I'm looking for a rear tire for my '06 SB and found some new old stock for about 1/2 price. These are about 4 years old with no signs of dry rot or cracking. How long is the "shelf life" of tires? Would you feel comfortable buying them?

 

I would, as long as they still looked like they were flexible and no cracks.

 

The tire compound gets harder as it ages. Clearly the tire company understands this because they're offering you a break. They also must think the tires still have life in them or they'd shred 'em rather than meet your estate's lawyer. If you're an aggressive driver, I'd say don't do it. Otherwise it's one of those cases where you decide how much risk is acceptable.

 

i sold tires for four years and your really reaching the composites start to break down after a while if they were racked and kept in a fairly climate controlled situation you may do alright for bias tires inspect every inch of them

 

Nope, wouldn't do it. A brand new tire is cheap insurance brother.

 

i would do it... most tires in the HD dealer will sit there for 3-4 years

 

I dont know dude. With the cost of replacing a rear tire, what are you really saving. $70-100. What if you only get half the milage out of it, because its been sittin around for a while? MIght not even perform the way you want Then what? You have to buy another tire and pay again for mounting and balancing. What did you save?I would say buy a new tire, have it mounted and dont worry about it for awhile. Just my 2 pennies worth.

 

I'm having a hard time deciding about it. Joe is right; most of the tires from a Harley shop could be that old. I'm going to take the wheels off and take them in to have them mounted and balanced so I wouldn't have to "pay" the labor twice but I would have to do the work twice if the tire didn't last long.
....
I just did so more checking on the internet and found that shelf life for tires could be anywhere from 2-6 years. I think I'll spring for a new one within a year old.

If any others are interested these were on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=#ht_500wt_957
They are Continental Road Attack radials 170/60/17's for $50! Man, that's hard to pass on... He has 4 left.

 

if it were my a$$ i wouldn't even consider it as an option. especially since i carry a passenger often. Spend the little extra dough, once its gone you won't miss it!

 

Tires and brakes, 2 things you don't want to go cheap on! Is this a HD dealer? I cant imagine them having tires that old especially for a popular size. A HD dealer giving something 1/2 off, thats wierd.