- Old stored tyres work as good as new, provided they're stored properly
- Modern rubber compounds do not loose their flexibility easily
- Research has proven that tyre ageing is really just a myth
- Michelin did a campaign 'Tyres Are Not Bananas' to break such myths.
Tyres are one of the most important fitments in your car, they are involved in implementing most of the vital inputs like acceleration, braking and steering. Old stored tyres have never been a perfect choice for buyers due to certain myths. Choosing the right tyre for your car is really important and its important to clear any misconceptions to makes sure that people make the correct decisions while buying their tyres.
Today we will address one of the most prominent myths regarding tyres - the myth of old tyres being bad.
There are a lot of times when we are offered slightly older manufactured tyres at the retailer's shop or at an online store which we avoid considering for our purchase because we feel that the "freshest manufactured tyres are the safest and the best". Well, this myth may have been slightly true sometime back but now, this issue had been largely addressed, thanks to modern tyre technologies and better material choices.
Let's clear the air here - the manufacturing date of a tyre doesn't largely affect its grip levels and performance, and if it is stored properly, it will perform the same as a brand new tyre.
The ageing process of a tyre starts when it gets mounted on a wheel, not only when it is covering distance but also when your car is just standing still. Mounting the tyre on your vehicle usually implies that the tyre will be open and exposed to harsh and extreme weather conditions which is another factor that accelerates tyre ageing.
So essentially, as long as you store your tyres in the correct way and keep them protected from harsh external conditions, a few years on the shelves will certainly not make them age.
Also Read : Why the retreading of car tyres is not suitable
French manufacturers Michelin took a commendable step to educate the customer and break the myth by organizing several campaigns, workshops and events. Michelin came out with their innovative campaign called 'Tyres are not Bananas' to help get the message across to people.
Various tests and research have also been conducted to gain objective evidence that can help clear this myth. For instance, in Saudi Arabia, it was found that a 10-year-old stored tyre and a 1 year used tyre had a similar ageing cycle.
As per a German motorist organization, brand new tyres and 3-year-old, properly stored tyres, had a similar level of rolling resistance. Thats right, a brand new tyre and a tyre which has been stored for 3 years performed exactly the same on the test!
If you have a doubt on whether an older tyre will be okay to run on your vehicle, you can also take it for an inspection to get a legitimate recommendation on whether you should buy the tyre or avoid it. Stored tyres should not be in contact with harsh sunlight or logged water as that will be detrimental for tyre's age.
Thanks to modern-day technologies and manufacturing facilities, tyre manufacturers claim the usability of an old stored tyre the same as a brand new tyre. So, if you are getting a tad old manufactured tyre at an affordable price, you should consider it.
Image Credits : Autoline.info, Pakwheels.com
