8 year old tires, what would you do?

[Aurora40]

My rear GS-C's were made in the 28th week of 1997. They are fairly worn down, but still have some life (maybe a little more than 1/2 worn). The front GS-C's have lots of life, are from 2000, but were mounted on the wrong side.

So my choices are to get 4 new tires, or to remount the fronts. Due to the age of the rears, I'm inclined to put the mounting cost towards new tires instead. I'd get Supercars, and given that I'll probably put under 2,000 miles a year on the car, they should last a while.

What would you do? I could also ride it out a little with the fronts mismounted and try to wear the rears out.

 

[LT4man]

I think you answered your own question. I agree with you 100%. Buy the new tires and ENJOY them. That way you will get full use out of them.

Save The Wave!

 

[jsinga]

There is a reason tire companies don't warranty any tire over 5 yrs old. They get hard as a rock. They won't hold wet or dry and they ride terrible.
Get new tires!

JS

 

[G Winter]

Much depends on how much they were exposed to sunlight. If I had that situation , I would feel much safer by putting a full set of new tires on.

 

[JRMaroon]

It will feel like a new car when you get those GS-C's off of it. At least my '94 did when I replaced them with F1 GS-D3's. This was the best upgrade I've made. New rubber will also offer peace of mind and added safety.

Jeff

 

[Vettefan87]

Burn em off . Then get new ones

 

[Rabbit]

My rear GS-C's were made in the 28th week of 1997. They are fairly worn down, but still have some life (maybe a little more than 1/2 worn). The front GS-C's have lots of life, are from 2000, but were mounted on the wrong side.

So my choices are to get 4 new tires, or to remount the fronts. Due to the age of the rears, I'm inclined to put the mounting cost towards new tires instead. I'd get Supercars, and given that I'll probably put under 2,000 miles a year on the car, they should last a while.

What would you do? I could also ride it out a little with the fronts mismounted and try to wear the rears out.

I'm in the same boat as you. Original GSC"S, 10 years old & hard as rocks. Tire Rack has Firestone Wide Oval's on sale & will give them a try.

 

[Vettelt193]

My rear GS-C's were made in the 28th week of 1997. They are fairly worn down, but still have some life (maybe a little more than 1/2 worn). The front GS-C's have lots of life, are from 2000, but were mounted on the wrong side.

So my choices are to get 4 new tires, or to remount the fronts. Due to the age of the rears, I'm inclined to put the mounting cost towards new tires instead. I'd get Supercars, and given that I'll probably put under 2,000 miles a year on the car, they should last a while.

What would you do? I could also ride it out a little with the fronts mismounted and try to wear the rears out.

If you are only going to put 2k a year on the car, cheaper tires may be a smarter choice. I wouldn't use the old ones (tires are cheap compared to the cost of even one GM wheel if the tire blows out); but in 5 years you will be in the same spot you are now with the new tires... Unless you plan on filling them with nitrogen?

 

[JJS]

Burn em off . Then get new ones

This is the way to go!

 

[Gorgon]

It will feel like a new car when you get those GS-C's off of it. At least my '94 did when I replaced them with F1 GS-D3's. This was the best upgrade I've made. New rubber will also offer peace of mind and added safety.

Jeff

I'll mimic Jeff's recommendation. The GS-D3's are great tires, cheaper than the original GS-C, superb dry traction and fantastic traction when caught in the rain. I would think the opposite and spend a little more money on tires if I was only driving 2k miles a year. I suspect those 2k miles will be quality ones and would be miles I'd like to have a nice, sticky tire.

Leon

 

[Aurora40]

If you are only going to put 2k a year on the car, cheaper tires may be a smarter choice. I wouldn't use the old ones (tires are cheap compared to the cost of even one GM wheel if the tire blows out); but in 5 years you will be in the same spot you are now with the new tires... Unless you plan on filling them with nitrogen?

Well, from what I understand F1 Supercars have pretty insanely short tread life. So if it's a 10k mile tire, then that's about 5 years and I'd need some new ones. Since I drive it not so much, I have more incentive for an ultra-grippy, ridiculously short life tire.

Also, my GS-C's do not seem to be hard. They saw very little sunlight as the car has pretty much always been garaged.

I will probably smoke the rears up a bit and get some new ones in the next month or so. Thanks for the feedback, folks!

 

[PLRX]

Burn em off . Then get new ones

This is a great advice and it would make a great picture for your profile, avatar, office and living room (poster size).:crazy

 

[ProEMTPFF]

Burn em off . Then get new ones

And don't forget to have someone take pictures of you doing it!