The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 20 year old tires

When I rescued my 38 a little over a year ago it had been sitting in an unheated barn for about 30 years on flat tires. I wasn't sure if the tires would hold air & how much of a fight it would be to get it home if they wouldn't hold air. I brought my 30 gal compressor with me just in case. I put air in the tires & they came up OK and held the air. The 38 sat in the garage for several month on those same tires while I got her running & road worthy again. Before I took her to the county seat to get her inspected and legal again I checked the air & all four were still above 30 psi. All four were severely checked. I have replaced the two rear tires but still have the old tires on the front and haven't had to add any air to them. I don't drive fast on them and will get two more for the front when I can afford it. My point is that if the tires are free take them, inspect them for dry rot, if they look OK put them on and keep an eye on them to see if they start to go to pieces. I wouldn't be that scared of them if they aren't coming apart. I would also keep in mind that they ARE old and would drive accordingly.