I know everyone's opinion on running old tires that have been sitting, but I have a kinda different scenario.

I just bought a 1997 Heritage with 1,240 original miles. Garage kept it's entire life, so the sun hasn't baked the rubber. And since they've got a tube inside, beings they're on spoked rims, is it safe to run these tires? There is no cracking what so ever on the tires. I've ridden it at 60 mph and it is as smooth as can be.

If they didn't have tubes inside I would replace the tires right away, but I'm thinking with tubes inside, the chance of a tire "blowing" is zip. If the tube goes bad it would be a slow leak out, right?

 

Even as big of tight wad as I am I wouldn't run them

 

There is no way that I would use those tires.
They are 17 years old!

Throw a new set of tires on the bike right away.
Your life, your safety and someone else's safety is worth more than $500-$600.

I wouldn't even use 17 year old tires on a car.
Whether you see cracks on the tires or not, they are dried out and will fail.

 

My point is, the TIRES are NOT holding the air, the TUBE is. If I have enough $$$ for another Harley, I have $$$ for tires. But if new tires aren't needed why spend $600.00 on the Harley white walls, which is what I'll get with the Harley name on them.
But again, there's a TUBE holding the air, not the tire itself. I'm not a stupid man, I'm a journeyman tool and die maker, but I don't know the good or bad of running these tires. And unless someone here has experience or knowledge of tire failure in a spoked rim with old tires, we're all just guessing. I don't want to sound rude, but I'm looking for someone that has known of cases where a tire failed with a tube. I personally don't know of ANY and at 54 years old I've got years of riding and 100,000's of miles under my butt.
I'm not cheap, but I also don't want to just **** away $600.00 when the tires with TUBE on it now will hold up fine???
So, if you know of failure, let me know. Otherwise it's all speculation.
Thanks

 

The tube is holding the air, but the tire is holding the tube.

When a tire fails, it doesn`t necessarily mean it simply loses air.

Sometimes tires can have catastrophic failures.

If the tire fails, you are on your ***, tube or no tube.

Riding on 17 year old tires would be foolish, to put it lightly.

 

You asked or opinion and we're in unison on this - change your tyres, there's a good chap! They were crap when they were new and are now 17 years old - tyres don't mature like good cheese or wine, but today's tyres are better than those were when they were new. We'll all sleep better even if you don't.....