005 Explorer that had 12 year old tires on it. I had to drive it 10 hours during the summer to get it home and I did it, nervous as can be. I replaced them immediately after that.

 

[Janicholson]

The manufacturers do not make tires with as much Ozone and UV resistance as they did. If you have a wagon or implement to use them on (or adapt to) do that. I would replace them. My neighbor borrowed my trailer with a 10 year old tire on one side and a 5 year on the other The to year tire blew off the rim in Chicago. Not good. Jim

 

[farmersamm]

The manufacturers do not make tires with as much Ozone and UV resistance as they did. If you have a wagon or implement to use them on (or adapt to) do that. I would replace them. My neighbor borrowed my trailer with a 10 year old tire on one side and a 5 year on the other The to year tire blew off the rim in Chicago. Not good. Jim

You betcha. They've lowered the carbon black content. Bad for us, but great for tire manufacturers.

 

[Mule Meat]

Look on the tire for the DOT number/code. The numbers circled in red are the date the tire was manufactured. The example below was made during the 20th week of 2011. Ten years is a long time for tires to be on a vehicle and still be reliable. I would not trust them..
Try a little test. Deflate one of the tires to nearly flat. Use a bright flashlight and look for hairline cracks around the bulge on the sidewall. Sometimes cracks will not show on fully inflated tires. Also look between the tread for signs of cracking.
In all honestly. If it were mine it would get new tires. Even cheap new tires are better than old dry rotted ones. Even if they l

ook new.

 

[ss55]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

If the tires are original equipment on a 2012 pickup they would be 12 to 13 years old now. Many tire stores chains no longer mount or repair tires older than 8 years old. As the tires dry out and harden you have probably noticed an increasing loss of traction on wet roads and in snow.

That said, if the truck is not parked in sunlight and is only driven 3000 miles per year (250 miles per month), stays local and does not carry heavy loads, you could probably milk a few more years out of them if money is tight. Towing will be riskier, reduce speeds and increase following distances in case of a tire emergency.

This is a good time to decide what tires you want as replacements and watch for sales. A manufacturers discount of $100 to $200 per set of four might be a good incentive to replace them. I have found D range tires don't cost much extra and have fewer problems on 1/2 ton pickup compared to the original C range tires. I like Goodrich T/A KO2 tires for traction, but they are spendy.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

I would. Most tires are warrantied for 4 to 6 years

 

[showcrop]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

There are so many other parts in your truck that are over ten years old that you should probably take the whole truck to the crusher.

 

[Russ from MN]

If they have been out of the sunlight most of their life, they should be good for another 5 years. I would just run them, keep them aired up, and don't overload them.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I would. Most tires are warrantied for 4 to 6 years

This tire is 11 years old.
The last thing I want is to have a tire failure on truck or trailer when I'm hauling a tractor.

 

[rustred]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

yes they `are old, but get a professional opinion from `a tire shop manager. using them is good. keeps the oils from settling out. sitting for long periods not as good. plus out of the sun is excellent. and keep them aired up, on stands is ideal to rotate them but who does that.

 

[caterpillar guy]

Tire shop manager has a dog in the hunt. I would just replace the fronts and save for trailer tires . then replace the rears as they wore out. If you don't like the ideas here then replace all of them and save for trailer tires or wagon tires. I use a lot of old truck tires for pickup tires.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

Yeah if they fit your trailer game on. Save them and burn them off!

 

[Texasmark]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

I keep all my tires out of the sun. Trailers sit on gravel that drains and I have a cover over the tires subject to sunlight. Tires last decades and never had an on the road tire problem in 45+ years of trying to learn how to farm. My P/U sits in my shop. My 20ll Silverado is on its second sets of 20" Good Years and they are like new. Since it sits in the shop, on a concrete floor, there is absolutely no degradation of which I can discover. Over the years I have discovered that the environment is your tire enemy. Get them out of the environment, or protected from it and save yourself a lot of money and misery.....have proven it many times.

 

[DanielW]

I'll second the opinion that if they've been kept out of the sun, they should be good. Heck, one of my beater trucks (which is still licensed and I use on the road occasionally) has tires about that old and it's always parked in the sun.

 

[Janicholson]

I keep all my tires out of the sun. Trailers sit on gravel that drains and I have a cover over the tires subject to sunlight. Tires last decades and never had an on the road tire problem in 45+ years of trying to learn how to farm. My P/U sits in my shop. My 20ll Silverado is on its second sets of 20" Good Years and they are like new. Since it sits in the shop, on a concrete floor, there is absolutely no degradation of which I can discover. Over the years I have discovered that the environment is your tire enemy. Get them out of the environment, or protected from it and save yourself a lot of money and misery.....have proven it many times.

I agree (except) sun is a major factor. If you weld in the building where the tires are located, they will also be affected by Ozone. It can be as bad as UV. Jim

 

[Texasmark]

I agree (except) sun is a major factor. If you weld in the building where the tires are located, they will also be affected by Ozone. It can be as bad as UV. Jim

Yeah Jim, but for the STO, welding is a seldom experience and not really a concern for the average Joe.

 

[ASEguy]

My 2012 F150 with 30K miles on it has always been parked in the barn. I mainly use it for occasional towing of a car trailer. The tires look new. The question is, with 10 years on them, should they be replaced regardless of the appearance?

Absolutely. They dry rot internally.

 

[showcrop]

Absolutely. They dry rot internally.

Please advise where that information comes from.

 

[Ericp351]

Look for cracks. If OK-hold air- just run them!!!!! Heck- now days wishy-washy sissy types won't go around the block without a cell phone, use seat belts in a 1 ton truck, and think cars-trucks need look out cameras! Don't drink the cool aid! Be cool. Somebodies got to still ride, shoot straight, and speak the truth......