Tire Replacement

[summerbird]

Looking for opinions. How often do you replace tires if your tbird is garage kept and only travel about 2000-3000 miles per year? My Michelins look brand new, but pass 6 years old, no cracking nor dry rot. The standards say 6 years and definitely swap out after 10 years no matter how much tread left.

[merlot4]

It looks like you have answered your own question, although you didn't mention how much past 6 years old they are. Your life, and that of a passenger, not to mention potentially someone in another car, rides on the tires. Around town is one thing, highway, expressway, and mountain are another. Perhaps others will give more informed ideas for you.

[ambitio]

It looks like you have answered your own question, although you didn't mention how much past 6 years old they are. Your life, and that of a passenger, not to mention potentially someone in another car, rides on the tires. Around town is one thing, highway, expressway, and mountain are another. Perhaps others will give more informed ideas for you.

Totally agreed. While it feels like a giant waste to replace tires with less than 15K miles on them every six years, alternative scenarios can prove devastating.

[007Cruiser]

If you’re thinking it may be time, it probably is.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Looking for opinions. How often do you replace tires if your tbird is garage kept and only travel about 2000-3000 miles per year? My Michelins look brand new, but pass 6 years old, no cracking nor dry rot. The standards say 6 years and definitely swap out after 10 years no matter how much tread left.

My 03 and 05 Thunderbirds are weekend cruisers although I do take them on out of town road trips. I changed the original tires at 10 years (2013 and 2015 respectively). Both cars are garaged so the tires aren't out in the sun getting baked. I'll likely change them in 2023 and 2025 as mostly it's just in town driving. However, I would probably change especially on tires the 03 if I was going to take it on some significant trip.

[Gobird]

Another tire that needs changed now is the spare tire.

[RustyFrye]

Not sure if the brand is mentioned, but be careful not to buy ones like this! The movie title is "Rubber". The story line as taken from IMDB is...

'A homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.'

Apparently the tire has the ability to make little animal and human heads explode.

[BillyL]

I changed out my michelins with under 8,000 miles, but near eight years old for this reason. While no cracks or dry rot signs, I had noticed a harder and noisier ride over the past few years.My mechanic recommended new tires when I took the car to have the tires rotated and balanced last year. After much discussion here on the forum, I went with new Goodyear Eagle sport A/S tires. I can tell the difference in improved ride and noise with the new tires. I also changed out the OEM maxxis spare due to age two years ago. Safety and peace of mind has a value!

[Bobnoir1]

Not sure if the brand is mentioned, but be careful not to buy ones like this! The movie title is "Rubber". The story line as taken from IMDB is...

'A homicidal car tire, discovering it has destructive psionic power, sets its sights on a desert town once a mysterious woman becomes its obsession.'

Apparently the tire has the ability to make little animal and human heads explode.

Doesn't Firestone make those tires?

[BillyL]

Dot would be the best source to verify, but I think firestone did provide the spares for 2002 and some 2003 birds and Maxxis provided the 2004 and 2005 spares.

[007Cruiser]

My 2003 came with a Maxxis. I have replaced it with a full size mounted on an OEM wheel.

[stewbob]

My 04 came with a Maxxis also change to a full size tire an rim i bought from Charlie before he passed, The rim is a 21 spoke like i have on the car

[5bird7]

I think all of the 2003s came with the MAXXIS spares.

[JerriLampon]

Doesn't Firestone make those tires?

I don't think anyone got your followup joke from Rusty.

[Wingspan]

I replaced the original tires with BF Goodrich Comp TAs in factory size this year on the PCR. They are ZR rated so very sticky but smooth and stable. I ran the same tires on my Hemi so I already knew I liked them.