Long Life Tyres

[ ] I've just had my 996 serviced, at the new Portsmouth Porsche Centre ( excellent service) and they advised me that the front tyres needed replacing as they are over 6 years old - it seems that they are the original tyres, fitted in 2002 and have covered 26k miles! and they still have 4mm of tread left. I expect some will say that I'm not trying hard enough, but I do two track days each year including 5 laps of the Nurburgring, Nordschliefe; also the rears have done 17k and still have 3.5mm.

The way I look at it is you still have 2.4mm of tread left then. Unless the walls have great chunks out of them or there really perished id run them down. Garages always tell people they need tyre's.

Not sure I'd be doing trackdays on 10-year old tyres. A C2 may not be a turbo but it's still a quick car.

What brand are they? Thinking of buying a set! Seriously though I read somewhere that tyres over five years old should be replaced, dont fancy doing 150 plus on some old rubber!

Wish I knew somewhere to do 150 these days. @70 with N rated I reckon we got a big safe playground there.

It would appear that 10 years is the maximum useful life............from the date of manufacture and not when it is put on the car. http://www.tyrepress.com/News/13649.html

I'm sure newer tyres are going to have the date of manufacture on them as rumor has it tyres over 10 years old are going to be made illegal which makes sense to me.

I have an article on Tyres from our local newspaper - it offered sound advice as does the RoSPA website. Question asked was one similar to yours - tyres not worn out, only done 'x' miles and not that old etc but recommended to change. Perceived wisdom is - check the tyre wall for any cracking/crazing- small or otherwise - usually along the wall not across the wall (although not unknown). Tyres do deteriorate with age. Check for any distortion on the tread or on the tyre carcass. Tyres that have been in storage should not be used if over 6 years old from date of manufacture, however if used this lessens the aging process but tyres over 10 years old should be replacedd irespective of the mileage covered. Chronological age of the tyre is found from the last 4 digits of the DOT code on the tyre sidewall, ie - 4702 is week 47 of 2002. If your tyre has a 3 difit code then it was manufactured before 2000 and should definitely not be used. If I was you I would check the age of the tyres, check the sidewalls for cracking/crazing, pop in to a local tyre place and get a second opinion, then make a judgement. PS - I called in at the new Portsmouth centre at the beginning of July when in the area on business - not open then and looked a way away from being ready although with the distinctive OPC look about it. Clearly things moved fast if you have just had the car serviced there. Some of the techs are from OPC Bournemouth. Portsmouth site is a good central one adjacent to IBM North Harbour on a new Industrial/business park just off the A/M27 and fills a large hole in the OPC southern network. Should do well.

Still would like to know what brand there are? If Geoff is doing track days and the Nurburgring then I would hope he is doing 150 plus

[8D] Hi Andy, They are Michelin and no they were not so old when I did the Nurburgring, I can't afford to go there every year.! I can't get more than about 125 on the UK tracks. I am going to replace then this year as they will be 10 years old soon - my point was that I'm amazed that the tyres have worn so well,when you consider the low mileage that some people get from their cars. it maybe be due to fact that the Carrera 2 is the lightest of nearly all the variants.

Anyone who races will know just how short tyre life really is[:-]. Nothing to do with remaining tread depths, all to do with the effective service life of the carcass and compound. On a 'classic' car you might get away with extending the life of the tyres, but on any performance car, that is used as intended, then I'd suggest they really need changing every three years for the car to perform at its best.

Hi Geoff, still impressed with the longevity, I have just put a new set of Bridgestone Potenza on the back of my C2 and expect to get 12-15K out of them with "normal" road driving. Love they way the Bridgestones grip and the balance of the car, also nice and consistant in the wet, bonus given the current weather! Bst A

All tyre's are referenced with a manufacture date in the DOT markings.