Do Tyres Need Replacing?

[kurnell]

I have been advised to replace all 4 tyres on my Fortuner based on a tear in one of the tyres. All four tyres still have at least 5mm of tread on them. Any opinions?

[transam]

Put the spare on or if the spare is not alloy, swap the tyre over and put new on the spare. When the time comes for new all round just buy three, keep an old one as a spare.

[aussiebebe]

I'd ask a trusted mechanic not a tire shop but with 5mm tread on the undamaged tires I don't see the issue with using the spare tire as a replacement.

[kurnell]

I'd ask a trusted mechanic not a tire shop but with 5mm tread on the undamaged tires I don't see the issue with using the spare tire as a replacement.

I'm just trying to think where the spare tyre came from??

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

If the tires have more than five years service, then replace all. They degrade over time even if just sitting on the shelf, including the spare. Think of it this way: what is the only thing connecting you to the road? You want to put the best tires you can afford on any vehicle.

Now, if your tires are less than 5 years old, buy a one new one for the back and throw out the damaged one. If it's from the front, shift an old one to the front and put the new one on the back.

Note: if your tires are near the end of their 5-year life cycle, buy two new ones for the back. Later do the same for the front when you can afford it.

[transam]

If the tires have more than five years service, then replace all. They degrade over time even if just sitting on the shelf, including the spare. Think of it this way: what is the only thing connecting you to the road? You want to put the best tires you can afford on any vehicle.

Now, if your tires are less than 5 years old, buy a one new one for the back and throw out the damaged one. If it's from the front, shift an old one to the front and put the new one on the back.

Note: if your tires are near the end of their 5-year life cycle, buy two new ones for the back. Later do the same for the front when you can afford it.

Michelin have nine years.

[kurnell]

If the tires have more than five years service, then replace all. They degrade over time even if just sitting on the shelf, including the spare. Think of it this way: what is the only thing connecting you to the road? You want to put the best tires you can afford on any vehicle.

Now, if your tires are less than 5 years old, buy a one new one for the back and throw out the damaged one. If it's from the front, shift an old one to the front and put the new one on the back.

Note: if your tires are near the end of their 5-year life cycle, buy two new ones for the back. Later do the same for the front when you can afford it.

Michelin have nine years.

They are 3 years old

[T_Dog]

I had a gash almost exactly like that years ago on a set of Michelin XM-1 tires. They were about halfway through their tread life and the shop just replaced that tire. No problems at all.

[StefanBBK]

No question, at least that tyre needs to be changed.

Replacing just one tyre is always problematic, especially if the others are already used for three years.

If money grows on trees, change all 4, otherwise try at least to change the two on the rear axle.

There is however the option to check any small, non - chain, tyre place, that deals in second hand tyres. You might be able to find one there, that was prematurely changed before and has somewhat the same milage as your old one.

My first set of Michelans lasted little over three years, 60,000 km on the fortuner. I then switched to bridgestone and got better gas milage and in my opinion a better ride generally. They are not as "wobbally" as the michelans.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[BSJ]

Try and find a second-hand tyre same as. I have Bridgestone SUV tyres and I had to replace one. After 7 tyre shops I was able to get one with no plugs and similar tread depth.

[Mrjlh]

What ever you decide, always put the newest tires on the front (the ones with the most thread) which means "two" new tires. Otherwise you will get uneven steering. Steering is more important than power. especially with the upcoming rainy season. Some spares are the cheaper emergency tire and not used for long term. Not a good idea. No brainer there. And as quoted before, it's your connection to the road and the way others drive here, that should be a no brainer also. and it's OK to buy one tire one month and buy the other the next month is money is an issue.

[Jitar]

If the Fortuner is the full time 4WD model with the Torsen centre diff, replacing two tyres is OK in theory but it will work the centre diff slightly.

If the Fortuner is 2WD, you can replace 2 tyres with no risk to the drive-train. But 5mm tread on the old tyres is probably well under 50% remaining life. When they are worn the 2 new tyres will be around 50% and so on. The vehicle will be driving around with 50% difference in wear for years, or at least until the next tyre is damaged.

