Tyre age?

[monty_zac]

I noticed when we were canoing along on the London TT the other Sunday that I had a real lack of grip even in a straight line, I knew the tyre was down to the wear indictor and we were underwater so didnt think that much about it.

Took the wheel in to have the tyre changed at lunch, was chatting to the guy about it and he pointed out by reading the sidewall that the tyre was made in 1998!

I have no idea of the history of the tyre as it was on the bike when I got it, but how long do they last unused? I would presume that it was well past its best by now even if it has lots of tread left?

I had got the idea from the seller that it had been fitted about 2 years ago, could it really have been sat around that long?

On a side note, he had a 250 rear waiting to go a loose wheel, massive....

[blow_away]

I would like to know about this as well. Busters have some Rennsports pairs for sale at a bargain price, just right for the CBR, but are they already useless due to age?

[rossm]

Rule of thumb, if they've been stored right, i.e not stacked one on top of each more than 5 tyres high, they'll be good for about 5 years, if they've been mounted on the bike and then the bikes just sat in a garage without being moved, so that the weight of the bike has just sat on the one spot of the tyre for God only knows how long, 6 to 12 months

[zx6rrob]

When I was dleivering tyres most places wouldn`t accept them if they were over 3 years old. Of course they`ve got to think about how long its gonna be till they sell them so 5 years sonds about right.

[dawnrazor]

So what sort of defects can you expect from a tyre past its sell by date and how can you decode the markings on the tyre wall to find its manufacture date?

[zx6rrob]

ahhh....I used to know...theres a code on the tyre sidewall... something like 2307,means that it was built in the 23 week of 2007 i think.

[hawkati]

don't be worrying too much - the gp207's i used at anglesey were 12 years old, with evidence of severe cold tear - last used at nw200. Whilst they were a bit twitchy, especially under braking, they were good for the track day and another couple of thousand miles.....

[2 smokes 4 ever]

ahhh....I used to know...theres a code on the tyre sidewall... something like 2307,means that it was built in the 23 week of 2007 i think.

correct

Usually in a little oblong rectangle insert somewhere on the sidewall, usually has some letters in front of it

I been using NOS stock tyres I've been getting off eBay lately

6/7 years old and they are perfectly fine - loads of grip and comparable to the same new tyres in every way I was using before (expcet I usually get them for about half price

[gavimoto]

Speaking of old tyres, I've just bought a 1982 GPz550 as a Pre 82 Post Classic race bike, it still has the standard 19" front wheel, anyone have any suggestions for front rubber?

[lorenzo]

I had the same quandry the other day when I'd just bought my Kat and BT45's seemed to be well thought of, despite the design being about the same age as your bike. I negated any iffiness by buying a set of 17" wheels.

[dave69]

tyres should be kept in the dark in a dry enviroment, anyhting over 4 years i wouldn't touch as the carcass construction could fail. the four number on the sidewall doe refer to the week and year. on a bike i would expect a tyre made in the same year as purchase, cars over a year. on an old dunlop kr364 the sidewalls crack and fail which is fun when your braking hard at the time

[rossm]

Speaking of old tyres, I've just bought a 1982 GPz550 as a Pre 82 Post Classic race bike, it still has the standard 19" front wheel, anyone have any suggestions for front rubber?

Metzler ME33 'K' compound if you can still get them

[budda]

My mate has an RC30 with an 11 year old Metzeller on the rear, and he has no bother with it I bet ha has'nt checked the pressures for that long as well.

[brad]

I have just replaced the original tyres, 8 years old on my Pegaso with Pirelli sport demon(full road tyre) and fook me they iz well grippy innit!! and the front is 19". Old tyres varied from vague to downright scary!!,apparently the front shouldnt wash out on most corners..... well ive been riding trials for 3 years so was used to the bike moving around

[2 smokes 4 ever]

Just done a trackday at Mallory with Hottrax on a BT010 made in 2001

Tyre was absolutely fine, with no lack of grip, etc

Rule of thumb, if they've been stored right, i.e not stacked one on top of each more than 5 tyres high, they'll be good for about 5 years, if they've been mounted on the bike and then the bikes just sat in a garage without being moved, so that the weight of the bike has just sat on the one spot of the tyre for God only knows how long, 6 to 12 months

so everyone who lays up their bike for winter should replace their tyres come the new biking season as they'll have been sat for 5/6mths

This is just plain untrue

[scwirral]

so everyone who lays up their bike for winter should replace their tyres come the new biking season as they'll have been sat for 5/6mths

This is just plain untrue

I'm sure you are right, but if you have stands it can't do any harm to take the weight off the tyres if the bike isn't gonna move for a while. If you haven't got stands then moving the bike so that the weight isn't always on the same patch can't do any harm. I'm sure I've read that you should put a bit more pressure in while laying up?

[2 smokes 4 ever]

I'm sure you are right, but if you have stands it can't do any harm to take the weight off the tyres if the bike isn't gonna move for a while. If you haven't got stands then moving the bike so that the weight isn't always on the same patch can't do any harm. I'm sure I've read that you should put a bit more pressure in while laying up?

Yeah - blow 'em up to max pressure as stated on sidewall

In reality I think it takes for the tyre to be flat or practically flat for it to be a problem

[signor rossi]

Speaking of old tyres, I've just bought a 1982 GPz550 as a Pre 82 Post Classic race bike, it still has the standard 19" front wheel, anyone have any suggestions for front rubber?

First of all, why not use an 18" wheel off a Z1R? Looks exactly like the geep´s standard item at first glance, even the brake discs will match, and does really impove the handling.

For the tyres, as already mentioned, the BT 45 should be fine although I was really astonished by the performance of the Dunlops (Sportmax I believe) mounted on a mate´s z.

[sparx55]

Speaking of old tyres, I've just bought a 1982 GPz550 as a Pre 82 Post Classic race bike, it still has the standard 19" front wheel, anyone have any suggestions for front rubber?

Avon do classic 19" race tyres,

Speak to Andy @ Drew's Race Tyres, he'll help you out with good advice because two of his brothers race classics and TZ's at the Manx