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Too old?
#1
Rattlenbang Nathaniel Poole
Victoria, BC, Canada   CAN
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1980 MG MGB
I pulled the spare out of my MG this morning, which is an '80, and saw it was an XZX Michelin. Hmmm. That's a really old model. Sure enough, I check the date code and it was made the year I graduated high school.
I'm 63 so the math is easy. �

I suspect it's the original spare.
A bit of shoe polish to bring out the shine and fill some cracks, and it's good enough, right?


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Re: Too old?
#2
ghnl Avatar
ghnl Eric Russell
Mebane, NC, USA   USA
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1961 MG MGA "Calvin"
Good enough for what - a display tire?

Quote: A bit of shoe polish to bring out the shine and fill some cracks, and it's good enough, right?

I assume you've seen The World's Fastest Indian...


Eric Russell ~ Mebane, NC
1961 MGA #61, 1981 Alfa Romeo GTV6, 1984 Alfa Romeo Spider, 1991 Honda ST1100

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Re: Too old?
#3
DocDup1 Avatar
DocDup1 Gold Member Richard Watson
Carmel, CA, USA   USA
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1965 Chevrolet Corvette
1967 Chevrolet Corvette
1967 MG MGB GT
1968 Triumph TR4A    & more
When I bought my 67 TR4A it came from long term storage. The tires were brand new looking XZX's that still had the small rubber hairs. They were 35 years old and so hard that you could use them as an anvil. Just for grins, I drove the car around my neighborhood one time. It was scary how badly the car drove. It did, however, make me really appreciate my new Vredsteins.

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Re: Too old?
#4
Rick Fawthrop Avatar
Rick Fawthrop Gold Member Richard Fawthrop
Langley, WA, USA   USA
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1960 Austin-Healey Bugeye Sprite
1974 MG MGB
1994 Mazda Miata
I took my wheel to the local Discount Tire store and asked for the cheapest tire in that size.

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Re: Too old?
#5
Gary G Avatar
Gary G
Toronto, ON, Canada   CAN
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1979 MG MGB MkIV
The tires in my car were around 20 years old. Skidded at a stop light without even trying! Fun times!

In reply to # 4790919 by DocDup1 When I bought my 67 TR4A it came from long term storage. The tires were brand new looking XZX's that still had the small rubber hairs. They were 35 years old and so hard that you could use them as an anvil. Just for grins, I drove the car around my neighborhood one time. It was scary how badly the car drove. It did, however, make me really appreciate my new Vredsteins.

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Re: Too old?
#6
Steve S Avatar
Steve S Gold Member
Abingdon, So Cal, USA   USA
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1925 Ford Model T
1937 MG SA Saloon
1939 Ford V8
1946 Other Not Listed    & more
I just installed a set of XZX on a TD the other day. They're still available from specialty suppliers.

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Re: Too old?
#7
tom1970MGB Avatar
tom1970MGB Gold Member Thomas Capobianco
Seattle, WA, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB "College Car"
1973 MG MGB GT "Odyssey"
Probably dried out inside even though it looks like new. Don't use since you could kill yourself and possibly someone else.


Tom C.

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Re: Too old?
#8
Drewski Avatar
Drewski Silver Member William Estaver
SUMMERVILLE, SC, USA   USA
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1973 MG Midget MkIII "Maggie"
Tires do 'age' out, so a fresh replacement is in order.
The likely failure will be a surprise blow out, with potential for a deadly crash.

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Re: Too old?
#9
tom1970MGB Avatar
tom1970MGB Gold Member Thomas Capobianco
Seattle, WA, USA   USA
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1970 MG MGB "College Car"
1973 MG MGB GT "Odyssey"
Could be worse than a blow-out....tires could shred and you would have no tire(s). Agree its time to replace.


Tom C.

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Re: Too old?
#10
ingoldsb Avatar
ingoldsb Silver Member Terry Ingoldsby
Calgary, AB, Canada   CAN
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1971 MG MGB
Oh heck, just get a couple of gallons of latex rubber and fill the entire tire! I mean, that would stop a blowout, wouldn't it? winking smiley

Seriously, I wouldn't even inflate it - it might blow off the rim and hurt you (while filling it).

But a cool conversation piece.


Terry Ingoldsby
terry.ingoldsby@DCExperts.com

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Re: Too old?
#11
lancaster44 Avatar
lancaster44 Silver Member Matt G
Portland, OR, USA   USA
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1977 MG MGB
1991 Rover Mini
When I bought my car, the back tires still had the rubber hairs and looked brand new. I checked the date code and saw 6, so I thought 2016. Drove it for a couple seasons before I realized they were from 1996.

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Re: Too old?
#12
Triumphant66 Avatar
Triumphant66 Silver Member Kent C
Richmond, VA, USA   USA
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1956 Austin-Healey 100
1956 Austin-Healey 100M "ParisieM"
1963 MG MGB
1964 MG MGB "Nanette"    & more
If you have a Limited Edition (LE) 1980 MGB that is not the LE type wheel.
KC


My first LBC: 1969 MGB purchased in July 1977 in Richmond, VA somewhere in the Fan District. OO get in touch?.

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Re: Too old?
#13
sws615 Avatar
sws615 Stephen Struck
Grand Haven, MI, USA   USA
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1967 MG MGB GT
1975 MG MGB "Commission # G23N124120"
2015 BMW 535xi
2018 Mercedes-Benz E350 4Matic Wagon    & more
I had a set of those on a '74 Opel Manta. The car was so darn light I couldn't wear them out. Must of have 55K miles on them when I sold the car!

Steve

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Re: Too old?
#14
BH Davis Avatar
BH Davis Gold Member
Grosvenordale, CT &, Warren, VT, USA   USA
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1968 MG MGB GT "Primrose"
1973 MG MGB
I think the original post is a bit tongue in cheek. He knows it's just a display tire. Pretty cool that he may have the original spare all these years later. He can make it into a wall clock. smileys with beer

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Re: Too old?
#15
Rattlenbang Nathaniel Poole
Victoria, BC, Canada   CAN
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1980 MG MGB
The tires that were on the car weren't as old but were also ancient. No name brand, just said "Metric" on the side. No cracks but hard and gripped like ball bearings. SO glad I put new tires all around this spring. Forgot about the spare, though, and apparently so did every other owner. grinning smiley

And yes, it was tongue in cheek to suggest keeping it as a spare. I was just shocked that such an old thing could still be in circulation. cool smiley

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