28 replies to this topic

[wilsonch]

Very quick question.
My mpi is slowly getting there, and im at the point if getting the wheels refirb.
Looking at the tyres they appear almost new, very little tread wear. Yokas a539's
However i have had the car 3 years rebuilding. Prior to that the car was sat on a drive for 5 years. Never moved.
And fitted for probably a year but very few miles.
Question is are these tyres done.
Should I just bin the tyres and just get new. Or are they worth trying.

[Steam]

If there are no cracks or splits in the walls and they hold air and the tread is legal then they are fine. Basically if they look alright then they probably are.
That being said if you are in the least bit concerned then fit new tyres.

[Spider]

Most manufacturers that I've looked at say 7 years is the life of tyres.

There is a date code on the sidewall - unless they are ancient !

You need to look up what year they are from that code;-

 

https://www.michelin...kings-explained

 

[bpirie1000]

Very quick question.
My mpi is slowly getting there, and im at the point if getting the wheels refirb.
Looking at the tyres they appear almost new, very little tread wear. Yokas a539's
However i have had the car 3 years rebuilding. Prior to that the car was sat on a drive for 5 years. Never moved.
And fitted for probably a year but very few miles.
Question is are these tyres done.
Should I just bin the tyres and just get new. Or are they worth trying.

Three year build... you must be tired

Have a break... save yourself getting deflated with it all..

Maybe putting to much pressure on yourself to finish.....

Sure the restoration is looking wheelie good....

As above though tyres rubbers go off and the rubber becomes solid and less flexible which then gives less grip.

Consider changing these but as always, your budget dictates most things.

(The jokes are free.....)

Edited by bpirie1000, 24 January 2024 - 07:30 AM.

[Davidmt]

I have just bought new tyres for mine - the ones still on the car are dated 2009!!  They are showing signs of their age (aren't we all!) but still hold pressure.  As soon as the weather improves they will be swapped over.

[68+86auto]

It very much depends on how they were stored. As long as you keep watching for any signs of cracking they will be fine.

[Homersimpson]

10 years is the generall accepted limit for tyres, while they might be ok after that the rubber may have hardened reducing grip and there is more of a risk of issues.

 

Personally if I had spent three years rebuilding a car the last thing I would want to do is risk damaging it on old tyres.

[lsto]

Different kettle of fish but on psv vehicles a tyre older then 10 years on the front axle is a MOT fail and on any other axle is 'not recommended'
Personally I would replace just for piece of mind. Don't want to come unstuck blasting round a corner for the sake of a few hundred quid.

[MatthewsDad]

Rubber deteriorates over time. They may look fine, hold pressure and the treads may be ok but wait until you slam on the brakes in wet conditions and you'll appreciate why they have date marks.

[mab01uk]

Manchester News report below from a few years ago....

 

Mechanic killed by car he treasured

"CLASSIC car fan Keith Lester died after his treasured MGB flipped onto its roof when one its 25-year-old tyres burst on a motorway.

The popular mechanic, known as Bob, was on the M56 near Hale when the blow-out sent his car spinning across the road and onto its roof on a grass verge.

Deputy coroner Graham Jackson said manufacturers recommend tyres over five years old should not be used because they start to deteriorate.

He recorded a verdict of accidental death."

https://www.manchest...reasured-988730

Edited by mab01uk, 24 January 2024 - 07:40 PM.

[timmy850]

This is an article about a new used 13 year old tyre. They suggest that a few heat cycles are needed on new tyres to really help them bond together. Of course different peoples opinions and experiences will vary

I’d always recommend that the tyres are the last thing you buy for your project car, so they are as fresh as possible. If the car has been sitting on the weight of the tyres for years without moving they can also get flat spots from deformation

https://motoiq.com/w...really-matters/

[nicklouse]

Most tyre fitters will not put tyres on rims that are older than 10 years.

Edited by nicklouse, 24 January 2024 - 09:12 PM.

[mbolt998]

Most tyre fitters will not put tyres on rims that are older than 10 years.

Why not? There's nothing wrong with the rims. I didn't have any trouble with that but did need to hunt around a little bit for a fitter who hadn't forgotten how to use tyre levers-- 10" wheels don't fit in the machines most people have any more!

[Midas Mk1]

Most tyre fitters will not put tyres on rims that are older than 10 years.

Why not? There's nothing wrong with the rims. I didn't have any trouble with that but did need to hunt around a little bit for a fitter who hadn't forgotten how to use tyre levers-- 10" wheels don't fit in the machines most people have any more!

Common sense really, only 4 things that keep you on the road, chancing it with old rubber isn’t the correct way.

That said, I work on £100k plus cars, and it’s scary how some have beyond budget tyres on..

[Davidmt]

I think there was some confusion above about the age of the tyres or rims - the joys of internet punctuation .   The rims will not have an age limit where as tyres obviously do and I agree it would be unwise to fit tyres over 10 years old no matter how well stored - they are the only part of the car between you and the road and let's be honest the Mini tyres are hardly expensive compared to modern equivalents.  However I can also agree with Mini Mad above - what a struggle I had this month to find a fitter who could actually fit tyres to my 10 inch rims.   If there is a next time I will just look for a fully fitted package!