Age of tyres

[rip]

It is recommended that tyres are replaced after 10 years, regardless of condition. Mind you, I've seen cheap Chinese tyres with small cracks which are only about 4 years' old.

I just replaced all 4 pricey Michelin Pilot Sports on one of my Jag XF's that were only 4 years old because they were cracking all over the tread.

I don't know about Michelin anymore. Those tires were also known to develop sidewall bubbles.

I would have expected better from Michelin. I guess you would too otherwise you would not have bought them first time around?

[Giniw]

Surprising, indeed.

[Saltire]

Well, that was interesting - I’ve just been out to the garage to check mine, with the following results:

- OSF: Falken, 0713
- NSF: Falken, 0713
- OSR: Goodyear Eagle F1, 4604
- NSR: Goodyear Eagle F1, not marked??

I’m inclined just to replace all four - not keen on Falken as a brand, and the Goodyears are really old (assuming they’re both the same). Good excuse to get the wheels refurbished at the same time.

[ElanBRG]

Well, that was interesting - I’ve just been out to the garage to check mine, with the following results:

- OSF: Falken, 0713
- NSF: Falken, 0713
- OSR: Goodyear Eagle F1, 4604
- NSR: Goodyear Eagle F1, not marked??

I’m inclined just to replace all four - not keen on Falken as a brand, and the Goodyears are really old (assuming they’re both the same). Good excuse to get the wheels refurbished at the same time.

Never good to have non-matching tires on a car. If I see that on a used car, it's a huge red flag.

[ElanBRG]

It is recommended that tyres are replaced after 10 years, regardless of condition. Mind you, I've seen cheap Chinese tyres with small cracks which are only about 4 years' old.

I just replaced all 4 pricey Michelin Pilot Sports on one of my Jag XF's that were only 4 years old because they were cracking all over the tread.

I don't know about Michelin anymore. Those tires were also known to develop sidewall bubbles.

I would have expected better from Michelin. I guess you would too otherwise you would not have bought them first time around?

I have switched to Firestone Firehawk 500's for most of my cars. Really nice tires for wet and dry grip and a smooth and quiet ride, and at a lower price point. But I live in an area that freezing temps are very rare. Most of you guys on here wouldn't be able to use them for that reason.

[Saltire]

Yes, I use my car all year, and I’d switch to Michelin CrossClimate If they came in an S2 size. As it is, I’ll probably go for either Pirelli PZero (the Lotus recommendation), Avon ZV7, or the Yokohamas I’ve heard good reports of on here

[rip]

I have switched to Firestone Firehawk 500's for most of my cars. Really nice tires for wet and dry grip and a smooth and quiet ride, and at a lower price point. But I live in an area that freezing temps are very rare. Most of you guys on here wouldn't be able to use them for that reason.

Except for the minority, like me, who use a set of winter tyres in low temperatures. Thanks for the recommendation.
I will consider them when my (currently very new) tyres need replacing.

[lotusflasherman]

Pirelli Sottozero 3 Winter tyres work really well in snow ... and superb in the wet - throw up amazing 'rooster tails' from the wheel arches and leave dry tyre tracks on the road behind.
When the road is dry they feel a bit more 'squidgy' than Toyo Proxes but that only to be expected..

20180301_1608b.jpg

[chipp]

I'm trying to age a Firestone Super Sports GP race tyre. It will be at least 45 years old so will it have a date stamp on it?

chipp

[lotusflasherman]

I'm trying to age a Firestone Super Sports GP race tyre. It will be at least 45 years old so will it have a date stamp on it?

chipp

I reckon so but it may be manufacturer specific. In 1974 I bought a Scimitar GTE with what looked like nearly new Good Year tyres .. after a couple of months the sidewalls were cracking so I contacted Good Year and was asked to take it to my local Good Year depot, which from Potters Bar was Kentish Town. This little old man looked at each tyre and told me when and where made and which production batch from some codes on them. They were steel belted and Good Year had been supplied with wrong spec steel that went into some batches and mine were in it. Came away with 4 brand new tyres fitted for free. I'm sure Firestone would have something similar.. but you may need a 'little old man' who knows the codes..

[chipp]

The size is 14.5/26.2-15 and in the elongated indent it has E8397-55.
Can anyone can suggest a date of manufacture from that.

chipp

[Rambo]

1955 ?

Is it off an Indy car, GT40 or something similar ?

[Fredjohn]

All tyres post 2000 have a 4 digit code denoting week and year of manufacture. So 1417 would be week 14 in 2017.

Before 2000 it was a 3 digit code. So 023 would be week 2 of the 3rd year of the decade. But which decade is anyone's guess! Guess that would depend on tyre make model version etc to work it out.

But I don't know if the codings relate to race tyres as well as road tyres.

Maybe look for a 3 digit code on the tyre?

[chipp]

It is likely to be off a T49/72 rear magnesium split rim alloy coz I have the wheel as well.
I want to restore the wheel to period dating it from the tyre. I have seen pictures of the wheels in a natural/polished finish or even alight grey colour on early 49's.
The tyre has a tread pattern on it.

chipp

[dolmerob]

I have switched to Firestone Firehawk 500's for most of my cars. Really nice tires for wet and dry grip and a smooth and quiet ride, and at a lower price point. But I live in an area that freezing temps are very rare. Most of you guys on here wouldn't be able to use them for that reason.

How's the cornering response and treadwear of Firehawk 500? I'm looking for high-performance tires, and it looks like these firestone tires are good for highway and canyon driving.

[nicowalker1]

I had a new Skoda Octavia that came with Michelins, after 18 months they were splitting betweek the treads and had to be replaced. I guess even new cars come with old stock tyres...

[nchase]

Found this really helpful.

Only one of my tyres was newer than 10 years of age and some were pre 2000 and one showed sidewall cracking.... but I didn't drive it enough to think about checking that other than tread..

This week it will have four new tyres.....

Cheers