Older tires and certification
- Thread starter Merkid
- Start date
I believe 10 years is "recommended", but AFAIK it's a bit of a grey area when it comes to a safety as it's phrased as a "should be" instead of a "must be". Ultimately their condition so far as tread depth and any cracking/aging would be a big deciding factor though.
Most people would say, especially on a motorcycle, replace them regardless of how good they appear. At 20 years of age there's a lot of chemical aging that has happened to the rubber even if they appear physically OK.
Most people would say, especially on a motorcycle, replace them regardless of how good they appear. At 20 years of age there's a lot of chemical aging that has happened to the rubber even if they appear physically OK.
Thanks for the feedback.
Reason to ask is I installed new-old-stock knobby tires on my Honda XL. They dated back to 1981. They performed find for dirt riding and limited street use but these tires I have are sport versions with low mileage, about 2300kms. They are certainly aged and altho look good by now probably too hard for my liking so I was going to sell them.
If they wouldn't pass a safety check, I would discard them but would rather put them out for some use by others.
Reason to ask is I installed new-old-stock knobby tires on my Honda XL. They dated back to 1981. They performed find for dirt riding and limited street use but these tires I have are sport versions with low mileage, about 2300kms. They are certainly aged and altho look good by now probably too hard for my liking so I was going to sell them.
If they wouldn't pass a safety check, I would discard them but would rather put them out for some use by others.
The letter of the regs is "no".
And sometimes it works out short term, for convenience's sake. These days the only time my bikes see a shop is to get safetied. Last year got my TL1000S safetied on some pretty ancient (but mint looking!) rubber. I didn't mention it and neither did the shop. Still replaced the tires a week or two later when everything lined up for it.
Depends on the certifying mechanic.
Most don't look at the date, just the tread depth.
If the certifying shop sells tires, they will fail you and make you buy new tires.
From them...
Most don't look at the date, just the tread depth.
If the certifying shop sells tires, they will fail you and make you buy new tires.
From them...
Please don't sell someone 20 year old tires.
TK4
Well-known member
Unless they're going to be used as boat bumpers.
Or could. Tire install is a pretty tough process, I wouldn't be surprised if the expected cracks showed up during mounting.
If the tires were on a bike that was stored in a neutral atmosphere warehouse, maybe, but to actually do the labour of putting them on seems counter productive.
You mentioned 20 year old tires but if they are circa 1981 that's 42 years.
My Bad and should clarify.
The 20yr old tires are currently on the street bike that I am enquiring about having a safety inspection done. The example referencing 1981 were for an older dirt bike.
It’s a grey area. The regulations don’t mention tire age at all, or even dry cracking, unless it’s so deep that there are cords visible.
Saying that, I had a discussion with a government MTO officer that was doing a spot check some years ago about this very question. According to him shops are within their rights to fail if their personal judgement deems the tires unsafe.
As for the official verbiage, I copied the motorcycle tire portion of the regs below (Law Document English View)
(3) Each tire shall be inspected for depth of tread, tread and sidewall defects, regrooving, proper size and application, and,
(a) no tire shall be worn to the extent that in any major groove at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire,
(i) the tread wear indicators contact the road, or
(ii) less than 1.5 millimetres of tread depth remains;
(b) no tire shall have exposed cord;
(c) no tire shall have tread or sidewall cuts or snags deep enough to expose the cords;
(d) no tire shall have any abnormal visible bump, bulge or knot;
(e) no tire shall have been regrooved or recut below the original new tire groove depth;
(f) no tire shall be of a smaller size than the motorcycle manufacturer’s specified minimum size or be sufficiently oversized as to contact any vehicle component so as to affect the safe operation of the vehicle; and
(g) no vehicle shall be fitted with a tire that,
(i) bears the wording “not for highway use”, “farm use only”, “competition circuit use only” or any other wording or lettering indicating that the tire was not designed for highway use, or
(ii) bears the letters “SL”, “NHS” or “TG” after the tire designation.
Saying that, I had a discussion with a government MTO officer that was doing a spot check some years ago about this very question. According to him shops are within their rights to fail if their personal judgement deems the tires unsafe.
As for the official verbiage, I copied the motorcycle tire portion of the regs below (Law Document English View)
(3) Each tire shall be inspected for depth of tread, tread and sidewall defects, regrooving, proper size and application, and,
(a) no tire shall be worn to the extent that in any major groove at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire,
(i) the tread wear indicators contact the road, or
(ii) less than 1.5 millimetres of tread depth remains;
(b) no tire shall have exposed cord;
(c) no tire shall have tread or sidewall cuts or snags deep enough to expose the cords;
(d) no tire shall have any abnormal visible bump, bulge or knot;
(e) no tire shall have been regrooved or recut below the original new tire groove depth;
(f) no tire shall be of a smaller size than the motorcycle manufacturer’s specified minimum size or be sufficiently oversized as to contact any vehicle component so as to affect the safe operation of the vehicle; and
(g) no vehicle shall be fitted with a tire that,
(i) bears the wording “not for highway use”, “farm use only”, “competition circuit use only” or any other wording or lettering indicating that the tire was not designed for highway use, or
(ii) bears the letters “SL”, “NHS” or “TG” after the tire designation.
Chameleon
Well-known member
Gonna hijack this thread briefly. I need to get a new rear tire on to my bike. I happen to have a lightly used extra tire in my possession. I'm thinking of just trying to transport the tire with me while I ride.
Either like a donut floaties around my waist. Or strap it to my back/backpack ninja turtle shell style. Anybody ever try this? Any tips? Will I get pulled over?
Either like a donut floaties around my waist. Or strap it to my back/backpack ninja turtle shell style. Anybody ever try this? Any tips? Will I get pulled over?
hehe you'll be fine.
if you need someone to drop it somewhere for you let me know, i'm home most days.
Chameleon
Well-known member
I appreciate it. But I think I'll try the ninja turtle method. Then will debut my new tire on my new bike, probably shortly after you
