age of new tires
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 164
Likes: 4
From: USA
age of new tires
I just read many threads on tire age, on the bike people have gone from 2-43 years on an original set of factory tires. Here is my twist on the subject. I have a new never been on a rim tire for my new ultra. I got it for my old street glide, here is the hitch- its an 2009 tire that has been inside a dark store room as well. My dealer said he can't sell any tires older than 7 years, hmmmmm what should I do with this new tire. Did I say it has never been mounted. I got a set of tires when I got my bike new and sold it before I used the tire. I ride every day, new bike is a 2017 that I picked up in may and now has 8100 miles on it. I will need a new front by start of summer. What would you do with this new tire?
Please in your reply tell me
oldest tire you have ridden on?
oldest tire you have bough from anyone(dealer/online)?
Please in your reply tell me
oldest tire you have ridden on?
oldest tire you have bough from anyone(dealer/online)?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 11,155
From: San Diego, CA
The manufacturers used to say 7 years (it's changed over the years, it may be less now)...
If they say 7 years, you know they have a built-in safety factor... is it 30%, 50%, OR 70%... I don't know...
Since it was stored out of UV light, you would probably be OK... I once changed a tire at 10 years, but only because I lost track of the tire's age (I rarely have a tire last more than 2 years... but with 3 bikes it can happen)...
I just wouldn't risk it.... it's the stakes, not the odds.....
Tires are cheap compared the the costs involved if one blows at 65mph....
If I were you I'd drill a hole or two in the tire and then get rid of it...
If they say 7 years, you know they have a built-in safety factor... is it 30%, 50%, OR 70%... I don't know...
Since it was stored out of UV light, you would probably be OK... I once changed a tire at 10 years, but only because I lost track of the tire's age (I rarely have a tire last more than 2 years... but with 3 bikes it can happen)...
I just wouldn't risk it.... it's the stakes, not the odds.....
Tires are cheap compared the the costs involved if one blows at 65mph....
If I were you I'd drill a hole or two in the tire and then get rid of it...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
i bought a 2010 garage queen in 15 with 2000 miles on the clock. tires were 5 years old. i rode 13 k on tgese tires before swapping them for new skins.
oldest i ridden on = 5 yrs.
but i ride 25k a year between multiple bikes, so im buying tires annually
oldest i would accept when purchaded 1 year
oldest i ridden on = 5 yrs.
but i ride 25k a year between multiple bikes, so im buying tires annually
oldest i would accept when purchaded 1 year
Last edited by bigskyroadglide; Sep 25, 2017 at 06:08 PM.
Road Master
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 769
Likes: 375
From: Bay Area
i bought a 2010 garage queen in 15 with 2000 miles on the clock. tires were 5 years old. i rode 13 k on tgese tires before swapping them for new skins.
oldest i ridden on = 5 yrs.
but i ride 25k a year between multiple bikes, so im buying tires annually
oldest i would accept when purchaded 1 year
oldest i ridden on = 5 yrs.
but i ride 25k a year between multiple bikes, so im buying tires annually
oldest i would accept when purchaded 1 year
I just ditched the original tires on my 2010 garage queen, they were 7 years old but only 2/3rds worn with 11K miles. One thing I never cheap out on is tires....
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
We have a recent thread where age was discussed at some length. I don't believe we got a final answer! The recommended age for changing tyres differs depending on various things, however I am inclined to say that a 7-year old tyre has reached it use-by date. I for one wouldn't fit it.
My interest arises not so much for bike tyres, but our campervan. The tyres on that are coming up to 7 years old, although the mileage to date on them isn't great (especially in commercial vehicle terms), but I have decided that their retirement is imminent.
I suggest you give that tyre a decent burial.....
My interest arises not so much for bike tyres, but our campervan. The tyres on that are coming up to 7 years old, although the mileage to date on them isn't great (especially in commercial vehicle terms), but I have decided that their retirement is imminent.
I suggest you give that tyre a decent burial.....
