Any way to age Cups?

[Johnnywb]

Have some Cups i've had for a while. Is there a way to tell how old they are? I assume the rubber compound goes off after a certain time?

Acquired them second hand, hence the question.

[billyboysm3]

They have a 4 figure build date on the side in a oval shape. It has the week and year of build.

[Bounce]

As Billy says it will have build week and year on the side wall,eg 32 12

[Roland]

[still no worries]

So when do they go off then ? How old would you guys use and what would really old ones be like ? I mean how bad can they be right !

[mattCSLnut]

Originally Posted by still no worries

So when do they go off then ? How old would you guys use and what would really old ones be like ? I mean how bad can they be right !

Really bad and quite dangerous once the rubber compound begins to harden and brake up... no grip and in danger of de-laminating which is not something you'd want to experience at any speed
Up to 6 year old from the DOT is OK for Mich. CUPs so long as they have been stored correctly, out of direct sunlight and away from the outdoor elements or put through the initial heat cycle correctly once they are fitted to the CSL.
However, most CUPs won't last that long, if used properly although I suspect my DOT 2012 probably will at the current usage rate.

[cslsuperfan]

Originally Posted by still no worries

So when do they go off then ? How old would you guys use and what would really old ones be like ? I mean how bad can they be right !

You can't give away second hand cups these days and fresh cups are 30% cheaper in 2015 than previous years.

Just buy a new set.

[khooni]

not buying 2012 cups.

i buy only fresh cups.
i'd rather not take the chance for £50 more per tyre.

[octainejunkee]

Originally Posted by cslsuperfan

You can't give away second hand cups these days and fresh cups are 30% cheaper in 2015 than previous years.

Just buy a new set.

Ive just got back from a long weekend at the ring and then the Monday at Spa..

I ran barely used 2nd hand cups on my 1M.

Ive used new cups down to the canvas on similar trips so i'm used to the way they perform and level of grip they provide.

This set, offered absolutely 0 grip on the road before i set off.
I assumed they would rubber in on the autobahn or atleast after a few (6) laps of the ring- allowing me to enjoy a good day at Spa.

After 15-20 laps through out the day at Spa, the tyres still felt hard and i was about to borrow my pals e46 m3 wheels with 888's fitted but instead jumped in my mates m135i and was blown away with the levels of grip the stock car found on pilot sports...

Towards the end of the day i went out when the track was quiet and drifted the 1m around showing off to my pal and teaching the rear cups a lesson.

To my surprise the tyre actually began to soften up and come back to life- not sure what the science is behind it but it would appear they really enjoyed the abuse- i came in and adjusted the pressures then found i could enjoy the grip cups are meant to offer.

They are mega dead now (purple/oily in colour and bald ).
I'll never buyer 2nd hand cups again- just wondered if anybody could explain why they took so so long to come back to life?

cheers Jamie

[Jon8710]

I was at spa on Monday in the CSL
were you in the black 1M ?