Kris01 wrote on 05/26/16 at 18:13:09:Does an "older" new tire really pose a problem? I mean, it sits in a warehouse not exposed to the sun's UV radiation, no tread wear, no excessive loads on the tire, etc. Do we need to be concerned about a 3 year old "new" tire?
Most new tires have a coating or are wrapped to help keep them fresh - but the rubber does age from outgassing and exposure to heat (don't store them in hot garage or in your car).
"Word" on the street is that you should not be riding on a tire that is more than 5 years old....more conservative folks would say 3 if you like to push the limits in the corner. The Rescue bike I bought last year was a 2002 with original tires (14 years old), and they didn't have any age cracks and looked good - but if you pushed it you could tell the tires were hard and slippery. I have no idea how they would have performed in the rain!
You need to consider your riding style, and how many miles you ride a year. You want to have your tire worn out and order replacements within 5 years of the manufacturer date on the tire. So if the "new" tire you were just sent has been in their warehouse for 3 years....you only have 2 years to were it out. That is also a consideration on what kind of tire (how expensive) you buy. If you only ride 1,000 miles a year, there is no reason to buy a 15,000 - 20,000 mile Michelin Commander, and you would be better off buying a set of Shinko's.
If you ride very calmly, never push the limits, only ride when it is dry, and keep your bike in a garage with mild temperatures....you could probably use a tire for 10 years - but it will not have the same traction in the last 5 years that it did in the first 5 years.
When I get a "new" tire.......I expect that it will always be at least 4 months old - and don't accept one that is more than a year old. Luckily the sizes that I buy are common, and the tire inventory moves in/out of the warehouse quickly. I buy my tires around February though May, I never buy tires in the fall....as they most likely are from the spring production 6 months previous - and I won't be riding on them for another 8 months when warm weather returns the next year.
And.....all of this is just my opinion. Oldfeller wears his tires out, and rides on them until the tread is gone. I don't believe he worries about how old they are.....same for MMRanch. They both ride really well, and if the bike slides a bit they just adapt their riding style to match!
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