Cheap TRXs!!

For all you metric nuts out there, I've just bought a full set of NEW 415
Michelin TRXs for £279.99! that's for 4 tyres.

The catch? Well they are 230 x 45 x 415, 10mm narrower - big deal, I can
live with it for that price. According to my tyre fitter they were
manufactured 1987 in W Germany but I can also live with that. I don't
think Michelin ever offered this size in the UK.

I think they also have more including some 240x45x415 winter tyres, this
was the ebay advert for the tyres I bought.
ViewItem&item=8060912382&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%
3AIT&rd=1">Here

Cheers, Shem

Edited by Shem

I would personally be a bit wary of fitting 19 year old tyres as the materials can deteriorate over time. I think most manufacturers recommend replacment after 10 years even if the tread is OK? Hope I am wrong though cause otherwise you've got an absolute bargain!!

Shem wrote: I agree and its not ideal but its better than some part worn tyres. Although age affects rubber Its heat cycles that really ruins tyres. If it was my wifes car then it would be a different story but I'm prepared to live with it for now. Has anyone checked the manufacturing date of any newly supplied TRXs? are Michelin still even making them?

 

Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.  19 yr old tyres?  They were a joke in the wet when they were new.   Best of luck with them.

I scrapped my TRX's some years ago.  Left them by a skip at my house as part of house clearance.  Some to**er nicked them, and then 2 days later they re-appeared next to the skip!!!! - he obviously thought he could sell them.  What a nightmare.

Never looked back with the imperials and some decent rubber

 

Sounds like a real con to me! Tyres do have a shelf life & 19 years is well past it. The sidewalls will have perished & they'll be a death-trap.

I can't believe you're actually considering this!

Don't know if it's come in yet but there's legislation planned which will put the manufacture date on a tyre. The MOT will require tyres to be under a set age - I heard the the figure of 5 years mentioned.

This will have big implications for low annual mileage classics.

Just stop being pikey & buy some imperials! 

Dear oh dear oh dear.

If I was driving around at 150 mph in the wet then I would be bothered. I don't so I'm not.

Its an old car on old tyres and it gets driven accordingly. What about the suspension rubbers, etc? Should I get all of these replaced because its a 'death trap'?

I like the original metric wheels and I want the car to be standard, I don't really want to switch to imperials. The performance of the TRXs is adequate for my needs of this car.

Hard compound. They just don't grip unless they're warm.

Shem, never mind 150mph, 50mph will be enough to kill you. Remember, it's an old car, no airbags etc.

If a tyre wall lets go at the wrong moment you could find yourself in a world of trouble.

If it's the wheel style you like then a set of E34 BBS look just the same.

I'm all for keeping a car standard & original but if you must run TRX's then at least get some that were made this century.

Go for imperials & you won't believe the improvement in ride, handling & grip you gain from modern tyres.

A bargain is a bargain - no doubt about that. However four small bits of rubber is all that your car touches the road with, so be careful!

Personally, my advice to you would be to run those in the summer and dry only, and get another set for the wet winters, as your grip will be impaired.

Tyres, like everything synthetic will degrade over time, and the walls would be the weak point i would guess. It is entirely possible that once the outer tread has worn down a little, the rubber underneath will be fine, as it has not been exposed to the air for a number of years.

Personally I would run them, but as I have said not fast, and defo not in the wet, as you are clearly asking for trouble - even with new TRX's.

I would do a few brake tests!

I hope your tyres turn out to be a good purchase, and at the end of the day, its your car, so do what you want!

-Ben

Incedently - now that I have been running my Style 134's 16" for a bit I can report about a 2 MPG fuel gain on the M-ways compared to the TRX's, and i can finally beat a Fiat Punto around corners!

Edited by phb10186

It's like buying Third party insurance!

mjf297 wrote: ....live in probably the worst postcode in the UK for car crime - Hackney!! Ha, ha they ran a mile when they saw me coming

Oh I dunno, Dalston's pretty bad..... 

I moved "down" to 7x15 Style 31s, which are about half-an-inch wider than the standard 165TR390 metrics. The fuel consumption seems to be slightly worse.