"Old" production date tires worth the discount?

[tbm5690]

I was cruising Tire rack.com and noticed they have Blizzak WS90s on clearance (50% off) due to being 2022 production year. In my use case, they would only get about 4,000 miles a year on them during the winter so lifetime would be limited more on time and not mileage even if they were produced this year. Stay away, or something to consider?

 

[BornSlippy]

Tires are not like bananas. They don't go bad sitting around. 50% off is a great deal and would jump on that.

 

[Tifosi]

At least 5 years of usage at 50% discount, I would do it if I am shopping for snow tires.

 

[dadto2]

If those 3 year old tires were stored indoors and out of UV light, they are as good as they were on day 1.

 

[edyvw]

Tires are not like bananas. They don't go bad sitting around. 50% off is a great deal and would jump on that.

They are exactly like bananas and they deteriorate sitting around.

 

[edyvw]

I was cruising Tire rack.com and noticed they have Blizzak WS90s on clearance (50% off) due to being 2022 production year. In my use case, they would only get about 4,000 miles a year on them during the winter so lifetime would be limited more on time and not mileage even if they were produced this year. Stay away, or something to consider?

Unless Michelin, I take off my tires at 5yrs point if the reach that age. Michelin, 6yrs.
Non negotiable.
So, not sure does it make sense. Depends how long you are willing to push it.

 

[crashz]

Some states will note the date code on the tires during inspection, so that can be an issue. I'm not quite as diligent as edyvw, but 10 years is my hard limit on any road tire. I typically wear out most by then anyway.

But if you store your winter tires inside, then I'd go for it. Winter tires wear out quickly anyway, so 20-30k miles may not be unreasonable.

 

[64bawagon]

Goodyear says 6 yrs and I know from first hand experience that their company stores keep very close track of dates on tires and can only sell units less than a certain date old (I believe 6 months)

 

[K-Man]

A cousin who worked for a heavy-equipment company that used large trucks said that company had a rule of absolutely no more than 7 years for any truck tire, except that front tires without abnormal loads could go a little longer.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I bought some Bridgestones from Tire Rack that were supposed to be 2021 I think. They were 1 late 2022 and 3 2023 so the numbers they give are not always accurate.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

Unless Michelin, I take off my tires at 5yrs point if the reach that age. Michelin, 6yrs.
Non negotiable.
So, not sure does it make sense. Depends how long you are willing to push it.

BFG says they are good for 10 years. Just swapped mine out at 10years, cracking was obvious but nothing big or deep. Still held air, even with plugs/patches

 

[edyvw]

BFG says they are good for 10 years. Just swapped mine out at 10years, cracking was obvious but nothing big or deep. Still held air, even with plugs/patches

I lean towards fine print.
How were they exploited, impacts, climate etc. No tire will do the same in all climate and road conditions.
Head on shoulders is too expensive of a gamble.

 

[KevinMalone]

The general rule is 6 to 10 years MAX depending on your climate, with shorter lifespans in hotter climates. However, I do wonder if winter tires have a shorter "effective" lifespan though, as their rubber compound is softer and perhaps more sensitive to heat. My old Gislaved Nordfrost 5 winter tires definitely felt less effective in their 8th (and final) year in the PNW.

Also something to consider - the 50% discount could also account for 50% less life?

 

[tbm5690]

Thanks for the feedback. No state inspections here, and they would be run from about November-March and then stored in my garage when not in use. Seems the overall consensus is that they're worth consideration. I imagine I could easily get 6-7 seasons out of them.

 

[edyvw]

Thanks for the feedback. No state inspections here, and they would be run from about November-March and then stored in my garage when not in use. Seems the overall consensus is that they're worth consideration. I imagine I could easily get 6-7 seasons out of them.

That would put them at 9-10 years. With snow tires, that is pushing, big time, performance wise.
I personally would consider them as I ski 1-2 times a week, making 250mls round trip. Two, maybe, maybe three seasons, and they are gone.

 

[rondhol]

For 50% off, 2 years old tires is a deal. The problem is not so much about age, but AGING.

Aging is caused mainly by environment especially sunlight exposure, UV, ozone, and chemical, and solvents.

A car that is parked in the garage can have 8 or 12y old tires without much issue or cracking. A 4 years old tires parked in hot florida maybe aged worse than that.

In the strickest MOT im Germany, called TÜV, that costs $200 every 2 years, old tire is not an issue, but hair lines cracked in 3y old tires will fail the inspection. I have 11y old winter tires and still pass TÜV.

 

[barkingspider]

If I lived in snow country, I would buy them at 50% off

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I would stay away. New tires are suppose to be stored sealed in a plastic bag, get all the air out you can, and tape them closed. Then their supposed to be stored on an angle, not stacked. Then their supposed to be stored in the dark, in a climate controlled room. These tires could have been sitting in Indonesia, stacked, in a hot, humid warehouse with a leaky roof , and the tires getting full of rainwater. Too bad there wasn't a way to track them from manufacturing to storage. Personally, I would stay away. Too many unknowns about these tires.