If I wore out tires in 2-3 years, I wouldn't care about the date code being 2 years old...

However, I have 4 bikes. My bagger and trip bike rarely goes 5 years on tires before they are at the wear bars.

The other three bikes get about 2400+ miles a year each. They frequently reach the 5 year mark with good tread left. On those bikes I insist to see the date codes before mounting. The DOT codes better be within 6 months, or I reject the tire.

I'm lucky to find a tire shop that works with me on that.

I was going to use a dealer that offered free mounting & balancing on tires they sell. They told me over the phone they sell so many tires the DOT codes are always fresh.

I went in for my appointment and asked to see the DOT codes before mounting.

The service writer said, "We don't do that. The tires are pulled off the rack as needed, and all are fresh, because we sell so many tires."

I said, "Great, I'll be waiting here, so just let me see the DOT codes after you pull them off the rack."

Service writer said, "We don't do that."

I said, "I'm sorry to hear that, I don't buy tires from anyone who won't let me see the date codes first."

The look on his face was priceless as I turned and walked away... He was still staring at me as I rode off... Pretty sure no one did that to him before

 

@hattitude that's hysterical. I've always trusted my Indy. He's never let me down, he knows exactly how I feel about tires and safety. He's never steered me wrong. Some people think that everyone is stupid except themselves, and their opinion is etched in stone. Well, some of us have been around. Ya know?

 

I get my tires from 8 Ball Motorcycle Tires (Escondido, CA).

They have good prices, and charge just $30 per tire for mount & balance, if I bring the wheel(s) in, off the bike.

The manager, Eric, I've been dealing with for a several years now. He's very accommodating with getting me fresh tires. Now I just email him, give him the size tires I want. He tells me when they will be in, and when they come in, he sends another email with the date codes on the tires. If I don't like the dates, he reorders the tires. He's never needed to reorder, but on one occasion, he emailed the tires were too old, and gave me his plan to get fresher dates.

I should add, even though Eric knows what I consider acceptable tire dates, he still shows me the tires so I can check the date codes before he has them mounted. Great customer service!

There are some vendors who care about customer satisfaction...

 

Absolutely

 

Trust is fine, I guess.
It's not my nature but it does seem nice.

But I don't get why you would not want to look at the tire date code. Do you go out of your way to not consciously look at it even after install?
When you're down on your hands and knees double checking the pressure after an install do you avert your eyes to the code staring you in the face?
I think I know the answer to this one though - you don't double check the pressure, you just trust them.

The few times I've had my oil changed at an oil change place I always pull over a block or two away and check the level.

"Trust but verify" - Ronald Reagan.

 

Dude, you don't trust your mother. That says a lot. I've trusted my Indy, I've checked date codes and air pressure, never a problem. Never checked an oil level either,
but I do that myself.

But you do you. You remind me of someone.

 

My mother knows surprisingly little about tire date codes and pressure. It was hyperbole.
No, I just see no reason to trust anybody or anything when I can verify it myself.
I'd tell you you remind me of somebody too but that's getting too personal there's no reason for that on here Rounders.

Ronald Reagan was talking about nuclear weapons but I think it works for tires oil and batteries too.

 

Oh little one, you're way off. There're dozens of guys in here that can assure you I am not he. I'm thinking more about you. Funny you
just joined back in May and know who that dude was. Your responses mimic his, not to mention, over 700 posts since May 25 screams
post hoe. Good luck dude, you won't get much out of these fellow members with your "unthawing people's sense of humor"

I see a pattern.

 

Jeez louise , did I miss something ??

I am in Western Australia with year round riding (as long as it's dry, no snow and only super rare frost for us), and use my tyres to the max.

Since 2011 I have only had one bike, my 2008 CVO Springer that I have owned since 2011. Near15 years now. Prior to that I often owned 2 Harleys,but did do much more miles (kilometres) per annum.

I have replaced the tyres twice since I got it at 3 years old and 6,300 miles (10,000K's). The tyres were new in 2011, as Australian authorities insist on NEW tyres on imported used Harleys.

Stock Harley Dunlops
Dunlop American Elite 8 years back (NLA when I went looking 3 months back)
Metzeler Cruisetech (since 3 months)

No tyre dramas in that stretch thankfully.

 

as @hattitude said, I do the same thing. I request to see the DOT date codes on any tires I purchase whether for bike, vehicle or trailer. That date code has to be 6 months old or less.