Old Tyres

[Not a Diesel!!!]

My wife got a MX5 earlier in the year.

Its now 8 years old. Only done 6k.

So tyres are 8 year old OEM bridgestones but got 7-8mm on them. When I looked at other low miles MX5's the tyres had cracked sidewalls if still on originals. But these still look like new I guess it was hardly driven & garaged so no nasty UV.

So I was thinking of changing to Pilot Sport 5's or Goodyear Eagle 6 as tyre tech come along way.

She does not drive the car hard. If I leave them on they will last for ages yet as only do 4-5k a year.

So is it worth it?

And if I do change should I take the Tyres back and sell on Ebay fora few quid each? As I imagine if I leave to the tyre company to dispose they are just gonna end up on someone elses car anyway

 

[Robbie Corbett]

I would take the car out in the rain and see what they are like. If they feel fine, have no cracking, no visible damage etc. I wouldn't be rushing to swap for new tyres especially if she doesn't drive the car hard over long distances. Seems like a waste of money to me.

I think its also an expensive time to buy tyres too...

 

[Chocice]

I had some tyres that where rock hard due to age and never wore down but it felt like you where driving on ice I think they where roughly 8 year old Michelin pilot sport 2s. If you enjoy good grip swap them if you drive slowly everywhere and just care about getting through mots keep them on.

 

[Not a Diesel!!!]

Thanks. Thought there would be more opinions as people are using Clios as second cars doing less miles. Unless they all been used on track for a couple of track days to kill them.

I think I will change.

Any thoughts on whether worth selling the old ones?

 

[McGherkin]

When we got the MX-5 race car (NA) it bounced like a mad thing. Was fairly sure the shocks were crap until I filmed the car in slow motion and found that the sidewalls were deforming. Normally you run MX-5s around 26psi but as a test I stuck 35psi in them and voila they firmed up showing it was the tyres. They were 8 year old Michelin Pilot Sport 3s. A new set cured the issue completely.

The fact that you’re thinking of going to Pilot Sport 5s makes it a no brainer IMO. Great tyres.

 

[Chocice]

Thanks. Thought there would be more opinions as people are using Clios as second cars doing less miles. Unless they all been used on track for a couple of track days to kill them.

I think I will change.

Any thoughts on whether worth selling the old ones?

100% but take a pic of the week and year number someone will buy them