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Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 09:59
by mvcoller
Is tyre life still 5 years as we were told in the past?

Let us see what the tyre manufacturers say these days and what they publish on their websites:

https://www.continental-tyres.co.za/car ... ge/lex-1-2
http://www.michelin.co.za/ZA/en/help-an ... tyres.html
http://www.dunloptyres.co.za/Tyre-Care/ ... Your-Tyres


To the guys who says one HAS TO replace tyres after 5 years (and I was one of them):

Yes, it is good and fair to say that the life expectancy was 5 years. It was what manufacturers recommended in the past, and what their tyre design parameters were. But remember that this cannot be seen in isolation, without taking its load and speed ratings into account.

Its speed and load rating rating indicates that the tyre must be able to withstand the forces put on it when the tyre is driven at its given speed rating, at its maximum load rating constantly for ONE HOUR. That is what they must be able to prove to regulators and that is why they recommend the 5 year limits. Manufacturers over-engineer tyres to achieve this. Same as the fact that structural engineers overdesign floors on buildings to be able to guarantee a certain load rating on the floor.

But who of us use those offroad tyres on our vehicles at a load (of say 1000kg per tyre) and travel at the tyre's 180 kph rating (for an S rated tyre) for a period of more than one hour continuously? NOBODY DOES!!!

That, and the advances made with rubber compounds and casing design, is why they are now able to say that tyres can be expected to be used for up to ten years, if inspected regularly for casing and rubber condition and if there is sufficient tread depth left.

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 10:56
by pgreeff
Thank Malcolm.

The URLs are broken '...' inside the URL.

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 11:25
by mvcoller
Re copied and pasted them, try again....

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 12:06
by TijmenvdS
I was wondering the same thing yeasterday, we went camping with the caravan and havent replaced tires ever and we have had it since 2008 and they look in quite good condition. Cant see any cracks. The caravan gets used maybe 3 times a year and towed about 150km per trip.

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 13:06
by Peter Connan
Another big factor is whether the car lives in a garage or is subjected to UV radiation.

I have certainly noticed that my last three sets of tires really started performing very badly in terms of sustaining damage more easily about 6 years after manufacture.

In fact, the Bridgestones i recently threw off were at the point where frayed ends from the steel belt were penetrating the rubber on the inside of the carcass and causing small air leaks...

The problem with voluntarily increasing the life expectancy of your tires is that you need to hqve a pretty good idea of what your corner weights are when fully loaded.

Also, the temperatures that we tour at are often much hotter than the temperatures these tests are performed at.

:mytwocents:

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 13:42
by Grant
Agree with Peter but I tend to air on the side of caution and would follow the manufacturers specification. Many of us have a large value vested in our camping and off road equipment and pushing a product past its recommend life could impact greatly should a problem arise. Example would be tyre failure on a Caravan and either it just damages the hub area or an extreme cause causes the caravan to fish tail and roll with towing vehicle.


With a friend in HQ of major insurance company , this claim would be denied due to expiry date of tyre.






https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Tyre-Expiry

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 19 Feb 2018 19:31
by mvcoller
Grant wrote: 19 Feb 2018 13:42With a friend in HQ of major insurance company , this claim would be denied due to expiry date of tyre.
https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Tyre-Expiry
Grant,

That piece of journalism seems very old to me, dates of 2005 are mentioned. It also talks of a 4 year tyre life, when I know for a fact that manufacturers in the late 1990s already advocated a 5 year lifespan on tyres. That website is that of "Arrive Alive". With their track record of being to unable to achieve any form of success, I will take their recommendations with a bag of salt....

With two of the tyre manufacturers' websites currently endorsing a 10 year life on a tyre still in good condition, I doubt whether insurance companies will have a leg to stand on.

As Peter says, some tyres just don't cut it over 5 years, yes, then I agree it will be irresponsible. It is also against the advice of the tyre company if such tyres are not replaced.

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 20 Feb 2018 06:40
by offroadbiker
I confirmed with my insurance a year or so back, as long as the tyre's on the vehicle is still in good condition they wont repute a claim based on the age of the tyre. Thus I keep my slip for last rotation and balancing.

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 20 Feb 2018 09:14
by hugejp
Exposure to UV is a huge factor.

IMHO a spare cover is a must.

Re: Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?

Posted: 20 Feb 2018 13:53
by offroadbiker
Or just let your Patrol stand in the garage for 95% of the year like mine :redface:

It only sees sun for 4x4 excursions :surprised: