MyRedTrek

Do you have any sense if tires have a "best if used by" date? Assuming they're kept in a closet for example for the most part in the dark, will they be good basically forever? Not talking about gumwall tires which I gather degrade over time.

thook

IME, it's hard to say. I've had tires last for years and not rot. But, I've bought some....even rather pricey ones....that didn't last a year before they started showing signs of degradation. Best thing is bag'em, store'em, and keep an eye from time to time.

shelbyfv

This isn't something you need to worry about. Next....?

andrewclaus

"Shelf life" will depend on what else is in the closet. If you store pool chemicals or acids in there, the rubber may fail quickly.

I just salvaged some wheels with beautiful new Gatorskin tires on them, or so I thought. I have no idea how long or where they were stored (there was an 8 speed cassette), but within a few hundred miles on the road the rubber started flaking off in patches.

Once I stored my plumbing tools for a year or so in a closet along with a tightly closed but unsealed bottle of muriatic acid. That was a mistake--my pipe wrenches now have a fine patina of rust.

easyupbug 

I have too many bikes so have to dealt with this for years. As you point out they need to be out of direct sun light, even a window, for UV degradation. Did learn my lesson on ozone (put out by electrical motors) on the bike stored in Portland closest to a furnace, it showed side wall splits way too early. I have also heard from locals living year round where we have a cabin that can be 20ş below zero for weeks that the temp swings are hard on tires. I use 303 Aerospace Protectant but is really made for UV protection for tires store outside but I find it keeps brake/shifter hoods lasting longer so put it on tires as well but can't really say it help tires out of the weather or in ozone.

Moe Zhoost

I've successfully used a set of (new) tubulars that were over 30 years old, but stored in a bag since purchased. As long as the rubber has no significant cracking/crazing and the tires show no bulging when inflated, I see no problem in using them.

DaveSSS 

I had three tires that were about 10 years old when I came back to cycling after 8 years off and they were rotten. They sat in a box in a dry basement. I'd bet that 5 year old tires might be useable, but I wouldn't intentionally buy more than 3 years worth. I've got 8 new tires now and use up about 3 per year. I have two bikes so I have 4 tires in use. If I'm lucky, I wear out two rear tires per year and have two fronts that might be half worn.

MyRedTrek

The reason I ponder it is a couple of years ago I got a set of Bontrager H5 Hardcase tires anticipating I'd be making a point of biking to work about 13 miles away more often and there's a lot more opportunity to encounter tire hazards. Then covid hit and I'm working at home and never did put the hardcase tires on. My riding around here is on pavement and doesn't even particularly challenge the less tough Bontragers that are on it - it seems like a waste to burn up the Hardcase tires when I could save them for a time when there might be a better reason to use them. But if they're doomed to rot over time just sitting there I'd just put them on when the current tires wear out.

HillRider

Keep them dry, out of the light , avoid big temperature swings and away from electric motors and they should be good for many years. I have a Vittoria Rubino Pro that was used as a front tire for about 8,000 miles (front tires basically don't wear out), then stored in a closet for a couple of years after that and has now been on my indoor trainer for two years. It must be 10 years old and is still in good condition with no cracking of the rubber.

Iride01 

Not sure why you want to put an expiration date on them. Or are you thinking of investing in a lifetime supply? Probably that'd be a poor investment as you might find you might desire another future brand or model of tire yet to be made and be stuck with 30 or 40 years worth of tires in stock.

Otherwise for just having a spare or two or three on the shelf for when you need them is a good idea. Then you can ride on days the shops are closed or while waiting for FedEx to deliver.

When you put that spare tire that's been on the shelf for a while, it'll last you long enough. And if it doesn't then you'll know.

70sSanO

Not an issue if you are running cheap wire bead 26” tires.

But it is if you are running good folding 26” mtb tires. Unless a younger generation revived the size it is gone for good.

John

shelbyfv

^^^That sucks! Got to be loads of nice 26" mtbs out there.I'd sure take a pristine Santa Cruz Superlight if it dropped in my lap.

MyRedTrek

Don't want to put one on them, I'm curious if there *is* one.

Not a lifetime supply, just one set as per my comment a couple above.

GhostRider62

I have some 7-8 year old new tires that were stored properly (bagged, out light, cool location). They "look" fine but they seem slippery to the touch and I am not sure I would trust them leaning into a fast corner. Some are worse than others.

