[400 4spd.]

I mentioned in another thread about fixing a 67 R/T Coronet that was an insurance job covered by a classic car insurer. This tire was on the right front when it suddenly let go. Four guys riding back from a car show at Richard Petty's place.

They were on the car when he bought it last year, He thought because the tread was good the tires were good.
This is what they usually look like when they let go. The long flap of rubber is out of sight in this picture. It beat the fender up on both ends.

[Formulabruce]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

The Trans am I just got has Indy 500 firehawk tires on it. Are they an old brand? They look to be good, but someone said that’s an old tire and they might not be safe? Any thoughts on this?

Thank you.

What size are your Indy 500's? ( example 235/60R15) Or?
I bought mine new in 2013,

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by Formulabruce

What size are your Indy 500's? ( example 235/60R15) Or?
I bought mine new in 2013,

I never even looked at that yet the numbers that is.... they’re 15” but I did not look at those numbers. Car was put in the pole barn, weather is bad, and no heat up there so really didn’t care to look at that yet.

[Mister Pontiac]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

They were on the car when he bought it last year, He thought because the tread was good the tires were good.
This is what they usually look like when they let go. The long flap of rubber is out of sight in this picture. It beat the fender up on both ends.

Yep. Been there, done that. Ugly! Not doing it again.

[Firedup6975]

I checked out the name on them when it got here, checked to see the condition, but that was it. Noticed some red paint around the log nuts and wheel rims, and just knew they had to come off. I don’t do gold wheels with red paint where they weren’t prepped properly and sprayed gold. I’m guessing theses wheels were off of a red car at one time, and I don’t do sloppy lol.

The tires were something I’d never seen before with the little wings logo on them, so a quick glance, and BURT was put away until we get a nice day to back him out and go over him. We don’t have our lift yet either so tight quarters to inspect it thoroughly.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

I mentioned in another thread about fixing a 67 R/T Coronet that was an insurance job covered by a classic car insurer. This tire was on the right front when it suddenly let go. Four guys riding back from a car show at Richard Petty's place.

They were on the car when he bought it last year, He thought because the tread was good the tires were good.
This is what they usually look like when they let go. The long flap of rubber is out of sight in this picture. It beat the fender up on both ends.

Damn those are scary!

[GT182]

400, that looks like it was a retread and the tread separated from the body. I don't think retreads are legal anymore but not sure. At least I've not seen any for sale anywhere.

[400 4spd.]

No Gary, it was worse than a retread. It was a Firestone.

[Greg Reid]

lol...I don't remember what brand was on mine...It was on the rear of a VW bug but it looked about like the one Steve posted and it beat the crap out of that rear fender.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by 400 4spd.

No Gary, it was worse than a retread. It was a Firestone.

Heyyyyyyy my Firestones were pretty. LOL. and still are even though they are no longer on the car.

[Old Goat Racer]

My buddy drove from St.Louis to Springfield and back last summer on these 30+ year old Firestones

[Firedup6975]

OK guys here are some pics of the tires in question. looks like 3911 is the code stamp. As you can see there's still good meat on them.

[Firedup6975]

Just got these 2 years now on my 69 to replace the Firestone wide ovals, as they were bias ply, and I couldn't find them in radials. Absolutely a huge difference in the ride.

[77 TRASHCAN]

MA, that means your tires were manufactured the 39th week of 2011. IYDK.

[Firedup6975]

Originally Posted by 77 TRASHCAN

MA, that means your tires were manufactured the 39th week of 2011. IYDK.

Yes I got that from the posts showing the codes. Ya learn something everyday, I would have never known that if someone had not posted that info.


Thank you Champ!

[gtohurstjudge]

I removed a set of 8 year old radial T/A's from my friends GTO that had
been just sitting on the car in his garage for 8 years out of the sunlight while
the car was being restored. He was changing out his tires because they were too old to be safe to drive on. I threw these zero mile tires in the junk tire pile out back, and one of my mechanics fished them out of the pile and put them on his
wife's Toyota Previa van. Two weeks later while driving down the freeway the left
rear tire exploded, yanking the steering wheel out of her hands and putting her van into the median divider concrete wall. The van was crushed back to the windshield and she was injured. IF YOU DRIVE ON TIRES OLDER THAN SIX YEARS OLD AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS YOU ARE RISKING BOTH YOUR LIFE AND
YOUR CAR.

[400 4spd.]

A 3/8" drill bit through the sidewall will prevent that. That's what the local Firestone guys were doing to any recalled tires off of Explorers years back.

[Poncho60]

Probably regs regarding age of tires sold as new, but I would personally not accept any more than a year old. Last set I bought I told the dealer I wanted them as new as possible. Lucked out and the set was mfr'd within the previous 2 months. Physically check the date code yourself....I would not just take the dealers word on it......just my opinion.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by Firedup6975

OK guys here are some pics of the tires in question. looks like 3911 is the code stamp. As you can see there's still good meat on them.

That's what my Uniroyal Red Line radials looked like before I had my problems...

Thank you Champ!

No problem.

When you've survived a life threatening medical issue(s) like we have, you take living much more seriously.

No sense for people to risk death or serious injury by being foolish about old tires.

[Old Goat Racer]

I just bought a pair of Firehawk Indy 500 white letter tires from Walmart.com
They list 255x60x15 and 275x60x15 Mine have a date code of 4819