In the past I have normally changed Tyres when they were about 3 years old …sometimes they didn’t last that long……

I bought a big old car2 years ago, since then have done 15,000kms in it …mainly long trips. Tyres 255/45 R18.

When I purchased the car the tyres had plenty of tread but were made 21/19. So I changed today …previous Tyres Primacy 4 and now Primacy 5. Before and after pics attached.

I expected an improvement in ride, but it was much greater than I expected. Also I now know it will stop much quicker, handle better etc.

I know some on here won’t change their tyres until somewhat older, but if like me you want a softer ride etc change more frequently. And of course Thailand roads are bad and temperature high and you can’t always park in the shade

Which Pic is before, look ok to me!

I know it's popular now, but I do not believe in changing tires because they are old. I change them when they are worn out, damaged or look questionable.

Make sure you have a good spare.

Less than 5,000 miles per year and mostly long trips.

No wonder your tyres didn't look like they need replaced.

I asked ChatGPT for an opinion and got the following ….

Expected stopping distance increase (5-year-old vs new)

For a premium touring tyre (like Primacy) in 255/45 R18:

• Dry braking: ~10–15% longer

• Wet braking: ~15–30% longer (this is where it really drops off)

Seems not only ride wise but stopping distance as well

I have never noticed any difference in braking with old tires.

I assume any AI results are derived from data provided by manufacturers.

When I started driving, re-capping and regrooving tires was very common. No one cared how old tires were. Labor cost just went up such for re-capping, that it was no longer viable.

I think you can still buy regrooveable truck tires. Run them for 100K, cut new groves and run them another 100K

All that said, environmental regulations might be such that (like fishing line) tires must break down in the sun.

In any event, better safe than sorry!

It's very simple to explain how new tyres feel more comfortable than old tyres - rubber gets harder as it ages.

I worked in the tyre industry for nine years before retirement. There's no compelling reason to replace tyres before they have minimal tread left (1.6mm in the UK) but if you can afford to do so you will get slightly better grip and a more comfortable ride.

I run my Thai car for 12 years before changing tyres. The right air pressure is what makes your ride smoother.

5 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

I run my Thai car for 12 years before changing tyres. The right air pressure is what makes your ride smoother.

I took my car to B-Quik and they put 40psi into all the tyres without checking the recommended pressures which are on a data plate by the driver's door. When I asked them why they used such a high pressure they said it was needed on Thai roads and in the heat. I politely explained my preference for the recommended pressures and they corrected them.

By the way, the roads are maintained well in my province and we have no potholes.

In Thailand with hot weather .

You need to look for cracking in the tires.

Particularly in the walls and groves of the tire.

In that case discard them.

8 minutes ago, IsaanT said:

I took my car to B-Quik and they put 40psi into all the tyres without checking the recommended pressures which are on a data plate by the driver's door. When I asked them why they used such a high pressure they said it was needed on Thai roads and in the heat. I politely explained my preference for the recommended pressures and they corrected them.

By the way, the roads are maintained well in my province and we have no potholes.

The pig ignorance based on no scientific evidence is endemic here, and this example is a common misconception with tyre and dealer outlets.

pressures in hot climates. You should maintain the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended "cold" pressure, which is usually found on the driver-side door jamb. Heat causes air to expand, naturally increasing pressure, so over-inflating in hot weather risks blowouts. 

Unless you buy exactly the same tires, they are going to feel a bit different. Add in that you're fresh balancing and an alignment and the vehicle generally drives better.

Our 2016 Fortuner came with Dunlop Grandtrek, 265/50 R20s

At six years 56,500km we changed to Michelin Pilot Sport 4 SUV, 265/50 R20

At nine years 119,500km we changed to BF Goodrich Advantage Touring, 265/50 R20

Now we're at ten years and 135,000km

We run 29psi, and while they all felt a fit different, I would not say any of them felt significantly better.

The original Dunlops wore like iron, and had plenty of tread left but my boy ran over something and tore the sidewall so we changed them all out.

I liked the Michelins, but they were worn out at 63K

So far, the Goodrich have been fine, and they were B22.2K compared to B33.1K

1 hour ago, Yellowtail said:

We run 29psi, and while they all felt a fit different, I would not say any of them felt significantly better.

I liked the Michelins, but they were worn out at 63K

Under normal driving conditions, there are normally imperceptible differences between tyre brands and models.

The difference comes when it is wet. Michelins are usually good wet-weather tyres and can stop a car quicker in the wet before they lose grip. However, as they have a softer rubber compound to achieve this, they don't typically last as long. Contrast this with some of the very cheap Chinese and other Far-East tyres and it's no surprise they are known as 'ditch finders'; they can have shockingly low grip in the wet.

I always look for good wet grip performance when buying tyres because it may really make a difference when you need it.

On 4/23/2026 at 12:18 PM, treetops said:

Less than 5,000 miles per year and mostly long trips.

No wonder your tyres didn't look like they need replaced.

On 4/23/2026 at 12:18 PM, treetops said:

Less than 5,000 miles per year and mostly long trips.

