Tyres - Age Limit

[GoodOlBoy]

Anyone know what the current state of play is with regard to tyre life ?

Now that they're all date marked I assume that the next step will be to give them a finite lifespan, to be verified at MOT time ?

I recently bought a car with tyres that are probably twenty years old. The car hasn't been used in those twenty years and was stored on blocks.

Visually they appear to be as new and would certainly go through an MOT but I intend to change them anyway, it just got me thinking that's all.

For pre-1960 cars there'll never be an inspection of course so wonder how that will pan out.

[//j17]

At the moment the MoT test only has a visual inspection for thread depth, damage, cracks and splits but who know what may or may not come in in the future.

The recommended life for a tyre from the manufacturers - regardless if fitted/used or not - is 10 years, due to the way the natural rubbers degrade over time and exposure to UV. There's going to be a safety (aka legal ass-covering) margin in their recommendation so you're probably OK for upto 15 years if they are used regularly and looked after. Would I try a set that's been sat for 20 years...think I'd be queuing outside the tyre place with you

[steely dan]

Over here in Ireland it's 6 years from date of manufacture . If they exceed that upon the cars annual inspection then an advisory is issued and if they are still fitted upon the next inspection then the car is failed.
Ironically if the car is over 30 years old then no annual inspection is required . I've seen some " interesting " tyres fitted to some cars at various classic shows ........

[TooMany2cvs]

GoodOlBoy said:

Now that they're all date marked

All tyres have been date-marked since the '80s. It's just that people are more aware of the date marks now.

[anonymous-user]

About 4 years ago I bought a set of Michelin tyres for my classic car, second hand off of ebay, a hard to get size 185 14 'H' rated, they looked great, hardly any use, typical of me I didn't look at all the various details on the sidewall, when I got them home I did 'MADE IN WEST GERMANY' so I'm guessing these must of been 20+ years old.

[Slidingpillar]

In about 2002, I saw an old Army lorry doing service as a motorhome, albeit only to shows and retaining the original outside appearance. Built in the 50s and the tyres were claimed to be the originals!

[PositronicRay]

I bought a midget. 20 y/o tyres, the car was being used regularly but rattled all over the road.

On the drive home (wet road) the car was starting to slide, without trying. Changed tyres and transformed car. How P/O managed I have no idea.

[NiceCupOfTea]

I find 10 years is pushing it. Changed the Bridgestones on my TVR early this year. 7 years old, had cracked and har as nails. A new set transformed it. Similar with my old MX-5.

[roscobbc]

My '68 Vette (bought 15 years ago) had a 10 year old set of B F Goodrich radials. I just had to change them 5 years ago - I couldn't stand the screaming (from the tyres - not 'er indoors) when going around corners. Odd thing about old BFG's the rubber gets harder as they get older - they never, ever wear out! (or grip well!)

[Riley Blue]

I bought a Riley 1.5 restoration project three years ago. It came on a set of wide steel wheels (very nice) and brand new tyres, still with the bobbly bits on but dated decades ago - I could have cried...

[Slidingpillar]

roscobbc said:

My '68 Vette (bought 15 years ago) had a 10 year old set of B F Goodrich radials. I just had to change them 5 years ago - I couldn't stand the screaming (from the tyres - not 'er indoors) when going around corners. Odd thing about old BFG's the rubber gets harder as they get older - they never, ever wear out! (or grip well!)

Yes I found that out with a Landrover Defender. Bought it new, sold it perhaps at 5 years with 87000 on the original BF Goodrich tyres. In terms of miles, there were at least 120000 in them, but would/should be changed ahead of that as the sidewalls were beginning. to show age.

[davepoth]

6 years is the recommendation AIUI, but you can push that a little for a tyre that has not been stored inside (not exposed to UV radiation) and stored properly (not supporting the weight of the car).

[Elderly]

davepoth said:

.... but you can push that a little for a tyre that has not been stored inside (not exposed to UV radiation)

I'm confused!

[roscobbc]

UV radiation from sunlight exposure degrades tyre surface. If stored out of contact with direct sunlight they will not be damaged.

[vpr]

roscobbc said:

UV radiation from sunlight exposure degrades tyre surface. If stored out of contact with direct sunlight they will not be damaged.

Yes I've been told this too

I did have a V12 Etype wering it's original Dunlop SP whitewalls which haven't been available for donkeys years. The car had been stored most of it's life and they performed well even though they must have been 35 yrs old

Also true of my 89 500SL with original tyres and the car has only covered 4k. Still supple and like new. I potter about in it but I think for safety I ought to change them

[roscobbc]

Just had a buddy of mine turn up in his '76 Vette with 255/60/15 BFG's and whilst they are OK tread wise small cracks are appearing in the sidewalls. Whilst these are still available in the UK being 'E' marked they are probably double the cost they were previously.

[a8hex]

vpr said:

roscobbc said:

UV radiation from sunlight exposure degrades tyre surface. If stored out of contact with direct sunlight they will not be damaged.

Yes I've been told this too

I did have a V12 Etype wering it's original Dunlop SP whitewalls which haven't been available for donkeys years. The car had been stored most of it's life and they performed well even though they must have been 35 yrs old

Also true of my 89 500SL with original tyres and the car has only covered 4k. Still supple and like new. I potter about in it but I think for safety I ought to change them

When I bought my XK150 it had 15" wheels. Various people commented that they looked better with the original 16" ones and so I bought a set and stupidly (in hind sight) bought some 2nd hand tyres. These looked hardly used but were over 10 years old since that particular version of the Avon Turbospeed cross ply had been out of production for about that long. The car they came from looked like it had only been out in fine weather occasionally in years and had mostly been kept hidden away.
These looked great, and seemed to work fine.
Then I took them for a track day where again they seemed to run fine. But when I got home I realised the rubber was disintegrating and lots of bits had come away. I was lucky they hadn't failed completely on me.
UV will certainly cause rubber a lot more problems, but even when they haven't seen much sun light don't expect old tyres to hold together like new ones.

[GoodOlBoy]

Michelin recommend changing tyres that are ten years old irrespective of their condition. Just checked and Continental say the same.

I've also read that tyres that are stored, even correctly, can deteriorate more quickly that those that are in regular use. A figure of six years being quoted.

Quote from ROSPA

" Tyres that have been in storage should not be placed into use if they are over 6 years old, from their date of manufacture. When a tyre has been in use, the effects of ageing are lessened to a degree, but such tyres should be replaced after 10 years."

Edited by GoodOlBoy on Sunday 13th September 12:56

[davepoth]

Elderly said:

davepoth said:

.... but you can push that a little for a tyre that has not been stored inside (not exposed to UV radiation)

I'm confused!

You aren't the only one!

[dartissimus]

1915 Willys Overland tourer, 350 miles from new, original solid tyres.
As claimed by owner

Edited by dartissimus on Monday 14th September 10:38