10 year old tires | FerrariChat

10 year old tires

Discussion in '348/355' started by Paul S, Sep 29, 2007.

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  1. Paul S

    Paul S Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 7, 2006
    179
    Florida
    I recently purchased a 1997 355 with low miles and plenty of life left in the original tires. Should I have any concerns about the age of the tires and safety??? I drive on the street only no track but I have been known to lean on it a bit!!
     
  2. B Feelgood

    B Feelgood Rookie

    Oct 16, 2005
    35
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Brian
    Absolutely positively change the tires. The rubber gets hard and starts to crack after a long period of time. Not only is it a safety issue but handling will decrease as well due to the rubber being hard.
     
  3. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,352
    Indian Wells, California
    Full Name:
    Jon
    The correct answer is: yes, after 7 years (or whatever the tire maker specifies, but for some reason the '7' sticks in my mind) you should replace them as the rubber has begun to harden and lose its performance properties. On low mile cars you probably also have flat spots from the car sitting around so much.

    In real life, my tires are at the 7 year mark, with 90% tread left, I drive like you do, and I'm waiting till the spring.

    The other factor is that new tire technology should make the car even more fun to drive. (And tires are probably the cheapest part of a Ferrari anyway. ;))
     
  4. bst1

    bst1 Formula 3

    Aug 13, 2005
    1,055
    MARYLAND
    Full Name:
    BARRY T
    I wholeheartedly agree! Not only is 7+ year old rubber dryrotting, it gets hard, loses traction, and also, tire technology improves continuously! It will be the best $1000 performance upgrade you could possibly imagine!!!!!
     
  5. Dean355

    Dean355 Formula 3

    Sep 4, 2006
    1,101
    South Florida
    Full Name:
    Dean
    Something bad could happen at any speed with really old tires. Change them.
     
  6. gothspeed

    gothspeed F1 World Champ

    May 26, 2006
    10,244
    U.S.A.
    Full Name:
    goth
    Replace them.....
     
  7. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    99,172
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap
    Good advice given here. :)

    Id bin them tyres as fast as I could remove them from the wheels. :D:D
     
  8. Paul S

    Paul S Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 7, 2006
    179
    Florida
    The tires are Pirelli P Zero's, were they OEM original equipment??? They look new and have no cracking or drying as I had seen on several other cars I looked at prior to purchasing this one.
     
  9. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
    5,018
  10. bst1

    bst1 Formula 3

    Aug 13, 2005
    1,055
    MARYLAND
    Full Name:
    BARRY T
    Go on Tire Rack's website and learn how to read the tire manufacture date. Don't be surprised if the tires are actually older than the car! If they were replaced, I would still follow the 7 year rule! TRUST ALL THIS GOOD ADVISE!!!!!!! It is always surprising when an old "no dry rot" tire is taken off how it looks like crap ON THE INSIDE!!!!! TRUST US.......THIS IS THE MOST VALUABLE FREE ADVISE YOU WILL EVER GET!!!!!!
     
  11. dc348

    dc348 Formula Junior

    May 27, 2006
    384
    Luckily back in HK
    Full Name:
    DC
    They are 10 years old, you are better off putting the cheapest new tyres then leaving them on the 355. You have got 380bhp!
     
  12. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,422
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    I vote for roasting them first, should be easy to get wheelspin! :D :D :D
     
  13. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    99,172
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap


    I have a feeling that they would crumble like a cookie..........:p:p
     
  14. UConn Husky

    UConn Husky F1 Rookie

    Nov 11, 2006
    4,422
    CT
    Full Name:
    Jay
    Well only one way to find out, in the name of science!
     
  15. Paul S

    Paul S Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 7, 2006
    179
    Florida
    Well it would seem new tires are in my future...Any suggestions on brand or size??? Still hate the idea of tossing these but the thought of a problem while exploring the upper rpm limits overides my desire to hang on! Thanks for everyones inout.......
     
  16. bst1

    bst1 Formula 3

    Aug 13, 2005
    1,055
    MARYLAND
    Full Name:
    BARRY T
    Can't beat Michelin PS2's for performance, can get in OEM size (rears listed as Porsche) or upsize rears to 295's which fit and perform well if interested in larger to fill the wheelwell. I have OEM's and know several 355's with the upsize. These will transform the car to a handling beast!!!
     
  17. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,788
    western hemisphere
    I Armorall my tires to keep them from cracking.
     
  18. jmillard308

    jmillard308 F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    May 29, 2003
    6,568
    Perth West Oz
    Full Name:
    John Millard
    On the inside? :)
     
  19. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Jan 26, 2005
    22,352
    Indian Wells, California
    Full Name:
    Jon
    Go to tirerack.com - you can get some user reviews there as well.
     
  20. PAP 348

    PAP 348 Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2005
    99,172
    Mount Isa, Australia
    Full Name:
    Pap


    I dip my tyres in a bath of Armorall every week. They will NEVER perish that way! ;);)
     
  21. Agent_355

    Agent_355 Karting

    May 13, 2007
    170
    Richmond Hill, Ont
    Second that. Almost all my tires get a "send off" that way. When I changed mine in the spring I went with the BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD. I like them a lot. Not as sticky as the PS2's on my 996 but the trade of is the slower wear. I don't track the F-car but in every circumstance on the street, including torrential rains, the BFG's were excellent, and on the lower end of the price scale as well.
     
  22. Kaivball

    Kaivball Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jan 11, 2007
    35,997
    Kalifornia
    definitley change them. Old tires are no good, regardless of tread life.

    Kai
     
  23. veryfast355

    veryfast355 Karting

    Sep 24, 2007
    120
    gt neck long island
    Full Name:
    michael c
    i have pirelli p700 on my '95 - it has 1400 miles and I am planning to order replacements- anyone have any thoughts?
     
  24. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,788
    western hemisphere
    I never thought of that. Do you actually remove the tires each time to do that? It seems like you could rig up a deal where you kinda drive through some pans of armorall once a week and accomplish about the same thing.
     
  25. I'm gone

    I'm gone Formula Junior

    Feb 5, 2006
    618
    Phoenix,az
    Full Name:
    Brian
    Maybe I should change my tires, I bought an old vette in 1988 and replaced the tires then, they still look new and don't have many miles on them but I did drive it yesterday.
     

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