How old is too old for Tires
 

I am looking at a used medium duty truck. It has 22.5 inch tires on it... lots of tread, but 7 years old... How old is too old for these kind of tires? what should I look for? I don't want yo buy the truck and then have to spend an unexpected $4500 for tires.. If they need replaced, i want to negotiate that into the price.

Look for the usual, dry rot, flat spots etc. You will not get a casing credit on them because they are outside their life date. You can get quality virgin rubber in the 22.5 range for a lot less than $4,500. How many axles?

If you're really worried about it stick a set of steer tires on it and go if the drives look good. Keep an eye on them though they may go bad in a hurry once they start carrying some weight again. If they aren't causing any shaking they are probably OK for a while.

Thanks... Good idea on the steers.
What i don't want to happen is have several horses loaded and have a flat and have to sit on the side of the road for several hours.
The truck has two axles/six tires/single set of duals in the back.

If you're pulling a gooseneck you won't be carrying much weight on the truck anyhow. We have about 2500 pounds of JD suitcxase weights I'd like to hang off the back of the daycab when I'm pulling gooseneck with it, 8 tires on the ground carrying what a pick-up can carry for weight doesn't make for much traction.

Did you get tires? Old thread, I know.

My buddy who runs a tire shop says after 4 years the natural breakdown in rubber is something you really have to pay attention to if they have been in any kind of weather exposure.... like outside, on the road and just plain in the sun type stuff.

He says run 'em but look for sidewall degradation regularly.

So, the trucking company I drive for is making the roads unsafe with average 10yr tires carcasses?

I've seen the outside left rear tire on a grain gondola blow off the truck in front of me. It's weird steering around flying tire tread..[verymad] Glad I didn't get hit.

There is a number on the side wall, like 5207, in a small oval, which is 52nd week of 2007 I change them at not more than 5 years, thats my .2c worth. I tow 12k to 13.5k pounds and dont like to take a chance of a blow out on the highway.

7 years is as long as I would use one. Have had 2 Michelins blow out at 1.5 years old, and only 33K miles on them.