new tyres after 7 years?

Helen28

I have a Hyundai i10 11 reg (March) with the original tyres still on the back, the front tyres were replaced after approx 15,000 miles.

I've now done 33,000 miles.

The car was MOT'd in March and nothing was said about the tyre tread.

I've done about 2,000 miles since then.

The tread on the front and back is about 3mm, the tyres I replaced have done more mileage than the original tyres.

Should I replace the rear tyres because of their age and just do the front tyres at the same time or just wait until they are barely legal?

JP1978

Firstly, there is no legal requirement on age of a tyre - but it should be in suitable condition. Rubber does deteriorate with age - results in cracking etc on the sidewall and this can affect the tyres properties and ride comfort.

Secondly, whenever changing tyres, the general consensus of opinion for most drivers is to always put the newer tyres on the rear - a, the fronts wear quicker so you should in theory replace the original set of 4 in two stages as they are swapped back to front, plus b, if in a emergency situation, it is easier to control the car if the front loses traction (due to lower tread) than it is if the rear loses traction.

At 3mm and coming into winter I would change the tyres - OK, any summer tyre inst going to be great in winter but at least with a new tyre will fair better. Also, there is a huge difference between 7mm to 3mm and 3mm and below, the tyre loses most its ability to disperse water at 3mm and below.

Cut short, change all 4 and when the fronts are low again, put the rears on the front and then put the new on the back.

EdGasketTheSecond

JP1978 wrote: »

Cut short, change all 4 and when the fronts are low again, put the rears on the front and then put the new on the back.

eh? I make that 6 tyres.

Paradigm

Michelins take on the 3mm vs 1.6mm debate..


http://www.transportengineer.org.uk/transport-engineer-news/michelin-hits-back-at-3mm-car-tyre-change-campaign-updated/155431

DoaM

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

eh? I make that 6 tyres.

eh?

Change all 4 now.

Then WHEN the fronts are low, ditch them, put the rears to the front and put the new tyres on the rear.

Yes, that's 6 tyres ... but not 6 tyres NOW.

facade

I'd replace the 2 out of date tyres only.

Then I'd put the new ones on the front, and the part worn on the back.

When the fronts get down to 3mm again, put them on the back and replace what was on the back with new tyres on the front.


So you only buy two tyres at a time.


Obviously, if the backs do wear down below 2mm, put the fronts on the back and get a new pair of tyres.


On a modern FWD car with ABS and electronic driving aids, the front wheels do most of the work.

NaughtiusMaximus

facade wrote: »

I'd replace the 2 out of date tyres only.

Then I'd put the new ones on the front, and the part worn on the back.

When the fronts get down to 3mm again, put them on the back and replace what was on the back with new tyres on the front.


So you only buy two tyres at a time.


Obviously, if the backs do wear down below 2mm, put the fronts on the back and get a new pair of tyres.


On a modern FWD car with ABS and electronic driving aids, the front wheels do most of the work.

The previous poster is correct it's safest for the least worn tyres to go on the back, not the front. With more grip on the front than the back there's a greater risk of losing control of the car on icy roads and going into a spin.

facade

That was in The Olden Days, when cars were RWD, and didn't have ABS ESP etc.


Now, on a wet road, if I brake hard, the back wheels pretty much come off the floor, the ABS stops them locking, and there remains enough grip at the back to stop the back overtaking the front, if the back does try to overtake the front, the ESP starts dragging a front brake to try and pull the front round a bit.


If I have the baldest tyres on the front, I won't have as much braking force available before the fronts start locking out, and I won't have as much tractive effort before the TC cuts in.


The tread depth won't make any difference on ice anyway.