Tyre life-span dilemma

Zenster · 11th October 2008, 12:57

Hey Frenz, I am attaching the pics of the tyres on my Zen 2001. I want to know how long will these tyres last. My car has done 51500 on the Odo. got it second hand in May when it was around 47k on the odo. I wanted to know how many KMS are left on the tyre. I do about 25kms a day approx. Please help me with this

Also can i use these tyres on alloy rims as i'm planning to put second hand alloys on the car? If then how much shud i get if i exchange the OEM rims and these tyres.

I know there are a lot of question above but thats how confused i am

Please help Frenz.

flipsyde · 12th October 2008, 01:23

Those looks pretty bald to me. Get them changed ASAP.

Zenster · 12th October 2008, 09:59

@Flipsyde: Thanks for the response buddy, Appreciated!!! I would love to have a few more expert responses from to make up my mind.
Also on these rims can i fit any 13"tyres ????

Zenster · 12th October 2008, 10:44

Hi all, was reading around and found the http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-a...yre-sizes.html

The results of the test in my case was, the thread wall hardly reached the Hindi lettering 'Rupiya' or you can say just about 1/4 of the lettering is getting covered.

Does this mean i need a new set ASAP as Flipsyde said ?

Tejas@perioimpl · 12th October 2008, 11:14

Get rid of the tyres. They are gonna die on you anytime.
You'll be lucky if you get 400 bucks for all rims and tyres.
Be very careful while buying second hand alloys. Check thoroughly. Most second hand alloys are sold damaged (read bent out of shape) and your car could vibrate with these alloys at speeds above 100kmph.

What size is the current tyre - width / tyre wall height / rim size ?

dadu · 12th October 2008, 11:29

For City Roads - OK for another 2-3k
For highway drives - Not OK
In Rains - Not OK

Zenster · 12th October 2008, 12:43

Thanks for the insight guys. The tyres currently on are 145/80 R12 71S and rims are 4j OEm ones i guess...

gd1418 · 12th October 2008, 13:24

Look for the TWI (tread wear indicator) on your tyres; all tyres come with it. It is an indicator by the manufacturer that suggests when to replace the tyres. Normally, if you are doing only city driving then you can pull through for another couple of thousand kms as Dadu said. But is a total no-no on highways and during monsoons.

Coming to second hand alloys, normally people don't change alloys unless one of the rims gets damaged and you need to change the set of 4 since you don't get a single piece matching the one that got damaged. Preferably go for new alloys with tubeless tyres.

GTO - Touring · 12th October 2008, 13:29

Also remember this : Just because a tyre has tread left in it doesn't mean there is an equivalent amount of grip available too. My Bridgestone S322's were far from bald @ 45,000+ kms. In fact, it had healthy tread left. Buttttttttttttttttt the grippy rubber was all but gone....slipping & sliding in the Vtec was everyday business!!

Zenster · 12th October 2008, 13:35

Thanks for the comments guys, one more doubt i had is can i fit 13" tyres on the current rims. the tyres are 145/80 R12 71S no isea on the rim specs but they seem OEM ??????

Tejas@perioimpl · 12th October 2008, 14:04

how to you expect to put a 13" tyre on a 12" rim?
just go to your tyre guy and try out options.

BTW what is your fixation with 13" tyres? Do you have spare ones lying around?

Raccoon · 12th October 2008, 16:13

If you ask me, those tyres are ok even for highway driving (tread wise). But then if they were made in 2001, then it will be risky, as you never know... the rubber might give way and you may have a blow out at high speed.

Till very recently, I was driving the OEM GoodYears since last 6 - 7 years... even at high speeds on highway... and in the current monsoons too! In the last couple of years, the tread had significantly worn off... but never had a significant issue with the grip. How you drive, your bearings, the way you brake, etc, will also play a big factor.

Actually, the skidding issue will only crop up on water-logged roads, when the tyre can no longer pump out water fast enough. On dry roads, tread hardly plays a role in roadholding.

But then thats my case, in brief. Yours may not be similar... also you have MRFs. They arent known for their grip even when new (havent used them personally though). You should be able to tell after driving what kind of grip you are getting in various conditions. If you aren't good at it, you are safer off just changing the tyres. If you are good at it, and know what you are doing, then you could save some $ by using those tyres for some more time.

Zenster · 12th October 2008, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tejas@perioimpl

how to you expect to put a 13" tyre on a 12" rim?
just go to your tyre guy and try out options.

BTW what is your fixation with 13" tyres? Do you have spare ones lying around?

Yeah Tejas, I was wondering the same

. Anyways, about 13" , I wanted slightly bigger tyres without modification to the existing etuo if possible and the RIGHT UPSIZE Thread also recommends the same size. Do you and anyone has better options ? getting Esteem size rims and tyres ?

Tejas@perioimpl · 12th October 2008, 17:54

i guess you can upgrade to 155/70/13
go to the tyre guy, get them fixed, turn the steering full in both directions to see if the tyres are not touching anywhere (even the rear bumper).
If fine, go ahead.
Don't buy second hand alloys IMO. rather drive for another 2000kms, save money and get new alloys

nitrous · 12th October 2008, 20:36

Another important point.
Even if there is tread depth left, the steel belts of these MRF ZVTS' are known to prematurely bend out of shape. So, no matter what balancing you do, you will have wobbling/steering vibration problems.

Truth is Alloys and tyres cost a lot. Prices have increased lately by 10-20% too.
So, I would suggest you save up around 25k. And splurge on tyres and rims giving tyres the utmost priority if you do some spirited driving.

