Really confused now. Kumho site says ps71 introduced in 2016. Maybe there is a coincidental 4013 number on the tyre. I’ll go have another look.
Mystery solved. The ps71s have a DOT code that ends in 21 which means they are less than 4 years old and in good condition. The 4013 code was a red herring.
I think I’ll still get a new set and budget for a new set every 5 years. Does that seem sensible?
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It’s up to you.
And regarding the 5 year replacement stuff, again, it’s up to you. One person’s they are fine, you’re throwing your money away (ref replacing tyres at 5 years old no matter what their tread depth and overall condition), is another’s person’s internet hysterical wisdom that you’ll have a blowout in all four just reversing off your drive.
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MOT testers don’t look at the age of a tyre except for the following
The check of tyre age applies to all vehicles with more than 8 passenger seats, other than vehicles of historical interest.
Just be armed with all the relevant info and decide what you want to do.
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Seriously though, my 5 year thing is based on my CRV tyre wear which goes down to about 3.5mm after about 5 years but thinking it thru, it’s a 4x4 that eats tyres so that might not make sense for an MX5. I think I’ll run the current set till next spring because they look in such good condition. Even mismatched axles aren’t going to trouble me too much, I don’t go on the Razz. Think captain slow. By then I’ll have decided on whether it’s a long term car so investing in a new set of boots then makes sense. Along with an underseal.
Talking things thru on here certainly helps. Thanks all.
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I replaced the OEM Potenzas on my ND last June, and they had a pushing 7 year tyre date. They were had about 2.7mm left on the rears. Small micro cracks occurred perpendicular to the outer tread early on, about 2019. I asked a number of tyre fitters about them (the micro cracks), as well as mechanics when they the car was having a service, and all of them used colourful language, some saying said ‘they’re (expletive) all’. I mentioned how the internet ‘told me’ I need them off, and they laughed. The right on 7 year old Bridgestones were fine driving wise until I replaced them with the same tyres. The only thing I noticed were the new ones were (obviously) more comfortable.
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I’ve driven 4x4s for the last 25yrs starting with Landrovers moving to Nissan and now Honda. Replacing tyres has always been intrusive in terms of regular maintenance. The MX is my first proper car since before then so maybe I need to adjust my mindset 
. The internet is great for throwing things into the mix and bouncing things around but you can’t beat personal experience.
I got a spare set of wheels that came with eight year old Esta 51’s with full thread and no cracks. Got them checked by a tyre place offering free inspections and given a thumbs up. I’ll be popping them off in the winter for top wet performance tyres but happy to put the Kumhos back on next summer.
Pointless dumping five year olds.
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Yes it does, but if you wanted to put new PS71s on the rear and keep those on the front for a while it would be OK by the usual practices (new tyres on the rear, and for the MX-5 matching make, model and size). Most people wear the rears most on these cars anyway. 6mm is fairly light wear, those tyres probably start with about 8mm.
Even if the fronts have lost a little bit of their virtue compared with new, having the best grip at the rear is the safe handling option.
I move mine around as specified in the manual to keep wear even and replace then in sets.
Full disclosure, I’m not a tyre expert but I do pay attention to these things.
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I’m running the Kuhmo Ecsta PS72’s on my NC1,
new boots all round and have to say they’re superb… totally transformed the handling and ride. Seems to be some decent prices out there too…
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I am in a similar predicament. Front tyres are nearly at the end of their life whilst the rears were put on by the dealer before I bought the car last year so have lots of life left in them. The decision I have to make is, do I change all 4? The rears are a brand I hadn’t heard of - Runway Enduro Sport’s. They appear a budget tyre and I was thinking of putting Michelin PS5’s on. So do I replace just the fronts or do the lot? Feels wrong to throw away relatively new tyres, but then what price safety?
If you check out tyre reviews some of the budget stuff have truely awful performance, particularly in the wet. Ive a full set of Rikens ( a budget Michelin) which I can’t see myself using again after changing to Kumhos when I got another set of wheels.
Tyre reviews give them a good if not outstanding review but some say they wear quite quickly. I think I am going to replace the fronts and then decide if I want to do the rears. They were supplied by a Mazda dealer so you would hope they aren’t dreadful and to be honest they have been okay so far. I just don’t like mixing brands and tyres. At least they aren’t old like the ones on my previous car or as mentioned above. Having said that I once managed to get a 60+ year old set of tyres to hold air, but then it was only to load on a trailer and the cracking on them was an amazing spectacle.
I can see the argument of replacing all 4.
Regarding the so-called ditch finders though, my up! gti had Landsail Ls338 ‘ditch finders’ when I got it, from the previous owner. Internet of course said to get rid of those- first roundabout the car will be in someone’s house etc etc, plus the internet said I should go to 205 width, instead of the stock 195 (in fairness a lot more tyre choice in 205 for this car). Anyway, changed all 4 to PS5 in 205 width, and other than better comfort (they’re new after all), the ‘ditch finder’ Landsails were better tyres. More sporty, better turn in, seemed more focused, with the PS5 feeling meh.
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Doesn’t look like there is a 10% discount on those.
Whatever you do, don’t put PS5’s on the front with Runway’s on the back without checking your life insurance and reviewing your will.
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My wife has a smart fortwo. The front tyres were down to the legal limit, but there was plenty of tread on the rears (5mm), which were the original and nine years old. Milage 40k
I ordered replacements for front and back; however, the rears did not arrive in time for a long journey, and so I just had the front fitted to save my license.
The car is driven gently, and most of the time after the new front tyres were fitted, the stability control came on, which you had never done before. The rear tyres looked absolutely fine, but clearly they weren’t.
I got the new tyres that were ordered fitted to the rear and there has not been an issue since.
It surprises me how much loss of traction the nine-year-old tyres demonstrated.
Not worth the risk of old tyres even if you drive slowly.
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I don’t get obsessive about anything but I do pay attention to tyre reviews nowadays. That’s because I do drive the MX in a spirited fashion more often than not.
Stopping distances, particularly in the wet can vary by many metres. That the difference between a ‘close call ‘ and major expensive shunt.
The Kumhos have a great reputation in the dry. They actually made it to the top spot in one review.
In the wet some of their recent tyres have got a ‘A’ for wet it’s been at the lower end of that band. For top wet handling you do need to fork out in the £130’s I’m thinking.
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