20/20 tire report

[hookman]

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Click on 20/20 reports

[Charlie]

Very good.....suppose I need to check my tires.

[exav8tr]

Good report, checked mine and truck made in 4207 (Generals) and trailer 2007 (Tomax from Les Schwab), WHEW!!!!!!

[Waynem]

I saw the original broadcast of that segment. It was quite an eye opener.

[Glenn and Lorraine]

hookman, that is an excellant link. As an X tireman I am totally blown away by that report and I am sure so will LonnieB be educated.
While I new that a tire should be considered to be replaced at 5 to 7 years I never realized tires that old would still be laying around in someone's inventory to be sold as brand new and safe. Guess I will be amending the info I pass on about replacing tires. Even to the point of not necessarily trusting that "reputable" tire dealer.
I am now going back and amend an earlier post about 9 year old tires that I made just before seeing this thread.

[bsmeaton]

Excellent info. Thanks

[LonnieB]

Don, that IS a very "eye opening" video. I knew about the 20/20 report, but this is the first time I have seen it. Thank you for posting it.

I don't know about other shops, but we do our best to keep the older tires going out the door before the newer stock, and until today, 6 years has been the age limit I went with. However, now that I have seen this video, I will be spending alot of time in the warehouse checking the date codes on all of my passenger, light truck, and trailer tires.

[skypilot]

Lonnie: Question on your ability with your 'jobber' to refuse aged tires. Years (and I mean years) ago I worked for Firestone (before that Texaco) as a part-timer while jr enlisted. I seem to remember our manager / store owner grumbling about the 'junk' he was sent that he HAD to sell. Hopefully those days are done and your supplier's are much more friendly and understanding!!!!

[Andy]

A real eye opener, thanks!

[William O. Phillips]

Yesterday, I went to Sams and bought two cases of bottled water for a good friend who is dealing with some cancer. She had just bought four NEW Continental radials for her Toyota Highlander. As I was leaving I stopped and checked the dates on her NEW tires. Two were fine, 1408. the other two were dated 4404. Wow! She had just spend over $700 for four NEW Continental radials and had ended up with two four year old tires. Those two tires are almost too old for use!

She and I will revisit the local tire dealer and demand two new tires next week!

You gotta watch em.......

Bill

[skypilot]

I was talking to the 'new' Assistant manager of the Sears Auto Center in Topeka KS yesterday -- Told him I was looking for some new tires for my 5er and wondering if they could get some specific ones in - they can't. In any case, I asked him about the age of their tires and he mentioned that they had recently had to go through and record the DOT codes on all their tires in inventory -- had no reason why. I was looking at a tire that would go on a 20 inch rim at that moment -- just looking -- I have nothing that would take that tire -- and asked him if he knew when the tire was made. He told me within the past 6 months because they turn inventory over very rapidly. Was shocked when I showed him the code 2605 and told him that the tire was made the 26th week of 2005. Told me that was nonsense -- that tire had to have been made with the past 6 months. Bottom line -- he and I went on the web, did a Google search for DOT codes and I showed him how to read the codes. We then looked at several other displays and found 3 other tires on the displays in the reception / sales floor area that were over 8 years old being sold as new. He had no idea!!!!

So, if the inventory really does turn over that quickly, their suppliers have some old stock in their warehouses as well. Scary to say the least.