Tyre preference

[NMV 1E]

I think choosing tyres is easy.

Go for the ones with the best wet grip rating.

My last two tyre renewals have been Dunlop (Sport or Blue Response) on this basis.
They also handle great and are quiet too. You could probably find tyres that lasted longer though.

Regardless of how little you use the car, the time some idiot pulls / steps out on you on a rainy day is the time you will regret buying the wrong rubber as your ABS kicks in and you helplessly watch the future unfold...
Just imagine your loved ones in the car with you at that time if it helps.

This is a good example of what is called a 'no-brainer' IMO, but of course if you live in a country with no rain - disregard the above...

Good advice. Oh and I've read somewhere recently, tyres over 6 Birthdays old should be considered for replacement ..... I found two recently twice that GONE now.

[naki_k]

Always dissapoingimg to see a good tread tyre falling to bits like that. Am not convinced that modern rubber willl last any longer either.
I think probably by 6+ years, most of them will be cracking too.

[katar83]

I'm not entirely sure, the ones I have on the XJS still look perfect(no bulging or cracking), even tyre pressure is still what it was when I bought it ~6 years ago!

[pimgmx]

UV light makes a big difference, I guess you have your XJS stored away from direct sunlight, Katar?

[Bruce69]

An interesting and quite extensive article on this US website (Tire Safety Group) also pushes for a 6 year limit.
http://www.tiresafetygroup.com/tires-expire-in-six-years/

I think the biggest killer is the sunlight. I have a classic car which has no cracking on the top and inside of the tyres with virtually all the tread left but the bottom sidewalls are badly cracked. I wonder if covering (shielding) them from the sun would particularly slow their degradation. Also, would using any of these tyre dressing solutions (or even a simple silicon spray) help preserve them.

I used to use Back to Black and Holts Silicon Rubber on the seals and the tyre sidewalls (obviously not on the tread!) and it seemed to keep the rubber supple (and not too wet/shiny like some of the tyre dressing can do).

[katar83]

UV light makes a big difference, I guess you have your XJS stored away from direct sunlight, Katar?

I suppose it was covered from direct sunlight, first two years, then until now it sits under the sky, on the drive. I think they last much better than 40s as they are low profile tyres

[M-e-l-l-o-w]

I have always found that the Michelin tyres give good service, they grip quite well and tend to last longer than most other makes when used.
I had Michelin Primacy tyres on my 40, they were part warn when purchased and lasted 8 years until the end of the car.

mellow