7 year old tyres

PatM65

Looking for some advice please.

I bought a 162 reg car from a main dealer on May 20th last. Part of the deal was that the front tyres would be replaced as there was a mismatched pair on it.

They put Dunlop's on but I haven't been happy with the grip on them from day one. Spinning when taking off with moderate accelerator in the wet and generally not inspiring confidence in any conditions.

I changed them for Goodyear's today and was explaining to the tyre guy what the problem was. He checked the Dunlop's and found they were manufactured in February of 2013 (Week 6 & 7 to be precise) which I think is an advisory on the NCT which it's booked in for later this month.

I rang the dealer who got the service manager to call me. The back driver's side shock is leaking and the back brake pads are quite low. They have no problems replacing the shock and say they will check the pads. However I'm getting the impression they're not going to do anything about the tyres. Was told the age wouldn't be a problem as they don't degrade and the reason for the lack of grip was they were probably a hard compound.

I'm not too happy with that response but just wondering if I'm being unreasonable in wanting 'new' new tyres?

questionmark?

162 reg car with 7 year old tyres flung on. That is taken the absolute biscuit!

I would be concerned at what other issues maybe on the car as well.

beauf

Tyres do degrade with age. Worse if not used.

https://www.liveabout.com/the-science-of-tire-aging-3234377

Regardless of brand a tyre can be crap even when new.

When I complain about dealers, people defend them. But you see this penny pinching from them all the time. No shame.

PatM65

The dealer has a good reputation - the car was originally sold by them and has a full service history with them.

They said they ordered the tyres in from their supplier and that's what arrived. They said they didn't check the manufacture date on them which I suppose they shouldn't have to.

As far as I'm concerned that's an issue between the garage and their supplier but I don't think I should have to put up with tyres that old.

It's not a good look for the dealer but they haven't really done anything wrong. The tyres will pass the nct and if age was deemed a really dangerous thing the nct wouldn't pass old tyres.

You could ask them to change them out of goodwill but if they tell you to jump nothing you can really do.

Tyres are very subjective imo, I have old tyres on my car but they are a decent quality brand and I have asked every time I go to the nct should I change them and I'm told no they are fine just old.

I certainly wouldnt be fitting old tyres to a motorbike but with a normal car I wouldn't be too concerned tbh.

colm_mcm

Aside from the old bit. Did they fit used tyres to the car? I’d imagine fittings used parts would go against brand guidelines.

Atlantic Dawn

Did they tell you they were brand new tyres or part worn tyres which were fitted? Can you see the new rubber pieces from the moulding process sticking on them? A dealer shouldn't be putting part worn tyres on a car, particularly a main dealer.

I'd be even more concerned if they were 7 year old part worn tyres fitted, they could have literally been on anything previously.

PatM65

colm_mcm wrote: »

Aside from the old bit. Did they fit used tyres to the car? I’d imagine fittings used parts would go against brand guidelines.

The dealer says they were new.

I've covered about 7,000 kilometres since I got the car and tyre fitter today said they looked like that's about all they've done.

PatM65

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Did they tell you they were brand new tyres or part worn tyres which were fitted? Can you see the new rubber pieces from the moulding process sticking on them? A dealer shouldn't be putting part worn tyres on a car, particularly a main dealer.

I'd be even more concerned if they were 7 year old part worn tyres fitted, they could have literally been on anything previously.

You can't see the moulding marks but they don't look worn either.

Gael23

Time takes care of tyres, it doesn’t matter about the miles they have done.

PatM65

Ada Poor Romance wrote: »

It's not a good look for the dealer but they haven't really done anything wrong. The tyres will pass the nct and if age was deemed a really dangerous thing the nct wouldn't pass old tyres.

You could ask them to change them out of goodwill but if they tell you to jump nothing you can really do.

Tyres are very subjective imo, I have old tyres on my car but they are a decent quality brand and I have asked every time I go to the nct should I change them and I'm told no they are fine just old.

I certainly wouldnt be fitting old tyres to a motorbike but with a normal car I wouldn't be too concerned tbh.

I had issues with the tyres before I knew how old they were. No traction when pulling away in the wet and absolutely no feedback when cornering in the dry.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

i think they took the piss and you should hammer back on them on it

beauf

Ada Poor Romance wrote: »

It's not a good look for the dealer but they haven't really done anything wrong. The tyres will pass the nct and if age was deemed a really dangerous thing the nct wouldn't pass old tyres.

You could ask them to change them out of goodwill but if they tell you to jump nothing you can really do.

Tyres are very subjective imo, I have old tyres on my car but they are a decent quality brand and I have asked every time I go to the nct should I change them and I'm told no they are fine just old.

I certainly wouldnt be fitting old tyres to a motorbike but with a normal car I wouldn't be too concerned tbh.

I wouldn't rely on the NCT as measure of safety.

That they allow old tires is a good example.

