Daft question time!

At what age should you replace the tyre on the spare wheel?

Mine has never been used, but I'm aware that rubber degrades, so what's the recommended age for replacing? My car is almost 9 years old.

Wee Smurf said:

Daft question time!

At what age should you replace the tyre on the spare wheel?

Mine has never been used, but I'm aware that rubber degrades, so what's the recommended age for replacing? My car is almost 9 years old.

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When the tyre is between 6 and 10 years old (depending on tyre manufacturer), according to some very unscientific Googling. There's doesn't seem to be a definite and agreed upon cut off point though, unfortunately. What kind of tyre is the spare on your Panda, I know the 100HP has different sized wheels and tyres to other Pandas?

I'd never considered replacing mine before. Even though it's ever been used, it's now over 6 years old, I guess.

EDIT: Bloody hell, I've just had a look and a 125/70/R15 spare tyre for the 100HP is about £60 fitted! The old one can stay firmly where it is. Also, the spare in the 100HP is meant to run at 61psi, I bet mine is nowhere near that...

Wee Smurf said:

Daft question time!

At what age should you replace the tyre on the spare wheel?

Mine has never been used, but I'm aware that rubber degrades, so what's the recommended age for replacing? My car is almost 9 years old.

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The biggest cause of tyre degradation is sunlight; keeping them in the dark will significantly prolong their life. Kept in a dark boot well, it couldn't really have much better storage conditions; if not obviously defective (ie no excessive cracking or suspicious bulges in the sidewalls), I'd say it'd be good for at least the life of the car or 15 years.

I've some classic car tyres stockpiled in the 1980's & stored flat in the dark; they're still good to go.

Underslung spare wheels don't always fare so well, though - I've seen them reduced to essentially scrap after 7-8 years.

And I've had a 10yr old bicycle tyre stored in daylight literally burst a sidewall on me.

It's an emergency spare wheel; even in the worst case scenario you're only going to be going a few miles on it at (hopefully) a much reduced speed; & provided it'd pass an MOT (and yes I know they don't check the spare), I'd be happy enough to use it.

Your main road tyres are a different story altogether; you don't really want to be using them once they've degraded to the point where it significantly affects the handling (especially if you're driving your 100HP properly); this will happen a long time before they technically become unroadworthy.

When I had a caravan, I used to remove the wheels each year and have my local tyre dealer check the tyres over. He didnt charge me for that. I would suggest doing the same with the spare tyre. When I took my car for MOT this year, the tester marked the sidewall of my spacesaver spare with details of MOT.

Hi Smurf, there is absolutely no scientific evidence on which to apply a time limit for a tyre.
As righly said above, a tyre in wheel well, out of the sun etc should be perfectly ok. I woldnt put a limit of anything on it, if it appears ok, and check out ok, it is ok.
Get it checked at a tyre specialist - inside and out (NOT KWIK RIP!) if in any doubt or want peace of mind. - it will be absolutely fine I am sure,.
Also, is it not a part of the MOT test in the UK if fitted ? if there was any proof of empirical data then the MOT test at the moment would fail tyres based on age markings - they dont..

Just what to eco what jrkitching has said.

It'll be fine for another decade IMO.

That's fine. I'll just keep an eye on it. I'll get it checked properly when I'm buying tyres again. That'll be when the winters are going back on again.

And no Cap, they no longer check the spare wheel during MoT. It must be about 4 years since they stopped. I suppose it's with spare wheels now being optional extras when you're buying these days.

Checking the pressure in the sparetire (2.8 bar IIRC) every now and then is important though.
It would be quite embarressing to have no pressure when you need the spare.
Remember that blowouts are caused by tirepressures that are too low. This causes temperatures to rise too high causing blown tires.

gr J

Wee Smurf said:

That's fine. I'll just keep an eye on it. I'll get it checked properly when I'm buying tyres again. That'll be when the winters are going back on again.

And no Cap, they no longer check the spare wheel during MoT. It must be about 4 years since they stopped. I suppose it's with spare wheels now being optional extras when you're buying these days.

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Ah, thanks for that Wee Smurf.. I have no idea if they check it here ? - mr Fiat took it to the IPO (MOT) in Feb, they are sheet hot on other things here though..

ps, did you come to a decision re your new wheel trims ?

Wee Smurf said:

And no Cap, they no longer check the spare wheel during MoT. It must be about 4 years since they stopped. I suppose it's with spare wheels now being optional extras when you're buying these days.

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Are you sure? I thought its checked where fitted, fine if not fitted

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Are you sure? I thought its checked where fitted, fine if not fitted

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Hi Jon,
My understanding of the rules prior to leaving the uk was that (as you say) it was checked if fitted, but you could remove it and it would not be an issue. - But, I did leave over 10 years ago - time flies..

S.4(1) of the MOT Inspection Manual for Class 3-7 vehicles states:

"This inspection applies to tyres fitted to road wheels only. The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on the spare wheel".


