http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?...029&page=1

Scary, isn't it?

 

It is very scary!

The tires that came with my B3500 when I bought it last year were in very good shape, tread-wise. But the van had been sitting for a while, and after I put perhaps 2000 miles on the tires they started to come apart. One practically disintegrated (the tread separated) while I was doing 65mph in heavy traffic. I managed to get it onto the shoulder without incident, but it was really close to disaster. A day or two prior to that another one had lost a good chunk of thread and became rather deformed.

After that I went immediately to a tire shop and replaced all four tires. No point in messing around.

 

My van has new Yokohama Geloander HT/S G051's on since late last summer.

 

I will be replaceing the ones on the van I am buying. With so many tire dealers selling old-new tires I wonder how we can make sure that the tires we are buying are NEW and not OLD-NEW? Any suggestions?

 

Um...read the date code on the tire?

 

How about when the tires are in their storage area until install, say like Wal-Mart, Sears, or Discount Tire? These type of places will not let you just go back there and look at the tires before they are installed on your car.

 

Hmm, I always inspect the tires before they go on any of my vehicles. I always ask and they've always let me. I also bring a silver sharpie with me and initial the tread, just to make sure they don't switch them when I go back to the waiting area. After all, no reputable business would expect any customer to buy something sight unseen. If the customer choses to do so, then that's their choice, not the choice of thebusiness. I suppose if I asked and they said no, in so many words, I'd tell them to keep their tires and I'd go elsewhere.

 

I like and agree with the way you described how you buy your tires. I have to admit that I have never thought of that.