Tyre age - how much of a concern?

[pfillery]

Really, how much of a concern is tyre age when you are talking about tubed tyres on a series that rearely sees 100km/h? I know some say that 6 years is a good lifespan for tyres but does the same apply to 8 or 14 ply truck tyres with tubes as long as the treads are good?

[33chinacars]

If tyres are in anyway perished dont use them IMHO. Check side walls.
Otherwise BANG.

[JDNSW]

I don't think you can set a specific life in years - deterioration is largely a function of temperature and UV exposure plus the original rubber formulation and construction. All of these vary enormously - for example, tyre life on a vehicle kept in the open in Longreach and used regularly would be may years less than the same tyre on a vehicle in Tasmania, kept in a garage and rarely used. Significant crazing of the sidewalls would be the symptom to watch for, but almost all tyre failures are due to damage or underinflation (not necessarily intentional!), not tyre age. I cannot see that the use of a tube would make any difference - by the time a sidewall is deteriorated enough to leak air, it will be so much weakened that it is dangerous because of this, not the leakage.

Tyres used only at low speed can afford a greater risk of failure because the consequences are less - but I would set "low speed" at closer to 20kph than 100kph!

(The tread deteriorates as well, but it is a lot thicker, and contributes little to tyre strength, which is mostly in the belt and the sidewalls and beads)

John

[gromit]

If they are perished do not use them but you also need to consider that as the rubber compound goes off you lose grip.
When I got my Defender 12 years ago the tyres squealed on roundabouts, fitted new tyres and with new compound came better grip so the squealing stopped. 12 years down the track and I have the same problem (the defender isn't used that much each year).

I'm not saying that you couldn't use older tyres just that you need to be aware that you don't have the same level of grip on the road.

As for 14 ply tyres ..... I don't think you should use these on a Land Rover as they have little flex in the sidewalls and will make the ride very harsh. They could be handy as 'run-flats' because you won't be able to tell whether they are pumped up or not.
Even with my 8-ply RoadTrack Majors you can drop the pressure below 10psi and the tyre looks OK (not even flat at the bottom).


Colin

[Bigbjorn]

It used to be a common habit amongst heavy truck operators to store new tyres and retreads in the shed for a year or so until needed. The widely held belief was that new rubber wore quicker than aged rubber and tyre life was extended by cellaring. I wonder if this is still the case?

[gromit]

It used to be a common habit amongst heavy truck operators to store new tyres and retreads in the shed for a year or so until needed. The widely held belief was that new rubber wore quicker than aged rubber and tyre life was extended by cellaring. I wonder if this is still the case?

That makes sense. When the compound is 'grippier' it would wear more so leaving it to 'harden up' would mean a bit less grip but longer life.

Colin

[crash]

It used to be a common habit amongst heavy truck operators to store new tyres and retreads in the shed for a year or so until needed. The widely held belief was that new rubber wore quicker than aged rubber and tyre life was extended by cellaring. I wonder if this is still the case?

I think that this happens more at the manufacture sight, and the tyres have "cured" before being sold. I have read tyre reviews where they have tested pre production tread patterns and they state that the tyres were still "green" and had terrible wear, but when the production tyres hit the general market and were "cured" properly the tread wear was better than the preproduction "green" tyres.

[slug_burner]

It used to be a common habit amongst heavy truck operators to store new tyres and retreads in the shed for a year or so until needed. The widely held belief was that new rubber wore quicker than aged rubber and tyre life was extended by cellaring. I wonder if this is still the case?

I have also heard this said about farmers who want a harder tyre for resistance to wear and punctures.

[Solly]

I recently had a good quality Michelin tyre that was 5 years old go 'bang', when the side wall blew out... Tyre had done about 65K, had plenty of tread, was inflated correctly, a little weathered but OK.. I though mmmmm luck I was only in town.

Spoke to my tyre man who said these days 4-5 years is the absolute limit on tyre age due to the softer compounds... I knew that, I am a crash investigator ..doh.....

3 weeks later I had to go out to a fatal crash near Timber Creek. Landcruiser had a front driver tyre blowout (clear sidewall blowout)... 4 x 6 year old tyres and all looking in very poor condition, inflation pressures were ok on the 3 others, so guessing that they were ok on the one that blew..

Don't trust any tyre that is more than 5 years old.

[Tombie]

The initial wear on tyres is actually (usually) block compression.

The newer rubber compresses in the first few months making it appear that the tyres have worn quickly.