I also believe there is a lot of hysteria about older tires. Certainly every tire deteriorates once it is manufactured.
But replacing a tire eight years old because of age alone, sounds like advice coming from a tire salesmen, asking to move money from your pocket to theirs.
OK, the old tire is not as good as new. So, your H rated tire is no longer guaranteed for 130 MPH. Better keep it below 120.
Stopping power? Road surface variations account for far more than 20% of maximum stopping capacity, imo.
And, as you wear off the outer surface, you expose softer rubber under the aged skin. So, just like when the tire was new, don't ask for max traction until some wear has occurred. And, don't use an old tire for racing on the track. If you are a canyon carver scraping foot pegs at every opportunity, get new tires.
If you have to have the absolute best panic stop capability at all times, then replace your tires yearly, and make sure the tires you've just purchased were manufactured last week.
If you want to be perfectly safe, don't get on a motorcycle.
NHSTA data = 80% of tire related complaints are on tires over 6 years old.
What, exactly, does this stat have to do with safe motorcycle tires?
What were the complaints? Failure, loss of traction, dull appearance, worn out tread? (Oh, the tires were old, that must be why I had the accident while talking on the cell phone and driving 40 over the speed limit, on a winding road.)
How many actual complaints were there, and out of what population base? An 80 out of 100 report is 80% but in a population base of millions is insignificant. And certainly if the report stats were selected from mountainous terrain areas vs, flat lands, the stats just *might* be different?
The outgassing of chemicals loosens the bonds between plys and treads. The damage is done internally, from the inside and is not apparent.
Yes and it begins happening immediately after manufacture. How old you your tires? And, how can you put up with whatever degradation that has occurred so far?
Road variations are a constant over which we have no choice.
You don't have a choice over which roads you travel, how fast you travel, and how much you demand of your tires?
Or do you mean all constants are variables. And, you still want to solve the equation by throwing money at it?
Running an aged tire is a choice.
Your choice.
My choice, not your choice.
It is also a choice based on economics vs, required performance.
You've made your recommendation, I read it. As have others.
Others can choose which recommendation better suits them. Some are actually capable of making their own judgments.
I think this cabin fever thing is getting too severe. Gonna have to walk away from the forums for a while.
