I found this on another forum and thought I'd share with you guys since some of us like to push our cars harder than the average driver...

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897 (http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897) (tire age)

NASCAR just ran a Nationwide race on 9 year old rain tires.
this is all hype- two things that kill tires are underinflation and improper application like putting a passenger car tire on a truck.

Maybe so, but if I'm going to buy "new" tires, now I know how to read the manufacture date so I can be sure I'm actually buying new tires.

It's just good FYI, hype or not.

It's just good FYI, hype or not.
^:yes:^ Thanks for posting Herb.

NASCAR just ran a Nationwide race on 9 year old rain tires.
this is all hype- two things that kill tires are underinflation and improper application like putting a passenger car tire on a truck.

If it is all hype, then why did Carpentier specifically mention being leery of running on such old tires after the race? And I'm sure he wasn't the only one. These tires aren't the same as the tires you or I have on our cars, they're much higher quality and tightly spec'd, also they are probably stored unmounted, unloaded and in a more controlled environment.

Rubber naturally deteriorates over time, just think of engine hoses, wiper blades, seals, etc. Good maintenance will help prolong them, but in the long run you can't stop natural degradation of rubber.

Makes me think............the tires on my Chevelle are 6 years old........maybe I should replace them?

HAven't been on in a while but bored at work today, I have a set of eight year old 15" Goodyear Eagles that came with this new project car I picked up, the wheels were taken off the car about a year after purchased. I don't know the history of where they were stored but they look newer then a pair of 18" Bridgestone's that are about six years old and were used and abused. I think it has to do with construction and quality of the components being used in the tire. Needless to say I don't run the car hard with the eight year old tires and will be replacing them as soon as possible. Safety for everyone first!

I am not a tire person or have ever sold tires in a retail establishment. But I have delivered them to a few major warehouses. About 20 years ago Goodyear employees have told me that they don't keep them more than four years. From the day a tire comes out of the mold it starts to deteriorate. Cause ozone. I was shown the the side wall will after a few years show (cracking) or small fishers in the surface. It becomes much worse the longer it sits. Faster if in direct sunlight. The tread may look ok but the rest of the carcause may fail especially if run at hiway speed and especially if under inflated.

For the non believers: My Haulmark trailer is a 1999, Tires were built in 1998. On the way to Chevellabration this year from Pittsburgh, Pa. I blew a tire in Florence, KY. Installed one new Goodyear 225 Tlr. tire.
Louisville, Ky. Blew another tire, Waited three hours at a Goodyear store for ( 3 ) YES THREE new 225s.
The old goodyear trailer tires had a lot of tread. Cause for the blowouts--- The tread just came off and you have a blow out, When I got home I had a bit of work to do on the inner Trailer fenders.
My trailer is Always inside, It has never been out in the Pa. winters. On my 70-SS 454 Sta. Wgn. (Driver) I put a new set of 225-70-14s for this SAME reason, My driver travels everywhere. Burnt some of the NEW tread off at the WOODWARD Cruise, In Mich.
Old tires on a trailer queen --NO problem--Old tires at 75-80 MPH on the highway, I aint gonna roll the dice.
Bob ACES--AACA:thumbsup:

I am not a tire person or have ever sold tires in a retail establishment. But I have delivered them to a few major warehouses. About 20 years ago Goodyear employees have told me that they don't keep them more than four years. From the day a tire comes out of the mold it starts to deteriorate. Cause ozone. I was shown the the side wall will after a few years show (cracking) or small fishers in the surface. It becomes much worse the longer it sits. Faster if in direct sunlight. The tread may look ok but the rest of the carcause may fail especially if run at hiway speed and especially if under inflated.

Good years on my chevelle. Bought them new, ran them for a year and then the car went down for resto. Those ties have been stored in my garage for the last 5 years and they look great.....except when you look close they are exactly as described above. You might not notice until you put the right ari pressure back in them, might not notice at all unless you look closely....but I look closely and I wouldnt run them unless it was to the tire shop for new ties.