Tire mfg date code/sales

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Charrlie_S

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I read an article, a few years ago, about the possibility of a law being passed preventing outdated (something like 6 years) tires from being sold. Does anyone know if this was ever passed? I do know it is recommended to not run tires over 10 years old, and less in extreme climates (like we have in Fl).
The reason I am asking. I went to buy some tires for a small boat trailer, and the "tire store" tried to sell me tires that were already 8 years old. I declined.
 
I don't know but years ago I bought a new set of tires for my Dart for $100 because they sat for a while. (As is)
 
I don’t think that there’s a law from retailers selling new, older tires. The articles that I read which were dated in 08’ & 2014 mentioned that they tried to introduce legislation prohibiting the sale of tires 6yrs or older, but the tire industry fought it and won. So the short of it is, from what I can tell, there is no law on selling new tires that older than 6yrs. Used tires is a different story. Maybe somebody else will come up with something more recent.

You have done good to refuse the 8yr old tires as who knows how long they would last before failing.

The tire industry recommends replacing your tires in 6yr intervals. Go figure eh? I hope this answers your question.
 
I sort of had a similar situation, in 2019. I was buying a 2011 car from a dealership. The car was a one owner low mileage 2011. After doing the money negotiations, I got the dealer to replace all four tires (at his cost), that still had decent tread, but were dated 2011. they were the tires that came on the car when sold new.
 
With everyone being lawsuit happy these days, the retailers are afraid of the liability. Because Joe Shmoe can't drive & bangs a curb, flips his car & dies, then his family & some ambulance chasing lawyer sues the retailer & manufacturer because the tires on his car were over a specific date. Remember the Firestone debacle years ago with SUV tires? That's where all of this started. With the performance capabilities of todays cars & the HP limits we are building for our street cars, tire technology is having a tough time keeping up. On the racing scene, the manufacturers are trying to keep up with the speeds & HP of those cars also. Twenty five years ago, no one expected to see a top fuel car to EVER exceed 300MPH.
 
Some of the big tire chains will not mount or balance any tire 10 years (or more) old. Afraid of law suits (they say). I think its just a scam to sell more tires. Because not every 10 year old tire is ready to explode. Some cars sit outside 24/7/365, while others are only driven in nice weather and live in a nice garage. Obviously, the tires that are outside are going to age much faster than the pampered ones.
 
69_340_GTS said:
Some of the big tire chains will not mount or balance any tire 10 years (or more) old. Afraid of law suits (they say). I think its just a scam to sell more tires. Because not every 10 year old tire is ready to explode. Some cars sit outside 24/7/365, while others are only driven in nice weather and live in a nice garage. Obviously, the tires that are outside are going to age much faster than the pampered ones.
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I have had issues just getting new tires mounted and balanced. Bought two new tires (165x80-R15) for the front of the race car. Could not find any place willing to mount them on Centerline wheels. Did find one place that dismounted the old tires. I had to mount the new tires by hand, then found another place to balance.
Of course I had sold my Coats 20-20 tire machine last year. Another time I could not get a tube installed in the spare for my trailer, Very small rim leak. Said a safety issue, but they sell used tires, "no warentee ". Go figure.
 
I know for several years here in Fl. A tire retailer is required to list every tires DOT date code on your receipt. I won’t run any tire older than 5 years. Except on my Polaris Rangers or lawn mower.
 
As far as I know there is no actual regulation on tire life. The tire manufacturers have pushed for it several times though. Below is a copy of a document I photographed at one of the major tire chains. I wanted some tires balanced and three major chains refused to balance them because they were six years old. They all originally told me it was due to federal regulation but when pressed they admitted that it was based on a recommendation from the Tire Manufacturers Association. One showed me this document as their basis.

Tires.jpg
 
I have run tires older than 10 year old on the road before, but only on a trailer, not the tow vehicle. I don’t tow campers, mainly open utility trailers. I inspect tire condition constantly and even have a new set available in my garage to install on the box trailer next time I need to take it farther than 5 miles as the tires on it are dry rotted and will not last long, but I left them on to protect the new ones until needed, and then I will make the switch out.

If I bought new tires for the trailers every 6 years regardless their physical condition I would go broke, as I only have 10 trailers in rotation, and this is personal use trailers, not for a business.

However, I am always checking tire date codes and tire condition, especially when buying a used trailer, or vehicle, as that is a negotiation point.

So far I have never had a tire blowout on a trailer, so my method must be working.
 
SGBARRACUDA said:
10 trailers? For personal use?
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1) tandem axle enclosed box trailer
2) tandem axle car trailer
3) M105 military trailer with axle swap
4) 5.5x12 tilt equipment trailer (4000 load capacity)
5) Older version of above cause I like it and don’t want to be without one
6) 6x10 homemade flatbed trailer
7) 5x8 tilt trailer
8) a second 5x8 trailer at a friend’s house in case I need a trailer when in town
9) 4x8 trailer for hit/miss engine (bolted permanent)
10) M416 military trailer for use around the house behind tractors.
 
I think you made a wise choice to pass on 8 year old NOS tires

.if you wanted NOS tires for a concorse car show that's one thing, but spinning along at 60 mph and having a tire come apart would get real expensive real fast.
 
To get any tires mounted go to a local automotive shop that sells tires or the local wrench with a tire machine and balancer. Get to know the locals, no corporate policies to follow and no BS. The big tire stores just want to sell you tires.
 
69_340_GTS said:
Some of the big tire chains will not mount or balance any tire 10 years (or more) old. Afraid of law suits (they say). I think its just a scam to sell more tires. Because not every 10 year old tire is ready to explode. Some cars sit outside 24/7/365, while others are only driven in nice weather and live in a nice garage. Obviously, the tires that are outside are going to age much faster than the pampered ones.
Click to expand...
In November I had the tires-wheels on the 83 D150 re balanced. First think they did was check the manufacturing date on the tires. I inquired as to why they did that and I was told if the tires were more than 6 years old from the manufacture date they could not even re balance them. The tires were about 5 years old and they did do the work.
 
We were required to record the DOT date on the hard copy repair order and computor under the customers name when we sold a tire(s). This was done in case of a recall so the customer could be notified, whether it was mounted or sold over the counter. We would sell, but not mount any tire with a DOT date older than 5 years. Not a law but was mandated by H-D because obviously you only have two tires unless it's a trike and in either case a tire failure could be a catastrophic event. I had those Firestones that had the belt come apart on my 74 Corvette in 1980. No fun when it happens. Rubber has a shelf life and I get a kick watching people selling 50 year old NOS fan belts for $100.00.
 
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