Rate my tyres

ruffage

It appears both of my rear tyres have cracks showing on the edge of the tyre wall. I guess this is due to their age, probably 5 years now.

Question is, do you think they’re safe to drive on? I still have legal tread, but I’m worried a blowout is imminent.  I’ll ask a garage too, but obviously they’re going to say change them, for the sale and also the come back.

                                                                       

Foster

Change Them.

Doyle

You can check when a tyre was manufactured by the digits following the letters DOT on the sidewall.

Personally, I would change those.  After all, regarding your and other road users' safety they're right up there in terms of importance.  4 little bits of rubber keep your car where it should be on the road and you don't want to chance a blow out - they aren't the same as a puncture!

Dony

Or they might advise you to change them in order to save your's or someone else's life.

ruffage

I'm going to get them replaced next week, I just wondered what people who may know better thought.

Seems I'm looking at ~£100 a wheel.  Any make I should definitely go for, or ones to avoid?  My mate reckons get Continental, but he talks a lot of crap too.

noiseboy72

Scaremongers!
That's a little bit of perishing and nothing to worry about. If it was cracked all the way around, had large cuts or bulges, uneven wear, very low tread or severe vibration, then yes change it, but that tyre is not about to let go.

What car do you have? If it's a high performance car - 180BHP  or rear wheel drive, then get a premium brand, but for a smaller runabout, there's plenty of options. Avoid the really cheap stuff, all the main manufacturers have a standard range.

£100 per tyre sounds expensive. My Z4 sits on quite large 245/40 R18 W and these can be had for £100 - £130 per corner. The wife's Ecosport is more like £60 for Dunlop or Bridgestone and probably less than £40 for a basic economy tyre.

Bl4ckGryph0n

What car is it? What wheel size is it? And what kind of driving do you like, or not considering the tyres are 5 years old

ruffage

Mk7 Golf GTI, 225/40 R18.  I don't get out much, so when I do I tend to thrash it a bit

Over by there

Personally looks more than perishing to me, more like the main carcass is going to part company (time unknown). Perishing would be smaller cracks around the wall as well.
Tyre legality | MOTEST - More than MOT Testing
Your call.

What to get will always be contentious. I go for stopping distance in the wet and handling in the wet on reviews. Followed by economy and we assume dry is pretty good if the wet is good (reviews checked of course).
Tyre tests at TyreReviews - Tyre Reviews
Auto Express usually has online reviews as well.

Got some Michelin cross climates on the barge driven wheels and they are superb. The small hatch back unfortunately had an awkward size and a premium is pricy but has good reviews. Time will tell.

Thing to remember is the very small surface area that has to deal with what you do. I don't do ditch finders. My choice.

I also start to shop at 3mm and usually change well above the legal min.

Over by there

Not sure I am reading the MOT bit right, but that would pass?