F250 Tire Purchase; 2 now 2 later| Ideas?

[Sav'h Steve]

We plan a 6 week cross country trip in 2 months. Our diesel F250 7.3 has early '07 BFG tires with plenty of tread.

Last year we unavoidably hit a tire carcass on I95 and took out a step-up bar support and a small cut/break in the tire. Been running fine since, but should this tire go?. Truck does sit a-lot as used for only A/S use and every 2 wks for keeping it running.

I looked closely at the sidewalls for signs of dry rot and saw only a VERY small amount of cracking 2" off the tread. I wouldn't be concerned if I were not pulling the 25' A/S.

So my plan is to only buy 2 new tires now, put on the ground, and put the 2nd best on the spare and saving one at home (or take with me like I do for the A/S spare in the back of the F250.

Before I do, I look to the collective wisdom of this forum. What would YOU do?

TIA, Steve

[overlander63]

Is the spare you currently have the same tire and age as what is on the ground? If so, I'd replace the damaged tire with the spare, and mount the damaged one up as the "new" spare.

[Action]

I am a crack adverse person. I avoid crack in every place I find it.
Tires
Wheels
Side walks

Oh back to tires. If the tire is greater than 5 years of age and it has cracks of any type, IMO you are asking for a longer than normal drive time. And that would be measured at the side of the road. My TV has 1500 miles since 2006. I know this today because the LR tire has a big bubble in the shoulder after a 50 mile trip over the last weekend. Tires that are used like this (most travel trailer tires are exactly in the same category) should be replaced by age and not mileage. The tires are not designed to go 10 years no matter what the tread looks like.

And cover cover cover the tires if the vehicle isn't used. It keeps 'em from cracking.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

[Sav'h Steve]

Originally Posted by overlander63

Is the spare you currently have the same tire and age as what is on the ground? If so, I'd replace the damaged tire with the spare, and mount the damaged one up as the "new" spare.

Overlander, The spare is nearly bare...when I bought the F250 and most likely is a much older tire. And I would have already disposed of it if I didn't need something as a spare.

And I agree with Action that I'm just a little worried having hit that tire carcass and jolting the rig as it did.

And on age, the tires are just hitting the 4 year mark from the DOT date stamp. I had run my Expedition tires for 8 years with no problems (since new) but the difference there was using it very regularly keeping the tire chemicals moving (and not towing heavy).

So that it why I was thinking of just 2 vs 4 new tires, not to mention the cash outlay.

Steve