Tire Date Codes & Shelf Life

BMG Coach · 10-08-2012, 04:32 PM

About to buy tires for the Motor Home and can't determine how old is old on the tire date codes.

Is one year too old or two years on the shelf before installation?

Thanks in advance!

zcasa · 10-08-2012, 04:43 PM

Hey BMG:

I attended a Newell Coach Rally, and they brought in a NTSB expert on tires. He suggested that six months is a reasonable time period to expect from manufacture to sale. I would hold to that if you can. These tires are expensive and wear out based upon time, sitting still, etc. and not wear and tear from revolutions. So I would go with the NTSB recommendation and enjoy longer life on my coach.

Have a good day.

David

The Newell · 10-08-2012, 04:56 PM

I agree with David,

You'll get a wide range of advice on this, IMHO...... SIX MONTHS old would be what I consider the limit of reasonability. Any older than that and I would refuse them.

prairieschooner · 10-08-2012, 06:54 PM

I expect that you do know how to read the date code. I would agree with the 6 months and I also made sure that both of my steer tires were of the same Lot and that all 4 of drive tires were of the same Lot. It was a bit of discussion with the tire shop but what the heck?
Allot of the guys also suggest spin balancing and not all tire shops can do this.

NewellCrazy · 10-08-2012, 11:08 PM

Whenever I buy new tires...regardless of the vehicle I make sure that they are no older than 6 months. I check them before I let them mount them and if the tires must be ordered, I get that stipulation in writing on the invoice..

Neweller · 10-09-2012, 01:05 AM

I would take tires that were on the shelf longer than six months if there is a good discount. I would want to stay less than two years of age, and anything close to that would have to be a deep discount.

There is another member on here that got stung I think in Texas or Louisiana at a tire shop with three year old tires and he paid a high price.

I think if you know what you are getting and if the tires are somewhere between six months and two years with a great discount, go for it!

Just my nickels worth on an inflated nickel.

86loco · 10-09-2012, 12:39 PM

Ken, I am the official whack job who got stung about a year and a half ago on 3 year old tires. I never received a discount of any kind. Wish I would have known what I know now. You guys are so right about negotiating deals. I need to get better at this.

Texas Pete · 10-09-2012, 01:28 PM

We all best be looking better. Especially nowadays with this tough economy. Some desperate dealer might to do a number on us like they done to Brady.

folivier · 10-09-2012, 02:07 PM

I got burnt also on a set of Michelin front tires from the dealer in Tampa I bought my Newell from. I had him put on a new set of fronts before we picked it up. They looked new but when I got home and was going over everything I found out they were 7 years old stock! After talking with dealer he said no problem, bring it back and we'll make it right. Yeah right, it would have been the same cost in fuel to pay for 2 new tires here! Anyway I stuck to my guns and they replaced them using a local dealer. But it took 2 months. I did talk to someone at Michelin and he said he wouldn't put 7 year old "new" tires on a motorhome especially not on the front.
So always verify the DOT codes!

GringoPhil · 10-09-2012, 02:52 PM

6 months max, unless they want to give me a deep discount.....

Gone Busing · 10-09-2012, 02:56 PM

I may have gotten twice bitten from the same truck and bus tire dealer. After reading this thread I went out and took a peek at mine and I swear they are suppose to be newer then the dates appearing. I know I bought them at two different times. I'm hunting down the receipts right now and will update my findings.

Newellin Thunder · 10-09-2012, 05:42 PM

I recently put on new Michelins that were produced in Europe. Their date code is 3 months old. I wouldn't accept tires more than 6 months old. I think the tire companies will tell you up to 2 years is acceptable.

Neweller · 10-09-2012, 09:02 PM

This whole tire date topic this time around really has me wondering about the larger truck and bus tires. I’m sure many other folks are pondering on this thought as

well. How many tire dealers are actually selling old stock new tires around the country? You would think we would have a law on the books in which tire

manufacturers would give some kind of credit to dealers on trading in old inventories. I don’t think it should be a total loss on the manufacturer’s part knowing it isn’t

their fault. If the tire manufacturers gave a credit say at their cost of manufacturing, wouldn’t that sound fair?

There should be something in place to keep tires from sitting on shelves past a certain date. In trucking this doesn’t pose the same problem since trucks roll many

more miles vs. an RV.