Old Info to Some.. New News to Others:
On All tires, there is Build Date. It's 4 numbers, stamped/molded onto the sidewall, usually in an oblong shaped frame, close to the Bead.
The first 2 numbers are the Build WEEK.. the second 2 are the YEAR. Example: 3296= 32nd week of 1996.
The Reason I bring this up is......
I just had an Alignment and 2 new tires mounted on the front of my 2K, for our 3-4 month trip. The current tires were 3 years old and OK, but OK wasn't good enough. I picked the best of the 2 and had it mounted as my spare.. to replace the 8 year old OEM spare, that's never been on the ground. (Tires get OLD too)
When the tire guy broke the OEM one down.... I looked at the Build Date
That Tire was build in the 32nd week of 1996 That means... That Tire... (Firestone..zat say anything 
) was 4 years old when FORD put it on the Truck.. at the plant, in March of 2000. Additional math sez my spare waz 12+ years old. Not Good Carma.
My (30 years with him) Tire store owner* said: Thats what you need to look for Joe, when you see tires at unbelievably LOW prices. He also gathered his workers 'round to show them the 4 year old, when the truck was new, tire.
Scarey.
Just thought I'd pass it on Guyz'n Galz. Check the Build Date.. when you buy tires.
* He never Advertizes or has a Tire Sale.
On All tires, there is Build Date. It's 4 numbers, stamped/molded onto the sidewall, usually in an oblong shaped frame, close to the Bead.
The first 2 numbers are the Build WEEK.. the second 2 are the YEAR. Example: 3296= 32nd week of 1996.
The Reason I bring this up is......
I just had an Alignment and 2 new tires mounted on the front of my 2K, for our 3-4 month trip. The current tires were 3 years old and OK, but OK wasn't good enough. I picked the best of the 2 and had it mounted as my spare.. to replace the 8 year old OEM spare, that's never been on the ground. (Tires get OLD too)
When the tire guy broke the OEM one down.... I looked at the Build Date
That Tire was build in the 32nd week of 1996 That means... That Tire... (Firestone..zat say anything ) was 4 years old when FORD put it on the Truck.. at the plant, in March of 2000. Additional math sez my spare waz 12+ years old. Not Good Carma.My (30 years with him) Tire store owner* said: Thats what you need to look for Joe, when you see tires at unbelievably LOW prices. He also gathered his workers 'round to show them the 4 year old, when the truck was new, tire.
Scarey.
Just thought I'd pass it on Guyz'n Galz. Check the Build Date.. when you buy tires.
* He never Advertizes or has a Tire Sale.
