hydroplaning....tires or weather?

Those are really old tires. Somewhere in the Owner's Manual you'll more-n-likely find a caution that a mechanic should check over any tires older than 5 years. FWIW, our's are coming up on 6 years, and I'm getting a bit nervous.

If you're tires were closer to the 5 year mark I'd say look them over very carefully, especially checking for cracks. But 12 year old plus? Just get new.

There's a number on the sidewall that'll tell you the year and week of the year that the tires were made:

Tire Tech Information - Determining the Age of a Tire

 

hard to determine from way over here. it's never the weather, but how you adjust to it. i would recommend new tyres and slower driving.

 

Winter tyres perhaps surprisingly are not so good in wet conditions as some summer tyres. They are however much better on ice, and snow. Also winter tyres are considered worn out with a much greater tread depth left than summer tyres.
As "Mendel" above suggests your tyres are very old and as such are more liable to blowouts because of the degradation of both the rubber compound and the tyre casing. Check them very carefully for cracking on the sidewalls especially close to the wheel rims and the area where the tread starts.
Tyre compounds have also come a long way in the last 10 years.

John

 

As noted above, those are old tires.

It's up to the person.
But here's my opinion, take it or leave it.

If you are experiencing an increased amount of incidents where you are losing traction and spinning out in situations where you did not before? Then I think that's your tires trying to tell you something.

It's a safety issue. So my bottom line with tires is if at any point I start to feel any set is making me insecure driving in common conditions, then it's time to get a new set.

Really what's the worst case scenario? You replace tires over a decade old....that still "look" good? VS. Perhaps you save your life because your new tires have superior grip and traction.

I don't think I'd put 12+ year old tires on my vehicle even if they looked factory fresh. All compounds degrade with time. Time is an agent of deterioration.

I'd invest into good replacements, designed to handle the conditions you are most often driving in for that given set of tires.

 

I try never to skimp on tyres, for when it comes down to it, your tyres are the most important link between you and the road, so compromise at your own risk!

 

Sounds like the rubber has hardened over time. I would replace them...

 

Barring a worn out tread, my money is on the underinflated tires. Pump them up to 40f/38r and you should be fine.

 

Twelve year old tires, they may blow, lol.

 

Tires, tire pressure, and driving...

 

Even the newest and best tire will not prevent hydroplaning

Tires are the only thing that keeps you vehicle connected to the road !regular maintenance , inspections, replace within 5 years even with good amount of tread on it , your life may depend on them. and slow down in foul weather!

 

First bit of moisture causes road surface oils to rise.

That's the slipperiest non-ice/snow condition, which then just becomes a wet road when the road oils are washed off by heavier rain.