Tyres question

[Dogtrousers]

I drive a 2013 Hyundai i10. It has 37k miles on the clock. The two front tyres were replaced by the previous owner in 2018, about 13k miles ago. The rear tyres, which are original, have started to lose pressure at an annoying (but not alarming) rate. I only drive the car every few weeks and they are often down to less than 20psi so I have to pump them up to the recommended 33. It's just passed its MoT and according to that has 4mm on the rear wheels and 5mm on the front. It only does a couple of thousand miles a year. Sometimes 3.

Given that: I know absolutely nothing about cars. I'm not obsessive about squeezing the last inch of wear out of components. I do like to have everything on the car as safe as possible, what do you reckon I should do?

Leave it a year or so before doing anything, just remember to check the pressure before taking the car out and pump up if necessary? Replace just the rears? Say sod it and push the boat out and replace them all?

I'm inclined to leave it for now and keep pumping, even if it is a bit annoying. They're normally still at pressure at the end of a long drive, so it's not that bad.

 

[Jameshow]

Alloy wheels I bet you have curved it so the bead isn't a good seal. You could get them resealed at a indie tyre factory for £20.

I'd keep them till 2mm tbh unless you live in Scotland when I would change for m+s asap!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Alloy wheels I bet you have curved it so the bead isn't a good seal. You could get them resealed at a indie tyre factory for £20.

I'd keep them till 2mm tbh unless you live in Scotland when I would change for m+s asap!

I'm not sure what sort of wheels they are. Just wheels. I may have "curved it" but I don't know what that means. If I have, I've "curved it" equally on both sides.

I may contact my local dodgy tyre outfit and see how much they charge for resealing. There's one in a back street nearby that was recommended to me when I had a flat on my previous car.

No I don't live in Scotland. I didn't know M&S did tyres

 

[CXRAndy]

Does the car have any kind of tyre pressure monitoring? If it doesn't you could try tyre sealant

 

[Drago]

Regardless of wear, the safe life for tyres is in the region of 6 years if youre prudent, 8 years if youre skint, 10 years max in all circumstances.

Some nice new tyres and have them clean your rim while they're in there.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Regardless of wear, the safe life for tyres is in the region of 6 years if youre prudent, 8 years if youre skint, 10 years max in all circumstances.

Some nice new tyres and have them clean your rim while they're in there.

I didn't know that. And googling around a bit others seem to agree, more or less, give or take, thereabouts regarding the number of years.

 

[Drago]

Age expired tyres is what killed Paul Walker.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Age expired tyres is what killed Paul Walker.

As this isn't a respectful RIP thread I have no shame in saying "never heard of him". But I've now looked him up (I'm none the wiser)

 

[13 rider]

I agree with @Drago time for some new tyres it's not all about tread depth . Definitely replace the rears and if it's not stupidly expensive I would do the fronts

 

[CXRAndy]

I hadn't heard of him, but he was an actor from the car film fast and furious. His old tyres age were found to be contributing factor to his death in a car accident

 

[Drago]

As this isn't a respectful RIP thread I have no shame in saying "never heard of him". But I've now looked him up (I'm none the wiser)

He was in a load of films that glorified bad driving. In a horrible irony he went out in his chums Porshe that had virtually new tyres in tread wear terms, but which were 9 years old. At that age the compounds that keep them pliable and grippy had leached away, and the car lost grip and crashed and did the poor fellow in.

 

[T4tomo]

I drive a 2013 Hyundai i10. It has 37k miles on the clock. The two front tyres were replaced by the previous owner in 2018, about 13k miles ago. The rear tyres, which are original, have started to lose pressure at an annoying (but not alarming) rate. I only drive the car every few weeks and they are often down to less than 20psi so I have to pump them up to the recommended 33. It's just passed its MoT and according to that has 4mm on the rear wheels and 5mm on the front. It only does a couple of thousand miles a year. Sometimes 3.

Given that: I know absolutely nothing about cars. I'm not obsessive about squeezing the last inch of wear out of components. I do like to have everything on the car as safe as possible, what do you reckon I should do?

Leave it a year or so before doing anything, just remember to check the pressure before taking the car out and pump up if necessary? Replace just the rears? Say sod it and push the boat out and replace them all?

I'm inclined to leave it for now and keep pumping, even if it is a bit annoying. They're normally still at pressure at the end of a long drive, so it's not that bad.

pressure loss is probably a bit of alloy "corrosion" on the rims, they need a rub down and reseal, but if youre paying £10-20 a corner to have that done, i'd put some cheap brand new tyres on too. You don't need to pay for a top brand, as with your mileage the rubber is past its best before the tread wears.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Four new tyres it shall be! Thanks for the input everyone.

Incidentally, I was out with a torch double checking the sizing of the tyres and those 11 year old rear tyres are really showing their age with lots of little cracks.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

My wife's Mazda has alloys and they are prone to losing pressure, due to corrosion on the rim. The car has a tyre pressure alert (which is actually pretty good) to remind me to pump them up every so often.

PS. I think "curved it" above was meant to be "kerbed it"

 

[biggs682]

Four new tyres it shall be! Thanks for the input everyone.

Incidentally, I was out with a torch double checking the sizing of the tyres and those 11 year old rear tyres are really showing their age with lots of little cracks.

I would get new tyres for the rear but have them fitted to the front and put the old fronts on the rear