Re: What's the difference?

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2010/4/22 12:00:48

I've heard the "flat-spotting" stories for decades and don't doubt that it happens. My cars sit in a unheated garage from the end of November to about late March or early April, and I can say my 7:00 x 17 bias ply Lesters have never flatspotted that I've noticed, though they are 6-ply rated (original tires were full 6-ply) and inflation pressures for them are fairly high, 35 psi or so. Knowing the tires will be staying cold during the winter I usually give them an extra 3-4 psi for storage and bleed out the excess in the spring.

I've read several places that some makers of name-brand radials recommend replacing them every 6-8 years regardless of treadwear. I don't know of any recommendation by bias tire makers, or if there was one in their heyday, but my Lesters are 17 years old, probably have 60% tread left, and were just VERY thoroughly inspected - no signs of age whatsoever. Not a trivial expense to replace them, with metal-stem tubes and gutter strips easily $1200 or so, probably more, but I guess I've got to consider it soon.