Bought my Mk3 2.0 Zsport five months ago with 14.5k on the clock. That’s now gone up to 18.5k which includes a thousand miles plus in the last week. I’ve been on motorways in torrential rain and on muddy twisty narrow country lanes covered in slimy leaves. In the last 4k miles I’ve not had the traction control or ABS cut in once and it’s been totally stable and well behaved 100% of the time.
The amazing part is that it’s still got the original Michelin tyres fitted. Perfectly even wear across all four tyres and lots of tread left on them all. They are dated week 35, 2006 so are now over seven years old. Sidewalls are not showing any signs of cracking or any other problems. Is there anything to be concerned about or should I just carry on enjoying them for another few thousand miles?
I bought a 1990 Vx Astra I reckon wearing the same tyres (Michelins) since it was new. The car had only done 29k. Before I bought it passed an MOT with the owner asking if the tyres needed changing because of the age of them, the garage gave them the thumbs up, they are ok. This was 5 years ago, working out the tyres at the time going on the previous owners info were possibly 18 years old I decided it was time to get them changed
I bought my 19000 mile mk3 in July, it had the original michelin tyres on dated 2005 and plenty of tread 4-5mm with no signs of ageing. I though it drove ok when I got it, roads are really smooth in Bournemouth, but after a few miles, on our poor local roads, I noticed the car had a tendancy to tramline and I lost confidence in driving it. So last month I had 4 Bridgestone potenza ra050a fitted and could not believe the differance, tramlining gone, fab road holding and very quiet much less vibration and road noise.
So I would say It depends on how you feel about the way the car reacts to differant road surfaces. Oh before I got this car I test drove a zsport on poor roads in Kent it had original tyres, great car, but did not inspire confidence inbeing driven.
Hi Roadie. I have exactly the same worry as you having just bought a 2007 Zsport with 20,000 miles on what has turned out to be the original tyres. No sign of cracks, got through its last MOT ok and sold to me by a Mazda dealer in October… I have 3mm of tread on the fronts and 5mm on the backs. However, I prefer to change at 3mm as braking distance starts to increase so will go for new tyres in the spring. But which ones? Kumho KU39s and Bridgestone 055s seem to be popular on the forum for the Mark 3 at rather less cost than the latest Michelin Pilot Sport 3. Good luck and happy motoring!. Bluesmann
Hi, I’ve had a few low mileage old cars in my time. One I remember well was an early 70’s beetle which I bought in the late 80’s with almost 20,000 miles on it and the original tyres. After 16 years of little use the tyres seemed to wear very quickly. They lasted less than 1000 extra miles. I also, 2 years ago, put an unused 15 year old spare on a London Taxi. That lasted about 5000 miles. Rubber changes over time, the older it gets, the quicker it wears. I wouldn’t worry about 7 year olds, they’re still relatively young.
I replaced my 5’s tryes only 8 days ago. Two of them were 9 years old and were still fine.
Bought my Mk3 2.0 Zsport five months ago with 14.5k on the clock. That’s now gone up to 18.5k which includes a thousand miles plus in the last week. I’ve been on motorways in torrential rain and on muddy twisty narrow country lanes covered in slimy leaves. In the last 4k miles I’ve not had the traction control or ABS cut in once and it’s been totally stable and well behaved 100% of the time.
The amazing part is that it’s still got the original Michelin tyres fitted. Perfectly even wear across all four tyres and lots of tread left on them all. They are dated week 35, 2006 so are now over seven years old. Sidewalls are not showing any signs of cracking or any other problems. Is there anything to be concerned about or should I just carry on enjoying them for another few thousand miles?
You have top quality tyres, so providing there are no cracks, particularly in the sidewalls I would carry on. I replaced my tyres last July, the tyre codes indicated they were just over nine years old. 3mm on the rears, 5mm. on the fronts. The tyre fitter asked why I was changing the fronts as they still had plenty of tread left. I said because they are nine years old. He simply said OK. Doubtless he had his eye on selling them as part worn!
Check for cracks in the tread and sidewall, either way replace at 10 years old keeping an eye on them after 5-6 if they begin to crack and perish badly then get them changed (be aware some tyres do suffer with cracking between the tread blocks either way).
My winter tyres are 5 but without one single sign of cracking on them.
A manufacturer will generally withdraw a new tyre from stock once it gets to 5 years old. Up to this point it can still be sold as new. In my experience they are then drilled in the sidewall to prevent them being used. This is not because they are dangerous but because they then could go to a wholesale or stockist where they could sit for more years.
The condition is very much down to exposure to oxidizing conditions and UV.
I think you have answered your own question anyway. You have had no issues with them and they do not look deteriorated, then enjoy them.
I bought my MK3 Sport 2 years ago with 10k on it and the original Michelins dated 33/06. I have given this subject much thought myself and I must say that I don’t think there is an easy answer. My car has only done 11.5k now and the tyres are free from any cracks etc. The car has always been garaged from new and so picking up on Nick D’s point, they have not had much exposure to UV and the elements.
The question I ask myself is that even though there is no cracking etc, to what extent has the rubber compound hardened, which will, I am sure effect their performance. I take note of Spark’s comment on his new Bridgestones here.
Up to now I’ve only really been driving the car locally over the North Yorks Moors, but am planning an Alps tour in 2014 and as result am seriously considering new rubber. I to have done lots of research and ready many posts on this site and at the end of the day will most likely go for Michelin Pilot Exaltos or the Bridgestone RE050A’s.
I know that Rich M loves the Bridgestones, but would like to know here from anyone with experience of the Michelin Pilot Exaltos.
Tyres, like skin, lose elasticity with age as the oils within them keeping them soft leach out. Much like skin, the treatment you give it over its life makes a huge difference.
Too much sun, burns, weathering, cuts all have an effect on skin and similarly on tyres. Blue your tyres and you are burning that oil out as will sun and extremes of temperature over time.
I think the answer here is to have a really good look at your tyres, in the base of the treads too. Deterioration here is a very good sign of the overall condition. Then you need to decide the price of your peace of mind. Is spending £500+ on a new set of tyres going to make you feel better on your trip and if you don’t are you going to be constantly nagged by wishing you had as you drive along a French AutoRoute?
If you do decide new tyres are needed I still maintain that the Kumho KU39 is a very good tyre for the Five and you will get a set for comfortably under £400.
If you can see cracks inbetween the tread or walls,then get them off, the other thing that you need to take into account is that the compound will change on most and they will start to become hard which is ok for drifting, but will not give you the best of grip on the open road for those twisty turn’s or under braking, and grip/alignmet are some of the must important areas on these little gems.