My '91, which is not driven much anymore, seems to have developed a rather slippery rear end. I am running Dunop SP 8000s with plenty of tread. How long can tires sit/age before they they tend to lose their grip? They were never this slippery before and I have used the tires for auto X, but that was about five years or so ago. (Five years seems to be the obvious answer, at least in my case, but I am hoping for a more definitive answer.)
Tire question
Apr 11, 2004
1 Replies
There isn't a definitive general answer, because rubber hardening depends on a number of factors, including temperature, rubber compound, UV, ozone, and heat cycling (those pesky autocrosses). That said, most high-performance tires are toast after about three years, whether used or not, unless stored in a protective environment. Most users wear them bald before the grip goes away, although in places with cold winters they never grip as well the next spring.
Time for new tires, Scott.
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