How Old is Too Old When Buying New Tires?

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Russell
All the Michelins MXv4s I got a month ago were the same date and the codes were on the outside of the tires. I thought they used to be only on the inside.

The thing with my Bridgestones is that they're directional, so the inside/outside is relative. If they're installed on the right side of the car, the sidewall showing the date code will be on the outside, but if they're installed on the left side of the car, the sidewall showing the date code will be on the inside, if that makes sense.

 

[daves87rs]

A year or less is okay with me....

 

[Russell]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Russell
All the Michelins MXv4s I got a month ago were the same date and the codes were on the outside of the tires. I thought they used to be only on the inside.

The thing with my Bridgestones is that they're directional, so the inside/outside is relative. If they're installed on the right side of the car, the sidewall showing the date code will be on the outside, but if they're installed on the left side of the car, the sidewall showing the date code will be on the inside, if that makes sense.

Thanks, forgot about directional tires. My last tires were also directional.

 

[SubLGT]

More from TireRack:

"...............The British Rubber Manufacturers Association recommends that unused tires not be put into use if they are over six years old and all tires should be replaced ten years from date of manufacture. Our experience has been that when properly stored and cared for, most street tires have a useful service life of between six to ten years...."

http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/colintirerackcom/how-old-are-my-tires-and-how-long-will-they-last

 

[SubLGT]

Another interesting article on aging:

"................Just recently Maryland debated a bill sponsored by Delegate Benjamin Kramer to require Maryland tire dealers to give consumers a printed statement on the dangers of tire aging whenever they sell a tire that is more than three years past its manufacture date. Kramer sponsored a more sweeping bill last year that would have required all tire manufacturers and retailers in Maryland to inform consumers of the age of every tire sold..............."

"............On one point, the TIA and RMA are substantially correct. Tires do not begin to really age until they are mounted. The whole problem with aging is that the inner layers of the tire gradually oxidize and stiffen, then begin to crack. It is the high air pressure put into a tire when it's mounted that forces oxygen through the inner liner and into the core layers in the first place..................."

"................The real worry you should have in terms of tire aging is your spare. If your spare tire has been in a hot trunk for 7 years, don't think that it won't fail because it's never been used. It might just fail precisely because it's never been used.............."

http://tires.about.com/b/2013/08/24/the-science-and-politics-of-tire-aging.htm

 

[KitaCam]

Originally Posted By: SubLGT


"................The real worry you should have in terms of tire aging is your spare. If your spare tire has been in a hot trunk for 7 years, don't think that it won't fail because it's never been used. It might just fail precisely because it's never been used.............."

http://tires.about.com/b/2013/08/24/the-science-and-politics-of-tire-aging.htm


Good reason to do a 5-tire rotation....

 

[AboutTires]

Thanks for posting that blog. I wanted to solicit opinions from you guys anyway.

I have now fixed all the broken links, including the ones to the longer article about the actual science. For some reason, it helps to use an actual URL when you put in a link. Go figure.

 

[y_p_w]

I remember the days when most gas stations were still called service stations with real mechanics. Union 76 used to feature ads with the owner/head mechanic at one of these named "Murph".

Now the deal I remember with most of these service stations was that they typically had a small selection of tires in stock. I even remember my dad's car blowing a tire and getting a replacement at one these stations while on vacation. However, the one thing they typically had were racks of tires that they displayed outdoors in the sun. Sometimes they were just short racks to remind customers that they carried tires, but others were their entire set stored outdoors. Besides the possibility of being stolen, I was thinking it might not be that great an idea to have these things in the sun. I think after a while some stations would lock down their tires with a cable and keep them outdoors since there was limited room inside.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYKkHAkib8U

This commercial shows a long rack of tires where the top of the tread is in full sun:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TTpYP0wTj4

 

[SubLGT]

Nokian says 5 years for a new tire under proper storage is OK

"……... According to international practice, the maximum recommended usage life for a tyre is 6 years, and the maximum age of the tyre is 10 years. Tyres that have been manufactured a maximum of 5 years earlier may be sold as new, since tyres will retain their original characteristics for up to 5 years when stored correctly………….."

http://www.nokiantyres.com/innovation/facts-about-tyres/faq/