[Chrysler300] Re: Tired Tires?

[Edward Mills Antique Tractors <millserat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rich Barber wrote:
> All Chrysler 300's have tires and tire issues, so hope this fits the news
> filter.  See this investigative report for information on how to tell the
> age of a tire:
>
> http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
>
> Essentially, the month of manufacture is placed in a little oval on the
> outside surface of the tire that faces the center of the car.  The first two
> digits are the week of the year and the last digit or two is the year.
> 8=1998, 08=2008.  The clip indicated the dates may now also be placed on the
> outside surface of the tire that faces away from the center of the car.
>
> As a consumer, we have the right to know how old the tire is before it is
> purchased and mounted.  A five-year old tire may or may not hold up as well
> as a one year-old tire.  I recently ordered out a set of Fisk narrow WSW for
> my '86 Chrysler LeBaron and the dealer sent the first set back as he thought
> they were too aged.  I'll go back to that guy.  I also put a new set of
> Goodyear Wrangler tires on my Jeep this year and see they were manufactured
> in 2007.  
>
> I'd think most new tires would have a pretty good shelf life, but who knows?
> Might's well demand a recently-manufactured tire.  Any tire failure from
> whatever cause might be blamed on an aged tire.  Low pressure probably ruins
> the most tires and results in more fuel being burnt.  Air 'em up!
>
> And, yes, I'm still running a low-mileage set of 15-year old Remington
> L78-15's on our C-300 but hope to pick up a set of 8.00X15 General Dual 90's
> from Lucas Automotive in Long Beach next month while travelling to the
> Chrysler 300 Club, Inc. meet in Temecula (1/21-25/09)  see:
> http://www.chrysler300clubinc.com/calendar.htm
>
> C-300'ly,
> Rich Barber
> Brentwood, CA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On
> Behalf Of Edward Mills Antique Tractors
> Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 3:20 PM
> To: Tom Cox
> Cc: chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Chrysler300] Tires
>
> Tom Cox wrote:
>   
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I am at a point where I need tires for the F convertible; I bought 
>> five rims
>> that Tony Rinaldi fixed us up with a year or so ago and they need some
>> rubber.
>>
>> I called DiamondBack (love their tires) and was told that 14” radial tires
>> that are available are at least 1 ½ inches shorter than our original 
>> tires.
>> For those that use radials, what size are you using on the F?
>>
>> Thanks for your help, again.
>>
>> Tom Cox
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>  
>>     
> I don't have specs for original - but I'm guessing 9.00-14 from an old 
> book I have - other options could be 8.50-14 or 9.50-14. If 9.00-14, 
> they were replaced by 8.85-14 which was replaced by J78-14 or JR78-14 
> and finally by 235/75R14.
>
> The B.F. Goodrich Deluxe Silvertown original equipment spec from 1960 
> literature for 9.00-14 was 28.8 inches dia with a section width of 8.25 
> inches on a 6 inch wheel and a tread width of 4.93 inches. The 8.50-14 
> was 28.3 dia x 7.86 section on 5.5 inch rim with 4.73 tread.
>
> The J78-14 dropped to 28.2 dia (I looked it up for my New Yorker, but I 
> did not write down reference). The 235/75R14 are still available from 
> Coker at a bit over $200 each plus shipping and show a diameter of 27.87 
> and a tread width of 6.3 inches. I think this is really the only radial 
> option. Don't know who makes these - may or may not be out of production 
> (see below).
>
> If you have 9.50-14 you are out of luck and if you have 8.50-14, best 
> bet may still be the Coker 235/75R14. Technically a 225/75R14 would be 
> the replacement of HR78-14 H78-14 8.55-14 and 8.50-14, but my source 
> says they were made by Cooper who stopped making them in 2007 though 
> Coker may have inventory - but diameter wise the 235/75R14 would be a 
> better match.
>
> If you are willing to use non-radials, Coker shows 8.50-14, 8.55-15, 
> 9.00-14, 8.85-14, and 9.50-14
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> To send a message to this group, send an email to:
> Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> For list server instructions, go to
> http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm
>
> For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/Yahoo! Groups
> Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>   
Be careful of date coding - the 3 digit date codes have been used since 
the 70's - I remember seeing that on tires on my 73 240Z - so while the 
first 2 digits represent the week - 01 thru 52, the 3rd digit of 3 could 
be 1973 or 1983 or 1993. Back then tires did not last 10 years and they 
were not planning for collectors

I don't really know where the limit is - and it may be different as a 
function of the rubber compounds used - and there are several in a given 
tire - one for sidewalls, one for undertread, one or more for tread, one 
for inner liner, etc - but there is a definite aging effect. Most 
current manufacturers limit warranty to 4 or 5 years from date of 
manufacture. I pulled a set of 4 year old Michelin Hydroedge off with 
plenty of tread but sidewall cracking and tread showing signs of age. 
Race car tires a year old are a problem.

Aging will also be affected by storage - UV light is a problem and too 
cold or too hot may be detrimental - freezing is an issue if significant 
moisture is involved. In general aging doubles for every 10 degrees C 
(18 F) - so desert storage in uncontrolled temperature is bad. Best 
would be a cool, dry, dark space.

Also storage of a car with tires under load is a major problem 
especially if tires stay in same position for long periods. This is a 
particular problem in the older Nylon tires that flat spot. If short 
term, they recover with driving, but long term is a problem. The older 
rayon are subject to moisture damage in any cuts or exposure of cord to 
moisture and have dry rot issues. Polyester and Polyamide have their 
issues too.


------------------------------------

To send a message to this group, send an email to:
Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm

For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/