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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Next question

Tyres. At the moment I have a set of Uniroyal rainexperts fitted, they are almost new but six years old.
If I replace these what is a good choice?I know opinions vary,( the gearbox oil thread showed that!) but I would welcome the seasoned advice those with more experience of Midgets than I.
Roger D

There's a thread a short way down the 'general' section, started last week, entitled "Tyres. UK 2021."

Hopefully should answer your questions.
Dave O'Neill 2

Roger,
I've just replaced tyres that were less than 6 years old, I would/should have replaced them last year, as they'd gone hard from age and lack of proper use. Night and day difference on just having new tyres to those less than 6 years old.

I found a lack of choice, and lack of supply at the moment so had to take my third choice.

My first choice would have been to try Yokohama Blue Earth AE01 as others have recommended them and a mate who doesn't hang about in a Spridget recommends them but he has wider wheels so I think wider tyres (couldn't find the size on them without glasses).

Next suggestion was Dunlop SP Streetresponse (2?) which I would have tried but delivery was uncertain.

If by any chance in your market you can get Yokohama a-drive, made in Japan and still in date and good condition they were by far the best tyre I've had on a Spridget, I didn't realise how good until I didn't have them none of the replacements have as good.
Nigel Atkins

Agree on the Yokohama A-drives, I’ve got a set as my spare road tyres and they are superb. Well over 10 years old and still good grip. They actually hold the record on the Curborough figure of eight course for the MGCC Speed Championship Group B Midget!

As for replacements you couldn’t go wrong with another set of RainExperts from what I read on here. I think as long as you steer clear of the real budget options you can’t go far wrong these days. I’ve just fitted a set of Kumhos to my Midget and they are decent enough for what I want.
John Payne

Personally, If the tyres have good tread and aren't showing signs of cracking, or loosing pressure then I would eak out another year from them and aim to buy new ones next summer. I know 6 years is quoted now a days as the recommended life span but that comes from tyre companies that have a certain vested interest. Even if grip has deteriorated a little, its probably far better than the cross plies that came with the car from new, or even early radials. If your not planning in driving on the limit its not difficult or indeed discernably slower to drive within the limits of your car.
GuyW

Personally, If the tyres have good tread and aren't showing signs of cracking, or losing pressure then I would eak out another year from them and aim to buy new ones next summer. I know 6 years is quoted now a days as the recommended life span but that comes from tyre companies that have a certain vested interest. Even if grip has deteriorated a little, its probably far better than the cross plies that came with the car from new, or even early radials. If your not planning in driving on the limit its not difficult or indeed discernably slower to drive within the limits of your car.
GuyW

Guy, Roger,
grip can deteriorate a lot over a year or two in my experience (but my Midget does sit outside 365/6).

The tyres effect braking, suspension, handling, road holding, comfort and noise so have a big effect on the car overall and if in good condition and type will reward improvements on the car from servicing, maintenance and regular use over reasonable length journeys.

If the tyres aren't too bad then not buying now if it's a limited choice may be a good idea.

On the the other hand if I can afford it I change tyres that aren't working well on the car as soon as possible otherwise it defeats the object of owning such vehicles unless it's just for sunny Sunday afternoon pottering. I used to give a set of tyres 1,000 miles to prove themselves, but those days are gone, however Spridget tyres aren't expensive. I missed out for a year or two by putting up with the last tyres that weren't the best from new and had gone off, but still very driveable.

The cracking on my old tyres had become quite extensive but only in an 'advisory' sort of way but their performance had become too unacceptable, next stage I'd have been booking into local static shows. 😬
Nigel Atkins

I only change them when they are worn out or obviously knackered due to cracking, bulges, damage etc. Obviously if some new law come in saying I have to change tyres after 5 years then I’ll have to bite the bullet but until then I’m happy to keep on as billions of others have for over a century! We’ve had this discussion before and some were horrified to hear some of my bikes have tyres older than me!!

On the subject of cracking, the 2 year old Dunlop’s on my 17k mile Golf have cracking between the treads. It was noted on the last service so I’ll be interested to see if it passes an MOT next year. If they get any worse I’ll change them before then though. Pretty bad for a supposedly good make like Dunlop and fitted new by VW.
John Payne

John,
you're probably a better driver than me, many are, but worn out includes worn out the required performance of the tyres.

As you've discovered with your Dunlops on the VW Golf the way present tyres are might not be the same as they were a few years ago and traffic and road surfaces are also different.

I'm surprised at you being surprised at VW!! 😂

There has been a shortage of rubber going back a while now, and tyres anyway are complex components made up of lots of different materials some of which may not be in your bike tyres older than you.

Put your Yokos on and I'll drive your Midget, we'll go on the road which won't give us the whole width to ourselves and there will be all sorts of other vehicles coming at us from the opposite direction but the good grip of the A-drives might compensate for my poorer driving. 😂

I've already spun-off at Curborough in someone else's car so I already have that 'tick', not my fault, the tyres were too grippy to the tarmac but not the rumble strip



. .. or grass, and I wasn't even going fast. 😂
Nigel Atkins

Nigel, I started my post with "personally" as I knew that you hold a different view on these things. So just stating what I would do, accepting all that you say about handling etc etc. Its just a judgement and personal choice. The old way was only to buy new tyres when the cords worked their way through the covers, a little way past the "slicks" stage that were fun to drive on and practice one's handling skills. That was also in the days when few people had spare cash in their pockets to afford new tyres before the old ones were fully used up!
GuyW

my 3 year old Pirellis on the Audi had perished on the sidewall and had to be replaced. I had a puncture in one and it could not be repaired. modern rubber eh!
Bob Beaumont

NTDA. National Tyre Distributors Association.

The NTDA recommends that tyres fitted to vehicles over 10 years old are checked for damage, wear and other signs of old age.

They also say;
"Just because your tyre is 6, or even 10, years old does not automatically make it unsafe. As aforementioned, it may have been fitted two year after manufacture and was perfectly safe at the time of fitting -- ".

https://www.ntda.co.uk/useful-links/tyre-ageing/


I'm in the use all the tread before changing it, unless it's obviously damaged, camp too. No doubt that will be made illegal at some point. But I'd like to see the stat's that prove how many accidents were caused by tyres with oodles of tread, which were say 9 years old.

I accept though, it may well be that for a variety of reasons, tyres today really do perish long before they wear out.

I'll see how long my new rain experts last.



anamnesis

Another thing that ages tyres is U.V light, so car tyres in dark garages should suffer much less sun degradation than those kept outside 24/7.

Must check mine again as mileage is very low but quite a few years since fitted.

R.
richard b

This thread was discussed between 02/08/2021 and 03/08/2021

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