tire shelf life?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
tire shelf life?
Thinking about picking up a spare set of tires for the vette during the xmas sales.
My current rubber has enough life but who knows how short that life will become spring/summer time.
A new set is pretty cheap right now.
If I were to pick up a spare set how long with they last in storage without being mounted? They may go on the car in 2008 or not.
Is there anything you can do to the tire while its sitting to extend its shelf life like coat it with something or seal it to prevent dry rot?
Thanks
Damn this season, I hate winterizing the vette.
My current rubber has enough life but who knows how short that life will become spring/summer time.
A new set is pretty cheap right now.
If I were to pick up a spare set how long with they last in storage without being mounted? They may go on the car in 2008 or not.
Is there anything you can do to the tire while its sitting to extend its shelf life like coat it with something or seal it to prevent dry rot?
Thanks
Damn this season, I hate winterizing the vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Stack them on their sides in a cool dry place away from any source of ozone, such as electric motors. I like to place them in large black (opaque at least) garbage bags as this helps to keep them clean and dry and also away from any miscellaneous pollutants.
If you do this they should remain nearly as good as new for 2 to 3 years... maybe more. Mounted and exposed to sunlight in a normal environment, they can loose a lot of their original elasticity in much less time.
One of the things I always check is the DOT number on new tires to determine how old the tires I'm being sold are. It's not unusual to have them be a year old. For race rubber, I'm looking for the newest rubber available.
Good luck... GUSTO
If you do this they should remain nearly as good as new for 2 to 3 years... maybe more. Mounted and exposed to sunlight in a normal environment, they can loose a lot of their original elasticity in much less time.
One of the things I always check is the DOT number on new tires to determine how old the tires I'm being sold are. It's not unusual to have them be a year old. For race rubber, I'm looking for the newest rubber available.
Good luck... GUSTO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
From the Tire Rack web site...
When it comes to determining the age of a tire, it is easy to identify when a tire was manufactured by reading its Tire Identification Code (serial number). Unlike vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and the serial numbers used on many other consumer goods (which identify one specific item), Tire Identification Codes are really batch codes that identify which week and year the tire was produced.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that Tire Identification Code be a combination of eleven or twelve letters and numbers that identify the manufacturing location, tire size, manufacturer's code, and week and year the tire was manufactured.
Today, the week and year the tire was manufactured is contained in the last four digits of the serial number, with the 2 digits used to identify the week a tire was manufactured immediately preceding the 2 digits used to identify the year.
Examples of tires manufactured since 2000 with this Tire Identification Code format:
XXXXXXXX 0600
XXXXXXXX 0600 06 - Manufactured during the 06th week of the year
XXXXXXXX 0600 00 - Manufactured during 2000
And
XXXXXXXX 0604
XXXXXXXX 0600 06 - Manufactured during the 06th week of the year
XXXXXXXX 0604 04 - Manufactured during 2004
The Tire Identification Code for tires produced prior to 2000 was based on the assumption that no tire would be in service for ten years. They were required to provided the same information, with the week and year the tire was built contained in the last three digits. The 2 digits used to identify the week a tire was manufactured immediately preceded a single digit used to identify the year.
For example, if the Tire Identification Code on a tire reads:
XXXXXXXX 0680
XXXXXXXX 0600 06 - Manufactured during the 06th week of the year
XXXXXXXX 0680 8 - Manufactured during the 8th year of the decade
While the previous serial number format identified that a tire was built in the 8th year of a decade, there was no universal identifier that confirmed which decade (tires produced in the 1990s may have a small triangle following the Tire Identification Code to identify the decade). The Tire Identification Code format used since 2000 accurately confirms the year.
And finally, hold on to your sales receipts. Most tire manufacturer's warranties cover their tires for four years from the date of purchase, or five years from the week the tires were manufactured. So if you purchase new tires that were manufactured exactly two years ago they will be covered for a total of six years (four years from the date of purchase) as long as you have your receipt. If you lose your receipt, your tires' warranty coverage will end five years from week the tire was produced (resulting in the tire manufacturer's warranty coverage ending only three years from the date of purchase in this example).
GUSTO
When it comes to determining the age of a tire, it is easy to identify when a tire was manufactured by reading its Tire Identification Code (serial number). Unlike vehicle identification numbers (VINs) and the serial numbers used on many other consumer goods (which identify one specific item), Tire Identification Codes are really batch codes that identify which week and year the tire was produced.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) requires that Tire Identification Code be a combination of eleven or twelve letters and numbers that identify the manufacturing location, tire size, manufacturer's code, and week and year the tire was manufactured.
