Arrgh, damm tyres

[TimJM]

Typical - just bloody typical.

On my way to growl for a quick pint and the rear passenger tyre has gone. I say gone, the car felt a little sloppy under acceleration. When I stopped to take a look the tyre looked slightly flat - not much but slightly. However, the pressure gauge was reading 0 psi. Pumped it back up to 30psi and the tyre has stayed up (so far) but has hairline cracks in the tyre wall. Are these tyres run flats? They are 245/45 r16 bridgestone potenza s-02's.

Not sure I want to risk 150 miles on it...although, it it stays up for the next hour or so it might be ok.

Just typical. After bribing the wife to look after the kids all day while I went out playing too. What a waste of grovelling that was.

Tim.

[Johno]

Not run flats, just tyres that haven't been made for a long time, except for Porsches.

The cracks are because they're likely to be ancient and if you need to grovel it'll for replacing those tyres with some fresher rubber.

[lestershaw]

Hi Tim, check the dot number on the sidewall of the tyres which should tell you the year and week of the year they were made, apparently six year old tyres are considered the maximum age for a tyre, lots of tvrs have old tyres on them. they start to degrade from the inside and still look ok on the outside!
good luck
Lester

[EGB]

Bridgestone replied to my email since their age markings were confusing. They were made in 1991! Side walls were so hard, the tyre fitter had a job taking them off. New NEXEN tyres fitted. No more go cart tramlining. Excellent ride now even on B roads.

[EGB]

Tim. Should have said 2001 tyres not 1991, strewth! I need some sleep eye.

[TimJM]

Thanks for the replies - I think you are all correct about the tyres. Having done a little research I would say they are at least 7 years old and have perished in places. I also found the cause of my puncture on Saturday morning:


It looks like a shard of metal that is virtually on the side wall. Still every cloud and all that, having had a good look at the tyres they needed replacing anyway even without the puncture.

So, what to fit?

I had Toyo T1S's on my last TVR (4.5 cerb) which seemed fine once warmed up but could be slippy in the wet (lots of sideways action on islands). Does anyone have any recommendations? Are the T1R's any better in the wet?

Tim.

[JR]

TimJM said:

I had Toyo T1S's on my last TVR (4.5 cerb) which seemed fine once warmed up but could be slippy in the wet (lots of sideways action on islands). Does anyone have any recommendations? Are the T1R's any better in the wet?

Yes, but the edge of the tyre deteriorates faster with spirited driving or trackdays. T1-R is probably your best choice though unless you switch to 225/50/16.

[TimJM]

Right, some new T1R are being fitted on Wednesday.


Last question (for tonight), just to make sure - are the jacking points on the grif the same as the cerb ones? Basically front outriggers and rear in front of wheel as in this diagram:


Cheers,

Tim.

[Johno]