Tyre info/help

[abh29]

Bridgestone DriveGuard have good reviews and here is a test back to back between regular Bridgestones on the same car, quite hard to find a proper back up back test to genuinely compare: http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Article/Bridgestone-D...

I’m giving them a go on a Smax Fors (it has no spare but does not have runflats as standard! - would prefer the convenience of a runflat on a family bus)

My objection with Bridgestone is I have always found them to be high on noise once a bit worn. I recently changed two to retain matching set of tyres , 2 had gone down to 2.5/3 mm while the other 2 still at 6 mm. Think I may be making a mistake in always putting them back on the same location on the car when swapping over. If I rotate they may wear out evenly , hopefully then I can get back on Contis
Must say the Pirellies 210 held very well in a couple of inches of snow and zero temp across Wales yesterday.

 

[Tracy Dee]

At what age would a tyre need replacing even if it had lots of tread left?

 

[abh29]

A few years ago I changed tyres on a Freelander when the MoT tester [fully justified when I looked] picked up a lot of cracking on tyres due to age ----- wife's car not used a lot. They were 6 years old.

 

[Maddusty]

At what age would a tyre need replacing even if it had lots of tread left?

Think any tyre over 6 years old is an advisory replacement. I had and old Honda del sol that had been in storage for 6 years and had new tyres put on before it went into storage and when I put it through the test in Ireland it passed but they advises me on the age of the tyres. The tester said they had no cracks but rubber compound can perish over time especially when not used.

 

[Redline]

The side walls of runflats is considerably thicker in order to provide the strength needed to carry all the weight of the car compressed through the narrow rims. That’s to give some cushioning to stop the rims simply slicing through the tyre.
The side wal is so thick that on very low profile tyres you can’t tell by looking that the tyre might actually be flat.
If you do run a deflated run flat the tyre is written off and has to be replaced.
Lots of places simply won’t repair run flats either though they are repairable.

 

[t-tony]

The side walls of runflats is considerably thicker in order to provide the strength needed to carry all the weight of the car compressed through the narrow rims. That’s to give some cushioning to stop the rims simply slicing through the tyre.
The side wal is so thick that on very low profile tyres you can’t tell by looking that the tyre might actually be flat.
If you do run a deflated run flat the tyre is written off and has to be replaced.
Lots of places simply won’t repair run flats either though they are repairable.

And, most people don't know this and the information isn't volunteered by the retailer either.

Tony.

 

[abh29]

Quick look at the revised MoT document recently posted by @Nodzed it seems Mot is sitting on the fence again------
pg 72 of 131 states [section 5 pg 4 of 10]
Run Flat and conventional tyres may be mixed on the same axles ,although this is not recommended.
Bit concerned about the TPMS The inspection of tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) only applies to M1 vehicles first used on or after 1 January 2012. My wife's QQ was registered Sept 2012 and has never had TPMS fitted

 

[t-tony]

Quick look at the revised MoT document recently posted by @Nodzed it seems Mot is sitting on the fence again------
pg 72 of 131 states [section 5 pg 4 of 10]
Run Flat and conventional tyres may be mixed on the same axles ,although this is not recommended.
Bit concerned about the TPMS The inspection of tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) only applies to M1 vehicles first used on or after 1 January 2012. My wife's QQ was registered Sept 2012 and has never had TPMS fitted

If it isn't fitted it can't be tested.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

Two things about TPMS.

1. How will they test it? Does the MoT tester have to know how to access the TPMS functions one every car or are they simply looking for a TMPS indication or fault (i.e. the same as brake wear or engine indicators)?
I'm sure they won't deliberately induce a fault to trigger an indication.

2. TPMS is a secondary indication system. Its still the drivers responsibility to ensure the car is roadworthy. OK - I'm sure many of us can tell when one tyre is under deflated by how the car handles. We lived without TPMS for many years. Why is it deemed critical to car safety now? Are they simply using TMPS to check tyre pressures?
A fault in the TMPS only puts the driver in the same situation as a car without TMPS. OK many drivers rely on it but they wouldn't check the tyre pressures of their tyres anyway.

 

[IJSK]

Not run flats I know, but I’m really pleased with my Uniroyal Rainsports 3s. Today with so much water lying on the roads the little red zed felt extremely sure footed. Nice ride from them too, though in fairness I stuck to 16” wheels when replacing the previous owners E46 wheels.

 

[t-tony]

The warning lights have to follow the sequence of come on when you turn on the ignition then go off. Some TPMS lights don't come on until you have a fault or the tyre pressure(s) are too low.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

The warning lights have to follow the sequence of come on when you turn on the ignition then go off. Some TPMS lights don't come on until you have a fault or the tyre pressure(s) are too low.

Tony.

The lights will need to be on for ten minutes when you start to allow the MoT to be done - So many lights to check are on. Poor MoT tester.


I guess you can tell TPMS cars by the type of valve fitted.
So they're just testing the light. Is it fail if the light stays on?

 

[t-tony]

Not strictly true. My car has standard valves because the TPMS system works off the the ABS (wheel speed sensor). If the light stays on it is indictating a fault, whether it's a system fault or just a flat tyre the tester had to decide. Some of the fancy tyre valves are silly money.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

Not strictly true. My car has standard valves because the TPMS system works off the the ABS (wheel speed sensor). If the light stays on it is indictating a fault, whether it's a system fault or just a flat tyre the tester had to decide. Some of the fancy tyre vslves are silly money.

Tony.

Do they check tyre pressures now?
If they treat cars without TPMS differently to those with it the test system isn't fair.

 

[t-tony]

No you don't check pressures, if they're obviously too low the car is lower on that side, which also affects the headlight aim.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

No you don't check pressures, if they're obviously too low the car is lower on that side, which also affects the headlight aim.

Tony.

It seems like its creating a situation where the same wheel can fail (or minor fail) on one car but would pass if put on another, just because the car itself says so (back to the other conversation about low profile RFTs). Like I said, its not a level playing field.
Must make it more of a mine field for testers.

 

[t-tony]

It seems like its creating a situation where the same wheel can fail (or minor fail) on one car but would pass if put on another, just because the car itself says so (back to the other conversation about low profile RFTs). Like I said, its not a level playing field.
Must make it more of a mine field for testers.

It doesn't get any easier Ian, when you read through the Manual there are just as many contradictions as ever. I've been testing cars for 40 years now and it's always been the same. I need to get my training done for tis year to be able to continue testing past the end of March, but with any luck, it'll be the last.

Tony.