11th October 2008, 12:57	#1
Zenster BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 336 Thanked: 100 Times View My Garage	Tyre life-span dilemma Hey Frenz, I am attaching the pics of the tyres on my Zen 2001. I want to know how long will these tyres last. My car has done 51500 on the Odo. got it second hand in May when it was around 47k on the odo. I wanted to know how many KMS are left on the tyre. I do about 25kms a day approx. Please help me with this Also can i use these tyres on alloy rims as i'm planning to put second hand alloys on the car? If then how much shud i get if i exchange the OEM rims and these tyres. I know there are a lot of question above but thats how confused i am Please help Frenz. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 01:23	#2
flipsyde BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 644 Thanked: 84 Times	Those looks pretty bald to me. Get them changed ASAP.
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 09:59	#3
Zenster BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 336 Thanked: 100 Times View My Garage	@Flipsyde: Thanks for the response buddy, Appreciated!!! I would love to have a few more expert responses from to make up my mind. Also on these rims can i fit any 13"tyres ????
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 10:44	#4
Zenster BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 336 Thanked: 100 Times View My Garage	Hi all, was reading around and found the http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-a...yre-sizes.html The results of the test in my case was, the thread wall hardly reached the Hindi lettering 'Rupiya' or you can say just about 1/4 of the lettering is getting covered. Does this mean i need a new set ASAP as Flipsyde said ?
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 11:14	#5
Tejas@perioimpl Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 4,423 Thanked: 9,582 Times View My Garage	Get rid of the tyres. They are gonna die on you anytime. You'll be lucky if you get 400 bucks for all rims and tyres. Be very careful while buying second hand alloys. Check thoroughly. Most second hand alloys are sold damaged (read bent out of shape) and your car could vibrate with these alloys at speeds above 100kmph. What size is the current tyre - width / tyre wall height / rim size ?
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 11:29	#6
dadu Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,803 Thanked: 462 Times View My Garage	For City Roads - OK for another 2-3k For highway drives - Not OK In Rains - Not OK
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 12:43	#7
Zenster BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 336 Thanked: 100 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the insight guys. The tyres currently on are 145/80 R12 71S and rims are 4j OEm ones i guess...
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 13:24	#8
gd1418 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 3,578 Thanked: 728 Times View My Garage	Look for the TWI (tread wear indicator) on your tyres; all tyres come with it. It is an indicator by the manufacturer that suggests when to replace the tyres. Normally, if you are doing only city driving then you can pull through for another couple of thousand kms as Dadu said. But is a total no-no on highways and during monsoons. Coming to second hand alloys, normally people don't change alloys unless one of the rims gets damaged and you need to change the set of 4 since you don't get a single piece matching the one that got damaged. Preferably go for new alloys with tubeless tyres.
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 13:29	#9
GTO - Touring BHPian Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 710 Thanked: 54 Times	Also remember this : Just because a tyre has tread left in it doesn't mean there is an equivalent amount of grip available too. My Bridgestone S322's were far from bald @ 45,000+ kms. In fact, it had healthy tread left. Buttttttttttttttttt the grippy rubber was all but gone....slipping & sliding in the Vtec was everyday business!!
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 13:35	#10
Zenster BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 336 Thanked: 100 Times View My Garage	Thanks for the comments guys, one more doubt i had is can i fit 13" tyres on the current rims. the tyres are 145/80 R12 71S no isea on the rim specs but they seem OEM ??????
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 14:04	#11
Tejas@perioimpl Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 4,423 Thanked: 9,582 Times View My Garage	how to you expect to put a 13" tyre on a 12" rim? just go to your tyre guy and try out options. BTW what is your fixation with 13" tyres? Do you have spare ones lying around?
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 16:13	#12
Raccoon Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Poona Posts: 1,851 Thanked: 116 Times	If you ask me, those tyres are ok even for highway driving (tread wise). But then if they were made in 2001, then it will be risky, as you never know... the rubber might give way and you may have a blow out at high speed. Till very recently, I was driving the OEM GoodYears since last 6 - 7 years... even at high speeds on highway... and in the current monsoons too! In the last couple of years, the tread had significantly worn off... but never had a significant issue with the grip. How you drive, your bearings, the way you brake, etc, will also play a big factor. Actually, the skidding issue will only crop up on water-logged roads, when the tyre can no longer pump out water fast enough. On dry roads, tread hardly plays a role in roadholding. But then thats my case, in brief. Yours may not be similar... also you have MRFs. They arent known for their grip even when new (havent used them personally though). You should be able to tell after driving what kind of grip you are getting in various conditions. If you aren't good at it, you are safer off just changing the tyres. If you are good at it, and know what you are doing, then you could save some $ by using those tyres for some more time.
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 17:54	#14
Tejas@perioimpl Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 4,423 Thanked: 9,582 Times View My Garage	i guess you can upgrade to 155/70/13 go to the tyre guy, get them fixed, turn the steering full in both directions to see if the tyres are not touching anywhere (even the rear bumper). If fine, go ahead. Don't buy second hand alloys IMO. rather drive for another 2000kms, save money and get new alloys
	() Thanks

12th October 2008, 20:36	#15
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Another important point. Even if there is tread depth left, the steel belts of these MRF ZVTS' are known to prematurely bend out of shape. So, no matter what balancing you do, you will have wobbling/steering vibration problems. Truth is Alloys and tyres cost a lot. Prices have increased lately by 10-20% too. So, I would suggest you save up around 25k. And splurge on tyres and rims giving tyres the utmost priority if you do some spirited driving.
	() Thanks