Check DOT Dates!

[plyonsMC9]

Just to follow up on my initial post / question.  I talked w/ the manager about "why" he did not want to just move the front tires & rims as a set, to the tag axle.  And then after the tag wheels had been moved to the steer position, just put on the new rubber up front & balance those.

His logic was that everyone knows that the front wheel setup wasn't vibrating or causing any issues.  So they are likely in good shape.  The rims are good and there are no complaints.  So why mess with running the tag rims up front when there may be an issue.  Possibly a vibration or other.  His thought was that it wouldn't be worth saving the $20 p/ wheel charge (x2).  He gave me the choice, but I agree with the logic. 

Just in case this helps someone, or there is a new discussion.   

Kind Regards, Phil

PS, they are bringing out a new set of Hankooks - I've had good success with those in the past, and I know they've been popular w/ truckers.

[DoubleEagle]

2000 was when they went to four digits on the date, I don't remember when the three digit dating started before that.

[luvrbus]

Walter, did you ever have a DOT inspection the guy checked the date on the tires I never got a nice sticker in windshield for tires being over 7 years old

[buswarrior]

Mandatory tire dating came about for the very reasons we have been discussing.

Consumer protection

There is no offence or regulation for running tires of a certain date, only the regulated conditions, tread depth, cuts, bulges, etc.

Very practical and no arbitrary date threshold involved.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[HB of CJ]

Are 9.0" wide rims recommended or required with the older 12Rx22.5 tire?  If memory serves my old Crown Supercoach had 9.0" wide two hole wheels and 12.5x22.5 tires.

[DoubleEagle]

Walter, did you ever have a DOT inspection the guy checked the date on the tires I never got a nice sticker in windshield for tires being over 7 years old

Nope, never, but then most of the trucks I drove were under seven years old. Many of the buses I drove were over seven years, but I never had a DOT stop while in one. Some of the DOT truck stops were very detailed inspections where they thoroughly checked the air system and crawled underneath to check the brakes, etc., but even though they were down there on a creeper, I did not see them look for dates, just tread depth and signs of cuts and sidewall damage. Good air capacity and well adjusted brakes seemed to be the priority.

[windtrader]

What gets me with the DOT numbers is no DOT officer ever looks at the date on a tire,he just checks for tread depth and cuts.I ask myself all the time how did we know how old a tire was before the dating came on tire ? when did that start around 2000.Tires are junk now   

This was discussed in length awhile ago. My own opinion why date codes are not checked is 99% of trucks being subjected to vehicle inspections are in commercial use and wear them out long before they age out.

The tire industry self manages fairly well. Old tires are caught by retreaders. They will not accept casings that are aged out. For that matter, they don't take them if date is more than 5 years.

Same as daily drivers, pretty much worn out before again out. Cars with aged out tires are simply not driven enough to present a measurable public safety issue.

[luvrbus]

Retread people will take a tire over 5 years old,my Michelins are warranty for 7 years.700.000 miles or the life of the tread and they will credit you a 100 bucks if the tire has never been capped before when you buy new tires.LOL I plan on running these high dollar Michelins for 10 years if I am still around   

[Jon]

According to the latest change in warranty Michelins are warranted for 10 years from date code with no exceptions, 7 years from when installed as long as the seven years does not put it past the 10 year limit, and warranty is now based on prorated tread depth regardless of age as long as it does not exceed those stated above.

[windtrader]

That's great to hear! I guess the lawyers, insurance companies, and marketing folks negotiated a new specification.

SO much chatter amongst busnut how dangerous tires are at 7 years, even if visually still like new and run occasionally to keep the rubber fresh. Mine are right at 7 years and in excellent condition, casings and tread. I did a lot of research on the topic last year,  calling a number of retread folks who said 5 years based their rationale that the casing would age out once the retread was done. Was also told, each casing is evaluated so a 6 year old tire is not automatically a retread. When specifically asked about a casing at 7 years, they all got dodgy and cautious, even if it tested out ok.

[luvrbus]

That's great to hear! I guess the lawyers, insurance companies, and marketing folks negotiated a new specification.

SO much chatter amongst busnut how dangerous tires are at 7 years, even if visually still like new and run occasionally to keep the rubber fresh. Mine are right at 7 years and in excellent condition, casings and tread. I did a lot of research on the topic last year,  calling a number of retread folks who said 5 years based their rationale that the casing would age out once the retread was done. Was also told, each casing is evaluated so a 6 year old tire is not automatically a retread. When specifically asked about a casing at 7 years, they all got dodgy and cautious, even if it tested out ok.

That very well could be Don look on the Michelins retread site they will take one up to 7 years old and pay you for it.FWIW I notice trailers around here with caps that are on 12 to 15 year old casings.

Don this is what the Michelin people told me and the info is on their web site

"While most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10 years,it is recommended that any tire in service 10 years or more from the date of manufacture including the spare tire be replaced with new tires as a simple precaution"
this where I got the idea to run my tires 10 years lol that way it only cost me $800.00 per year for tires.I don't run questionable tires since I weigh 48,000 lbs,I will keep my eye on them and maintain the tires and shouldn't have a problem getting 10 years of life from the tires  it is JMW  

[DoubleEagle]

The only things bad about Michelin's are the price and the cracking sidewalls after they have been in the sun awhile. They would be the very best for a conversion (where longevity is the main factor) if only they could fix the cracking tendency. I have some mounted triple digit code Michelins that still look good because they have been out of the sun, but the tire dealers don't want to touch them because they are scared they will explode any minute.

[PP]

Are 9.0" wide rims recommended or required with the older 12Rx22.5 tire?  If memory serves my old Crown Supercoach had 9.0" wide two hole wheels and 12.5x22.5 tires.

I have 8.5" rims which is what the bus came with and 12R-22.5 tires if that helps answer your question.

[Branderson]

That's great to hear! I guess the lawyers, insurance companies, and marketing folks negotiated a new specification.

SO much chatter amongst busnut how dangerous tires are at 7 years, even if visually still like new and run occasionally to keep the rubber fresh. Mine are right at 7 years and in excellent condition, casings and tread. I did a lot of research on the topic last year,  calling a number of retread folks who said 5 years based their rationale that the casing would age out once the retread was done. Was also told, each casing is evaluated so a 6 year old tire is not automatically a retread. When specifically asked about a casing at 7 years, they all got dodgy and cautious, even if it tested out ok.

All I know is that I will get new after 7 years.  To me the risk is not the worth the reward. 

[windtrader]

One way to ease the cost of tire replacement is to buy two new for the steers. Then in two years buy two more, put on steers and rotate the older ones to the rear. Over time you'll have them nearly all within 7 years. That does mean you are running steer tread on the rears, an acceptable tradeoff? dunno