Is tyre life still 5 years on tyres?
Posted: 19 Feb 2018 09:59
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.
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.