Replacing tyres

[david-c432]

I'd be interested in anyone's views...In advance of an imminent MoT, I must replace all 4 Pirelli tyres on my 2006 LWB Sovereign. The date code on them shows 2013 - and I was advised at the last MoT that they were coming to the end of their life. (The rear tyres have 3.5mm left; the front 6mm. I believe that Pirellis were fitted originally. The spare is unused - Pirelli also. My thinking was that I should try and keep the vehicle as close to the original as possible so Pirelli was the only option. Am I right in my thinking?
Any thoughts and recommendations gratefully received.
Thank you.

[Thixendale]

To be honest, I can't see the point.
I use my car doing 10k a year minimum and I think the Pirelli tyres are overpriced. They may be a good tyre but there are others that are also good.

I have just had a pair of Davanti put on my rear axle. A bit of an unknown I must admit but come highly recommended by my independent tyre specialist and at £100 each fitted are also a very good price. So far no complaints for ride or handling but I have only done 500 miles on them.

But it is your car. You know how it is with Pirelli tyres and if that is what you trust stick with them.

Tony

[ptjs1]

david,

I had a new pair of Continetals on my x350 4.2 when I bought it. They did c30k, I then fitted another set which also did 30k. At that point I looked for a similarly well-rated but cheaper tyre and I settled on Hankooks which were original fitment for many manufacturers including Mini & some BMW models. After another 20k I sold the car having been very happy with all the tyres, but happier with the price of the Hankooks.

Good luck with your choice.

Paul

[andypryce]

Interesting. I did dave 2 Davanti tyres fitted to my XF, also at the recommendation of a generally very good independent tyre specialist. 2 months later I hit a kerb accidentally at low speed and one blew completely. I have since replaced them with Pirelli P Zeros. I am not saying any other tyre would not have done the same, but it just knocked my confidence in them.

[Thixendale]

Very interesting.
They have mixed reviews so only time will tell.

I will try and remember to post my experience with them.
Tony

[JimMann]

To see what tyres might work on your car, go to the Kwik Fit website and enter your registration number, that will provide you a wide list of options suitable for your vehicle, assuming it is still as it left the factory in terms of wheel fitment. Check the sizes and ratings properly before venturing into the purchase. Not advocating a purchase from Kwik Fit, unless you want to, but their website is really good and easy to use.
Jim

[PaulGover]

I'd be interested in anyone's views...In advance of an imminent MoT, I must replace all 4 Pirelli tyres on my 2006 LWB Sovereign. The date code on them shows 2013 - and I was advised at the last MoT that they were coming to the end of their life. (The rear tyres have 3.5mm left; the front 6mm....

Funny definition of "end of their life". Your front tyres are virtually unused. The back ones are well above the "well above the legal minimum of 1.6mm" depth of 3mm at which tyre manufacturers try to persuade you to buy new ones. And there's no rule that says 9 or 10 years is too old for a tyre. See this discussion for a discussion on tyre ageing.

They will be reaching the end of their life if there are (a) balder patches or bands than the 3.5mm measurement suggests (b) any signs of splits, cracks, or the tread blocks going hard or shiny (again, see the discussion in the forums).

[david-c432]

Thank you everyone for prompt replies and very helpful advice. I checked my MOT advisories from nearly 12 months back which said rears were worn on edge (although in centre they are at 6mm) and both front tyres were 'damaged/cracking or perishing'. After speaking with two suppliers, including my tried and tested local fitter, I have opted for Continental Premium Contact 6. As it happens both Halfords and Kwikfit currently have them on discount for 2/4 tyres although that didn't affect my decision but it gave me some haggling space. I'll do a post at a later date on how they fare.
Paul: you are right of course about lifespan of car tyres although for front axles of HGVs including buses and coaches vehicles it's now 10 years: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gove ... oad-safety
How long might it be before there's a similar approach to cars I wonder...
Thanks again for all your replies - much appreciated.
David

