Colway tyres

DorsetDiscovery · Jan 23, 2022

Evening all,
Does anyone know if Colway tyres are still around ?
I've come across some wheels in my barn and they have these tyres fitted, never heard of them myself but really like the tread pattern.
Cheers in advance
Rich

brianp38dse · Jan 23, 2022

I used to use them on the rally car in the 90s
as far as i know they went out of business sometime in the 2000`s

Dr Strangeglove · Jan 24, 2022

These have been gone a while now do likely to have some age to them. They were retreads and the company based in the North East.

Hicap phill · Jan 24, 2022

DorsetDiscovery said:
Evening all,
Does anyone know if Colway tyres are still around ?
I've come across some wheels in my barn and they have these tyres fitted, never heard of them myself but really like the tread pattern.
Cheers in advance
Rich

Post a photo for tread pattern. Other makes may be available

norseman · Jan 24, 2022

+ 1 on age especially if they are re-treads, the concept of which I thought went out with the Arch

300bhp/ton · Jan 24, 2022

norseman said:
+ 1 on age especially if they are re-treads, the concept of which I thought went out with the Arch

???

v8250 · Jan 24, 2022

As above, Colway used to produce remoulds used by many historic rally teams and also commercial vans. In fact circa' 1.5 million tyres at their peak. Some of their winter tread van walled remoulds were very, very good for stage events. Sadly closed in 2000/2001. Colway are still fondly thought of amongst those who used their tyres. Interestingly/if I remember, their remould presses went to Poland [?] where they may well still be producing remoulds for other countries.

@DorsetDiscovery , re' Colway's in the barn, they'll be way beyond their end of use date for legal road use.

300bhp/ton · Jan 24, 2022

v8250 said:
@DorsetDiscovery , re' Colway's in the barn, they'll be way beyond their end of use date for legal road use.

Curious, but what legislation? And I'd be amazed if they had a stamped end of use date. Maybe a moulding/manufacture date.

v8250 · Jan 24, 2022

@300bhp/ton , at the time little to do with legislation though they did have production dates. But if you valued your life you'd rarely use them beyond three years old as they used to go hard quite quickly and when "off..." were worse than cross-plies on an icy country lane whilst traversing trams lines! On gravel/mud/stage they were great especially with the reinforced side walls and could take an absolute hammering.

Though a friend lost one from a front rim on his Austin Healey MKI BN7 which made making the next corner an underpants changing moment

norseman · Jan 24, 2022

300bhp/ton said:
???

Sorry, typo ... meant to spell Ark.

Nodge68 · Jan 27, 2022

DorsetDiscovery said:
I've come across some wheels in my barn and they have these tyres fitted, never heard of them myself but really like the tread pattern.

Bin them, unless you just want to roll a chassis around said barn.
Definitely don't think about putting them on a road vehicle, not unless you fancy an insurance claim or worse.

300bhp/ton · Jan 27, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Bin them, unless you just want to roll a chassis around said barn.
Definitely don't think about putting them on a road vehicle, not unless you fancy an insurance claim or worse.

Surely this would depend on their condition. They might well be junk. But they also might not be.

Nodge68 · Jan 28, 2022

300bhp/ton said:
Surely this would depend on their condition. They might well be junk. But they also might not be.

Not at all.
Remolds were always lower quality than new tyres, and more likely to fail, simply because the tyre carcass already had 1 life on it. Add to the mix a 20 year hibernation, and there's a disaster not far away.
Car manufacturers (including LR) recommend replacing tyres at 6 years old, including the unused spare, as tyres degrade in the atmosphere, constantly gassing off the chemical components which keep them soft and grippy. It won't be long before a 10 year old tyre would fail an MOT, however not all tyres over the last 10 years have dates on them, so that little rule isn't in yet.

I'd not use a 20 year old remold on a wheel barrow, let alone my pride and joy.

DorsetDiscovery · Jan 28, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Not at all.
Remolds were always lower quality than new tyres, and more likely to fail, simply because the tyre carcass already had 1 life on it. Add to the mix a 20 year hibernation, and there's a disaster not far away.
Car manufacturers (including LR) recommend replacing tyres at 6 years old, including the unused spare, as tyres degrade in the atmosphere, constantly gassing off the chemical components which keep them soft and grippy. It won't be long before a 10 year old tyre would fail an MOT, however not all tyres over the last 10 years have dates on them, so that little rule isn't in yet.

