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 Posted: Aug 31, 2017 10:38AM
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I checked the back tires as onetim suggested and they look fine. As I said, the tires came with the reverse rims I got 4 years ago, so if they were manufactured in 1994, they were probable past their time when someone decided to mount them.
Thanks to all for the replies. I'll replace all 5 tires to be safe and will put the Starmag wheels back on for now,
cheers,

Abel

 Posted: Aug 31, 2017 06:28AM
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some where I saw. NEVER drive on tyres over 5 years or older.. unless stored in climate control garage..  Never seen tyre this bad .. weird.?? what is that old delbert song..  make sure your car  has  good tyres on it and set of jumper cables..  replace ALL five tyres.. you would have to be either STONED or STUPIC to drive on these tyres.. later bc

 Posted: Aug 31, 2017 06:04AM
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GB
February 1994 as Chelecker said.

Now i will admit I drive around on tyres older than that, but they of a known origin & care regime - I'd be thinking that yours may have been abused or kerbed at some point, it's not ususal for a tyre to fail like that without a prompt.

 Posted: Aug 31, 2017 05:14AM
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Look for any kind of cracks in the tire, between the treads, anywhere on the side wall, a good way to see hidden cracks is to lower the air pressure to 10 pounds or so, such that the rim is just off the ground, and push the car one tire revolution, if you see ANY cracks, pitch the tires in pairs or sets. Its usually the sun that kills tires on collector cars, I have tires way older than recommended, but the car has been in a garage nearly all the time. Be safe.

 Posted: Aug 31, 2017 02:59AM
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"should I replace all 5 tires?"

the answer to your question is, "it depends"

Step 1)  identify the age of your tires by reading the number and deciphering it (there are plenty of guides on the internet for how to do it).  If they are older than 7 years they are ready for replacement, according to the manufacturers.  Now, many of us have driven on tires much older than that, so some of that advice is marketing.  But it also makes some sense because rubber degrades over time (this is why the rubber doughnuts in our mini suspension really ought to be replaced after 10 years, to maintain optimal handling and ride quality, and why the rubber wiper inserts in any car should be replaced periodically to ).

Step 2)  if they are young tires, and none of the others are showing any sign of this defect, then maybe only one has to be replaced.

Step 3) for best peace of mind, and for best matching of the tires, it is sound logic to replace at least one axle (two tires) to avoid any risk of mismatched handling, and to replace all 4 or 5 is perfect if you are concerned about a manufacturing defect affecting all of them.

Step 4)  only you can decide what is best for you

N

 Posted: Aug 31, 2017 02:47AM
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Thanks for all the replies. After sitting for almost 2 months, the tire was very low. In order to drive the car to the gas station I had to use a bike pump (!), so the pressure must have been definitively lower than recommended.
Now, for peace of mind, should I replace all 5 tires?,
thanks,

Abel

 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 07:27PM
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It looks like someone sold you some old tires and the belt has broken Abel.

If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 07:00PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by minimans
If it was driven around with very low pressure it would overheat and damage the tire with this as a result.
You are so right!  Many years ago I started driving my VW to work on the interstate.  It felt fine initially but started to pull to the right after a few miles.  By the time I pulled over my right front tire was totally flat.  At the tire shop they inflated the tire to find the puncture and the whole tire developed a series of "boils" all over.  Obviously it was toast.  I had to laugh even though it cost me a new tire.

Doug L.
 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 06:57PM
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Without doing the digging around, I seem to remember the 90s tires were three numbers. 08 would be August and 4 would be 94.

 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 06:47PM
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How low on air was it? If it was driven around with very low pressure it would overheat and damage the tire with this as a result.

Mini's are like buses they come along in a bunch

 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 05:34PM
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Hi Doug, good to hear from you!!, that bubble looked like it was going to burst at any moment so I parked the car in the garage right away

 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 05:26PM
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Hi Abel!

I don't know how to read tire date codes.  I am sure this is obvious... don't drive on that tire!  Ouch@!

Doug L.
 Posted: Aug 30, 2017 05:18PM
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Image Gallery
Hello,
for the past few days, I have been driving my Mini around town and feeling a slight steering wheel vibration that got worse as the speed increased (35 mph). After checking the shocks and several suspension components, I noticed that the right front tire was low on air. I pumped some and went for another ride....but the vibration was still there and know the car was bouncy. I pulled over....and discovered what you see on the pictures. A huge 'bubble' that is actually growing!!
Now, about 3 years ago, I got my reverse rims with Yokohama tires on them. My first thought is that maybe the tire has some manufacturing defect or is it just old? I was trying to decipher the manufacturing date but could not understand when it was made. There should be 4 numbers, the first 2 indicating the week, the second 2, the year? Right? So, how old is the tire? 1984?
Also, since I got all 4 tires at the same time, should I replace all?
thanks for any advise,
Abel