Today, the week and year the tire was manufactured is contained in the last four digits of the serial number, with the 2 digits used to identify the week a tire was manufactured immediately preceding the 2 digits used to identify the year.
Examples of tires manufactured since 2000 with this Tire Identification Code format:
XXXXXXXX 0600
XXXXXXXX 0600 06 - Manufactured during the 06th week of the year
XXXXXXXX 0600 00 - Manufactured during 2000
And
XXXXXXXX 0604
XXXXXXXX 0600 06 - Manufactured during the 06th week of the year
XXXXXXXX 0604 04 - Manufactured during 2004
The Tire Identification Code for tires produced prior to 2000 was based on the assumption that no tire would be in service for ten years. They were required to provided the same information, with the week and year the tire was built contained in the last three digits. The 2 digits used to identify the week a tire was manufactured immediately preceded a single digit used to identify the year.
For example, if the Tire Identification Code on a tire reads:
XXXXXXXX 0680
XXXXXXXX 0600 06 - Manufactured during the 06th week of the year
XXXXXXXX 0680 8 - Manufactured during the 8th year of the decade
While the previous serial number format identified that a tire was built in the 8th year of a decade, there was no universal identifier that confirmed which decade (tires produced in the 1990s may have a small triangle following the Tire Identification Code to identify the decade). The Tire Identification Code format used since 2000 accurately confirms the year.
And finally, hold on to your sales receipts. Most tire manufacturer's warranties cover their tires for four years from the date of purchase, or five years from the week the tires were manufactured. So if you purchase new tires that were manufactured exactly two years ago they will be covered for a total of six years (four years from the date of purchase) as long as you have your receipt. If you lose your receipt, your tires' warranty coverage will end five years from week the tire was produced (resulting in the tire manufacturer's warranty coverage ending only three years from the date of purchase in this example).
GUSTO
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
Good post, GUSTO14.
Tires don't like UV rays, and silicone based "protectants" only serve to reduce the ability of the tire's carbon-black content to resist UV. Avoiding both will put you ahead in the dry-rot game.
Tires don't like UV rays, and silicone based "protectants" only serve to reduce the ability of the tire's carbon-black content to resist UV. Avoiding both will put you ahead in the dry-rot game.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
I just replaced a set of BF Goodrich Radial T/As because one of them had a bubble in the tread. I had them installed in 1996. Did some internet research and learned that tires, whether mounted or unmounted, are really only good for around six years. After that they start to deteriorate and are unsafe. This is a big topic with RVs since a lot of them sit for long periods of time befor going on a trip, and the "old" tires can still look good even though they are shot. When I had all four replaced the guy at the tire shop looked at the other three and asked why I wanted to replace them since they still had plenty of tread left. I told him how old they were and he said right away "no question, these need to be replaced, you are way past due. You should never go more than six or seven years on a set of tires regardless of mileage". There was no dry rot or cracking visible on my old tires. A visual inspection doesn't always give you a clue as to the actual condition of the tire.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
dont forget, they are after all - selling you tires
not that im disputing, the variety of compounds they use now has increased grip and shortened lifespan
ive however yet to run into a problem running pretty damn old tires, other then they dont grip as good.. tons of people running new tires are having them fly off the wheels in multiple peices for no particular reason
grain of salt
not that im disputing, the variety of compounds they use now has increased grip and shortened lifespan
ive however yet to run into a problem running pretty damn old tires, other then they dont grip as good.. tons of people running new tires are having them fly off the wheels in multiple peices for no particular reason
grain of salt
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
dont forget, they are after all - selling you tires
not that im disputing, the variety of compounds they use now has increased grip and shortened lifespan
ive however yet to run into a problem running pretty damn old tires, other then they dont grip as good.. tons of people running new tires are having them fly off the wheels in multiple peices for no particular reason
grain of salt
not that im disputing, the variety of compounds they use now has increased grip and shortened lifespan
ive however yet to run into a problem running pretty damn old tires, other then they dont grip as good.. tons of people running new tires are having them fly off the wheels in multiple peices for no particular reason
grain of salt
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Unmounted tires can be stored for years if they are wrapped in light-blocking paper and kept away from volatiles/solvent fumes. UV rays from the sun do the most damage [aside note: I think Armor-all is the next worst item for tires!].
