Newer tires with better synthetic cords and belts are better, especially if you've used nitrogen in them. Dry rot in older tires results from the moisture in the air you've put in them over time. The biggest cause of tire failure is still running them with improper tire pressures. Just my $.02 but tires are cheap in comparison to serious injury or possibly even death. I try and take pretty good care of mine and replace them every two-three years.

 

Yeah, I get a little worried racing around the freeway on my 1971 Kawasaki H1. It is all original with 7000 miles on her. The tires are 38 years old. I need to just take them off and keep them in the garage for when it gets entered in an "all original" contest. I only put about 300 miles a year on it. It's my garage queen. Mainly becasue I would rather be on my Harley.

 

Thanks for the "Heads Up", Kumite...

As someone who has been around performance sports-cars all his life (I was in diapers when I crawled under Bringgs Cunningham's Cunningham at the first running of "Sebring"... He was a family friend), I'm very mindful of tires being the absolute CHEAPEST thing (and the most IMPORTANT, as well) on a bike or car. I'll often amaze friends by changing ALL four tires just because "Things don't feel right" on a succession of corners.

Tires are the common denominator... Steering, Power, Brakes... all mean NOTHING... without good tires to transfer the force to the road.

Jim aka kiltiemon aka Jim 1987 944S

 

A good set of tires is probably the most overlooked equipment there is. I am wondering about the age of the tires on my cars and bike now. I know guys that will spring for chrome and synthetic oil and then buy cheap tires. Not me! I buy the good ones.The stickier Avons and Metzelers for the bike are my favorite.

 

Good Advice...my mother's car is only 5 years old... she hit a curb in a parking lot and tore a BIG piece of rubber off the sidewall. Brought it in to get it replaced, and they said all the tires were in danger, because of the age of the tires. Her health isn't the greatest, so she doesn't drive much. The tires still had plenty of tread.

 

one that sets in the sun all day will dry out faster than one that is garaged also.
learned this last yr on wifes 2000 GT pontiac that we bought new, only 22k on it, garaged 24-7. They looked good and even checked out ok, I still replaced them...

 

Never really thought about the tires being dangerous unless they are starting to dry rot. In which case replace them. Older tires do harden and seem to have less grip until warmed up. That is a concern around this time of year.