S.4(2) goes on to state:

"This inspection applies to the road wheels fitted to the vehicle at the time of inspection only. The vehicle presenter should be informed if a defect is noticed on the spare wheel".


Note that both quotes make specific reference to the fact that the MOT test only inspects the road wheels, not the spare wheel(s). Furthermore, no reference is made to the spare wheel or its condition in the "reasons for rejection" section of either S.4(1) or S.4(2).


Section 4 of the Class 3-7 MOT Inspection Manual:
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s04000001.htm

Wee Smurf said:

Daft question time!

At what age should you replace the tyre on the spare wheel?

Mine has never been used, but I'm aware that rubber degrades, so what's the recommended age for replacing? My car is almost 9 years old.

Click to expand...

Definitely not a daft question. I hadn't really given it any thought, but thanks for bringing it up.
Generally we wear tyres out before rubber degradation becomes an issue, but the rears on some light cars can be an issue. I've just replaced the rears on the Panda, still on 3-4mm, but looking old and some cracking in the sidewalls. They're 8 years old, but been in the daylight all that time.

It is the UV light from the sun that causes the rubber to crack, but all rubber will harden with time, even if kept in the dark. Classic car guidance is max 10 years. Just checked my spare, space saver, 135/80 13, looking very new, so ok for a year or so yet.

Matt100HP said:

S.4(1) of the MOT Inspection Manual for Class 3-7 vehicles states:

"This inspection applies to tyres fitted to road wheels only. The vehicle presenter should be informed when it is noticed that there is a defective tyre on the spare wheel".


S.4(2) goes on to state:

"This inspection applies to the road wheels fitted to the vehicle at the time of inspection only. The vehicle presenter should be informed if a defect is noticed on the spare wheel".


Note that both quotes make specific reference to the fact that the MOT test only inspects the road wheels, not the spare wheel(s). Furthermore, no reference is made to the spare wheel or its condition in the "reasons for rejection" section of either S.4(1) or S.4(2).


Section 4 of the Class 3-7 MOT Inspection Manual:
http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/m4s04000001.htm

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Define road wheel though. I've have said road wheel is any wheel capable of being used on the vehicle, so to include spare. None road wheel is one thats not for that vehicle for example but in the boot or on the back seat

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Are you sure? I thought its checked where fitted, fine if not fitted

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Jon they didn't even open the boot at my last Mot, so no it definitely was not checked.

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Define road wheel though. I've have said road wheel is any wheel capable of being used on the vehicle, so to include spare. None road wheel is one thats not for that vehicle for example but in the boot or on the back seat

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I think the fact it makes a point to say that the presenter should be be informed of damage/defects to the spare wheel (specifically named as such, not just called a road wheel), but doesn't mention such damage being a reason for refusal pretty much proves that you don't need a roadworthy spare wheel to pass an MOT.

I guess the only way to know for sure would be to contact VOSA directly though.

A3jeroen said:

Checking the pressure in the sparetire (2.8 bar IIRC) every now and then is important though.
It would be quite embarressing to have no pressure when you need the spare.
Remember that blowouts are caused by tirepressures that are too low. This causes temperatures to rise too high causing blown tires.

gr J

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Yes the tyre pressure is correct on my spare. The only times it's ever been out has been to check it and the only time the tool kit has been out was when someone in work had no idea of how to change their flat wheel and I changed it for them (while two blokes watched me)!

captainslarty said:

Ah, thanks for that Wee Smurf.. I haao idea if they check it here ? - mr Fiat took it to the IPO (MOT) in Feb, they are sheet hot on other things here though..

ps, did you come to a decision re your new wheel trims ?

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I think that the postage to return them would be as expensive to make total postage cost more than the trims, so on that basis, I'll keep them but look out for better ones.

portland_bill said:

Definitely not a daft question. I hadn't really given it any thought, but thanks for bringing it up.
Generally we wear tyres out before rubber degradation becomes an issue, but the rears on some light cars can be an issue. I've just replaced the rears on the Panda, still on 3-4mm, but looking old and some cracking in the sidewalls. They're 8 years old, but been in the daylight all that time.

It is the UV light from the sun that causes the rubber to crack, but all rubber will harden with time, even if kept in the dark. Classic car guidance is max 10 years. Just checked my spare, space saver, 135/80 13, looking very new, so ok for a year or so yet.

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Wow original tyres at eight years! Either you have a low mileage Panda or your Panda is easy on rear tyres. I've been through a couple of sets, but I change rear to front each season as I prefer even wear and to replace all four tyres at once.

Wee Smurf said:

Yes the tyre pressure is correct on my spare. The only times it's ever been out has been to check it and the only time the tool kit has been out was when someone in work had no idea of how to change their flat wheel and I changed it for them (while two blokes watched me)!

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:worship: