Does the age of a tire matter?

[cbirk]

My buddy has some dunlop 208 gp's 190\60 gp-a  (78w)(great britain) and 120\70 gp-f  (58w)(us model). They are in AWESOME shape. Does it matter if they are old or not? I read some stuff stating that a tire goes bad over time. I'm thinking about putting them on my R1 to run BHF. good or bad idea? Sorry for all the newbie posts and questions. thanks for the awesome advice. I owe ya'll some beers

[Super Dave]

Define great shape?

How were they stored?

What is the value of risking it?  New to track riding and racing, you need better traction because you will make more frequent and serious mistakes.  More seasoned riders can usually use experience to tell themselves when to take it easy and not to go faster.  Still, very good, fast racers still crash because of worn tires...seldom have I heard, "I crashed because the tire had too much traction."

[Jeff]

As Dave mentioned, a LOT depends on how they were stored as well as how old they really are.  What is the date code on the side of the tire?  I have kept tires for a year in a climate controlled environment and they have been fine.  But if I got a new tire that was 3 years old and I had no clue of where it had been stored, I would be reluctant to run real hard on it.

UV rays and temp can seriously damage a tire without visible affects.

[Ducati23]

To answer your question - Yes - but it isn't that simple.

I store slicks & rains in a dark, temp controlled environment, in plastic bags with desecant crystals. They can still be just be like new 3 years later this way.     Put them in direct sun light and/or cold and bad things can happen to them.   

Once cycled (used) not much can save a tire, it has started it's life cycle and will get worse as it ages.  Ask any of the tire experts like Walt Schafer, Tom Mason, David Hirsh etc. They know what you should look for and how to care for a tire so that it lasts as long as it can.   

[cbirk]

Thank for all the replys. I went and checked out the tires again. The were made in 04 and they are take-offs. They are currently on his zx6r (on their when he got it) and they appear to have slight weather check on the sidewall on the front tire. Well there is a red flag. Also, they haven't been in a controlled environment. Been on concrete in a non-heated garage here in the "coulee region" so they've seen 100 degrees and 30 below.


the value of risking it? good point and point made. I'm not going to risk it. 

[Super Dave]

What you see as weather checking on the sides is often the function of the rubber that is thick on the sides just getting flexed.  It's not like a stock tire on the front of an old Z1 or anything.

Regardless, you'd be better served with the investment into some tires.  It's your best insurance against things that can happen.

[cbirk]

yeah I would've never thought that was normal. hm...I'm not going to run them now though, I'm sure he will. I heard a rumor that the U.k. model dunlops can be run either direction. Meaning that they are directional but can go on either way. I just heard that from 2 different sources on each side of the continent.. does this have any validity?

[251am]

  Where abouts in the coulee region?

  I ran some UK Duns that were take-offs and loved 'em for track days. They were a couple years old, but I was only runnin' high 20s at BHF at the time, on an RC51. Bi-directional runs? I don't think that's valid but have heard of some that have done it-not Dunlop specific, but wallet specific....   

[cbirk]

I'm in La Crosse. I just got two sets of bridgestone bt-002's they have 1-2 sprints a piece on them. Got them from a couple that runs in the wmrra. www.pappawheelies.com to be specific. Had to get some fresh tires. Well, as fresh as I can afford.

[251am]

I'm in La Crosse. I just got two sets of bridgestone bt-002's they have 1-2 sprints a piece on them. Well, as fresh as I can afford.

Nice, both sides of my family are from Trempeleau County-Osseo down to Whitehall. Awesome roads and great road crews keeping 'em clean. I had some OEM Bridgestones on my GSXR K1 1k.  Loved those stickies!   


  Going w/o genny and warmers is no big deal-just focus on correct cold pressures and take lap one a little bit easier. I'd borrow you mine for Saturday events but someone on our team usually needs 'em too!

[cbirk]

Thats cool, I'll just take it easy on the sighting lap, and yeah I LOVE the roads up here. best in the state! imo