[BrianG]

I understand that some owners of 'classic' Jaguars are running around on 30 year or even older tyres quite happily, however the 10-year recommended life span placed on modern tyre compounds is justified in my experience. As an X350 owner and motorcyclist, the ageing of tyre compounds was well-illustrated by a bike that I bought some 3 years ago. It was fitted with Avon Road Rider tyres, considered by many to be the "dogs whatsits" in bike tyres; but these were 10 years old and could be felt by fingernail test to have gone noticeably hard. The erratic handling on corners when banked over, even on dry roads, was quite scary so they were replaced by new tyres with immediate return to good handling. A friend has a Shore hardness meter (posh finger nail test) and measured the old tyres - 100+ degrees Shore reading, that's very hard; the new tyres - 60 Shore, nice and soft and sticky!

What has this to do with car tyres you may ask? I feel that car tyre grip is more important than wear longevity or price, so a soft compound gives best safety in varying conditions and temperatures. Tyre brands are subjective in many ways: my earlier XJ8s and current X350 came with P-Zeros which were changed out as soon as possible due to noise and vibration (common problems with these). I am now on my third set of Dunlop Sport Maxx RT2 (255x40 ZR19) as these have a nice soft compound: fronts last about 25K miles, rears about 15K miles.

[JimMann]

I do find it a little strange when the only thing between the tarmac and the horsepower under your right foot is 4 x tyre contact patches and yet there are those out there who want 'cheap' rather than safe. Each to their own I suppose, but I would not drive, or ride, with tyres that are beyond 5-years-old, irrespective of the tread depth remaining, and I don't leave my cars out in the sunshine, so UV degradation is not a specific factor in my decision.

With the ever worsening condition of our UK roads network, even trunk roads, I want my tyres to be as good as possible in all conditions, wet, dry and especially with the strength to be able to withstand bumps through potholes. As illustration, I hit a particular pothole that was on the crown of the road in a Mini shod with 18 inch run flat Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres, which were just over 1-year-old and with less than 7,000 miles. These have a strong sidewall to allow for the run flat aspect, yet the pothole split the front offside sidewall and the tyre deflated over the next 100 yards, and that was whilst travelling at only 40MPH. If I had been travelling at a higher speed (60MPH road limit) and the car had not been fitted with run flat tyres, the sidewall would likely have given out instantaneously, with potentially dangerous consequences.

You pay your money and you make your choice / take your chances.

Jim

[PaulGover]

I wonder if tyres are like most things Jaguar - they off if you don't use them? That's to say, do tyres "age" more if you leave your classic in the garage unmoving than if you drive it every week or month? And conversely, can you bring an unused tyre back to health by using it more?

[david-c432]

An interesting discussion and of course, none of us should ever skimp on this. It's not only your life and that of passengers who can be at risk but others also. I was pretty sure I had read somewhere about the impact of use on the longevity or otherwise of the tyre but in the meantime this report, albeit for commercial vehicles (but I imagine many of the principles are the same) is interesting. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... egrity.pdf

]It also quotes two other reports:
3.4.1 Effects of storage and service on tyre performance
Kataoka et al. reported on the effects of storage and service use on a tyre’s performance. Their
results “confirmed a marked deterioration in performance with both increasing storage time
and mileage. The rate of change of these properties was accelerated by the extra stimuli
provided by service [use], as demonstrated by comparing tyres of a similar age but different
mileage”. (Kataoka, 2003)
Gent comments on the work of Kataoka et al. and says “Rubber undergoes profound changes
on storage that are accelerated at higher temperatures. Harmful changes occur in tyre
properties after storage at ambient temperatures for five years or after use on cars for similar
periods. They [the changes] are caused by a variety of chemical reactions” (Gent, 2006).

Meanwhile, I have decided not to take my mother-in-law out in the Jag on Sunday for Mothers' Day as new tyres are not being fitted until Monday...

David