When To Get New Tires?

[mech9T8]

I noticed that when I put my summer tires on this year that they were quite noisy. I also feel a slight vibration but the tires are balanced. I was told that over time the rubber gets hard and cracks and tires should be replaced. My question is after how many years should this happen? The tires I have are Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 (225/50/16). I've had them for 4 years now but there is enough tread for another summer. Have these tires expired? Could old tires be the cause of the vibration? I had the car checked out by 4 different places and they say that everything else(bushings, bearings, etc.) looks fine.

[Cruzin 323is]

same rims... different tires??? of different everything

[tomctx]

Originally posted by mech9T8@May 3 2005, 10:50 PM
I noticed that when I put my summer tires on this year that they were quite noisy. I also feel a slight vibration but the tires are balanced. I was told that over time the rubber gets hard and cracks and tires should be replaced. My question is after how many years should this happen? The tires I have are Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 (225/50/16). I've had them for 4 years now but there is enough tread for another summer. Have these tires expired? Could old tires be the cause of the vibration? I had the car checked out by 4 different places and they say that everything else(bushings, bearings, etc.) looks fine.

[snapback]340645[/snapback]

Is the vibration in the front , back, all around? Move the tires around on the car and see if the vibration moves. If they are cracked, you should be able to see the fine cracks, usually around the wheel or near the tread. Did you have them rebalanced before you put them back on the car? Do any hard braking last year? They could be flat spotted. Just some things to check.

[mech9T8]

I'm just talking about changing tires, not rims.
They were balanced last year, vibration feels like it's in the rear, and I didn't do any hard breaking. The last guy who checked them (family friend) said there seemed to be bumps on the tires (hard to explain but I did feel it when I ran my hand over it).

[tomctx]

Originally posted by mech9T8@May 4 2005, 09:09 AM
I'm just talking about changing tires, not rims.
They were balanced last year, vibration feels like it's in the rear, and I didn't do any hard breaking. The last guy who checked them (family friend) said there seemed to be bumps on the tires (hard to explain but I did feel it when I ran my hand over it).

[snapback]340732[/snapback]

Uuummm, bumps. sounds like the inner cords are starting to separate. Not good. Maybe time for new tires. Could be an age factor.

[BeachBunny]

Originally posted by tomctx+May 4 2005, 02:15 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tomctx @ May 4 2005, 02:15 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-mech9T8@May 4 2005, 09:09 AM
I'm just talking about changing tires, not rims.
They were balanced last year, vibration feels like it's in the rear, and I didn't do any hard breaking. The last guy who checked them (family friend) said there seemed to be bumps on the tires (hard to explain but I did feel it when I ran my hand over it).

[snapback]340732[/snapback]

Uuummm, bumps. sounds like the inner cords are starting to separate. Not good. Maybe time for new tires. Could be an age factor.

[snapback]340863[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]

What he said. Also, I found this...
http://wcco.com/specialreports/local...320123953.html

[mech9T8]

Very interesting, thanks for posting that link.

[ldsbeaker]

What, you mean you can't see the threads yet?





Note to self:
Guess mine were waaaaay too old before I changed them.