HOW LONG ARE TIRES SAFE?

I thought it was generally six years. However, see here.

See here for what Michelin says.

 

A lot of our sizes are getting hard to find, and maybe "once a year" type production.....so consider that.
That might see you looking at tires more than 12 months from manufacture.

As far use on the ground, most (ALL?) say that at five years no matter the apparent condition the rubber has lost critical chemicals related to traction and braking performance and should be changed.

I fitted some "new appearing" warehouse finds over the Goodyear advice, and they fragged out in less than six months, in a dangerous way.
So "they" are right, in this case!!

 

I think you're being reasonable. Close to 2 years seems a tad too long to me. I start to get itchy to replace them when it gets to be 4 or 5 years after the date stamp, regardless of mileage and tread wear. So, close to 2 years is almost half that time frame. Most of the tires I've bought from Tire Rack have a date code that's typically 6 - 9 months before I bought them...T

 

What car are they going on and how many miles a year will you be doing in it?

 

...or rather will you wear the tread out before the tyres are 6 or 7 years old?

 

Have you actually bought them yet? If not shop around and see if you can get some newer ones, but the article here implies that the ageing only really starts when the tyres are mounted on a rim.

It also depends on the price you paid or will be paying. Use the age as a bargaining point to get a discount.

 

Steve, I am on set number 8 in my Daytona...regards, Malcolm

 

I've kept them on the car for 8 years in the past.
Be sure to ask the retailer what the date codes are BEFORE ordering. I bought a set of tires for my (ex) 250 GTE a few years back from a well known tire retailer. When they arrived they were already 2 years old.