Classic Michelin XM+S244

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The original tyres for the RR back in the 'seventies :D
Hopefully still available at a competitive price in a couple of years time, when my current rubber will be age-expired.
 
The original tyres for the RR back in the 'seventies :D
Hopefully still available at a competitive price in a couple of years time, when my current rubber will be age-expired.
My 2A still has them on, were fitted in the mid 90s :eek: but still in remarkable shape. Spent far too much time in storage, hopefully not this year
 
My 2A still has them on, were fitted in the mid 90s :eek: but still in remarkable shape. Spent far too much time in storage, hopefully not this year

When I bought my current RRC 14 years ago the Michelins' on it had excellent tread & no discernible side-wall cracking, but the car was 'twitchy' in the wet. I read up on DOT code markings & checked ... 21 years old all round :eek:
Sent some pics. to Michelin customer service prior to renewing the tyres with General grabber TR's & got a nice letter back, together with a decent multi-tool than I still use.
 
A mate with his own tyre business told me once that Michelin tyre compound gets harder with age that could be why it was twitchy in the wet.

I think this 'hardening' process is common to all tyres from the moment they come out of the mould & exposure to sunlight simply accelerates the process.
My main concern about running ancient rubber was the question of my insurance company's attitude in the event of an accident. Considering there are now legal limits on the age of tyres fitted to commercial & passenger carrying vehicles I think it's high time these were (proportionally) applied to private cars, along with the suicidal minimum 1.6mm tread depth.
 
^^^^^ That.
Not unusual to see caravans & trailers where the tread depth looks brand new but the tyre has failed due to age.
 
I think this 'hardening' process is common to all tyres from the moment they come out of the mould & exposure to sunlight simply accelerates the process.
My main concern about running ancient rubber was the question of my insurance company's attitude in the event of an accident. Considering there are now legal limits on the age of tyres fitted to commercial & passenger carrying vehicles I think it's high time these were (proportionally) applied to private cars, along with the suicidal minimum 1.6mm tread depth.
Why would anyone worry about such a thing? If it is LEGAL. Then your insurance can do feck all about it!!!
 
Why would anyone worry about such a thing? If it is LEGAL. Then your insurance can do feck all about it!!!

Always assuming you are still alive to claim :rolleyes:
Then there is the (not so) small matter of other road users who may not appreciate being accident victims due to some tight sod who won't renew their tyres until they are actually illegal.
I don't go by legality, I replace tyres at 3mm.
 
Always assuming you are still alive to claim :rolleyes:
Then there is the (not so) small matter of other road users who may not appreciate being accident victims due to some tight sod who won't renew their tyres until they are actually illegal.
I don't go by legality, I replace tyres at 3mm.
Well that’s all fine and good. But not really an insurance thing. Let’s face it a non ABS classic Range Rover is not going to stop in the same distance as a brand new Polo. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drive the RR.
 
Btw as for the tread depth. I suspect it is a mathematical calculation on water dispersal. As that is mainly what the tread Is for. On a dry tarmac road (good tarmac). A tyre with only 1.6mm of tread is likely to stop better than the same tyre with over double the amount of tread, due to greater surface contact area.
 
Btw as for the tread depth. I suspect it is a mathematical calculation on water dispersal. As that is mainly what the tread Is for. On a dry tarmac road (good tarmac). A tyre with only 1.6mm of tread is likely to stop better than the same tyre with over double the amount of tread, due to greater surface contact area.
Slicks stop even quicker in the dry:D ABS actually increases the stopping distance in some circumstances :eek:
 
Quick google:
Black circles £135.31 each all in. www.blackcircles.com/tyres/brands/michelin/x-m-plus-s-244
Their "guarantee for life" is a bit dog****e. "Oh, your tyre delaminated? But you have a tow bar fitted, so you might've been towing. Sorry, not covered."
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