Old tyre sense check...

[Bill]

I have a set of barely worn winter tyres that have been stored on their sides in a garage, but they're 13 years old... And now we're back in an SMax and thinking of driving to the Alps.

So, bin or use??

[E-bmw]

If they have been stored correctly, hold pressure & have no signs of cracking they will be fine.

However if you are going to "the Alps" it may be a good idea to check the local tyre laws.

[Matt_T]

I'd inflate them and put them on the car now and see if they hold pressure and don't have any cracks... then make a decision.

A compromise would be to buy two new tires for the front and run the best-looking of the old tyres on the rear.

[Simon_GH]

If they’ve been kept in the dark then I suspect they’ll be fine. UV is often cited as the enemy of older tyres. We’ve got a set of winter tyres from 2017 which are cleaned and kept in the dark and they’re perfect.

[underwhelmist]

Matt_T said:

I'd inflate them and put them on the car now and see if they hold pressure and don't have any cracks... then make a decision.

A compromise would be to buy two new tires for the front and run the best-looking of the old tyres on the rear.

The rule is best tyres on the back isn’t it?

[wyson]

I’d follow the manufacturers guidance. What does their website say about life span?

Don’t the plasticisers in tyres need centrifugal force to distribute evenly? At least I remember reading that. Don’t winter tyres rely on softer rubber so the sipes can do their work?

Edited by wyson on Sunday 8th December 23:07

[Pica-Pica]

underwhelmist said:

Matt_T said:

I'd inflate them and put them on the car now and see if they hold pressure and don't have any cracks... then make a decision.

A compromise would be to buy two new tires for the front and run the best-looking of the old tyres on the rear.

The rule is best tyres on the back isn’t it?

It is. However, I don’t think that I would drive to the Alps on 13 year old tyres, however stored.

[Sheepshanks]

You might find places reluctant to fit them - even the back street place I used to swap the wheels over on wife’s Tiguan said they wouldn’t fit them again as they were 10 yrs old.

Also tyres aren’t meant to be stored long term on their sides.

[Tony1963]

Sell them. Don’t mention the age in the advert, see how it goes. No way would I go anywhere slightly challenging with tyres that old.

[jimmyjimjim]

I just binned a set of Kumho Ecsta tires from 2012 ish. They'd been stored inside, covered. No cracks, looked fine. However, the compound was absolutely rock solid, wouldn't have trusted them an inch.

Another point worth mentioning - the PA2's are now a ~15 year old design (I had a set on the Evo in 2007), the current Pilot Alpins are PA5. I'd much rather go with 15 years of advancement of tire technology (I was never a great fan of high performance tires; never felt they were very progressive. Then tried the PS4 and was blown away with how much tires have come on in 15 years).

Seriously, I'd be extremely hesitant, unless putting them on a car just to get it moving.

[turbomoggie]

Imo get rid if they're that old. Not worth risking your life over.

[Bill]

Cheers all, I was erring on the side of getting rid anyway.

Tony1963 said:

Sell them. Don’t mention the age in the advert, see how it goes. No way would I go anywhere slightly challenging with tyres that old.

If I'm not prepared to use them I'm not prepared to sell them...

[Simon_GH]

Bill said:

If I'm not prepared to use them I'm not prepared to sell them...

Is the ethical answer.

[Matt_T]

underwhelmist said:

Matt_T said:

I'd inflate them and put them on the car now and see if they hold pressure and don't have any cracks... then make a decision.

A compromise would be to buy two new tires for the front and run the best-looking of the old tyres on the rear.

The rule is best tyres on the back isn’t it?

I think it is, however for front engine front wheel drive cars I've always ignored it and put fresh rubber on the front as they are set up to understeer.

[Pica-Pica]

Matt_T said:

underwhelmist said:

Matt_T said:

I'd inflate them and put them on the car now and see if they hold pressure and don't have any cracks... then make a decision.

A compromise would be to buy two new tires for the front and run the best-looking of the old tyres on the rear.

The rule is best tyres on the back isn’t it?

I think it is, however for front engine front wheel drive cars I've always ignored it and put fresh rubber on the front as they are set up to understeer.

I know it is. RWD, FWD, AWD, best on the rear.

[wyson]

Matt_T,

Have you ever spent time on a skid pan or beyond the limits of grip? On a daily, I'd much rather have an under steer bias. Oversteer is very hard to control unless you are skilled.

Quite a lot of YouTube videos where they demo why the best tyres should go on the back. Especially important in the wet.

[Tony1963]

wyson said:

Matt_T,

Have you ever spent time on a skid pan or beyond the limits of grip? On a daily, I'd much rather have an under steer bias. Oversteer is very hard to control unless you are skilled.

Quite a lot of YouTube videos where they demo why the best tyres should go on the back. Especially important in the wet.

My advice: don’t waste your breath. People will still do what they believe is correct.
As long as all tyres are legal, it probably won’t matter except to their wallets.