Is this tire ok for a spare?

[superbenk]

I'm replacing the Duro load-range D bias-ply tires with new radials this year due to some dry rot. The tires I'm replacing are only about a year & a half old, but one is really bad. The other is showing some tiny cracks, but it's nowhere near as bad as the other one.

My question is, can I use the better one as a spare or are both of them just too rotten to use at all?

Here's the really bad one:

Here's the not-so-bad one (this is the one I'd like to use as a spare):

I'll be using these rims for the new radials & putting the spare on another rim I have.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

It will be ok as a spare but should you need to use it, make darned sure you slow down and be aware that there is one questionable tire in the mix.

 

[mommicked]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Thats a shame,It looks like a tough tire w alot of tred left.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Keep the sun off that spare or it will look like the other tire in short order.

 

[superbenk]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Thats a shame,It looks like a tough tire w alot of tred left.

Yep. Pretty sure it's all sun & wind that got to it. I'll be hauling the next set off to the basement for winter storage instead of leaving them on the trailer. Might look into some covers too.

 

[nlain]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

NO. That is what you call a maypop. You to not need that for a spare.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Tell you a story about spare tires like that:

On a 135 mile trip from PA to NY, I was carrying two spares in that condition. I figured that with two, even if one went bad I always had a back-up.

I had one blow-out halfway up the Jersey Turnpike. Stopped and put on the spare. Had another blow-out about 30 miles later. Stopped and put on the other spare. Ten miles later, another driver was frantically flagging me. One of the spare tires was losing its tread. I pulled off at the next exit. Luckily it was not too late and there was a K Mart close by ( at that time they all sold trailer tires but were getting rid of their stock.) I pulled into the parking lot on the tire cords. I found no tires at the boating section but a kindly worker told me that there were some in the auto repair shop.

Again, luckily, there were 4 of my type mounted on wheels so I bought two (at a really good close-out price) and put them on the trailer. Continued the trip uneventfully.

NOW: If it were slightly later and I could not find tires, AND if I needed to leave the boat, would those spares have been of any worth? You decide if you want to take the chance. If you do long distance towing, Would it be worth 90 bucks of insurance to buy a better tire?

 

[JimS123]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Spent the afternoon repacking my bearings and putting on the 5 new tires and wheels I just bought. My spare was never run and it didn't even look half as bad as yours, but I replaced it anyway. For about $65 the peace of mind was worth it.

 

[tpassmore]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

use it as a 2nd or 3rd spare. on trips i always have one very good and one or two used spares. fortunately ive never had a flat. Put some Armoral or other UV protectant on them plus a cover.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Boy, you guys have some rough conditions going on there...1.5 years old and it has sun checked that bad!!!!

I would not even attempt to use it for a spare, I spend a lot of time on gravel and with that type of cracking, I am sure I would have a flat real quick...

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Replace it. Peace of mind.

 

[lckstckn2smknbrls]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

You have had the tire 1.5 years but What's the date code on the tire?

 

[superbenk]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

You have had the tire 1.5 years but What's the date code on the tire?

Good point. They were on sale or clearance when I bought them so they may have been on the shelf for awhile. I'm not sure I'm reading the code right (it's hard to read what's stamped there), but if I am, they look like they might be from 2007. I guess they're due regardless of the cracking. I'm ordering 3 new tires. I was hoping to get away with only ordering 2, but I guess not.

 

[tschmidty]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

I'd say it depends on how far you are going. If you are a short distance from a ramp then sure. Highway, no. I have one worse than that but I could take 35 mph roads from my ramp to home.

And invest in some 303 protectorant for the new tires. Good stuff to prevent UV damage. Covers would be good too, but again, I'd invest in some 303 the covers too.

And yeah my guess is that they were fairly old when you bought em. they actually age worse when they are sitting around from what I read somewhere or another. It was on the internet, it must be true!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Honestly I would not take a chance on them, I usually replace tires at about 6 years even if they have good tread because by then, they all start cracking, even Michelins. I have a set of Load Star bias tires (Kenda) on my old Load Rite trailer that date from 2004 that look great, though, not one crack anywhere on them and I never covered up the tires. I think the Load Stars are one of the better trailer tires....

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Is this tire ok for a spare?

Think of tires like a motor: They reach an operating temperature in a fairly short time and then maintain it. So it doesn't matter if it's 20miles or 150 miles they will reach the same temp and when cracked like that will seperate. They will reach that temp faster when loaded. I wouldn't use them, when they blow and rip off a fender and tear up your rig you'll wish you hadn't. Cracking is worse than have no tread.