Tire Replacement

[SeanD]

My N16 Nissan's tires are not holding pressure (all four of them) according to my digital pressure gauge. Their cold pressure has dropped about 3psi in 3 days although the car has not moved in that time - this can hardly be normal. However, the tires are nearly 6 years old, so I'm guessing they are due for a change?

PS- the tires do not have even 50k km on them.

[hakjay]

  SeanD said:

My N16 Nissan's tires are not holding pressure (all four of them) according to my digital pressure gauge. Their cold pressure has dropped about 3psi in 3 days although the car has not moved in that time - this can hardly be normal. However, the tires are nearly 6 years old, so I'm guessing they are due for a change?

PS- the tires do not have even 50k km on them.

There are makers(i think that's what its called) on the tyres to indicate the condition of the tyre (you will be able to see an arrow on the side wall showing the marker). If there is no depth in the marker then its time to change.

[Ripper]

  SeanD said:

My N16 Nissan's tires are not holding pressure (all four of them) according to my digital pressure gauge. Their cold pressure has dropped about 3psi in 3 days although the car has not moved in that time - this can hardly be normal. However, the tires are nearly 6 years old, so I'm guessing they are due for a change?

PS- the tires do not have even 50k km on them.

machang rubber deterioates over time due to many factors and even un used tires with zero wear would be no good after a few years.

in europe over 6 years and irrespective of wear conditions you should go for new tires

In SL conditions i would guess about 5 years should be the max...

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_expire.htm

http://www.mylittleportal.com/tire-manufacture-date-aging

I'm not 100% though you loosing pressure so much is due to simple aging of the rubber!

can the tyres be having tiny punctures? are the valves holding up? accuracy of your gauge? and also whether the mating surface of the alloys have oxidation developed etc?

[SeanD]

@Hakjay, it isn't wear, as at first glance the tires themselves are not worn (they have well under 50, in fact less than 30thousand km on them, as the car is not driven much)

Ripper, I think you're right, and the tires have simply outlived their usefulness. Most likely they have small cracks in them as the car sits around for a good portion of the year, or the valves have deteriorated. The gauge is accurate, since it gave me the same reading as the gauge at the petrol station (both gauges are digital). After 6 years, I guess I shouldn't complain and just see about replacing them.