Tyre age

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Discussion

ChilliWhizz

Original Poster:

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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I've been thinking about tyres this morning, mainly due to the new TVR thread talking about how much power people think a modern sports car should have. This led me to thinking about traction and levels of grip, and if this decreased with age... I've done a little research but not yet found anything that answers my thoughts... leaving wear and tread depth aside, it seems that tyres get harder as they get older, seemingly due to chemical changes in the compound due to exposure to sunlight/variations in ambient temperature and chemicals picked up from the road (and maybe other things). It also seems to me that the rear tyres on a rear wheel drive car that's putting rather large amounts of power and torque through them are more likely to degrade in some way than tyres that don't have big numbers going through them.

Anyways, my rears (not been out and checked the date on them yet) have been on the car for 5 years at least, have done around 19000 miles in my custody, and have been regularly treated to large doses of right foot abuse. Amazingly (to me) they're still nowhere near the minimum legal tread depth, and show no external signs of degradation (cracking or bits falling off).

It's difficult to know if the grip (wet or dry roads) has decreased as it would have been a slow process over a number of years, and I suspect one would adjust one's driving style in keeping with the amount of grip (that feeling one gets in one's arse when you're not quite as glued to the road as you expected)

Any thoughts or experiences chaps?

Chilli smile

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Date of manufacture's on the sidewall, 4 digit code, week number and year, but you probably knew that.
As far as I recall the received wisdom was that anything over about 6 years old and you need to be thinking about replacement.

On that topic, some of our esteemed colleagues have been shouting the merits of Uniroyal Rainsport 3 as a replacement tyre. So much so that when I needed tyres for my 260 bhp daily I bought a set. "A" rated for wet grip, I can honestly say that the dry grip is excellent, they are quiet, and the car handles very nicely, steering feels lighter than it did on the old chinese stuff (just bought the car six weeks ago). Not had a chance to wet test it yet myself.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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My thoughts are that a lot of standard tyres are just not good enough for these cars.

If you are having problems with breaking tradition for instance it may be that the tyres are old and not at their best.

If you are inclined to change your tyres then I strongly suggest going for a set of R1Rs, the grip is phenomenal even when they are a few years old.

You are welcome to try mine at any time. The grip on the road is really fantastic.

ChilliWhizz

Original Poster:

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 12th June 2015
quotequote all
phazed said:
If you are having problems with breaking tradition for instance it may be that the tyres are old and not at their best.
'breaking tradition' confused

traction?

Appreciate the offer Peter, was thinking of going the triple R or R1R route when it got near time to get a new set, but the damn things don't seem to want to wear out... Was hoping someone would say 'yep they're knackered after 5 years of hard use despite having lots of tread left'.... this is all I would need to prompt me into buying new tyres smile

Maybe I'm just not driving it right scratchchin

chris watton

22,477 posts

259 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Although not a Chim but a Tamora, I recently changed my tyres after my post run in 4.3 service. The tyres are the same make (Toyo T1R Sports).

The old tyres did seem to be slightly harder, possibly due to age (I think they were on the Tam for around 6 years). When pulling away, it was hard not to spin the rear, sometimes it was a tad embarrassing.

Since having the new tyres fitted, it is much better, so I do think that age of the rubber does play a part in losing traction. I guess it's even more apparent in the V8 cars, due to the huge dollop of lower down torque.

J400GED

1,202 posts

236 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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ChilliWhizz said:
'breaking tradition' confused

traction?

Appreciate the offer Peter, was thinking of going the triple R or R1R route when it got near time to get a new set, but the damn things don't seem to want to wear out... Was hoping someone would say 'yep they're knackered after 5 years of hard use despite having lots of tread left'.... this is all I would need to prompt me into buying new tyres smile

Maybe I'm just not driving it right scratchchin
Yep, they're knackered after 5 years - hard use or not. Put some replacement tyres on - even the same make and model - and you will feel the difference.

bluezeeland

1,965 posts

158 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Chilli,

The tyres do harden with age, as said check the manufacturing date, 6 years would be a maximum (you might be able to buy a new set after all biggrin , the wording is "these tyres are just too old, dear, I want you to be safe" wink )

Think you can factor out the power and torque, as the tyres have a weight and speed rating (91 W, for instance) thats why its so important to fit the correct ones.....

