Am i reading this right?

[Raz]

Headed out for one last trip before winter we had a blow out. Since we bought the trailer new in 2010 it never occurred to me to look at the date code until now. Am I correct that this tire was made in 2007? Raz

[Alf S.]

Hi: P. Raz... Looks like 38th week of '07 to me, but normally the date code is in the oval shaped, raised section of rubber, between the letters JU and the numbers in your pic's. Check the other two tires for the same markings.
The bad series of valve stems we encountered were produced in China in '07 too!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Jack L]

I agree with Alf S. Your tire was made in 07. When was your 2010 trailer built ? My 94 Bigfoot was built in mid 93 and it still had two of the origional tires on it when I bought it from the origional owner. They were dated 92. It's not unusual for tires from Asia to be a year old or even older. Keep in mind that they had that long boat ride to get to the U.S. and they could have been in the importers warehouse for some time. After that, they could have been in a wholesalers warehouse before going to the trailer manufactures and ultimately being installed on your trailer.

It's always good to know the condition and age of your tires. It might be time for some new ones and check the date on the new tires when you buy them.

[rabbit]

Let's say you check the date codes on three or five or just one. My experience with Eastern Marine suggests that the challenge of actually buying tires with a this yr. or last date code doesn't end with simply being able to ID those that are long in the tooth. It's not like they're going to feel shame at wanting to dispose of their inventory, folks. From their point of view if the paper sticker is legible and there's a paint stripe down the middle of the tread, it's as new as it gets. Knowledge is not always power but it's usually a good indicator that you need more power than you've got. I don't have a nephew in the biz and haven't felt compelled to bring heat from the BBB. How do folks with matched sets get em to roll out their best wares before throwing shekels on the blanket?

jack

[Carol H]

Raz, sadly what you have found is not all that uncommon.

ABC News Exclusive: Old tires sold as New - May 2012

[Donna D.]

It may be just wording, but when it comes to tires:

new vs used
fresh vs old

A 30 year "old" tire may be considered as "new" if it hasn't rolled the ground because it's not used.....

When I buy tires for my Scamp, I ask for fresh tires and let the tire guy know I'm going to look at the Born On Date.

Prior to becoming knowlegable, when I'd go buy tires (for anything) and the tire guy rolled out the tires for me to look at, the only attention I paid was to the tread.

Knowledge is power!

[Bob Miller]

I agree with Alf, that doesn't look like all of the 2000 and later date codes I have seen. Look for a single oval with 4 number inside that looks like the oval just to the left of these numbers. Those may be mold and operator codes .

If I saw sloppy date codes like that on a new tire I would question the quality as well.

BTW: What is the mfg name on the tire and where was it made???

[Raz]

Tires are Carlisle radial trail. No oval. What you see is all there is. Both the tires that came with the trailer have the tire code mounted inward so you need to remove the wheel to check it. It never occurred to me that a trailer with a May 2010 build date would be sold with 3 year old tires. I bought the spare locally. It's dated Sept 2009. The code is in a circle. I suspect the ones that came with the trailer were bought during one of the earlier Trillium RV endeavors and stored until needed.

I was about to replace them. I assumed they were about 4 years old not 6. Thank goodness it blew at low speed and close to home and not during the 6000 mile trip we just completed. Thanks all, Raz

[rabbit]

You must be a lot more intimidating than most of us, Donna.

jack

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by rabbit

You must be a lot more intimidating than most of us, Donna.

jack

just an educated consumer.

[floyd]

Originally Posted by rabbit

Let's say you check the date codes on three or five or just one. My experience with Eastern Marine suggests that the challenge of actually buying tires with a this yr. or last date code doesn't end with simply being able to ID those that are long in the tooth.
jack

Would that make those tires...wait for it...wait for it...Roadents??
Wouldn't that make the tread last forever?

[carlkeigley]

While snapping pictures over and under I noticed the trailer
is older than the shell. Now I'll have to look at my tires.......LOL