ATV tires... how old is too old?

[86096]

I have a 1985 Suzuki LT230 GE quadrunner.  It has been stored in a shed for at least the last 15 years and has very low mileage.  Although the tires look and feel great... should I consider changing them since they are 38 years old?  I don't intend to ride to far or too fast but I don't want to have to walk out of the bush.  Any input would be welcome.

[Mech]

I'm sure that for a whole lot of woowser reasons we are meant to say not to use them.. but I'd pump them up gently, with a hand pump as they recommend since they take so little air or pressure, and see what they look like. Unless they had a lot of small cracks I'd use them.

[Gwbarm]

I would run them also, it not like they are highway rated anyway, rubber does get harder and slicker as it gets older, so if you are doing a lot of rock climbing and hitting stumps you might reconsider, but that kind of riding plays havoc on new tires also. So yeah i would run them, but i wouldnt try to break any speed records. 

[86096]

I'm not gonna do anything crazy on this ATV and I was pretty well decided that I'd run the tires as is and see if they look like they'll hold out but if anyone had a really compelling reason not to I would look for new ones.  Thanks for the input!!!

[Diyguy99]

I agree with others, I'd air them up and try them.  Maybe go for a quick ride for 15 to 20 minutes then check them out.  If there are any cracks I would replace them.  I just replace a set of tires on my 05 triton atv88 trailer as they were cracked in several spots and sidewall.  Obviously this is a bit different with loads and highway speeds but they were almost 30 years old.

[ForumIdiot]

Cracks or dry rot

 

[geezer99]

I'd run 'em, too.  Unless you are riding by yourself way out in the sticks, too far to walk out.

I had to ride a dirt bike with a flat rear tire 15 miles back to my truck.  Not fun, real squirrely, but going fairly slow, I did not ruin the rim or the tire.  Was a dirt road.

I paid for school by driving heavy equipment for a gippo outfit.  The scraper (earth mover) I drove had very old tires with cracks big enough to stick the first joint of my little finger into.  I wouldn't bet on it, but those tires were rated something like 20 or 30 ply rating.  The D-8 was always parked for the night on a hill for "coast to start" the next morning.

Good times!

Tom

[Gwbarm]

Thats a big crack!

[Dadclan623]

If they're not cracked or show any signs of deformation/degradation, run em