I'd like a set of tasty T1R'........sigh !

Frank

ChilliWhizz

Original Poster:

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Thanks guys smile

Right, where's that number for Quikfit scratchchin

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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You really need to try some R1Rs. Even with 460 torque you have to be fairly brutal to spin them up smile

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Don't go near Quikfit my friend. I am NOT saying they don't do a good job....BUT
All the high street dealers charge about 30-70% more than buying them online.

My Rainsports - 235/45 17, so very much a TVR size.
Quikfit quoted me £120 a tyre for a less good Pirelli - net of their 25% off deal. eek
ATS told me that they couldn't BUY them for les than £100 a tyre themselves, so would be quoting around £120 a tyre.
I paid £71.25 a tyre, then £10 each to have them fitted, balanced etc

Order your R1Rs from Ebay, just make sure it is a supplier who has sold loads of tyres and has a good satisfaction rating. You will have 14 days to return them for a full refund if not happy (distance selling regulations), and will be protected by the Ebay/Paypal "money back if unhappy" guarantee.

Someone like this, for example:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-Toyo-R1-R-R1R-Tyres-T...

That's for TWO tyres, so just over £100 per tyre

ChilliWhizz

Original Poster:

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 12th June 2015
quotequote all
Reference to Kwikfit was my sense of humour at work Anthony wink

Advice much appreciated though as always smile

Edited by ChilliWhizz on Friday 12th June 10:53

ChilliWhizz

Original Poster:

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 12th June 2015
quotequote all
Feck, only 4 number combo on the rears says 3308..........

That's coming up for 7 years.... they must have gone so hard they simply won't wear smile

R1R's it is then, hopefully they make them to fit the 16" Estorils....

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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What are your present tyre sizes?

bluezeeland

1,965 posts

158 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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ChilliWhizz said:
Feck, only 4 number combo on the rears says 3308..........

That's coming up for 7 years.... they must have gone so hard they simply won't wear smile

R1R's it is then, hopefully they make them to fit the 16" Estorils....
You Lucky man ! biggrin

eta; what rotten luck, really feel for you !

ChilliWhizz

Original Poster:

11,990 posts

160 months

Friday 12th June 2015
quotequote all
245/45/16 on the rear and 225/45/16's on the front Anthony.... Front tyres have probably only done about 10k miles, and were manufactured in 2011 frown

leerdam23

606 posts

260 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Change mine every 3 years. New ones defo give better performance on the sprints...

sapper

1,133 posts

204 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Just changed mine today for RE002's. The tyres I had came with the wheels when I bought them, loads of tread but grip was never good enough, rears were 8 years old and spun far too easy, too many snakes leaving roundabouts. And no matter where you are when you come across a snake and your not expecting it its a brown trouser moment.

QBee

20,905 posts

143 months

Friday 12th June 2015
quotequote all
ChilliWhizz said:
245/45/16 on the rear and 225/45/16's on the front Anthony.... Front tyres have probably only done about 10k miles, and were manufactured in 2011 frown
Really struggling to find those sizes. Toyo T1-R and Toyo R888s are about all i have found so far.

ClassiChimi

12,424 posts

148 months

Friday 12th June 2015
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Richard buy some tyre softener, apply it to the inside of the new tyres before fitting wink

roseytvr

1,788 posts

177 months

Saturday 13th June 2015
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[quote=ChilliWhizz

Anyways, my rears (not been out and checked the date on them yet) have been on the car for 5 years at least, have done around 19000 miles in my custody, and have been regularly treated to large doses of right foot

Chilli smile
[/quote]

Richard

Your not trying hard enough mate! My rears have lasted less than half of that. bTW I have some cheap track day wheels and r888s in those sizes if you want them - pm me for more info
Cheers
Ian