It's not subjective. Rubber ages regardless of brand and regardless if they look like new.

https://youtu.be/bfAKeJHaHH8

colm_mcm

Storage conditions make a huge difference, it’s not just age that causes rubber to degrade.

Seems odd that they would sit on them for that long though unless they came off a new car with their wheels and sat somewhere.

beauf

What if you see the car in the showroom. But when you get it they have put brand new but non name cheap ditch finders on it. That's ok because they are new is it?

beauf

colm_mcm wrote: »

Storage conditions make a huge difference, it’s not just age that causes rubber to degrade.

Seems odd that they would sit on them for that long though unless they came off a new car with their wheels and sat somewhere.

Yes but they would still age even in perfect conditions just slower..

PatM65

colm_mcm wrote: »

Storage conditions make a huge difference, it’s not just age that causes rubber to degrade.

Seems odd that they would sit on them for that long though unless they came off a new car with their wheels and sat somewhere.

They said they got the tyres in from their supplier especially and didn't check the manufacture date on them.

bazz26

I wonder did they buy them at a reduced price from the supplier because they were old stock sitting around?

mikeecho

bazz26 wrote: »

I wonder did they buy them at a reduced price from the supplier because they were old stock sitting around?

My first thought is that they came from the boots of two trade in cars.

colm_mcm

mikeecho wrote: »

My first thought is that they came from the boots of two trade in cars.

Same.

PatM65

mikeecho wrote: »

My first thought is that they came from the boots of two trade in cars.

Maybe so but what would the chances be of having matching Dunlop's made within a week of each other 7 year's ago?

Car is back in next Tuesday to have the shock replaced. They said they'd examine the brakes then as well.

Waiting for dealer principal to get back to me regarding what they will/won't do about tyres.

paddy19

A new tyre is not seven years old, even if was never used.

If they promised new tyres then they need to fix it.

If the distributor shipped them a 7 year tyre then that is not your problem.

As other posts have pointed out, where have they been for the last seven years.

If they refuse threaten Small Claims Court on them. That usually focuses the mind wonderfully. It's €25 but the threat is usually enough to fix it.

9935452

bazz26 wrote: »

I wonder did they buy them at a reduced price from the supplier because they were old stock sitting around?

Tyre leader has demo tyres for sale . Fitted to rims but never to cars

elperello

beauf wrote: »

What if you see the car in the showroom. But when you get it they have put brand new but non name cheap ditch finders on it. That's ok because they are new is it?

If you are buying a second hand car and new tyres are part of the deal you need to specify a particular tyre if that is what you want.

CJhaughey

9935452 wrote: »

Tyre leader has demo tyres for sale . Fitted to rims but never to cars

I bought a pair, brand new even as far as the little rubber bits that stick up.
No issues until last week when I ran over some debris and made a 5mm hole in the tread and busted the carcass:mad:

9935452

CJhaughey wrote: »

I bought a pair, brand new even as far as the little rubber bits that stick up.
No issues until last week when I ran over some debris and made a 5mm hole in the tread and busted the carcass:mad:

That always seems to happen to new tyres .
Never happens to a tyre at the end of his life

extra-ordinary_

I thought it was a well know occurrence previously but maybe not so much anymore where some of the online sellers would be shipping tyres that could be years old. Even now when I get tyres I've ordered online, the first thing I'm checking is the manufacture date.

CJhaughey

extra-ordinary_ wrote: »

I thought it was a well know occurrence previously but maybe not so much anymore where some of the online sellers would be shipping tyres that could be years old. Even now when I get tyres I've ordered online, the first thing I'm checking is the manufacture date.

Reputable online vendors will state if a tyre is older than three years.
I know Tyreleader state that a tyre is a 2017 or older in the listing.

L1011

PatM65 wrote: »

Maybe so but what would the chances be of having matching Dunlop's made within a week of each other 7 year's ago?

If a brand dealer its not *entirely* implausible - but what cars have full size spares these days (or 2013 days) anyway? And who uses Dunlop as their OEM?

PatM65

All sorted ðŸ˜႒

Car was back with the dealer today. New shock fitted, back brake pads replaced even though they were within manufacturers limits.

And I now have a pair of Goodyear Eagles on the rear wheels to match the ones I put on the front last week.

I think they genuinely didn't realise the Dunlop's they fitted before I got the car were so old.

All's well in the world again.

Thanks to everyone for their advice and comments.

greasepalm

Why only 1 shock as we always fit as a pair as an imbalance might happen with an old and new shock.

PatM65

greasepalm wrote: »

Why only 1 shock as we always fit as a pair as an imbalance might happen with an old and new shock.

Didn't think of that to be honest. But realistically I'm happy enough with the outcome.

NCT next Tuesday will show up any issues I guess.

PatM65

greasepalm wrote: »

Why only 1 shock as we always fit as a pair as an imbalance might happen with an old and new shock.

Well it passed the NCT with flying colours. 0% imbalance on rear suspension!