tires in storage

[Eigenvector]

How long would you expect a set of car tires to last when stored in the garage?

By stored I mean dismounted, no rims, no wheels, kept out of sunlight as best you could.

[Nate Nagel]

I've heard of guys racing at Bonneville using tires from the 50's and

60's that were dusted with talc, bagged, and kept in cool dry storage.

I don't know if I'd have the balls to do that, but apparently no tire mfgr. is willing to make new tires for certain types of land speed race cars due to liability reasons.

nate

[Joseph Meehan]

I would worry after about 4 years. Note: That means that after any time, you will have shorter remaining life once placed in service.

[Joseph Meehan]

Just wanted to add, once you start seeing cracks in the sidewall, you know it is too long.

[Walter R.]

Brings up the question: How long will tires last when they are in use? I drive 3000 miles a year. My tires are 8 years old. They have a lot of tread left but, are they still save? Do tires last longer when they are mounted and in use?

[dpb]

Covered you could keep them completely out of sunlight. Don't really have any feel other than "quite a long time" -- guess how comfortable I'd be driving on them would depend on what kind of tire and on what kind of vehicle and driving they were used eventually.

I hadn't heard the Bonneville story -- I'd worry in that use! :)

[dpb]

Like Joseph, I also have a "meant to" to add... :)

I think temperature control, especially excessive heat, is important, too....if the garage isn't climate-controlled and gets quite hot during the summer months, I'd expect that to shorten expected lifetime significantly as well.

[Nate Nagel]

Sunlight is the primary culprit, so probably not. If you start to see sidewall cracks, it's probably time to consider new tires.

nate

[aemeijers]

There is no universal answer- depends way too much on local environmental conditions like heat and sunlight exposure, how well they were kept inflated, ad infinitum. I don't remember the figure, but several tire companies and car companies now recommend changing at X years or Y miles, whichever comes first.

Best answer is to inspect and check pressure regularly. If you see sidewalls starting to crack, probably time to start looking at ads. I have one car I barely use, and the tires still look new after 4 years. The daily driver, I think the oldest tire left is maybe 7 years old, moved from the car it replaced, along with the rims. (That car is a ligtning rod- I keep getting damaged tires from road crap, so far replaced at pro-rated discount under warranty.) When you take it in for an oil change, have the pit guy use his flashlight and inspect the inner sidewalls of the tires, too.

Having said all that, if the tires were five or six years old, and I was planning a cross-country trip, I'd be inclined to throw a fresh set on there just for the hell of it. Murphy being Murphy, the tire that fails will be in the middle of freaking nowhere, 51 miles to nearest town, at 2 am. (Can you tell I'm not a fan of those tiny skinny spare tires they provide these days?)

aem sends...

[Eigenvector]

So far as I can tell the rubber looks to be just fine. I guess I'm a little worried seeing how they've been in the garage for about 6 years. Only way to tell is to mount them and see what happens I guess - no sense tossing a set of 4 completely good tires without attempting to see how they'll do??

[Eigenvector]

Doesn't sound like storing tires in the garage is a smart idea. In fact it doesn't sound like storing tires is a good idea at all - unless you have 2 sets you routinely change at the seasons.

[CJT]

FWIW, I had a set of Pirelli's on my special edition Fiat that showed signs of deterioration (i.e., tread separated and they went flat) after about 15 years in the garage. YMMV.

[Edwin Pawlowski]

I don't know what the maximum is, but I've used tires that were over five years old, driven on tires that were well over 10 years old. and have seen cars with tires that were 15+ years old. You may get more detailed information on an automotive newsgroup, especially if one is devoted to classics or antiques.

also on another page TIRE AGE A number of RV owners have established their own removal policy, averaging seven years

From Bridgestone

If it is any help, Bridgestone's warranty expires (6) years after the date of manufacture

[willshak]

on 6/2/2007 9:19 PM Eigenvector said the following:

They will have lasted a longer time than if they had been driven on for

6 years. No tread wear, no flexing of the sidewalls, no sunlight, less rapid temperature changes, no scuffing, etc. Inspect them for dryness and cracking. If you are not going to try them in the near future, throw some tire shine product on them, inside and out. While I am on that subject, I bought a 4 pack of Permatex's 'No Touch' tire spray at Sam's. No wiping, just spray and forget. It worked so well on the tires that I power washed and sprayed my entire engine compartment with it, including air ducts, hoses, wires, distributer, anything that was plastic, and even the painted firewall and fender wells. That was last year and it still looks good. I also did the engine compartment of my wife's car, and my friends car.

[dpb]

Oh, yes...

I have numerous tires on farm equipment that are easily 15-20 years old and quite servicable, for the use. Don't think I'd put one back on the pickup and take off across country with one, however! :)

The old (1958) grain truck which is only used for very local light hauling any more has tires that are easily 20 years old on it, best as I could guess based on the manufacturer info (they bear an old Co-op logo from at least two reorginizations prior to final dissolution of the Farmland and I can vaguely recall when those logo shifts occurred as I can remember some of those changes and what was going on at the time. I have no qualms driving it at country road speeds and w/ moderate loads but again I'd not put 600 bu of grain on it and start off on a long distance haul, either!

I'm thinking it depends a whole lot on the circumstances but in general I'd think 10 years would be pretty safe in reasonable storage conditions...

[Edwin Pawlowski]

What is a special edition Fiat? Was that one that runs :)

[Red]

Makes one wonder about these independent tire stores & Co-ops. How long have some of the more uncommon sizes been sitting in storage waiting for a buyer?

-Red

[Steve Barker]

five years from date of mfg. Like if they were being used. Five years, then done.

[Steve Barker]

You're three years over. Five years from date of mfg. Then they should be

86'd.

[SJF]

My '69 Toyota Corona, long gone, came with single ply tires as I recall -- thin sidewalls. I didn't see any cracks but two tires suddenly went flat with no sign of a puncture and low mileage. Weathered sidewalls finally let the air out when the tires were five years old.

For what it's worth, most of the rubber trim on that car also suffered sun damage. I imagine sturdier tires with two or more ply in the sidewalls would be less prone to such failure, tractor tires that live forever being an example.

SJF