I've got a set of Hakkapellitta tires that are a few months past the manufacturer's 10-year limit on use, and Discount Tire was very blunt about the fact that they won't re-mount them on my 17" winter wheels due to their age. The tires have one season left on them, and the compound is in great shape. Does anyone have suggestions regarding where I might be able to get them mounted as winter approaches?
Personally I'd question a 10 year old tire's integrity...but if you really want to get them mounted, Jeff the Alignment guy might mount em.
Contact Justin with Vision Speedworks. He can do mounting, but may be along the same lines as Discount Tire. He'll be able to explain the reasoning behind why mounting tire this old may not be the best idea. He knows his stuff about tires, and will give you the best solution. His new tire prices are on par with Tire Rack.
My reasoning for trying to get one more season out of the tires is because I'm about to be laid off this month, so trying to save money, they'll only be one winter over the 10-year mark, and they've got a little over one season of tread left before it's too shallow for good snow driving. When they were removed, the techs at Discount Tire said they were in excellent shape, and would only need to be retired due to age. They (off the record) said that they'd be good for one or two more seasons if I knew someone who could mount them. I only want to get one more season out of them regardless.
How does one reach out to Jeff the Alignment Guy? I don't see a vendor profile for him, or a member profile.
Regardless of the tread depth, the rubber on those tires would be very suspect. Rubber tires have a half life. The compounds used will not retain their usefulness for that length of time. They may appear to be fine, but they will not be as effective as they were designed to be. I'd try to find a different set of tires. Check Craigs List. You will be better off with a newer tire than risking running those old ones. Just think of the cost if you have an accident because of poor tires. http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/pts/4173965161.html http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/pts/4200447895.html Jeff the Alignment Guy