I'd not use a 20 year old remold on a wheel barrow, let alone my pride and joy.

Don't worry, I had absolutely no intention of chucking ancient tyres found in my barn straight onto my land rover !
I simply am looking for a new set of tyres for my 90 and happened to find these whilst having a clear out, never heard of them before so I thought I'd ask if they were still in production.
It's such a minefield looking for a set of tyres these days that both suit the vehicle and do the job without costing a fortune.

Cheers for the input on the Colway's, they will be thrown away rest assured !

Interceptorxj · Jan 28, 2022

Nodge68 said:
It won't be long before a 10 year old tyre would fail an MOT,

It would now on a truck or bus steer axle and drive axles later this year .

300bhp/ton · Jan 28, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Not at all.
Remolds were always lower quality than new tyres, and more likely to fail, simply because the tyre carcass already had 1 life on it. Add to the mix a 20 year hibernation, and there's a disaster not far away.
Car manufacturers (including LR) recommend replacing tyres at 6 years old, including the unused spare, as tyres degrade in the atmosphere, constantly gassing off the chemical components which keep them soft and grippy. It won't be long before a 10 year old tyre would fail an MOT, however not all tyres over the last 10 years have dates on them, so that little rule isn't in yet.

I'd not use a 20 year old remold on a wheel barrow, let alone my pride and joy.

I do hear what you are saying. Yet you are still missing the part of the ‘condition’. We have tyres in the barn which are in great condition yet old. While tyres outside will age more quickly.

I’m not saying that these particular tyres are any good. But using a blunderbuss of a rational that all old tyres = bad and young tyres = good. Is somewhat simplifying the situation.

And currently there is no legislation on using older tyres.

Enthusiastman · Jan 28, 2022

DorsetDiscovery said:
Evening all,
Does anyone know if Colway tyres are still around ?
I've come across some wheels in my barn and they have these tyres fitted, never heard of them myself but really like the tread pattern.
Cheers in advance
Rich

These were great tyres for remoulds which they were famous for producing. I used them on my Ford Granada 2.8i as they were a direct copy of the super expensive Michelin TRX metric tyres which back in the 80's were over £175 a corner where as the Colway version were only £25 each fitted and balanced. I had about 3 new sets of them over the years for my differing Granada's and i NEVER once had one fail on me and i commuted Uk/Germany many times on them at over 100 mph all the time.
Sad to read they are no-longer in business.
Just check your set you have as if they have been sat around a long time they might be perished on the side walls and cracked in-between the treads in which case DONT RISK IT.

norseman · Jan 28, 2022

Nodge68 said:
Not at all.
Car manufacturers (including LR) recommend replacing tyres at 6 years old, including the unused spare, as tyres degrade in the atmosphere, constantly gassing off the chemical components which keep them soft and grippy. It won't be long before a 10 year old tyre would fail an MOT, however not all tyres over the last 10 years have dates on them, so that little rule isn't in yet

The sooner the better !
Yes I am bias having seen 20 yr. old tyres pass a MOT without comment

Not quite so anti against spare tyres though, as buried under the boot/trunk floor of some cars they never see the light of day & as such are completely shielded from UV rays & (to some extent) the atmosphere. Not sure about a 6 year recommendation though, I suspect a hidden agenda there !

Hicap phill · Jan 28, 2022

norseman said:
The sooner the better !
Yes I am bias having seen 20 yr. old tyres pass a MOT without comment
Not quite so anti against spare tyres though, as buried under the boot/trunk floor of some cars they never see the light of day & as such are completely shielded from UV rays & (to some extent) the atmosphere. Not sure about a 6 year recommendation though, I suspect a hidden agenda there !

Try taking a camper van abroad with out of date tyres

French are tight on this

frog hopper · Jan 28, 2022

Hicap phill said:
Try taking a camper van abroad with out of date tyres
French are tight on this

And don't I know it, had my camper into the local garage for a full service/safety check/and ALL fluids changed a couple of months ago. Mechanic warned me that the tyres needed changing before I use it, although there is plenty of tread and no sidewall crazing, they are 7 years old.

Colway tyres

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