vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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The car I have just bought has a slight vibration through the steering at certain speeds, my first thought was wheels or prop might need balancing but thought I'd check out the tyres.
I noticed that the drivers side rear looked low on air so had a decent look at it to see if I could see anything obvious.
No obvious signs of anything but it is a tyre that isn't in production anymore so I checked the date code...093
I know its pre 2000 because they moved to a 4 digit code after that but my question is more just to check I have this right.
I think the tyre was manufactured in the 9th week of 1993 It could be 1983 but I think the former is more likely what do you lot think?
The other side has a tyre from 2007.
This could well be the source of the vibration at speed as the tyre could well be out of round by now!
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,255 
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Tyre age and date code. ThoughtsRich
@foxmcintyre
Club Retro Rides Member 160
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there is usually but not always a triangle to signify '90's on the date codes on the 3 digit codes. I think you'd know if it was '80's as the tread pattern would be noticeably more 'old' in design. Regardless of this, i'd want to replace that really.
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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there is usually but not always a triangle to signify '90's on the date codes on the 3 digit codes. I think you'd know if it was '80's as the tread pattern would be noticeably more 'old' in design. Regardless of this, i'd want to replace that really. Yes there is a triangle so that settles it it's a 90s tyre. I'm getting all four changed as the fronts are quioning specials or something like that! Thanks |
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jamesd1972
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,842
Club RR Member Number: 40
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 Found this when I was looking into this myself for a neighbours car. Probably had a happy life as a spare for 15years first ! James |
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Probably had a happy life as a spare for 15years first ! James Yes, that's what I think has happened too, there is no way it's been on there since 95! |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,195
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sept 5, 2019 19:52:06 GMT
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In your shoes, I'd change all of the tyres. It will drive better for it as well.
I was in the same boat with my Merc W124 and my W108.
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vitessetony
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,055
Club RR Member Number: 114
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Sept 5, 2019 20:02:33 GMT
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In your shoes, I'd change all of the tyres. It will drive better for it as well. I was in the same boat with my Merc W124 and my W108. Yes, that's the plan and if we're going to change the tyres how about some wheels too....this could get expensive  |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,195
Club RR Member Number: 170
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In your shoes, I'd change all of the tyres. It will drive better for it as well. I was in the same boat with my Merc W124 and my W108. Yes, that's the plan and if we're going to change the tyres how about some wheels too....this could get expensive Depends what you call expensive. When I change the tyres on the Merc, my choices didn't look cheap. As an example 14" Wheels-185R14-Commercial Tyre Price : £45-90 a corner -Non-Commercial size ; £55 ; Hankook and Nankang are about the only people who make them. For my spare, where I got a Hankook, I ended up waiting 7 days for the tyre to arrive and was told it was non-refundable; Once I ordered it, that's it. -Classic Tyres - £100-230 a corner ; Retro Classic was £100 but super hard to get hold it. Michelin MXV-P was £230 a corner I looked at alternative sizes. 195/70R14 was a little too small for me on a car where the wheels look lost in the arches anyway. 205/70R14 (what the car came to me on) is now very expensive; only old Ferraris have this size So I looked at another alternative that could solve the look and availability issue. 15" wheels 15" Wheels-15" Alloys - Whatever you want ; the "correct" looking wheels like my Mexican Hats weren't cheap! Chinese ones are £300 a rim, and the ATS wheels like mine are basically whatever you can see for sale -Tyre Price : £50 a corner for budgets, to £90 a corner for premium rubber. You can guess what I did. Yes the price difference wasn't massive between the 14" but at least I'll have a tyre size which can be bought easily and the car looks cooler for it  . If you own an E32 BMW or any car on Metric tyres, you really are screwed. When I last checked it was near £400 a tyre! For some cars like the E32 and Metros, that can make any tyre seem crazy in price. The M3 is almost as bad here: -Budgets : £90 a corner; That's no joke! -Midrange : £140 a corner -Premium: £190 a corner ; I've previously paid more than that, due to the prices across the board back then. (Fronts were £205 each last time when Black Circles wanted £240 for the same tyre). So yes, it could be worse . |
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I looked at alternative sizes. 195/70R14 was a little too small for me on a car where the wheels look lost in the arches anyway. 205/70R14 (what the car came to me on) is now very expensive; only old Ferraris have this size 205/70 R14 is also the OEM size for the optional alloys on some VW T3 busses.. We recently fitted new ones to our White Star van.... paid about £50 a corner I think... Nankangs I believe...  |
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
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Club RR Member Number: 170
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Sept 6, 2019 17:22:45 GMT
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If they are commercials that’s probably why I didn’t consider them.
If I got a blowout on one of those it’s not a tyre any tyre shop I can tell readily stocks. My man could get classic tyres I’m quicker than the Hankook/Nankangs!
Cheapest man here to fit tyres who can actually balance and not damage the wheels is £15 a corner. I could drive to Brum to go cheaper but it’s time I simply no longer have and there is still fuel to pay for getting there and back, more if in the Merc (Warwick to Wolverhampton and back costs me £40+ in that. Ouch).
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Last Edit: Sept 6, 2019 17:40:11 GMT by ChasR
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