No wonder your tyres didn't look like they need replaced.

That's what I was thinking...

In all fairness, just looking at one photo of one section of one tire, It would be impossible to judge the condition of the tires.

3 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

.

I liked the Michelins, but they were worn out at 63K

That's about 40,000 miles... I've always used Michelin XAS tyres. 40,000 miles is a pretty good run

3 minutes ago, wombat said:

That's about 40,000 miles... I've always used Michelin XAS tyres. 40,000 miles is a pretty good run

It was pretty good, but not great. As I said, I liked them, just not enough to pay over 50% more for them.

23 hours ago, IsaanT said:

There's no compelling reason to replace tyres before they have minimal tread left

AI:

Typical timeline in Thailand

• 0–2 years: Tyres usually look and perform fine

• 2–3 years: Early signs of sidewall micro-cracking can begin (especially if parked outdoors)

• 3–5 years: Cracking becomes more visible; rubber loses elasticity

• 5+ years: Many tyres are considered unsafe regardless of tread depth

14 minutes ago, Nemises said:

AI:

Typical timeline in Thailand

• 0–2 years: Tyres usually look and perform fine

• 2–3 years: Early signs of sidewall micro-cracking can begin (especially if parked outdoors)

• 3–5 years: Cracking becomes more visible; rubber loses elasticity

• 5+ years: Many tyres are considered unsafe regardless of tread depth

AI aggerates the recommendations of tire manufacturers.

5 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

AI aggerates the recommendations of tire manufacturers.

Sure. Or maybe rubber just ages faster in 45°C sun than in a garage in Leeds.

2022 MG ZS EV, OE Michelin, coming up on 60k kms, and will replace with same when needed, and that won't be anytime soon. Maybe at 80k kms 👍

On my last car Nissan Sylphy my Maxxis tyres were good for around 40,000 Kms only.....Maxxis tyres on my present MG5 have 65,000 kms on them and hardly showing signs of wear....hell of a difference and I don,t understand why?

10 minutes ago, petermik said:

On my last car Nissan Sylphy my Maxxis tyres were good for around 40,000 Kms only.....Maxxis tyres on my present MG5 have 65,000 kms on them and hardly showing signs of wear....hell of a difference and I don,t understand why?

It could be any number of things.

Good-quality, all-round tires for a tropical environment do not necessarily last longer. In real use here, around 3 years or 50,000 km is already enough for me to start thinking seriously about replacement. If someone wants to drive on older tires, that is their choice, but I would not.

We have had several discussions about this. If you have ridden motorbikes, you may have the same feeling as me: normal driving at 60, 80, or 100 km/h does not always tell you much about tire quality. You often only find out the difference between old, hardened tires and fresh good tires in the moment you really need grip.

People sometimes mistake “good tires” for long-lasting tires, but long life can also mean a harder compound. Softer rubber usually gives better grip and braking feel, especially in wet conditions, but it normally wears faster. Harder rubber may last longer, but it can sacrifice grip, comfort, wet-road confidence, and road noise.

And tire life is not only about age. It is also about heat, sun, UV, hot road surfaces, rain, and the very different road surfaces we drive on here: smooth concrete, rough concrete, new asphalt, old asphalt, broken asphalt, gravel, potholes, mud, clay, and roads polluted with oil or diesel.

For me, good tires are about grip, braking, wet-road safety, comfort, and road noise, not just how many years or kilometers they can survive.

On 4/24/2026 at 1:49 PM, Yellowtail said:

It was pretty good, but not great. As I said, I liked them, just not enough to pay over 50% more for them.

On 4/24/2026 at 1:49 PM, Yellowtail said:

It was pretty good, but not great. As I said, I liked them, just not enough to pay over 50% more for them.

After having Pirelli's give way on me going around a roundabout in the wet, the grip that XAS have in the wet were worth the xtra money for my own safety.... Personal choice yes, the reason for that personal choice take my money.

2 minutes ago, wombat said:

After having Pirelli's give way on me going around a roundabout in the wet, the grip that XAS have in the wet were worth the xtra money for my own safety.... Personal choice yes, the reason for that personal choice take my money.

XAS?

I have not lost control of a vehicle, rain or shine, since the late '70s on black ice.

14 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

XAS?

I have not lost control of a vehicle, rain or shine, since the late '70s on black ice.

Michelin XAS.... I wouldn't be home without them

6 minutes ago, wombat said:

Michelin XAS.... I wouldn't be home without them

Interesting tires, shame about the very limited size range.

I change my tyres every 4 years, maximum. So 3 years should be very good and safe.

A set of Dunlop 265/60X18 for my Toyota Hilux Rocco costed me around 25k last time in November 2024

On 4/24/2026 at 11:42 AM, IsaanT said:

... There's no compelling reason to replace tyres before they have minimal tread left (1.6mm in the UK) ...

Tell that to the tropical sun out here. ☀️ Tyres rot from the side cracks way before the tread wears down in this heat! 🚗💨

Edited May 22May 22 by Nemises