old tires (the 240Z lives!)

[DanB]

The 240Z breathed life again today for the first time in nearly 3 (!) years.
It is sitting on some ancient Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions made in '02, with 80% tread and maybe 4 track days on them.
Under the hatch are four Hoosier S04's, 2004 vintage, with two track days on them.

These tires have been out in the garage over the past three winters.

Is there any chance at all that they are track-worthy?

Trying to decide if I can avoid spending $$$...

Thanks for any informed commentary. Like: I ran my old tires and they were GREAT (or HORRIBLE)!

Thankee!

[cfossum]

run 'em!
I haven't had new tires since 2002, and since then the used tires I get have been stored outside periodically. Not ideal, from what I understand, but nobody has provided me with any good reason why rubber goes through an irreversible phase change at the same temperature that water happens to freeze.

[DanB]

Yeah, I think yer right, I'll just run 'em and see how it goes. I'd feel pretty funny throwing away tires with so much tread left and so few heat cycles in 'em.

If I'm slow I can blame "old tires"...

[offcamber09]

Ever go into a tire shop waiting area and notice the heavy "tire" smell. That is the tires dying. The oils in the rubber evaporate over time, the rubber becomes harder and less grippy. With that said- run them as hard as they will allow.

Good to see you getting into race-mode Dan.

-Scott

[StephanAlfa]

I still run my Yokohamas I got when I 1st joined COM in 2000. I use them mostly for wet but at Mosport last year it was 50/50 and then dried up; and I got lazy to change back and they ran just as good as my "normal" times...

[cfossum]

ok, so I believe that oils evaporate out of the rubber, leaving only a crusty shell of a tire.
Doesn't stuff evaporate more slowly in colder temperatures? Why is winter bad for race tires?

[DanB]

Ewww, dying tires, gross!

I *might* get a set of R888's to run as street tires and sell the Bridgestones for cheap. That helps on a couple of fronts:

1) I like to run street tires on driverschool day to preserve the more-$$$ Hoosiers, this way I'd actually have some grip on day1 of events

2) *if* the old Hoosiers are dried-out carcasses, I'd have a viable alternative for time trials

I've been thinking of doing that with the Z for a while anyway (running less-extreme R-comps as street tires). It sees so few street miles. Drawback is, of course, it does rain on the way to/from events sometimes... That and new tires cost $$$.

Thoughts?

[zip4zat]

nylon/polyester/steel carcasses gripped pretty well for me last year... (just dont ask anyone else that's ridden in my car.. ) I think many of these were 2004 vintage and had been flogged by a few other com'ers before I drove them into the ground.

they wont grip like they were new, but im sure they still have life in'em. Good to see the ole Z rolling again!

[brucesallen]

Tires, like dead racoons and grandmothers, keep best when frozen. I hope your tires were left outside winters. You also should store them in the freezer during the summer.

Scott,
Ever go into a mortuary and smell stacks of dead grandmonthers? Enough said.

[offcamber09]

Why is winter bad for race tires?

I never said it was... but it is bad for racecar drivers- at least where it snows.

Bruce, my dead Grandmothers are offended...and probably a little smelly at this point.

I'm going to burn for that one- aren't I ?

[chaos4NH]

Ewww, dying tires, gross!

I *might* get a set of R888's to run as street tires and sell the Bridgestones for cheap. That helps on a couple of fronts:

1) I like to run street tires on driverschool day to preserve the more-$$$ Hoosiers, this way I'd actually have some grip on day1 of events

2) *if* the old Hoosiers are dried-out carcasses, I'd have a viable alternative for time trials

I've been thinking of doing that with the Z for a while anyway (running less-extreme R-comps as street tires). It sees so few street miles. Drawback is, of course, it does rain on the way to/from events sometimes... That and new tires cost $$$.

Thoughts?

Might I suggest Nitto NT01's for the street? Nearly the same compound as the R888's and a bit cheaper (ya, I am Scotch). Cheep cheep!

[DanB]

NT01's don't come in Datsun-friendly sizes. The R888's come in 225/50-15

I just took 'er for a spin around the block. YIKES! I can't believe I drove this thing at 11/10ths, it needs some attention. Might be doing NHMS1 in the Honda after all...