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 4,725
Likes: 1,787
From: Toledo ohio
I bought a pair of new take off (well 300 miles on them) from a 15 RK for $50 for the pair, stored them in climate controlled garage, in a contractor garbage bag. I will put them on at the end of next year and have no problems putting 20+k miles on them, at 6 or 7K per year, it will take 3 or 4 years. So total life time wise, I believe 7 years is safe. As long as they been out of the sun.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,978
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
Not really sure about the oldest age of tires that I may have ridden on but I can tell you that tires are nothing to play games with.
Betting your life on an old tire in order to save a couple of hundred bucks seems really foolish when you're about to lose (or do lose) control of your bike, especially at higher speeds.
In my 48+ years of riding I have had two incidents involving tires on used bikes that I have purchased (one I dumped, with the wife on back, and the other I managed to keep up) and I now refuse to ride any bike at highway speeds on tires over 7 years old.
City or local riding is a bit different, but for the long runs, and especially in hot weather, you (we all) need to keep good tires on our bikes.
A few years ago, it nearly killed me (virtually) when I had to replace the tires on TWO bikes, one with 9500 miles on it, and the other with less than 300 miles, but the tires were very old ('98 and '03)!
Betting your life on an old tire in order to save a couple of hundred bucks seems really foolish when you're about to lose (or do lose) control of your bike, especially at higher speeds.
In my 48+ years of riding I have had two incidents involving tires on used bikes that I have purchased (one I dumped, with the wife on back, and the other I managed to keep up) and I now refuse to ride any bike at highway speeds on tires over 7 years old.
City or local riding is a bit different, but for the long runs, and especially in hot weather, you (we all) need to keep good tires on our bikes.
A few years ago, it nearly killed me (virtually) when I had to replace the tires on TWO bikes, one with 9500 miles on it, and the other with less than 300 miles, but the tires were very old ('98 and '03)!
Last edited by 2AMGuy; Sep 26, 2017 at 07:23 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 532
Likes: 64
From: Manitoba, Canada
In 2016 I bought a 2012 Road King that had 300 miles on it. I asked the dealer if I should be concerned about the age of the tires and they said if it was stored indoors out of the sun, and there was no visible deterioration/cracking, to ride them. I put 12,000 miles on them, changed the rear a month ago because it was down to the wear bars and just changed the front because it had started cupping and I was getting some vibration when cornering. I do agree with the comments about not trying to cut corners when it comes to tires, but I inspected mine regularly and made the decision to ride them for a season. I don't think the discussion about tire age will ever have a conclusive answer because no one wants to be the exception and have a failure at highway speed.
A guy I sometimes ride with bought a rear tire for his Fat Boy from someone privately, thinking he was getting a great deal. It was either a very poor quality tire or perhaps old and hadn't been stored properly, it blew when he was on the highway after only 4000 miles or so. He didn't go down thankfully, but $750 later for the tow bill and a new front tire it (along with a heck of a scare) it was a lesson learned.
A guy I sometimes ride with bought a rear tire for his Fat Boy from someone privately, thinking he was getting a great deal. It was either a very poor quality tire or perhaps old and hadn't been stored properly, it blew when he was on the highway after only 4000 miles or so. He didn't go down thankfully, but $750 later for the tow bill and a new front tire it (along with a heck of a scare) it was a lesson learned.
Last edited by T Man; Sep 26, 2017 at 07:24 AM.
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Banned
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 607
Likes: 107
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Lots of differing opinions, even from major tire distributors. Rubber does degrade over time, no matter the storage conditions.
Just food for thought. Tire makers warrant their tires from the date of purchase, although tires made can be several years until they are actually sold, especially the oddball sizes.
Just food for thought. Tire makers warrant their tires from the date of purchase, although tires made can be several years until they are actually sold, especially the oddball sizes.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
Is there an electric motor of any description running in your "dark" storage area ? Ozone is a rubber killer as much or more than sunlight.
Anyhow, I'd get me an new tire, particularly since I don't change my own. Among the many negatives of tire parsimony is the cost of having em fitted and if a tire experiment fails, even non-catastrophically, the extra cost of an early refit may actually penalize the exercise, totally offsetting the new tire cost anyway.
Anyhow, I'd get me an new tire, particularly since I don't change my own. Among the many negatives of tire parsimony is the cost of having em fitted and if a tire experiment fails, even non-catastrophically, the extra cost of an early refit may actually penalize the exercise, totally offsetting the new tire cost anyway.
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