Spare tyre

10 years old is beyond that tyre's lifespan especially if it hasn't been used.
 
Bought my tyres 5 years ago, and done 5000 kilos perhaps. drive very little. Tyres still look like new. No friggin way i will trhow them out and no frigging way insurance can repudiate a claim on that. Have no wording like that in my policy, and there is no law like that in vehicle roadworthiness.
 
20190404_150801.jpg

20190404_150815.jpg

2 of the 4 Continental EcoContact 2 185/60R14 tyres I originally had fitted to my car in 2014, that I replaced in April 2019 after travelling about 60,000 kms on the set. (I had replaced all 4 at the same time & rotated them around every 10,000 kms, when I also had them re-balanced & the wheel alignment re-checked as well.)

Tread depth was still within the legal limits on all 4 tyres, but there was significant cracking & perishing of the rubber on the tread areas.

20190404_153654.jpg
 
Bought my tyres 5 years ago, and done 5000 kilos perhaps. drive very little. Tyres still look like new. No friggin way i will trhow them out and no frigging way insurance can repudiate a claim on that. Have no wording like that in my policy, and there is no law like that in vehicle roadworthiness.

I'm in the same position. The main danger with older tyres is sidewall failure. Check for bulges and cracking from ozone and sunlight.
 
it also depends on storage and care,

Mounted under a bakkie , its safe from sunlight but gets hit with stones and rocks alot
Mounted on the back of a SUV/Bakkie, Its exposed to the sun,
Inside the car, its nice and warm and protected.


The rubber also needs to move and flex a little. put yourself in your tyres position, Imagine for 10 years you just sat in a hosptial bed waiting, then suddenly you were put under massive stress and movement. You would probably explode, like big time

But if you work now and then and are looked after. you will work
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3WA
These tyres were about 6 years old, hardly used. They looked fine. Put them on in durban, drove to Joburg and this happened.

Tyres do age, be aware.

908221ac114e7f6f49f42f2061435a39.jpg

95e2c2d509228461cb02dd74ca2a5733.jpg
 
Tyres are a CRITICAL safety item - they are the ONLY thing preventing you from hurtling into a crash-barrier, flying off an embankment or cliff, or crashing into another vehicle, when called upon, on a regular basis, to propel, brake or steer your vehicle, for years on end without fail.

It is the primary part on your vehicle that you MOST DEFINITELY do NOT want to compromise on - unless you have a death wish & have lost all interest in living anymore... (or drive a Renault Kwid, Datsun Go or Nissan 'Softbody' bakkie, in which case your fate has already been sealed in any accident or collision at speeds over 64 km/h...)
 
I reckon the 5 years is something tyre manufacturers push to sell more tyres.
Or its fear mongering.
2 years and a tyre starts losing performance. Then again...Who said our traffic department can read? If you know your wheels are old, don't go pushing the car to the limits.

FYI my 2011 Honda still has the original rubber on and drives like a dream.
 
These tyres were about 6 years old, hardly used. They looked fine. Put them on in durban, drove to Joburg and this happened.

Tyres do age, be aware.

908221ac114e7f6f49f42f2061435a39.jpg

95e2c2d509228461cb02dd74ca2a5733.jpg
Damn, how long were they inactive before you put them on?
Days used on daily basis will hardly do that.
I get tyres get old, especially spares that just lies and wait for years. But tyres that drives 5 kilos a day over 5 years will not do that, unless flawed form the start.
 
Damn, how long were they inactive before you put them on?
Days used on daily basis will hardly do that.
I get tyres get old, especially spares that just lies and wait for years. But tyres that drives 5 kilos a day over 5 years will not do that, unless flawed form the start.
Couple of years, in a garage.
 
Last edited:
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X