New Tires for Low-Mileage Saturn?

My elderly parents have a 1996 Saturn SL2 that has about 25,000 miles on it.
Three of the four tires are original. While the tread looks fine, I'm
wondering if the three 10-year-old tires need to be replaced. The research
I've done indicates that while tire manufacturers don't think that age is a
factor, many auto companies recommend replacement at about 5-6 years. What
do other Saturn owners recommend? Thank you for your help.

"Fantine" > wrote in message
news
> My elderly parents have a 1996 Saturn SL2 that has about 25,000 miles on
> it. Three of the four tires are original. While the tread looks fine, I'm
> wondering if the three 10-year-old tires need to be replaced. The
> research I've done indicates that while tire manufacturers don't think
> that age is a factor, many auto companies recommend replacement at about
> 5-6 years. What do other Saturn owners recommend? Thank you for your
> help.
>

Are the tires weatherchecking on the sidewalls? If not, I would run them
and just keep a close eye on them.

Ken

What does "weatherchecking" mean, please?

"NapalmHeart" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Fantine" > wrote in message
> news
>> My elderly parents have a 1996 Saturn SL2 that has about 25,000 miles on
>> it. Three of the four tires are original. While the tread looks fine,
>> I'm wondering if the three 10-year-old tires need to be replaced. The
>> research I've done indicates that while tire manufacturers don't think
>> that age is a factor, many auto companies recommend replacement at about
>> 5-6 years. What do other Saturn owners recommend? Thank you for your
>> help.
>>
>
> Are the tires weatherchecking on the sidewalls? If not, I would run them
> and just keep a close eye on them.
>
> Ken
>

In my own words, it will show up as a bunch of fine cracks on the sidewalls.
Here are a couple of links that go into the subject to a much greater depth.

http://www.samscars.com/sds6.html

http://www.yokohamatire.com/csstdtrkwar.asp

http://www.coopertire.com/us/en/info...o-glossary.asp

Many more on Google.

Ken

"Fantine" > wrote in message
...
> What does "weatherchecking" mean, please?
>
> "NapalmHeart" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Fantine" > wrote in message
>> news
>>> My elderly parents have a 1996 Saturn SL2 that has about 25,000 miles on
>>> it. Three of the four tires are original. While the tread looks fine,
>>> I'm wondering if the three 10-year-old tires need to be replaced. The
>>> research I've done indicates that while tire manufacturers don't think
>>> that age is a factor, many auto companies recommend replacement at about
>>> 5-6 years. What do other Saturn owners recommend? Thank you for your
>>> help.
>>>
>>
>> Are the tires weatherchecking on the sidewalls? If not, I would run them
>> and just keep a close eye on them.
>>
>> Ken
>>
>
>

for safety sake for your parents I would replace the tires every 5
years max!! If they show sidewall rear I would replace them
immediately.. you wouldn't feel right if they had an accident because
of them.. would you now

Thanks very much for the links.

"NapalmHeart" > wrote in message
...
> In my own words, it will show up as a bunch of fine cracks on the
> sidewalls. Here are a couple of links that go into the subject to a much
> greater depth.
>
> http://www.samscars.com/sds6.html
>
> http://www.yokohamatire.com/csstdtrkwar.asp
>
> http://www.coopertire.com/us/en/info...o-glossary.asp
>
> Many more on Google.
>
> Ken
>
> "Fantine" > wrote in message
> ...
>> What does "weatherchecking" mean, please?
>>
>> "NapalmHeart" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> "Fantine" > wrote in message
>>> news >>>> My elderly parents have a 1996 Saturn SL2 that has about 25,000 miles
>>>> on it. Three of the four tires are original. While the tread looks
>>>> fine, I'm wondering if the three 10-year-old tires need to be replaced.
>>>> The research I've done indicates that while tire manufacturers don't
>>>> think that age is a factor, many auto companies recommend replacement
>>>> at about 5-6 years. What do other Saturn owners recommend? Thank you
>>>> for your help.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Are the tires weatherchecking on the sidewalls? If not, I would run
>>> them and just keep a close eye on them.
>>>
>>> Ken
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Yeah, I think I'm going to replace them, just for the peace of mind.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> for safety sake for your parents I would replace the tires every 5
> years max!! If they show sidewall rear I would replace them
> immediately.. you wouldn't feel right if they had an accident because
> of them.. would you now
>

Thanks for your view. I looked at the tires carefully today and I could see
hairline cracks on the sidewall right where it meets the tread. I'm taking
the car in tomorrow for the new set.

"Biker Geek" > wrote in message
peakeasy.net...
> On Thu, 11 Aug 2005 22:24:21 GMT, Fantine > wrote:
>> My elderly parents have a 1996 Saturn SL2 that has about 25,000 miles on
>> it.
>> Three of the four tires are original. While the tread looks fine, I'm
>> wondering if the three 10-year-old tires need to be replaced. The
>> research
>> I've done indicates that while tire manufacturers don't think that age
>> is a
>> factor, many auto companies recommend replacement at about 5-6 years.
>> What
>> do other Saturn owners recommend? Thank you for your help.
>
> I ride a motorcycle, and won't ride any motorcycle with tires
> over 3 years old--except maybe slowly and carefully to a shop to
> have the tires replaced.
>
> With age, the plasticizers evaporate out of the rubber, the
> rubber gets harder, and the tires have less adhesion. Parking in
> the sun speeds this process, as ultraviolet exposure facilitates
> the evaporation of the plasticizers somehow.
>
> Granted, this is much less of a factor with car tires than
> motorcycle tires, but I'd probably replace any car tires that
> were over five years old.
>
> --
> BikerGeek >
>
> God may be subtle, but He isn't plain mean.
> -- Albert Einstein

What about tires with a warranty 6 years or longer? The first set of tires I
put on my SL1 had a 70,000 mile warranty and I only drive 10,000 a year.

ron herfurth


> wrote in message
oups.com...
> for safety sake for your parents I would replace the tires every 5
> years max!! If they show sidewall rear I would replace them
> immediately.. you wouldn't feel right if they had an accident because
> of them.. would you now
>

You're a good "kid" . Nice to see you are looking after the "old folks."
"