I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Tyres
I had my RF for 3 years now and not had to change the tyres as I only do around 1000miles tops a year.
The front passenger and rear driver side have developed a slow leak for the past 9 months, been to my trusted local independent tyre place last year and they could not find anything wrong.
It passed the MOT 6 weeks ago, but they did say ‘Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing x4 Tyres All Around (5.2.3 (d) (ii))’
Most recently I noticed the pressure had dropped from 2.0 to 1.0 after a few weeks of no use. The other two tyres were still 2.0
My research seem to suggest that the 2 tyres are degrading due to age and so need to be replaced.
I understand that I would probably have to replace all 4 tyres to be safe as putting the two good ones onto one axel may still result in some weird handling or safety issues?
I am trying to decide between
Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 - £115
Michelin Pilot Sport 5 - £163
The above price is for each tyre fully fitted etc.
The question : Is it worth paying the almost £50 extra for each of the all four tyres for someone with my usage? Will the Michelin last 50% longer in years than the Hankook?
Or should I save my money, get the Hankook and get some new tyres again in 4-5 year or so?
Surprised tyres showing age related problems at 3 years, suggest you have a look at the date code on the tyre as to when it was made. It, will be WW/YY. (Week/Year). I’ve assumed car is 3 years old? If your car is older, then tyres may be same age. Also, if you are not the first owner, it’s hard to know how the tyres have been treated.
Tyres can be up to 3 years old when sold by a dealer and still classed as “new” which is fine as long as the tyres have been stored properly. When buying new tyres, check the date code as well; I personally wouldn’t buy any over a year old.
Recommended life of a fitted tyre is reckoned to be 6 years
Quote from the web
The maximum recommended age for a modern car tyre is 10 years from its date of manufacture. However, this is considered a hard limit, and many experts and manufacturers recommend more frequent checks or earlier replacement.
Here are the key guidelines for tire age:
10 Years (Maximum): Regardless of how much tread is left, or if they look new, tires should be replaced after 10 years, as the rubber compounds degrade, becoming brittle and increasing the risk of failure.
5-6 Years (Inspection): After 5 years of use, tires should be inspected at least annually by a qualified expert. Many manufacturers, such as Ford, Toyota, and Continental, recommend replacing tires at 6 years old, even if they have not reached the 10-year limit.
Spare Tires: The same 10-year rule applies to spare tires, which often go unused but still suffer from age-related degradation.
How to Find Your Tire’s Age
You can determine the age of your tire by finding the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits represent the date of manufacture:
Example (1821): The first two digits (18) are the week, and the last two digits (21) are the year. This tire was made in the 18th week of 2021.
Signs of Aging
Even if the tread is not worn, you should replace your tires if you notice:
Cracking (Dry Rot): Cracks in the sidewall or between the treads.
Bulging: Bubbles on the sidewall indicating structural failure.
Performance Changes: Increased noise, vibration, or reduced handling.
Proper maintenance, such as keeping tires properly inflated and stored away from extreme heat and sun, can help, but it cannot prevent the natural aging process.
Interested in your thoughts on the Hankook 16” Ian. How did you find them for road noise, I’m looking at replacing mine soon and debating options versus expense. I’m same as OP, low mileage, normal road use but do like a quieter tyre. Thanks.
I think they had about 4K on them when I changed the car. Low noise is a criteria for me when buying tyres so these must have met the need as I don’t recall anything negative about them.
This is a few years ago now so whether the formulation is the same I wouldn’t know.
The date mark is 20th week of 2020 - so I guess almost 6 years for the Bridgestone Potenza - which are not particularly rated for long life according to my research.
On this basis I think I will just save myself almost £200 and get the Hankooks…
Thanks everyone.
My Bridgestone OEM potenzas on my ND were a month or so less than 7 years, and were fine. I replaced them as the fronts were down and I had a tyre fitter who is great. Despite the ‘trend’ to protest at the Bridgestone Potenza s001, I couldn’t fault them and didn’t hesitate replacing all four with s001s again.
Considering the tyres you mentioned, I can’t speak for the Hankooks, but I’ve had PS5 on two cars now (not the ND) and I don’t rate them. Not a patch on the prior PS4 imo.
