"NEW" tire age/ build date

[Russell]

I just put 4 new Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires on my BMW. I noticed the tire build date was 0905. If i understand the code correctly, this means it was manufactured in the 9th week of 2005.

This makes the tires almost 3 years old before they were put on my car! Do I have a problem?

 

[Quattro Pete]

I guess that depends on how long you're planning to have them on the car and if you'll be driving on them in the snow/winter.

If you're going to use them up during the next 3 years, then I'd say you're fine. Past that, hard to tell.

Over time rubber tends to harden. If you drive on these tires during winter/snow, then you want the rubber to remain soft in order to provide optimal traction. With age, these tires will become progressively worse, not only due to smaller tread depth, but also due to rubber hardening. But it's really hard to tell just when and how bad it'll get as this is a gradual thing.

Personally, I wouldn't be happy if someone sold me 3-year old tires (even if unused) as new. Who knows if they were properly stored during that time. Whenever I buy tires, I insist that they be no more than 1 year old. Otherwise, I refuse them.

That issue aside, how do you like those Exaltos? I'm gonna have to buy a new set of tires for my e39 this year and am still undecided on what to get - a longer wearing all-season or a more performance-oriented summer tire. I usually don't drive aggressively and value low noise, but there are those times when I do like to push the car hard in the corners.

 

[Rock_Hudstone]

I always request "fresh" tires, (preferably no more than a year since date of manufacture).
With the price of new tires these days who wants someone's old stock.

If a retailer wanted to sell me three year old tires I'd be asking for a big discount.

 

[DmanWho]

Thanks for bringing this topic up. Never knew to check tires for a "made on" date.

I also agree you should get an immediate discount, or at least a huge discount for next time... Something!

 

[Russell]

So far so good. Turn is a bit quicker. road noise so far is low. Seems to "track" in a straight line a bit better. Seems ride a bit better. Rain /wet roads is good. Bit hard to tell much as I only have about 300 miles on them.

I do plan to bring the tire age issue up with my tire dealer on Monday. I have used this store for more than 15 years. For some reason, I never thought to check tire age. My wife's explorer Michelins were less than 3 months old.

 

[alreadygone]

NOT that big of a deal. At least if kept stored inside, and how many shops have you ever seen with new tires stored outside?

Bob

 

[glennc]

I wouldn't be worried about it at all. Despite the conservatism these days in the tire industry about aging, tires don't really lose their performance qualities all that quickly even in use. New tires are coated with that slippery preservative that is designed to keep them chemically inert until the time they are first used, undoubtedly slowing deterioration to a trickle.

You may be able to get some concession from the shop just on the basis that three-year-old new tires SEEM old, but in my opinion you have not suffered any discernable loss and the tires will be as good as if they were made yesterday.

Capri might have something to say on this. Some quantitative data might be helpful. For what its worth in the meantime, I have a fair amount of experience with tires literally decades old and simply don't think that even then the performance has deteriorated dramatically, even when they are pushed to their limits. It COULD have, no doubt, if they had incurred an unusual amount of environmental degradation, but that is obviously not your concern here.

 

[CapriRacer]

The real problem with age is ambient temperature.

AZ and TX are the worst states for this, but parts of FL get in there too!

It's kind of compound problem (pun intended!!) The rubber degrades more rapidly, and the conditions the rubber has to operate in are more severe!

Since this is so complex, it's been hard to get everyone on the same page. So you will see recommendations for removal anywhere between 6 years and 10 years - and I think this is more a reflection of what the person making the recommendation is trying to accomplish. So I take the 6 year value to mean AZ (and those wonderful 5 states where most of the separations come from) and I take the 10 year value to be the real upper limita regardless.

So the further north you are the better it is. I'm guessing Lexington, KY is an area where you might want to use an 8 year limitation.

 

[Russell]

What about selling "old stock" tires that are almost 3 years old? Is this common? If it is common, I may not even bring it up with my tire dealer. If not, I will discuss a discount or try to get them to replace the tires with "New" tires.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: Russell
What about selling "old stock" tires that are almost 3 years old? Is this common? If it is common, I may not even bring it up with my tire dealer. If not, I will discuss a discount or try to get them to replace the tires with "New" tires.


Look at it like this.

If you are a manufacturer and you know you have a time limitation, what should you do about overstock?

I'm going to guess that as the time limit is being approached, the price of the product would go down - law of supply and demand! And the closer you get to the time limit (whatever that might be), the more the discount on the price. This would be a good time to "stock up" for a tire dealer.

I'm also going to guess that there are some unscrupulous tire dealers who would take advantage of this situation and sell the tires without discounting for their age.

So this is fairly common and you have to factor in how much of a discount you got. Again, I'm guessing, but I'll bet it's a hidden discount and it will be hard to determine exactly how much the price was discounted.

 

[Russell]

Interesting. As far as I know, I got no special discount over their normal pricing. This tire dealer is very busy and has been in business a very long time. Doubt if they are trying to cheat me in any way.

