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Non used 8 yr old tire

Started by clanky, Sun 25, May 2025, 16:06:22

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clanky

I'm requesting help from the collective.
I just bought a Avon Cobra Chrome tire from Riot Parts for $219, which is around $90 cheaper than the same tire I bought last year.
If I'm reading the date of manufacture code correctly it was made in August of 2017 in England.  Goodyear bought Avon and shut down all the Avon plants in Europe and brought the machines/technology to the US in 2022/23.
Question is should I return the tire because it is 8 years old?  The tire shows no environmental damage (ie cracks in the skin of the tire) but I seem to remember reading about rubber degradation just from age.
I value my life more than $90 savings on a tire.  But I'm by no means a tire expert!
What do y'all think?
Thanks in advance for your inputs!
Matt

sandy

You have no way to know but if it was stored inside in a controlled environment it should be fine. If it was in a hot wharehouse, it's questionable.

da prez

  Not worth the risk.  Rubber compound hardens with age. Contact them.  Going by memory (?)  I do not think dealers can legally sell tires over two or three years old.
  BTW , if one tire blows , you have one more left.  :crazy2: :crazy2:

                                        da prez

mello dude

Just for clarity, what is the date code on the tire?  8)
* There's someone in my head, but it's not me.......
* Mr. Murphy was an optimist....
* There's a very fine line between Insanity and Genius.....
* My get up and go, must have got up and went.....

rug_burn

 
   Just give it the thumbnail test:  take your thumbnail and see if you can press it into the rubber.   If the rubber is hard and has a crust on the outside, then it's time for a new tire.   But If it's still rubbery, then I'd use it, but would proceed carefully until I could can be sure of its grip.   But that's just me, and remembering that tires are expensive, and Avons are especially sweet. 
     I think being outside in the elements and sun is what ages tires more than anything.
...insert hip saying here..

HayHauler

The date code is 4 digits, first 2 digits are the WEEK # and the 2nd 2 digits are the year.  Example  2624 is the 26th week of 2024.
Personally, I would send it back and get them to send a fresh one.
You only have 2 of them and a blowout on either one can be catastrophic.

My $.01875.

Hay  8)
Jimmyt
VRCC# 28963

clanky

Thank you all for your responses!
It appears that the 2017 date I read was located along the bead of the tire NOT next to the DOT date code.
Upon looking again at the tire sent to me by Riot Parts the date of manufacture was 4023.  Week 40 of the year 2023. So I will be using and wearing out the tire within the next year or two. So the tire will be in the recycle bin by the end of 2026. At the age of 3 years well within online recommendations of 6 year max life of a tire.
I wanted to make sure that I do not disparage Riot Parts by selling me a 7 year old tire.  They did not and I wanted to set the record straight.
Again thank you all for your responses!

HayHauler

Quote from: clanky on Thu 29, May 2025, 15:11:23
Thank you all for your responses!
It appears that the 2017 date I read was located along the bead of the tire NOT next to the DOT date code.
Upon looking again at the tire sent to me by Riot Parts the date of manufacture was 4023.  Week 40 of the year 2023. So I will be using and wearing out the tire within the next year or two. So the tire will be in the recycle bin by the end of 2026. At the age of 3 years well within online recommendations of 6 year max life of a tire.
I wanted to make sure that I do not disparage Riot Parts by selling me a 7 year old tire.  They did not and I wanted to set the record straight.
Again thank you all for your responses!
Clanky, that is very acceptable.  4023 is only 2 years old and if kept inside, you will have no issues.  I rode a 5 year old tire, after buying the bike, and the belts started coming apart.  There was a huge bubble on the right side of the tread, not the sidewall.  It rode funny on the way back from work one day and looking at it, I changed it before I rode it again.
Good Luck!

Hay  8)
Jimmyt
VRCC# 28963

h13man