Tyres Ageing - When are they too old

[hkp57]

I saw some new never fitted racing wet tyres Yokohama A006 that are fairly cheap, trouble is they were made in year 2008 in a medium compound

Will these be age hardened beyond reasonable use?

[Mighty Flex]

Probably. Certainly not performing like new, but if stored correctly they should still be structurally ok, just crap grip, feel and progression, especially in the wet.

[CedricN]

Is it for racing or for fun?

I have run through several sets of Pilot sport cup 1 in an odd dimension 205/50 15", i bought a big pile of used ones from a racing team. They were both old and heat cycled. They worked well anyway, be very careful the first laps if they are second hand as you need to rub of the surface rubber (They were slippery as hell for the first lap). But after the first session they worked well. I later got a fresh set of the same tyres, they were maybe a bit faster with a bit more grip but for a track day it wouldnt matter. Those tyres were several years old.

Only risk I see is if they had been stored in a cold place, then you can get cracks and other nasty stuff. Rcomps should always be stored at + degrees.

[Nickjd]

The clock starts ticking in earnest once they are fitted to the car. If they have never been used and stored reasonably they will be "reasonable".

[E-bmw]

As above, it depends on your expectations.

If you are a budding new F1 team then stay clear, if you are looking for a cheap track day tyre then (with the above caveats) go for it.

[hkp57]

Thanks for the reply's, yes they are brand new still in the wrapper and never fitted.

and no budding F1 team here, just looking for a capable wet weather tyre for a 7 type hayabusa powered kitcar for our glorious Scottish summers.


Polley Motorsport and the likes of Demon Tweeks want £180 each

This guy on eBay wants £200 for set of 4

[dunc_sx]

I'd phone Yokohama and ask.

Dunc.

[HustleRussell]

hkp57 said:

just looking for a capable wet weather tyre for a 7 type hayabusa powered kitcar for our glorious Scottish summers.

And you think decade old tyres might be the answer?

Christ.

185/60r13s Yokohamas for my Caterham were about £380 a set

[Yipper]

A 10yo tyre is like a 60yo man. Yes, they work, but not very well.

[Elderly]

I've got a set of 10 year old tyres for my road legal track car;
they only get used very sporadically (annual MOT etc.) and so look excellent.

I tried them last year on a very wet trackday when I thought that they might cope
better with standing water than my semi-slicks; they were absolutely hopeless.

[hkp57]

Thanks for all the reply's and as I though not such a good idea.

At the end of the day if its so wet I need full race wets the car will be on the trailer and I will be drinking tea :-)

So I think I will go down the route of Rainsport 3, at £41 each you cant complain

[mk1fan]

I'm a fan of the RS3 but is this for use on trackdays that are wet? For trackdays that might turn wet? For only road use? For all three?

Have you considered the Nankang NS-2R? Great tyre in the dry, even better when you consider their cost. Full 7mm tread depth. Plus a B rating for wet weather. I've used them on my TVRs in very wet / monsoon type weather and they have performed great.

[PGN]

The issue with old tyres is degradation of the casing caused by exposure to UV radiation (sunlight). Therefore where the vehicle is used and stored has a major effect on what age is acceptable. If kept outside in a hot climate the life will be a lot less than in a cooler climate and kept in a dark garage.

[radical78]

there are so many variables heat /storage/how used etc the only answer is they are to old when they stop gripping . a hayabussa lotus7 type car will be difficult in the wet whatever tyres you fit

[Pica-Pica]

Yipper said:

A 10yo tyre is like a 60yo man. Yes, they work, but not very well.

According to this news article some 80 year old men work like some 20 year olds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43308729

[Humour]

HustleRussell said:

hkp57 said:

just looking for a capable wet weather tyre for a 7 type hayabusa powered kitcar for our glorious Scottish summers.

And you think decade old tyres might be the answer?
Christ.

Which part of "Scottish" didnt you get Russel?

Humour

[CrashBang]

Michelin state that 10 years is the limit as far as age goes

Some info here..,

https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/do-I-need-n...

[E-bmw]

And of course it isn't in their interests for you to change them more often than not is it?

I still hold that when stored in the dark & cool the UV degradation is minimal & would definitely still use the ones the OP was asking the question about.

[watchnut]

Road tyres should not be on a car for more than 6 years owing to sun/cold degradation

If sat on a car they can also flat spot if not over inflated or turned on a regular basis if car not used often

All tyres now have a small oval window on the side wall with 4 numbers in it.

If it says 2315 that would mean the tyre was made in the 23rd week of 2015......If I was buying a car second hand it is one of the first things you should look for as you could negotiate that into your buying price if all are over 6 years old. They would also be starting to crack.

I wouldn't buy a car with less than 3mm tread across the whole width....cause you will need new ones soon, and they provide less grip (road tyres...not track tyres)

You have 4 corners of your car in contact with the road, with the footprint of about a large envelope, so not a lot down there......between you and a wall/tree etc... buy the best you can afford......do you know the history of the tyre...person you are buying from? has any had a puncture? if so how many? my local tyre place will not repair a 3rd puncture and tells you to buy a new one

I don't know about track tyres....but I know what I will not put on a road car....hope this helps?