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Tire companies/manufacturers trying to force us to buy new tires?

dyeager535

dyeager535

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So I first heard this from my dad, I think it was dealing with Big O tires, a chain, not sure if local only or what. Something about tires only lasting 8 years before needing replaced, regardless of tread.

This weekend I ripped a valve stem on my truck. Lifetime warranty from Discount on the tires, and amazingly I've had them since 2001! (these are the 33x10.5R15 BFG AT/KO's) The guy replaced the valve stem, and said that I needed to look at replacing them, based on their age.

I know this is pure BS, as the tires have at most 8000 miles on them, and when parked (99% percent of the year) are never in the sun. Since our climate is mild, that's not really a factor either. As you'd expect, there isn't even the beginning of dry rot on these.

Anyone else been told or heard this? My dad said the manufacturers are apparently saying this too, but I can't find anything online about it. Seems pretty obvious to me it's a ploy to get you to buy new tires, but at $150/pop in 2002, I won't be buying more until these actually go bad. Since I have a lifetime warranty on these tires that I paid extra for, I smell a bit of a conspiracy to weasel out of it, however I don't know what other dealers are saying.

Just thought I'd mention it, see if anyone else has run into this.
 
I've heard about it.... honestly I bet it just boils down to a blanket statement for safety...
Not in all cases but generally if a tire is 8 years old it is time to start thinking about replacing them. Again, not for everyone but for average joe that parks in the sun all day and in some areas the snow all winter even if there is tread it's just cheap insurance (relative to a possible blow-out causing crash) to just replace them.

Not everybody takes as good a care of their stuff as we do...
 
I suppose I should have added that...blanket statement for safety/liability reasons was one thing I figured, but the repercussions when talking about $500+ when it is obvious it's not required, is pretty stupid.

These guys are supposed to be tire "experts" (not saying anything one way or another, just that they get paid to work on and sell tires, I don't) if they can't truly tell a tire that needs replaced, then I'd say there is a manufacturing flaw in the tire.
 
Finally...An area i feel comfortable giving advice in.

As a teen i spent many years busting tires in some of the better tires shops around.

8 years is not dead on. It's a guestimate. When your in the tire business this is old news. Oils in the rubber only last so long. The tires begins to dry out and crack. That combined with sun damage can take a toll on tires around 8 tp 10 years. I'm sure some have dried out sooner. all you have to do is inspect your tires. look for cracks. Check the D.O.T mark on the tires. It's only on one side and usualy oppposite of the white wall..if there is one. it's usually 3 or 4 numbers. like 1006
= 10th month of 06. Pretty much just keep an eye on em. youll know when they are dried out. Also inspect for bubbles and sperations while your looking.
 
Pretty common, and I have noticed that Big-O only warranties it's larger tires for three years free replacement, and prorated after that time. For instance the tires on my Blazer are Bigfoot X/T's in 33X10.50R15, and they are warrantied for free replacement for the first three years, even if they had to be replaced during that time, three years from the original purchase.

I hadn't noticed that before, but it isn't a big concern with the number of miles I put on my Blazer, they will need to be replaced before then.

Tire age is a bigger concern when there are companies selling tires that are old stock, and are new. So the tire shop makes money, but is selling a tire that is potentially dangerous due to age. This is a common practice, and that is why you should check your tires, even when new, to ensure that you aren't getting a tire that's life is shortened by sitting on a shelf for years.
 
Interesting info. I suppose this is one of those things...if it fails, it may kill you. Short of throwing new tires on every X years, you are just taking your chances.

Noticed they talk about so many variables, wish they could narrow it down. Climate control should last X years. Outside, average use in temperate climates, x years. And so on.
 
I believe there is a law in California if the tire place is working on a tire more than seven years old, they are supposed to replace it no matter it how good of shape. At your cost of course.
 
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