Iride01 

Well there isn't one. If there was, then they'd put one on them.

All I can offer you is that I've had some old tires that did better than other old tires. Too many variables because some environments seem to degrade tires more and minor differences in the tire compounds used by different manufactures also make a blanket statement impossible.

If they get deteriorated while in storage, you'll know when you try to put them on or soon after. My experience with tires ripping their sidewalls or blowing out with lots of noise to scare the heck out of anyone is that it wasn't ever a big deal. I just coasted or slowly braked to a stop and called for a ride home.

Would I buy a tire I knew was 5, 10, 20 or more years old. No, but if I had one on my shelf I'd certainly put it on if needed. Even if it only lasted a few days that at least lets me ride the bike a few times and get another new tire for spares.

prairiepedaler

I have experience with storing for seven years a Schwalbe Marathon Plus as a newly purchased tire then using it. The tire was store uncontained in a clothes closet at room temperature. I can attest that in this instance there is degradation of the rubber sidewall casing which expressed itself as flaking and cracking of the rubber there. This was surprising. The thicker tread appears unaffected. Synthetic rubber definetely behaves differently than natural rubber. Natural rubber seems to maintain it's properties for many decades.

rekmeyata

I have a set of brand new Specialized Roubaix Pro tires I got on sale setting in a drawer for 4 years, they're still perfect and like new, I would have no issues whatsoever riding on them.

Now for the weird thing. I have a set of 1984 Fuji Silver Star tires that came on my 1984 Fuji Club from the factory, those tires have maybe 40 miles on them, I have them in storage, and guess what? I can't see anything indicating they're old, and in fact if I wanted to, I would not think twice of putting those back on my Fuji and ride the bike, the only reason I don't is because those tires made back then didn't utilize flat protection belts, which means I would be getting more flats than I want to.

I also have a 95 or so Specialized Turbo that has about 1000 miles on it, I then used it as a spare tire I put in my seat bag for years, I still have it now setting in a drawer, that tire is still useable.

Having said that, I also have a single tire (I had both but one blew) Vittoria Corsa CG Tubular, that tire is cracked like crazy, that tire came off an 85 Miyata Team from the factory I use to have, that tire has around 500 miles on it, that one there is no way I would ride on it.

I'm not sure why some tires can last many years but others cannot, it might be the composition of the tire, because the tires I just gave examples of have all been stored exactly the same.

ThermionicScott 

Panaracer makes a bunch of MTB tires in 26" and folding bead, under their brand name and for others. It's arguable that some of the best 26" tires ever are being made right now.

Were you unaware, or just warning that they could go away someday?

70sSanO

I have a few folding Fire XC Pros, and they are available, but if you look at WTB, Maxxis, Kenda you’ll find wire bead, maybe get lucky with a folding here or there. I found some Nevegal X Pro in folding. Nice tire.

Our son likes a Velociraptor on the rear. Haven’t found a folding version in the last year.

John

Edit Added: Schwalbe does have a good selection of 26” folding mtb tires. They are a bit wide for my bikes, but that’s my problem not theirs.

KerryIrons

Stored in a cool, dry place away from ozone (electric motors) and chemicals, a "black sidewall" tire will last for many years. It will be a bit harder than a brand new tire as the rubber continues to vulcanize slowly so there will be a bit of lost traction, but then the rubber will wear longer. I wouldn't worry about properly stored 10 year old tires if they were a quality brand.

Chuck M 

And I think this is an overlooked factor whenever this question comes up. Things made of rubbers and plastics are basically made of compounds. And in those compounds are additives that aid in the processing of said compounds to make the end product and some additives influence wear and aging. So while proper storage is probably most important, the quality of the materials is going to come into play also.

pdlamb

As others have said, if you've stored tires in the dark and protected them from ozone and chemical fumes, they'll still be as usable as they were when new after quite a few years.

However, it's not a good idea to buy a lifetime supply. Some years back, I bought three tires at a good price, then rotated them to the back of my supply. Turns out the manufacturer had a production issue. So 2-3 years later, I put one on, started riding, and within a few hundred miles had a very unusual failure (tire tread separated from casing). Made the call of shame, caught a ride home, replaced that tire. Next one out of that batch had the same failure. So did the third, although I caught that at home -- I was suspicious by then! Of course, the receipt had long since disappeared, so I ended up eating the price of those tires.