Tyres - time vs mileage

[nobbyuk]

Hi all,

My wife's ibiza is coming up 7 years old at the end of the year and has the original tyres on it.
I've checked the DOT code on a couple of them and it's 2602, which makes them just about 7 years.

Still loads of tread on them as the car is hardly used.

I assume that the rubber will have a shelf life after which they start to deteriorate. I've heard it's around 6 years.

Any one have any thoughts on whether they should be changed or not ?

cheers
Dave

[JimC64]

Hey Nobby - sounds like personal taste to me mate. By all means check for advice, but me personally....If the treads good, no sidewall damage, no bubbles, etc etc....why change em?

The latest advisories out of the tire manufacturers is that there is a time limit on tires, but there is some disagreement over how long. Some say 6 years, some say 10 years. My take on the difference has to do with the temperature of where the tire is operating.

My guess is, that if your wiifes car is 7 years old and the tyres still look great, she's no Lewis Hamilton ( a bit like my wife ) drives usually within the speed limits and gently round bends n corners etc etc.
Personally, mu choice, taking this info into account I'll change tyres when needed due to low tread or puncture / sidewall damage.
At the end of the day though, obviously its your call.

Jim

[nobbyuk]

Hi Jim,

thanks for taking the time to reply.

You make a valid point. I'm not sure what the time limit is, hence the question.

I'm concerned that a tyre will delaminate whilst the wife's driving. The interwebz is a great resource, but you'll find stories of tyres giving up because they too old, alongside stories of tyres being used for 15 years. (slight exaggeration, but you get my point)

For my own piece of mind I think I'll change them.

cheers
Dave

[Crasher]

New legislation is on the way to force us to have new tyres every four years no matter what the tread depth. Quality tyres last longer than this if not parked in direct sunlight excessively but all that will happen is people will buy cheap Chinese rubbish and I have seen these start to crack between the tread and on the sidewalls within two years.

[Eshrules]

I don't understand how a tyre could last more than 4 years anyway, with mileage covered.... that's got to be grandmas in the main?

[nobbyuk]

spoke with a local tyre specialist today who tells me the "industry standard shelf life" of a tyre is 7 years. He told me this before I told him how old the tyres were!

A tyre shop is legally obliged to tell you if they fit a tyre that is more than 5 years old. Apparently.

So, the car will have 5 new tyres on Saturday.

cheers