What is the typical shelf life for a set of tires? I have 4 almost brand new all-season runflats that I just removed from my new snow wheels, and I can't seem to sell them. I was thinking about just keeping them until I need summer tires again (they're the same size - 195/55/16).

Considering I just got new summers in August, I won't need to replace them for maybe 3 years. How long will the unmounted runflats last, and will it be safe to mount these 3 years down the road?

Thanks,
Michael

 

I think you'll be fine, just keep them out of direct contact with the elements, and I'm sure they'll be ok.

 

Pirelli tires have a date of manufacture stamped on them. They generally have to sell them within 2 years of that date. My local Pirelli dealer offered me a pair of Eurphori@ runflats for about 1/4 the price the MINI dealer was charging. But only if I took the ones he had in stock. However, you should be good to run on them much longer. The last time I was at a Goodyear dealer to have my tires re-balanced, he told me generally, if I need my tires rebalanced after 7 years, I should be buying new tires. Mainly because the rubbers will dry out.

I have Pirelli tires (non-runflats) that are about 12 years old on one of my other cars (22 years old). The outside rubber looks to be cracking, but the the tires still run fine. I should be getting new tires on them soon.

If you store your tires in a cool dark place they should be still pretty good later on.

 

i would say 5-6 yrs tops on the shelves... meaning, you took them off when you got the
new car and it sat in your garage all that time.

 

Old tires will crack on the sidewalls and if you see that happening they are too old and you might want to replace them no matter how much good tread is left.

You can store for about 4+ years OK, covered, out of heat and UV light and away from electromagnetic motors.

Rubber ages over time so tirewear will not be as good as with fresh tires.
Also hard rubber tends to be noisier with street use.

 

EVO magazine just ran a summer tire test. They noted significant difference between the same tire fresh from the factory vs one bought from a local dealer (6 months older). I'd guess A/S tires wouldn't be as susceptible but it does give me pause about the r-comps I just bought to use next spring

 

sounds like you need to use paragon on those tires. (RC joke).

 

kinda like this?

 

I read recently that some tire industry groups are reccommending not to use tires past the 6 year mark. Ford has adopted that reccommendation and Chrysler is expected to follow.

One of my classic cars had tires that looked fine all around, but the sidewall cracked on one at highway speeds and deflated rapidly. Luckily for me, it was a rear tire and I was able to easily pull over. The tires were 8 years old.

Run flats have much stonger sidewalls - 3 years should not be a problem at all.

 

sounds like 4 years is the max then if you consider safety..

 

4-6 years depending upon the compound of the tire and the condtions in which they were stored. Highly reccomend keeping them stored indoors in a controlled climate with little exposure to the sun and elements.

 

well, if it's 4-6 years, then i suppose it can be 1-6yrs as well..

 

Thanks for all the recommendations. It sounds like I should be ok if I decide to keep them...but I'll keep trying to sell them too.

-Michael

 

I wonder if the recommendation changes if the tires are used off and on and not just stored. For example, I'll be using my run flats for winter driving. Therefore, they will be stored let's say 6 months but then used (and flexed) for 6 months. I wonder how that effects the aging.

What ages faster (I'm not talking tread wear), a tire stored 6 years or one used 6 months and stored 6 months each year over a period of 6 years.

I should really spend my time in more productive ways rather than thinking about this kind of stuff

 

Tires that are exposed to elements will age faster then tires stored in proper conditions. UV and O2 have more access to a tire in the wild then one sitting all snug in a cool dark place.

 

Not to get too far off topic, but I hope your runflats work better in the snow than my 16" Dunlops did. They were awful. I almost wrecked the car the first winter I had it. Putting 15" Pirelli SnowControl's totally transformed the car into something that could eat snow for lunch...