I wouldn't risk old tyres if I were you. It's a good decision to change them and be safe. My MGB had old tyres which seemed in good condition but I changed them anyway for safety's sake. The rubber will deteriorate without necessarily showing any obvious signs. I would never fit cheap tyres or remoulds either for the same reason. It's your life and the lives of your family, friends and other road users potentially. (End of sermon)
I'm intrigued by the comments about tyre pressures.
What would you experts recommend?
The manual says 22psi front and 24 rear, is this not a good idea? They certainly look and feel a bit low at that pressure.
KJM, yes it is a code, look for the DOT mark, only on one sidewall, pre 2000 it ends with 3 digits, 059 is week 5 year 9 of that decade, post 2000 it ends with 4 digits so 0710 is week 7 of 2010.
My tyres never seem to hold their pressure, after a couple of weeks they'll start looking flat, time for new ones? Had the same problem on my last Moggie.
Some scary tyre pics:
First two, the same tyre, was on a car that had been standing in a lock up for a few years and presumably the failure helped by being in one position for a very long time. Even when its parked with the big flappy split downwards the tread is pulling itself apart as the structure breaks up... beware of tyres that have been stood for a long time I suppose. Oddly enough it still holds its pressure well and nothing was obvious on a short test drive (on private land!).
[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame]This one I noticed on my daily driver some months back, only when it was parked with the wheels on lock and this split was outwards and upwards. It was one that I had a puncture with a week or two previous, that may have hastened its end as I drove a little way with it flat before I realised what the mushy feel was and found somewhere to safely pull in. Looked ok when the tyre co. repaired it though. Now running the car ona set of white 8 spokes with newish tyres on, as the others are getting low on tread anyway and I still need to decide what brand to go for on the original wheels. [/frame]
cheers
Iain
Fairmile Restorations.
'49 MM, '53 convertible, '55 van, and a '64 van.
Marina p.u., '56 Morris Isis Traveller, a '59 Morris JB van, a'66 J4 van, a '54 Land Rover, Land Rover 130, Renault 5, '36Railton, '35 Hudson, a Mk1 Transit and a Sherpa Camper...
A car can be restored at any time, but is only original once!