Date: Mon, 1 Sep 2008 20:56:54 -0500
Reply-To: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Max Wellhouse <dimwittedmoose@CFU.NET>
Subject: Re: Tires: how to tell how old they are
In-Reply-To: <01E72199-81BE-47C4-AFB3-03B65551A5C3@roadhaus.com>
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Larry and All: I had a tangential conversation with a lady at a
running shoe store some time ago on a similar subject. Seems that
athletic shoes suffer the same or similar degradation whether they've
been exposed to UV or not. Case in point; the athletic
cross-trainer shoes I wear to work from New Balance are excellent for
my feet since I have pretty much lost all the fat padding between the
shin and the bones down there. Afte purchasing what I thought to be
a really good deal on the year old model of these shoes from an on
liine shoe seller, I got them in the mail and they didn't hjave the
same "cush" as the previous pair I had bought(go through about 2 pr.
a year).. Yeah, it could be manufacturing flaw,so I returned them
with the complaint and explanation and once the refund was granted, I
ordered another pair. Same problem. This is the same last(12 1/2 D)
I've been ordering for many years. So these go back and I buy the
current model year, same last etc. They not only fit well, they have
the magic forefoot cushion the NOS shoes didn't have.
The gal at the running store said they've learned that running shoes
are good for about 500 miles or a year tops, which ever comes first.
My old pairs of cross trainers become my Vanagon work shoes(RVC).
DM&FS
At 08:10 PM 9/1/2008, Larry Chase wrote:
>Volks,
>
>There is a growing amount of data about "TIRE AGING" that suggests we
>should not use tires
> more than 6 years old.
>
>The problem is called "thermo-oxidative degradation".
>
>In fact the data on tire aging is so compelling that most car
>manufacturers now include a
> statement in their owners manuals.
>
>In fact VW was one of the first to do this.
>
>Example from 2000-2001 Volkswagon Golf Owner's Manual:
>
>"WARNING -Tires age even if they are not being used. Tires which are
>more
>than 6 years old should be used only in an emergency and then with
>caution."
>"WARNING - Old tires can fail in use, causing loss of vehicle control
>and
>personal injury. Replace tires after six years regardless of tread
>wear. Always
>reduce speed and drive cautiously if you must use an old tire in an
>emergency.
>Replace the tire as soon as possible."
>
>But how do we tell the age of our tires?
>
>Here's how:
>
>http://www.roadhaus.com/tires/tire_age.html
>
>Knowing how to read the date code on your tire may not only keep you
>safer on the road, it might
>also keep you from buying a new set of tires that could be several
>years old before you put them on
>your Bus.
>
>In the link above you will see a few examples of stores selling tires
>several years old as new.
>
>Maggie & I cruised the local Sears Auto Center this morning. We found
>new tires on the sales floor
> ranging from 2004 to 2008.
>
>Something to think about ... be an informed consumer.
>
>If you are interested in other info about choosing a proper tire for a
>Vanagon, here's a
>perspective.
>
>http://www.roadhaus.com/tires/guideline.html
>
>Note ... if you go to the above link it will be our secret .
>
> I will not out you to the rest of our community as an "Informed tire
>consumer".
>
>larry
>roadhaus.com
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