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[Varche]

Had a front puncture today. Got the spare out. Plenty of air but it is the original Michelin Pontius Pilot spare. 14 years old! Bit cracked. Is there a shelf life for tyres?

[joff]

If that was me i would be looking for another spare. 

[dazzerM]

Saw an Escort Cosworth a few years back that was still wearing the original P Zeros - Must have been on there a good 15 years +

Car had only done 1500 miles though 

[Andy B]

It seems that tyres fitters & manufactures advise that tyres should be changed at or around 6 years irrespective of wear.

[2boxerdogs]

 :yThe local tyre place which i have used for years reccomend no tyre be used  after it is 6 years old,. regardless of mileage covered

[albitz]

They would though, wouldnt they.

[2boxerdogs]

 >:(NO! Owned & run by a friend common sense really  that"s why they have a date code on them  .

[Varche]

>:(NO! Owned & run by a friend common sense really  that"s why they have a date code on them  .

It that printed on the actual rubber then?

[2boxerdogs]

 ::)Yes the code is embossed on to the tyre during manufacture ,  a lot of tyre places have a card with all info on which they will give to you.

[dad1uk]

I know it is recommended to replace caravan tyres every five to six years irespective of the mileage done.

[aaronjb]

Fourth section down in the Car Bible Tyre pages: http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

For the terminally short of attention span:

This code denotes when the tyre was manufactured, and as a rule-of-thumb, you should never use tyres more than 6 years old. The rubber in tyres degrades over time, irrespective of whether the tyre is being used or not.

Interesting note : in June 2005, Ford and GM admitted that tyres older than 6 years posed a hazard and from their 2006 model year onwards, started printing warnings to this effect in their drivers handbooks for all their vehicles.x

[TheBoy]

Tyre manufacturers will guarantee for 5 years form manufacturer (date code), against manufacturing defect. None state they are safe beyond that, so everybody has to abide by that.

Possibly less of an issue for modern spare spares, as they are mostly spacesavers, with 50mph limits, but rears on FWD shitboxes can become an issue, thus need to be rotated before that time.

[cem_devecioglu]

It seems that tyres fitters & manufactures advise that tyres should be changed at or around 6 years irrespective of wear.

correct

[Kevin Wood]

I'd say it depends how they have been stored. Out in the sun, open to the elements, they don't last at all well. In a dark garage (or spare wheel well) they will probably be fine.

I'd look for signs of cracking anywhere on the tyre and for any bulges in the sidewall. If it looks OK it will be fine for emergency use IMHO.

[cem_devecioglu]

it may look fine, but the tire will loose all its chemical softing agents within 14 years.. I have seen similiar very old tires that still have deep threads but they cant grip to any kind of road surface.. :-/

if you apply those softeners (as racers do) you may use for some time.. may be..