 

[Russell]

According to my dealer and Michelin. Selling tires three years old is not an issue. My 6 year warranty started the day my tires were purchased.

 

[kartracer55]

We have had several customers complain of this, because stock typically does one thing... SITS! even moving 150-200 tires per month, we still cant move everything, so a shop must find a balance of customer convenience and bloated inventory. For the majority of tires we order them and receive them next day.

I have wondered about this, but usually just figured that since they were stored indoors in the shade all the time, it can not be THAT bad. Admittedly, I would probably request "fresh" tires for my own vehicle.

Jim

 

[Kestas]

Jim, given the huge matrix and permutation of tires on the market, and customers' expectation of instant service, I wouldn't expect anything other than what you posted.

Thankfully, for some there's Tirerack. I imagine their inventory control and turnover allows for fresher tires.

 

[mrsilv04]

I wouldn't be happy with 'new' tires that were nearly 3 years old.

My Michelin LTX's on my Silverado were special ordered through Sam's and were 9 weeks old when they arrived.

The Goodyear Assurance ComforTred's on the Park Avenue that were from Discount Tire Direct were only 6 weeks old.

I won't allow a tire that is any older than 1 year to be mounted on my Goldwing. I once ended up with a 2 1/2 year old 'new' rear tire on it, and I could break the tire loose without trying. The tire had been affected by the age of it. Never again.

 

[Russell]

Apparently there is nothing I can do about it now as teh store/Michelin seem in agreemnet on policy. This store, for at least 15 years, has had the best prices/service in town. It is my fault I did not specify "fresh" tires. If I had, they would have accomidated me.

I knew better, just in a hurry. Never again. BTW, the tires seem excellent in all categories.

 

[glennc]

Russell, really, don't worry about it at all. Tires come with a preservative that is designed to make sure they don't deteriorate in storage. They will be as good in every respect as if they had been made yesterday.

There is a lot of alarmist nonsense in my opinion that is making people freak out about perfectly good new tires.

 

[alreadygone]

Originally Posted By: glennc
Russell, really, don't worry about it at all. Tires come with a preservative that is designed to make sure they don't deteriorate in storage. They will be as good in every respect as if they had been made yesterday.

There is a lot of alarmist nonsense in my opinion that is making people freak out about perfectly good new tires.


And any other aspect of automotive service when brought to discussion here! Aren't we ALL glad lubricants don't have build/best by dates on container. Imagine all the guys who'd be disposing of their "stash" every couple of years!

Bob

 

[Russell]

i appreciate all the various points of view. I sent a e-mail to my tire dealers main office expressing my unhappiness that old stock is being sold. However, I told them the deal was done and I would specify "fresh tires' in future purchase I make from their company.

Another reason for old stock being sold is my tire size (225x60x15)is being phased out as new models replace older tires. One example: Bridgestone replaced the Turanza LS-H with the Turanza with Senerity-but NOT in my size. This may help explain why Michelin has "old stock" in my size. It is a slow moving tire, so they are not making many in my size to add to their national inventory. Therefore the warehouse has only older tires??

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: glennc
There is a lot of alarmist nonsense in my opinion that is making people freak out about perfectly good new tires.


Here is more of that "alarmist nonsense", this time from a couple of Chicken Littles named "Ford and Chrysler"...

Quote:
Chrysler: Change tires after 6 years

Beginning in 2006, all Ford and Chrysler vehicles will highlight threat of older rubber.

By Jeff Plungis / Detroit News Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- DaimlerChrysler AG is advising U.S. customers to replace new car and truck tires after six years, even if there is no sign of wear, beginning with 2006 models.

The warning will be placed in Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep owners' manuals, following a practice the company established in Europe. A few 2005 Chrysler Group models carry the warning.

"Tires and spare tire should be replaced after six years, regardless of the remaining tread," the warning reads. "Failure to follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure. You could lose control and have an accident resulting in serious injury or death."

Ford Motor Co. began warning customers to replace older tires on its Web site a few weeks ago. It will also include a warning with all 2006 models.

The companies are responding to new research that suggests tires can degrade rapidly as they get older, regardless of how much they are used.


So, Russell's 3 year old tires are already half way to the 6 year limit. Note the "regardless of how much they are used" comment. The tire dealer doesn't want to take the tires back, because he doesn't want them back. Michelin doesn't want them back either. The tire dealer was hoping that no one would notice the age of the tires, as most people wouldn't. They're both happy that the tires are on a car and are gone.

I wouldn't be happy at all. If the tire dealer wanted to do the right thing, they would. A happy customer is a return customer. And I wouldn't be happy with this situation. I'd make sure that the owner of the tire shop knew that becuase of this situation, and the unwillingnesss to do anything about it, that I had just bought my last set of tires there.

Quote:
The Tyre Industry Council (UK) said tire components dry with age and can separate. Anti-aging chemicals in tires are active only when a tire is in use, the council said. The council went on to say that spare tires, tires in storage or on a shelf, or tires that spend a long time on a trailer or a recreational vehicle run the risk of premature aging.


Enough said.