Safe to use very old spare tyre ??

steviewonder7 · Unread post by **steviewonder7** » 05 Feb 2006, 18:44

Hi folks,

Just a minor query here.
Upon renewing one of my rear abs sensors today i had to remove the spare wheel for better access to the sensor wiring.
I noticed that the spare wheel had ,what looked like the original speed rating sticker on the 'wheel' and that the tyre was totally unused and appeared to be the original michelin that the car probably came off the production line with.
Would the tyre ,in your opinions, be safe to use as it appears to be fairly old.
There doesn't appear to be any cracks in the tyre or anything to suggest that the tyre cannot be used as a spare.
Do I keep it or replace it?Whats the general concensus.
Steve

8304 · Unread post by **8304** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:11

i think the lack of responses to this subject is probably down to the worry of legal implimentations which may arrise if sombody was to give thier opinion on the tyre and then have it fail causing an accident................

if there is any doubt in your mind over the condition of the tyre it is probably best to change it or to just get another spare from your local scrapy (£10 0r so) - if it is the original it is certainly old.....

PowerLee · Unread post by **PowerLee** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:17

Theres no way on earth I would use that spare if its the original & that old, Get a new budget tyre if you are only gonna be using the wheel for an emergency spare.

davehughes · Unread post by **davehughes** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:22

My dad had a 15 yr old volvo when I was a kid, he put the spare on just before we went on holiday in it (a 300 mile journey) we had a blow out on the motorway. When we got to a kwik fit, they said that the tyre that had blown (the spare) was the original spare from when the car was new; so by a new one

sooty · Unread post by **sooty** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:26

If you get one from a scrappy, you could be in the same boat again.

As powerlee says, get a budget tyre to be safe.

steviewonder7 · Unread post by **steviewonder7** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:37

Yes,very wise thoughts.thanks.New tyre it will be.

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 05 Feb 2006, 19:38

As an ex Dunlop tech. Engineer I would say that if the tyre has not been illtreated/misused then it is fine..... these tyres were often stored for long periods with no problem.
As regards getting a 'second hand' tyre from a scrappy..... I would 100% prefer to use the Spare Tyre, at least I would know where and how it had been used.

AndersDK · Unread post by **AndersDK** » 05 Feb 2006, 20:57

Same story with my passed CX : the spare is stored in engine bay, dry and clean. Looks like brand new, no surface cracking etc. Never had any doubts using it despite it was 12y's old when I had to use it.

I'd say the biggest risc is to get a scrappy tyre which already has been in use - and may have have met quite a few curbs already.
What could possibly happen to a tyre under long, but controlled, storage ?

Its quite a different story for a BX spare wheel which is left to road environment under the car in its cage.

Unread post by **Peter.N.** » 05 Feb 2006, 21:05

If the tyre is showing no signs of cracking, then the carcass should be in good condition and thats what gives the tyre its strength, and if its never been used it shouldn't be damaged. If it was my tyre, I would use it.

sooty · Unread post by **sooty** » 06 Feb 2006, 18:43

The thing is, if the tyre is 'x' number of years old, stuck under the car in all weathers. How do you know what lies below the surface, the steel cores could be rusted, etc.

I say this because some years ago, I had a trailer which had a blow out and noticed the steel core was rusted.

So if the spare tyre lying flat could the water collected while motoring enter through the tyre wall, in other words can the tyre be porous???

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 06 Feb 2006, 18:48

I think its safe to sum up that

If you are tight and not concerned with safety then use the original tyre,
however if £35ish for a budget tyre isnt a concern and you would prefer to be safe than sorry then buy a replacement

zzf00l · Unread post by **zzf00l** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:27

Find it difficult to follow this logic.... I can only think to say read my earlier post!

mezuk04 · Unread post by **mezuk04** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:32

But im assuming the OP (owner of the car) hasnt had the car since new and therefore doesnt know the history of the spare wheel so to speak.

For the sake of a new tyre and the knowledge that its new i would just not faff around and buy a budget tyre...its a spare for a reason.

I bought some Saxo alloys for the ZX and although the tyres had pretty much brand new tread (pretty much) after further inspection when working on the brakes etc etc there was cracking (think thats the term) in them and this would refer them to being oldish tyres.

sooty · Unread post by **sooty** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:34

zzf00l wrote:Find it difficult to follow this logic.... I can only think to say read my earlier post!

In that case, its your choice !!

wilkobob · Unread post by **wilkobob** » 06 Feb 2006, 20:08

The spare on my ZX was the original and was about 8 years old when it was first used, and to my knowledge is still on the car as the one it replaced was rather bald. Was sold with the spare on, and to be honest, it was in fair nick. However, I have been known to use tyres that have been well past their best (im tight) and have since learned my lesson, and bought new decent tyres, instead of second hand.

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Safe to use very old spare tyre ??

Safe to use very old spare tyre ??

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