<VV>Tire "aging"

[mygroups]

Back in '93 I bought a VW Rabbit 'vert (was in Italy) and started 
driving it all over. One day (during the heat of the day and 
consequently siesta hours) the right rear blew out. We were 20 miles 
from home just roaming around. EVERYTHING was closed. Got the never used 
spare out of the trunk only to find it was flat... We drove home on that 
flat tire the whole way at 10 miles per hour or so. Shredded the tire, 
ruined the rim, and a couple weeks later the wheel bearing gave up too. 
Check that spare... <griN!> And to think we were "testing" this car into 
the low triple digits on the autostrada days earlier. ('84 Rabbit 'vert 
would do about 120 mph). New set of steel rims, new Pirelli 500s and we 
were travelling up and down the autostrada at 100 mph+ for hrs. per 
trip. (at $4.75 per gallon of gas).

I'm alot more picky these days about my car's maintenance and safety 
equipment (lighting, tires, suspension, BRAKES!) <griN!>

Chris in Cookeville