This then remind me of this article which happened a few years ago very close to me so struck a chord;The sad news arrived yesterday of the death of two friends here in France. Two friends passionate as any about the classic car movement and passionate about any make of old car, owning several themselves. The cause of their death was down to old tyres, tyres that were on the face of it in good condition with plenty of tread but which were old, well past the time when they ought to have been changed. It is easy to think "I'll be alright, mine are perfect" but the truth is that the recommendation is to change tyres after six years, whatever the mileage; we all know that the rubber deteriorates with age but it is easier, but not safer, to put off the expense until another day. I know, in the past I have been as guilty as the next man.
In this case the tyre exploded on a bend, with fatal results. Please, don't just dismiss this, but go and check the age of your tyres on the sidewall. There will be a four figure number like 0602 (which means made the 6th week of 2002) on the carcass. I bet some of you will find there are only three digits like 147 which means 14th week of 1997 which might shock you. Time flies when you are having fun, but let it continue to be fun, not grief for your relatives. Oh, I've realised my trailer tyres need changing; I hadn't thought to check them.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... sured.html
Classic cars by their nature a lower mileage than modern counterparts so please do check the condition of your tyres.
Pulled off the ROSPA website;
If you are lucky and have a "newer" tyre there will be identification markers to determine their age, all tyres made in recent years are date coded by law, which makes it easy to determine how old they are. Department of Transport now requires that every tire must have a four digit date code on the side, indicating the date it was manufactured. Look for a string of numbers and letters that begins with "DOT" to see the date code. The code will look something like "0604" which indicates the tire was manufactured during the 6th week of 2004. This number only appears on one side of the tyre, so you might have to crawl under the car to get the date. If there are no such markings than the tyre should probably be taken off and destroyed, unless it's just for show purposes.Most modern compounds contain anti oxidysing chemicals that help slow down the natural ageing process of untreated rubber, however tyres DO degenerate with age. Tyres that have been place in storage should not be place into service over 6 years old from the date of manufacture. When tyres have been in service the effects of ageing are lessoned, but such tyres should be replaced after 10 years. Tyres in coastal ares will degenerate at a faster rate due to the saline conditions. Cleaning products may also harm the compound. Tyres that show signs of ageing, (deformation of the carcase distortion and cracking)should be replaced.
Please be safe...........
they fill the arch just nice