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DC101

Member Since: 01 Jul 2012
Location: Pudsey, West Yorkshire
Posts: 260

Tyre wear and tyre age advice

Hi,

First, hello to everyone on the forum; I signed up last week after discovering Defender2.net. Very useful.

My firt post is looking for some advice on a set of BFG AT 265/75 I've had sitting in the gararge for the last two years. These were previously a second set I used on my 90, which was stolen 2 yrs ago. Now I'd like to put them on my alloys on my recently acquired 110, to replace the worn grabber tr's.

My question (got round to it eventually) is the tyres are probably 8/9 yrs old, but with between 8mm and 9mm tread. I've been told that you should look to replace tyres after 5 years. However, 4 replacement new tyres wouldn't leave me much change out of £600, and I don't have that money. The BFG's appear overall in good order, but a very fine lattice of cracks between the treads is evident on a couple of them. Side walls and tread blocks all look in good order.

Any advice welcome. Thanks,

Robin

8th Jul 2012 12:10pm

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20453

In all honesty I wouldn't use them. Yes I know new tyre's cost a lot but if you ended up skidding into some one or had a blow out at speed and wrote off the vehicle (If not yourself too!) It's really not worth the risk to yourself other road users or risking the damage side either. 8 - 9 years is a very long time and the small cracks you see are a sign of tyre degradation from age and the elements especially UV. If it has been stored a long time there could be tyre flat spots too? No Guts, No Glory.
ðŸ‡¬ðŸ‡§ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸â›½ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª

8th Jul 2012 12:31pm

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2656

If they look ok and are still round I'd use them. In the garage they will have been protected from a lot of the damaging UV radiation.

The tyres on my 90 are about 9/10 years old and I have no qualms with using them every day.

8th Jul 2012 12:58pm

ZeDefender

Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: Munich
Posts: 4731

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Baltic Blue

The "German" view (and they take tyres very seriously here!), ignoring wear and with no signs of damage or degradation, is 4-5 years for car tyres and 8-10 years for truck tyres (more if the rubber is in good nick). Here, we change car tyres over between Summer and Winter and apparently that ages them faster

So if yours are (at least) 8 or 9 years old, have been off a vehicle for 2 years and show clear signs of degradation... better buy new IMHO

Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...

8th Jul 2012 2:32pm

ken

Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

Skip them those black rubber things are the only things that are between you and the ground.

8th Jul 2012 2:34pm

DC101

Member Since: 01 Jul 2012
Location: Pudsey, West Yorkshire
Posts: 260

Thanks for the prompt replies. I reckon you've confirmed a gut feeling. It clearly comes back to safety, which I can't compromise with my family in the landy. I think its looking like a new set and trip to see the bank manager. I could get away with just replacing two of the General Grabber TR's like for like, but would prefer a more aggresive tyre all round.

Robin

8th Jul 2012 11:55pm

lambert.the.farmer

Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

My tyres are older than my car and they are fine. Don't believe everything the tyre companies tell you they need to sell you stuff and are just a little biased. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.

9th Jul 2012 6:04am

lambert.the.farmer

Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

9th Jul 2012 6:59am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20453

Coopers are a very good alternative to the BFG's so I've heard and the price is a little more easier on the wallet. Other than the BFG's I would have gone for Coopers as a second choice.

No Guts, No Glory.
ðŸ‡¬ðŸ‡§ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ¥ó ®ó §ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ·ó ¬ó ³ó ¿ðŸ´ó §ó ¢ó ³ó £ó ´ó ¿ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸â›½ï¸ðŸ›¢ï¸âš™ï¸ðŸ§°ðŸ’ª

9th Jul 2012 10:04am

ZeDefender

Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: Munich
Posts: 4731

Perhaps also check out Cooper Discoverer S/T MAXX. I can't fault them on motorway, rough terrain or snow.

We just hammered 3000+ km around Italy on them. 6 adults, 2 dogs and very quiet and comfortable ride

Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing...

9th Jul 2012 10:13am

Retroanaconda

Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2656

Well if you're chucking them away then I'm sure there are a great many people (myself included) who would gladly relieve you of them!

9th Jul 2012 6:19pm

JSG

Member Since: 12 Jul 2007
Location: Berkshire
Posts: 2412

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

Don't risk it - anyone running out of date tyres with cracks showing in them is asking for trouble. John

http://www.hampshire4x4response.co.uk

2011 Tdci 110 CSW XS

9th Jul 2012 6:27pm

Grouse

Member Since: 16 Apr 2012
Location: on the hill
Posts: 521

I'd sell them for off road use only on ebay and put the £ towards a new set.

9th Jul 2012 9:20pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8582

Re: Tyre wear and tyre age advice

DC101 wrote:

..... The BFG's appear overall in good order, but a very fine lattice of cracks between the treads is evident on a couple of them. Side walls and tread blocks all look in good order.

So cracking of the tyres is evident. Can you tell what is happening to the bonding between the steel belts and the rubber?

What is that structural strength within the tyre like?

The appearance of cracks in the rubber of a tyre is saying very evidently that degrading structural changes HAVE occurred within the tyre.

Rubber degrades by several routes. Aging, thermal, UV, salt, even water can cause degradation of the rubber which occurs via chain scission of the rubber molecules.

Now are you happy to put yourself at risk, your wife/gf/kids in danger? Let alone those innocent parties who just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when your vehicle suffers a blowout at 70mph.

We have recently bought a new set of BFGs for our 110. Yes it hurt finacially but at least I know at least the tyres on our 110 are in good condition. Yes there is plenty of tread left on the tyres but they are cracking between the treads.

We have had an advisory on one of our tyres on our Disco. Reason being? Yes cracking so the wallet has to come out again. Plenty of tread but MOT inspector not happy with it.

Brendan

9th Jul 2012 9:53pm

DC101

Member Since: 01 Jul 2012
Location: Pudsey, West Yorkshire
Posts: 260

I've just priced up a set of 4 ST Maxx and the best I could get comes in at £556 delivered.This is for 265/75. BFG's do appear a tad more expensive

9th Jul 2012 9:58pm

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