I have some BFG Radial ATs on my Tundra. The way that I park, the drivers side front tire gets a lot of exposure to the sun and has cracked. It is not bulging or anything, but the belt cords are exposed. Is there a good tire treatment that can be applied to prevent this from happening in the future?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
I have some BFG Radial ATs on my Tundra. The way that I park, the drivers side front tire gets a lot of exposure to the sun and has cracked. It is not bulging or anything, but the belt cords are exposed. Is there a good tire treatment that can be applied to prevent this from happening in the future?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken
Just how old are they? If they're really old like my last set they crack and dry rot, 303 protectant mite help along with nitrogen gas to prevent the corrosion, or try some Coppertone sunblock
Just how old are they? If they're really old like my last set they crack and dry rot, 303 protectant mite help along with nitrogen gas to prevent the corrosion, or try some Coppertone sunblock
I can't remember when I bought them, but the date code says 2003 which sounds about right. I have had nitrogen in the tires since they were installed.
Is the 303 Protectant something you can buy at Kragen or a place like that? Do you know who it is made by? Just curious.
Applying Coppertone SPF 50 this afternoon
Thanks for the help.
Ken
I can't remember when I bought them, but the date code says 2003 which sounds about right. I have had nitrogen in the tires since they were installed.
Is the 303 Protectant something you can buy at Kragen or a place like that? Do you know who it is made by? Just curious.
Applying Coppertone SPF 50 this afternoon
Thanks for the help.
Ken
The dry cracking has a lot to do with the age of the tire and exposure. I generally recommend people change their tires every 4 to 5 years due to it.
Another option you may check into, most tire manufacters have a warrenty to cover that up to X number of years. I don't know about the BFGs, but Goodyear covers theirs at 4 years(down to the week of manufacture). I'd take them back to the seller and see what he could do for you. They would prorate the price, but it would help on a new tire.
My BFG's state a 6 year warranty, but that is prorated.
303 Protectant is the cheapest through amazon, especially if you buy the larger sizes. The shipping on the large containers are high though ($10.95).
I have been using it since the mid 80's when I came across it while living in CA. Have used it on motor vehicles and boats. Keeps it in like new condition. Can be used exterior and interior vinyl, and rubber. The state it is good on leather. However, I use a different leather cleaner/protectant.
The dry cracking has a lot to do with the age of the tire and exposure. I generally recommend people change their tires every 4 to 5 years due to it.
Another option you may check into, most tire manufacters have a warrenty to cover that up to X number of years. I don't know about the BFGs, but Goodyear covers theirs at 4 years(down to the week of manufacture). I'd take them back to the seller and see what he could do for you. They would prorate the price, but it would help on a new tire.
I showed the tire to the guy where I bought them and it had a date code of 2003. He really tried to talk me out of trying to get it prorated stating that he would have to send the tire back to BFG, they would probably not cover it or only give me $20. Personally, I think he is full of it. I used to work in a service bay and basically there was a chart you went by to determine what percentage of usable life is left in the tire/battery, etc. Then you applied that to the replacement price of the same or similar item.
I didn't have the energy to argue with the guy. Is it just me or does it seem like the used car salesmen of yesterday have become the tire salesman of today?
Today I bought some "No-Touch Tire Care" spray from Costco. It was $15 and has 3 cans of tire protectant and 1 can of wheel cleaner. I thought it was worth a try.
Is the Costco stuff a dressing to make tires shiny, or a protectant? 303 works the way it does because it's sacrificing the stuff in the 303, the same way anti-seize resists galvanic corrosion, and that's why you have to reapply 303 after a while. Some of the tire shine stuff will leech out the protective material in the rubber and cause it to crack faster; some Turtle Wax and Armor All products were notorious for doing this.
I showed the tire to the guy where I bought them and it had a date code of 2003. He really tried to talk me out of trying to get it prorated stating that he would have to send the tire back to BFG, they would probably not cover it or only give me $20. Personally, I think he is full of it. I used to work in a service bay and basically there was a chart you went by to determine what percentage of usable life is left in the tire/battery, etc. Then you applied that to the replacement price of the same or similar item.
You're right about the usable life left determining the proration rate. For him to get his money back the tire would have to go back to BFG. Depending on how he bought the tire initially, he should know what amount of credit to give you. If he bought the tire straight from BFG he would have an adjustment chart showing the percentage of credit. If he bought it from a wholesaler, all it takes is a phone call.
The only thing is, the tire would have to be shipped back to BFG before the 4 years was up. But like I said in my other post they can get that down to the week of production. The last 4 digits of the D.O.T. code contains that info. The first two digits are the week, the second two are the year. For example 2003 would be the 20th week of 03. The shipping situation may be what he was looking at, but thats on them. Even if they had to eat that $20, they would've helped you out and still made money.
Quote:
Is it just me or does it seem like the used car salesmen of yesterday have become the tire salesman of today?
Is the Costco stuff a dressing to make tires shiny, or a protectant? 303 works the way it does because it's sacrificing the stuff in the 303, the same way anti-seize resists galvanic corrosion, and that's why you have to reapply 303 after a while. Some of the tire shine stuff will leech out the protective material in the rubber and cause it to crack faster; some Turtle Wax and Armor All products were notorious for doing this.
-Sean
Hi Sean. The Costco stuff says "Cleans, Shines & Protects". It also boasts that it provides the maximum level of ozone and UV protection.
I could care less about the shine, just want the tires protected. Looking "clean" is a bonus.
I wasn't sure when I bought the stuff how well it will work. It was kind of a matter of convenience (I was in Costco and happened to see it).
I wonder if a good gauge as to how long it lasts is how long it takes for the tires to loose their "shine"?
I will post again in a month or two after I have tried them on a few cars.
Ken
You're right about the usable life left determining the proration rate. For him to get his money back the tire would have to go back to BFG. Depending on how he bought the tire initially, he should know what amount of credit to give you. If he bought the tire straight from BFG he would have an adjustment chart showing the percentage of credit. If he bought it from a wholesaler, all it takes is a phone call.
The only thing is, the tire would have to be shipped back to BFG before the 4 years was up. But like I said in my other post they can get that down to the week of production. The last 4 digits of the D.O.T. code contains that info. The first two digits are the week, the second two are the year. For example 2003 would be the 20th week of 03. The shipping situation may be what he was looking at, but thats on them. Even if they had to eat that $20, they would've helped you out and still made money.
I guess what I was trying to say is that you are right, he should have been able to give me a dollar amount for the proration right there. What he gets back from BFG is between him and BFG. They are a big tire store with about ten stores in the adjacent cities/counties. I think that he just didn't want to hassle with it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jason73
Ouch! (I'm a tire salesman)
Doesn't take me long to put my foot in my mouth
Sorry.
Ken
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Last edited by keninsb; 06-26-2007 at 11:52 AM.
Reason: typo
Doesn't take me long to put my foot in my mouth
Sorry.
Ken, its no problem. A lot of people in the tire business(and some other businesses too) have forgotten the best way to keep a customer comming back is to treat him fairly and keep him happy.
Ken, its no problem. A lot of people in the tire business(and some other businesses too) have forgotten the best way to keep a customer comming back is to treat him fairly and keep him happy.
Amen to that! The guys at the tire shops here in town talk like telemarketers on speed.
BFG Tire Cracked
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