Who has original tires?

[boss21078]

Re: Who has original tires?

Still have mine on my '03 with a little over 30k on them. But I have examined them and the sidewalls are showing very fine cracking so I will be replacing them soon, before I go on any long highway trips!!

Bob B.

[Chuck]

Re: Who has original tires?

On the other hand, Chuck's NM probably never gets more than a few yards from his trailer so a flat would be only a minor inconvenience for him.

Umm that's not exactly accurate. I put between 100 & 150 miles on the thing a year, both highway and local roads.

[2K2BIRD]

Re: Who has original tires?

Umm that's not exactly accurate. I put between 100 & 150 miles on the thing a year, both highway and local roads.

Dang, Chuck at that rate you are going to wear it out.

[Bobert]

Re: Who has original tires?

I have 34000 on my 2002...I am replacing them tonight. They are dated 01 and I am seeing some checking in the tread area on them. Since we travel in the car some good distances (we will drive about 900 miles this weekend), I have decided it is not worth the risk for a blow out.

Bobert

[ricki]

Re: Who has original tires?

Replaced my 2002's original tires, plus the original Firestone spare, couple weeks after purchasing the car this past July with ~69000km (43000 miles) on the odometer. I intend to put lots of highway miles on this little cruiser, and was to learn I had original tires:
- two of the original tires were manufactured week of 911
- the third was manufactured the week after 911
- fourth couple weeks after the car was first sold (figure that was a warranty replacement)
- spare had been on the car at least once (likely for the previous issue)

They all looked new from a distance thanx to the dealer detailing the car, but were showing their age on close inspection. I would not venture onto the highways/interstates with 11 year old tires - it just makes no sense. My wife & my well being is worth so much more than an "original" car. And besides, why risk wrecking a beautiful Tbird on a high speed blow out.

Despite all I read in this forum, I went with the OEM-type/size Michelins and the Maxxis spare. After 4400 miles travelled since, I have no complaints on the tires, the Tbird just loves cruising the highways. Hopefully I will never need to use the spare.

[Bobert]

Re: Who has original tires?

I got the original Michelins off the car and the checking was worse than I thought. Look inside the tread at the smooth areas...I had one that was pretty bad...but you could not see it until you had them off the car and on the ground. I put Bridgestone Serenity Plus on it and took it for a drive. They are just as quiet and seem to handle a bit better. Price point was much better than Michelins.

My OE tires were dated as manufactured in 01.

Bobert

[Alamobird]

Re: Who has original tires?

Bought our 2002 with 8400 miles last year and replaced the original tires with new Michelin MXM4 Pilots. Life is too short, plus our goal is to live to be 99 and write the last check to the undertaker and have it bounce. Won't care how old the tires on the hearse are.

[ACEBIRD]

Re: Who has original tires?

BEAUTY still have her original Michelins on at 26,300 miles. No cracks, deep threads, rubber not hard. I'll leave them on for the Bluegrass Cruising trip next year, but definably will new tires on in 2015 before the Black Hills event.

[divenmedic]

Re: Who has original tires?

We got our 2002 Bird in December 2013, 6753 miles on the car, yea still running original tires, it even has the infamous Firestone spare. Looking at new tires only because of age

[steelblue5505]

Re: Who has original tires?

In response to this thread & poll about driving on aged tires. I'd like to suggest this old adage.....

You NEVER want to drive further than you are willing to walk back from.

[MATBird]

Re: Who has original tires?

Still on original tires, on my 2002 which was bought new in August of '02.
I have a tire company guy check them periodically and he says that they are just fine.
I asked why and he asked if they were NOT in a lot of sun. I confirmed they are not and he said that's why.
I realize I may be pushing it but I'll do it when I'm ready or when the car is.

BTW, I did the same with my battery. Twelve years, but on a battery tender. Then I decided I was probably pushing it too far and broke down. Nothing different than I had always done with my antique cars with battery tenders for over 30 years

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Who has original tires?

Up date, I still have the original tires and battery in my NM. If Sugar Babe comes to Lexington, I will have to replace them. Original battery in the VMG.

[SixPac]

Re: Who has original tires?

Ron, what's going on in Louisville?

[4LOWBIRDS+7]

Re: Who has original tires?

Ron, what's going on in Louisville?

I could not spell Lexington last night.

[phil]

Re: Who has original tires?

05 2 original tires.