Buying Older Tyres?

[ol' boy]

I know Godzilla had made mention he checks the manufacturer date of the tyres he buys.

Im looking at a set of 5 BF Goodridge KO2's with 75% tread left
Guy asking $80ea with rims
Tyres have been stored in his shed for 2 years post removing them from his old Landcruiser.

I have visually checked them, then seem softish still with no cracking.
But i wonder if that will all change once i start driving on them???

Any advice here?

I'll just being using them for a trip to Camerons Corner, Birdsville, Alice Springs and Finke...
Im only going to wreck the tyres already on my rig (Bridgestone Dualers LT), i so i figure id rather wreck some cheap second hand tyres

[hoe]

i wouldnt go on that trip with anything less than 100% sound tyres and 2 spares.

unless you enjoy changing tyres in the dust/heat/flies.......

[gordon_s1942]

Although as I am as Mean as SXXX, I think it would be false economy to rely on second hand tyres over that area.
At that price they are certainly a bargain and worth taking as a second set but as an only pair of spares, no way as Hoe says.
Even this time of year the days can still get hot and you have no idea what conditions those Tyres have been subjected to and how they will react when driven all day on either bitumen or dirt at 100 + Kph.
Even if those tyres are known to be less than 6 months old, you have no idea how they were treated during that period.

Being on an 'Old Landcruiser' could be a bit of a worry.

just think why today you dont see as many retreads being offered like they used to be a few years ago.........

[lsemmens]

For a trip like that, new tyres. Because I'm a tight old ...you know. I'd buy 'em and use them for running around town.

[bob_m_54]

Check the tyre date stamp, and if the tyres are less than 6 years old, and appear in good condition, I don't see a problem. BF Goodrich warranty their tyres up to 6 years from date of purchase, to a maximum of 9 years. Be a good idea to carry 2 spares at least though, if you're doing a lot of offroad. Are you going up for the Finke Desert Race? If so, the Kulgera to Finke road (147Klm) is usually graded a just before, so not too hard on the tyres. For the rest of the trip, drive to suit conditions, and check your tyres regularly. If you drop pressure, drop your speed as well, to avoid overheating the tyres.

[ol' boy]

Thanks guys
A friend i am travelling with is a regular up those parts, he has a '06 100 Series IFS
He also takes all the Ford Rangers up that was for testing.

I showed him my 70% worn Bridgestones and he said, run those, they will be better on sand
But it is the tracks we use to get to the desert that will destroy tyres... He says

His theory was, take what i have, kill them, then buy new tyres when i get back...

All i have learned from reading and watching other guys, is what hoe said, don't go out there with anything under 80% new tyres.
That does make obvious sense to me...

Yes, i will take 2 spares, even if one is just a tyre by itself

[lsemmens]

Yes, i will take 2 spares, even if one is just a tyre by itself

Don't forget the tyre levers and pump!

[gordon_s1942]

Warranty and a shiny sidewall dont count for much when your stuck with a failed tyre in a 'Hot and Dusty' place as Lucky Starr says.

Suitable high lift jacks, sand mats, shovel, hatchet with a pick on the reverse.

[Rick]

KO2's? or KM2's? 5@ $80 each including rims $400 the lot, BARGAIN! if they still feel softish with no signs of perish, then snap them up mate, you price up a new set of KM2's you'll near fall over, mate they will be fine

[ol' boy]

KO2's? or KM2's? 5@ $80 each including rims $400 the lot, BARGAIN! if they still feel softish with no signs of perish, then snap them up mate, you price up a new set of KM2's you'll near fall over, mate they will be fine

BFG KO2's Rick
Yes, i've priced them many times, and when they get to 33's or 285/75 16 which these are, they are even more $$$$
With 6 Genuine Toyota rims but the dam rims are of no use to me, they only suit a 105 Series because of the offset
Only 5 tyres tho, sadly, because i'm trying to get a set of 6 for the trip

He also has a ARB Steel Tradesman roof rack for $180

[Rick]

[ol' boy]

To purchased a set of Nitto Trail Grappers last year (their MT)
Then that Tyresales dot com place stuffed everything up, so i asked for my money back
They were good for the price i thought

[ol' boy]

Bahahaha, good ol Andrew the toss pot

[bob_m_54]

Warranty and a shiny sidewall dont count for much when your stuck with a failed tyre in a 'Hot and Dusty' place as Lucky Starr says.

Suitable high lift jacks, sand mats, shovel, hatchet with a pick on the reverse.

Leave the high lift jack at home, not much use for anything except lifting you out of a deep rut. better off with a couple of hydraulic jacks and a jacking plate. Hatchet and pick? not sure what you'd use those for. A shovel can be handy, especially when you need to go for a crap LOL.

[ol' boy]

Yeah, i'm not a High Lift person, seen too many near accidents with them
Much rather a small trolly jack or bottle jack

[Godzilla]

S/H tyres are a bit of a hit and miss affair.

Tyre build dates are usually 4 digits, the first 2 are the week of the year and the last 2 are the year so if you see 4215 cast into the rubber its the 42nd week of 2015 build date.

What i have found is that a few year old rubber (mainly exposed to UV light) tends to have side walls that split and the rubber compound gets hard and slippery, especially noticeable in the wet.

The biggest fear especially after a life of buying bargains is the background of the tyres, ive seen tyres that look perfectly good from the outside when being sold come from cars that were in some pretty serious accidents, accidents that had them sideways and hitting gutters at speeds.

I would put money that cords or belts may possibly be damaged internally.

You need to ask yourself if it is worth the risk of a blowout that could lead to a accident......

I suppose if you city drive at 60 they may be fine, anything that would go wrong would happen at a controllable pace.

However i would avoid them if looking at driving at 100 or winding county roads, you may end up being stopped by a tree......