Tire life and conditions of age

[Brenner]

Hey guys I would like to hear opinions on a concern that I may or may not have about tires. I am an automotive tech and know well about automotive tires but have come across a concern I am unsure of. I have a venture that I have acquired that I am resurrecting and on tear down I have noted the tires are dunlop elites with white raised lettering still covered with the blue coating. These tires look near new and have been stored indoors, I see not indication or cracking or damage. They do not show age, still have the little tits all over. The compound still lets me squeeze the tread and seems reasonably pliable. I have looked at the production date and they have some age to them. I have checked online and found more than one site stating there is no recommended replacement age as I have noted in automobile tires. I do know if they were not in direct UV light the rubber will last longer and that motorcycle tires are built much more rigid and in my opinion better than automotive tires due to the thicker sidewalls for use in cornering. So I ask would any of you trust tires that look near new, are still pliable but have an early production date? Secondly if these elites are not decent quality tires please feel free to mention it as maybe they would be better recommended to toss rather than concern myself of the age? If age don't matter maybe they would be better run until a concern is noted? I am still new to riding and am on a tight budget with this project but safety is more important than anything else. Comments and opinions please and if possible the reasons why........

[Yammer Dan]

One of the best tires made for these bikes. I'm not sure on how old to trust them but if they looked good as you say it would be hard to toss them. I thought I heard 7 yrs somewhere but not sure. I'm pulling a good looking Avon now because of cracks.

[Yammer Dan]

Have you checked the Vin # to see if tranny is going to have to be fixed? I have a 85 with around 24k that 2nd is already going out.

[MiCarl]

Motorcycle tires are constructed the same as passenger car tires (Bias Ply ones anyhow...) and of similar materials. Yes they are heavy duty, but also are subject to heavier stress. They are prone to the same age related failures as passenger car tires.

 

Like passenger car tires the odds that yours actually has an age related failure is pretty low. On the other hand a motorcycle tire failure pitched over in a turn is a catastrophic event. I wouldn't use one that was more than five or six years old.

[BlueSky]

The original tires on my 1985 Kawasaki ZN700 with 1,058 miles on it when I bought it in 2009 looked almost like new with no cracking or evidence of age. I did ride it about 300 miles, sometimes with my wife on the back, before I replaced them, but I didn't want to take the chance of having one go out. This bike was stored in a barn in Wisconsin and the cooler weather preserved the tires well. The new rear Metzler Lasertec tire I bought from Motorcycle Superstore was 5 years old when it arrived. It's still on the bike.

[Marcarl]

Watching them close may seem like an option, but not much help if all of a sudden one day they give out. I would be content for myself if my tires were 6 years old, but then that would be the limit,, time to replace. Hey, we do this for enjoyment and where is the fun of it if you have to be concerned about your tires all day long. Crap can happen awful fast.

[Jayceesfolly]

Six years is my limit. It is hard to justify using a tire that may fail, in a curve at 70MPH, when you can put new tires on for about $100 each.

How much is your health and safety worth to you?? Everyone has to answer that question for themselves. Personally, I replace them more frequently than most riders, I think, but I would rather have a new tire than an unknown tire. I never buy a tire more than 1 year old from a tire reseller. I always check the date before I buy.

 

But, that is just me, because I will ultimately pay for a tire failure, and I like my body to stay in one piece and fully functioning!

 

Jim

[Brenner]

I have to agree that it is best to go with new tires. Now that I know the elites are a good choice I will have to find a new set. I will do this last on my build and this should give me time to find a deal on them.

[Yammer Dan]

The Dunlops are a good choice but most are going now with the E 3s. You know tires are about like oil. Lot of choices. I'm removing a good looking Avon Venom ( another popular choice) because of cracks in the sidewall. If you can find the E2s they are a great tire as are the newer E3s.

[kevin-vic-b.c.]

Dunlop told me.....5 to 6 years.... NO TIRE should be used beyond 7 years of manufacturing date.

Take it or leave it but that is the manufacturer. ... what do they know?

[BlueSky]

Dunlop told me.....5 to 6 years.... NO TIRE should be used beyond 7 years of manufacturing date.

Take it or leave it but that is the manufacturer. ... what do they know?

 

The manufacturer has to be conservative in their recommendations due to liability concerns. They do not want to be sued.

[dna9656]

When in doubt replace. Nothing like peace of mind. You'l find the 1st gens use a size that's not too popular (the front I think) so there is Dunlop and Bridgestone that make the right size the last time I checked. So far as M/C tires being "better" than automotive tires... it's not about being BETTER but about a different mission. Cars don't use the side walls of their tires like a bike does, so the tread on car tires doesn't go around 1/2 way around each side of the tire.. M/C tires are way narrow/car tires NOT so a narrow tire has to do more....Buy some new tires and have peace of mind.

Edited December 11, 2014 by dna9656
new info

[bongobobny]

I have to agree that it is best to go with new tires. Now that I know the elites are a good choice I will have to find a new set. I will do this last on my build and this should give me time to find a deal on them.

Buy them in the States to save money! Pioneer Motorsports in Chaffee NY gives us Ventureriders a discount...

[Peder_y2k]

I've been riding and turning wrenches on bikes for 45 years, 25 yrs on Ventures, and I'd trust those tires as you've described. Check tire pressure Religiously. If pressure drops more than 3# in a week, it is likely a rim leak needing breakdown, then you can look at the inside of the casing for damage as well. Keep an eye on the tread for any changes such as deformities and blisters/bubble/lifting than would indicate tread separation, which is a BIG concern.

-Pete, in Tacoma WA USA

[BlueSky]

Brenner, You never told us just how old those tires are. How old are they? What is the date on the sidewall?

[Brenner]

Thanks guys I replied twice on this forum through the quick reply but it does not work for me so here I go a third time..... Thank you all for the advice and opinions, and thank you for the info on Pioneer Motorsports. I do most if not all of my parts shopping in the US and have a US address for this. I am sorry for my late response as I have been in the shop starting to put the bike together as I have it down to a bare frame, lots of cleaning painting and time to rebuild. I think I am going to keep an eye on these tires as I rebuild and may even run them the first few miles locally but I do know they will be changed in less than a month of riding as I will be placing new for my summer trip. The sole purpose of this tight budget rebuild is that I took a voluntary lay off from work due to work shortage to ride across the country. This bike came on a trade for work I provided on the previous owners lexus who I found on an internet classified site. This bike needs to be reliable and trustworthy and I am confident with proper materials, my skill set, and advice from experienced individuals, that everything will work out fine. I am good at what I do, have job offers almost weekly, but am humble enough to ask for and smart enough to take advice from those that know this product more than I do. This forum is a valuable resource. By the way the tires are 10 years old stored indoors their whole life.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Brenner
Forget to ad requested information.

[Freebird]

I've had no other report about quick reply not working. I use it about 99% of the time. If you continue to have a problem, post something in the bug reports with details of your browser and etc. and I'll take a look.

[bongobobny]

If you decide to buy tires from Pioneer I'm right around the corner, stop by and have some coffee!

[Brenner]

Thanks for the invite, it's always nice to meet another who shares a common interest.

[aharbi]

If under seven years and as pliable as you say, I'd run them. Not sure I'd put a lot of stress on them like hard cornering or running Deals Gap. New they should last around 10k give or take 2k on how you ride. Check the side walls and pressure often.