I have a very low mileage (50000 Km.) 2001 Nissan Maxima with Toyo tires. I had the car in for an oil change and the service technician told me I need *new* tires. Apparently there is cracking on the tire from age. Should tires be changed every 5 years regardless of the tread wear? Should I replace with new Toyo or Bridgestone tires?
Willie
I have been doing some research into replacing my OEM Goodyear RSA tires seven years old on my 98 Maxima SE. I also have very low milage 12000 miles. I have read that tire compounds age by the materials crosslinking with service heat this causes harding of the tire materials. The experts say 10 years is the longest any tire should be used and five years is a good time to replace any tire also other factors are where tire has spent it's service life like outside in direct sunlight and speed the tire has been driven and the temperatures the tire obtained when being driven. One expert said everytime a tire is driven it ages some. Anyway I am going to replace the Goodyears with Bridgestone Potenza tires in class H. I found this Web site to do some compairing and the Bridgestone Potenza looks very good. I also already have a set of Bridgestone Dueler H/L tires on my 82 Bronco and they have been a really good year round choice.
From January 2004 Consumer Reports:
"The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is being asked to require tire makers to provide expiration dates. Strategic Safety LLC, a safety research firm, submitted comments to NHTSA in September 2003, saying it has identified 20 cases in which tires six or more years old failed, resulting in nine deaths.
Audi, BMW, and Volkswagen recommend replacing tires after six years, regardless of tread wear. The British Rubber Manufacturers=3F Association said in June 2001 that unused tires more than 6 years old should not be used and that a tire should be replaced 10 years after manufacture. Roadside checks led the U.K.-based Tyre Industry Council to warn that tires can dry with age, leading to tread separation."
If you haven't priced Toyo tires, you're in for a shock. Go with Bridgestone between the two.
Some cracking is normal, I've been told. Depends on ozone in the air as much as anything. If the cracking is on the sidewalls, get professional advice from a real tire guy asap.
Toyo Proxes 4's for my 2000 SE were ~$120/tire.
Brad
Willie
I bought two 2000 Maximas in 2000. The first had Goodyears that lasted about 14,000 miles before they wore out. The 2nd, mine, had Toyo tires that lasted me about 18,000 miles before I replaced them.
My first replacement was Yokohamas. They lasted aboiut 26,000. My second replacement was Michilen XGT-4's. They lasted 57,000 miles. I just put another set of XGT-4's on mine at 95,000 miles and they are great.
The first Maxima, my wifes care, got Michelins on the first replacement. They, too, lasted 55,000 miles. So, I put another set on hers, too.
Spend the bucks and get your moneys worth. I paid about $110 per tire.
Chuck in Dallas
The Toyos on my 2k Max lasted 52,000 miles. What kind of driving are you doing?
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