Is it safe to race on 2.5-year-old tires?

"marshknute" (marshknute) 04/11/2018 at 15:39 • Filed to: None

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I’m guessing the answer is probably no, but curious to hear what y’all think.

I still have a set of nearly-new Pilot Supersports from my old WRX (mounted to the gold wheels I haven’t bothered to sell yet) which happen to be the same size as the front tires on my Corvette. They’ve only seen 800 miles and one autocross before I sold the Subi.

They’ve been stored in an unheated shed since November 2015. So they’ve stayed dry, but have now weathered three cold Connecticut winters.

So, what’s the verdict? Yay, or Nay?

Help me, Oppo, you’re my only hope!

bob and john > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:45

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ehhhhh. Id take them out for a spin and see how they feel.

My personal limit is 3 years for tires that will see abuse, 5 for commuter tires

deekster_caddy > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:47

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I don’t have a problem with that. I ran my MPSS for 4 years and I got them used. As long as you don’t have visible sidewall cracking they should hold together fine. Generally street tires are given a lifespan of 5 years from date of manufacture, but they are fine older than that. However, YMMV as you are hitting the track with them. I’m not sure how that affects their life. I’m guessing that you will wear the tread off before you age them out though.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:47

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I’d use them. I doubt they’re unsafe. Cold won’t hurt them as much as UV light and heat.

HammerheadFistpunch > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:48

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Depends on the speeds I suppose.

probability of failure is less of a factor than severity of consequences.

His Stigness > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:49

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Michelin won’t warranty them after six years, so if they’ve been stored inside then I would say it’s okay.

But I’m biased because I think my Pilot Super Sports I’ll be using next month are at least three years old.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:50

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I’m going to say no, due to the unheated winters. That being said, if they otherwise look and feel ok, I would probably be ok with them for daily street driving. But not on a track. See how they feel just driving around.

crowmolly > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:51

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What’s the treadwear?

I’d check for cracking. Did you store them in direct sunlight or darkness? Pressured up or down?

BeaterGT > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:51

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If they pass visual inspection and you have somewhere you can put them to the test before going on the track, I don’t see why not. You know the front end of your car best so just take it easy to start and stay safe.

BigBlock440 > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:51

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The sun deteriorates tires more than anything, unless they’re those kind that can’t get cold.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:55

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Eh, as long as they’re not showing signs of cracking/dry rotting they’ll be fine. For actual race rubber (which these aren’t) being stored below freezing tends to keep them from ever really getting sticky again. Even with these, I would expect them to be pretty hard and slippery, but they should be be perfectly safe to run on (just slow).

Future next gen S2000 owner > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 15:59

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I’d do it if they don’t show any signs of dry rot - which they shouldn’t. I’ve autocrossed on tires that were a few years old. My garage was unheated and I was swapping winters and summers. Take ‘em for a spin. Drag racing and autocrossing would be fine I think. Track is probably okay.

Eberle-Hills-Cop > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 16:01

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Boy I hope nobody looks too closely at the 10 year old gravel tires I plan to shred in a couple weeks. *whistles*

dogisbadob > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 16:27

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2.5 years old is no problem at all

It’s heat that kills tires, not cold. Tires last longer in storage up north than down south.

E92M3 > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 16:33

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When you said “race” I was imagining some kind of slicks. Street tires should be fine after just 2.5 years.

kanadanmajava1 > marshknute 04/11/2018 at 19:12

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I’m quite sure that they are completely safe to race with. But they aren’t probably very fast anymore. Rubber hardens while age gathers but the support structure shouldn’t change much (unless the tires age under a car without any tire pressure).

I took my project Opel to our car club’s trackdays with 14 year old tires. And they weren’t even very sporty tires as new. The tires had very little grip but they withstood the fairly heavy session without much change in the appearance. The car had still stock brakes which didn’t even overheat as the hard tires limited my speed so much.

The car was pretty easy to handle with old hardened tires so my laptimes were anything but impressive. But if the point is to have fun and not win the race then old tires should be fine.