My personal opinion is spend the extra 15 - 20k, less what ever the 3 undamaged used tyres can be sold for and replace all 4. Avoid used tyres if the vehicle is used at anything above low speed because it is not possible to tell if they are good by visual inspection.

[John 1]

Put the spare on or if the spare is not alloy, swap the tyre over and put new on the spare. When the time comes for new all round just buy three, keep an old one as a spare.

Not all spare tyres on Fortuner's are same size,

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

If the tires have more than five years service, then replace all. They degrade over time even if just sitting on the shelf, including the spare. Think of it this way: what is the only thing connecting you to the road? You want to put the best tires you can afford on any vehicle.

Now, if your tires are less than 5 years old, buy a one new one for the back and throw out the damaged one. If it's from the front, shift an old one to the front and put the new one on the back.

Note: if your tires are near the end of their 5-year life cycle, buy two new ones for the back. Later do the same for the front when you can afford it.

Michelin have nine years.

I cannot find that information on a 9-year lifespan. Here is the wording from Michelin on ALL its tires:

Standard Limited Warranty All Michelin® Tires

All Michelin® tires have a Standard Manufacturer's Limited Warranty, which covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread, or for 6 years from date of purchase, whichever occurs first. See warranty for details

I know from another thread on tires that posters had diametrically opposite views on tires, one of the issues being whether to put new tire pairs on the front or back. (Every tiremaker recommends new tires on the back, if you want/can afford only a new pair.) And the thread soon got locked. Some sources:

http://www.tirerack....e.jsp?techid=52

http://www.tireindus...6&LangType=1033

http://www.tirerevie..._rear_axle.aspx

What I will say, based on 20+ years of operating on the opposite side from automakers and suppliers and attending dozens of test and seminar sessions, that a long-term tire, e.g., 9 years, will have a very hard compound for wear purposes because the market demands such. Consumers were looking for tires lasting 100,000+ km. That means tradeoffs in the structure of the tire, oriented toward low wear rather than performance, the latter which equates to higher safety margins. I would never trade dry and wet grip (which means a somewhat softer compound) for a longer lasting tire.

The last thing I will say is vehicles owners are free to act as they wish.

[transam]

If the tires have more than five years service, then replace all. They degrade over time even if just sitting on the shelf, including the spare. Think of it this way: what is the only thing connecting you to the road? You want to put the best tires you can afford on any vehicle.

Now, if your tires are less than 5 years old, buy a one new one for the back and throw out the damaged one. If it's from the front, shift an old one to the front and put the new one on the back.

Note: if your tires are near the end of their 5-year life cycle, buy two new ones for the back. Later do the same for the front when you can afford it.

Michelin have nine years.

I cannot find that information on a 9-year lifespan. Here is the wording from Michelin on ALL its tires:

Standard Limited Warranty All Michelin® Tires

All Michelin® tires have a Standard Manufacturer's Limited Warranty, which covers defects in workmanship and materials for the life of the original usable tread, or for 6 years from date of purchase, whichever occurs first. See warranty for details

I know from another thread on tires that posters had diametrically opposite views on tires, one of the issues being whether to put new tire pairs on the front or back. (Every tiremaker recommends new tires on the back, if you want/can afford only a new pair.) And the thread soon got locked. Some sources:

http://www.tirerack....e.jsp?techid=52

http://www.tireindus...6&LangType=1033

http://www.tirerevie..._rear_axle.aspx

What I will say, based on 20+ years of operating on the opposite side from automakers and suppliers and attending dozens of test and seminar sessions, that a long-term tire, e.g., 9 years, will have a very hard compound for wear purposes because the market demands such. Consumers were looking for tires lasting 100,000+ km. That means tradeoffs in the structure of the tire, oriented toward low wear rather than performance, the latter which equates to higher safety margins. I would never trade dry and wet grip for a longer lasting tire.

The last thing I will say is vehicles owners are free to act as they wish.

They allow their tyres to be on the shelf for up to three years still giving the six year warranty. Soooooo, a possible nine years.