speaking of old tires

[Peter from Sch'dy]

Ordered a tire through Amazon. Got it yesterday and date of manufacture was 39th week of....2009!
sending back today

[Stormtruck2]

They get away with that because most people don't even know how to read a DOT date, let alone even check them. I order from Motorcycle Superstore and Rocky Mountain ATV. Never received a tire more than two years old from either.

[Peter from Sch'dy]

 Amazon Seller Derby Cycles refused to provide return postage for the tire ($35) and claimed they only sell what the distributor sends them and do not control the mfg date. So they are saying they will refund the tire cost but not shipping and the age of the tire is not their problem. I've contacted Dunlop about this and await their comments.

Best,
Peter

[ITSec]

Amazon Seller Derby Cycles refused to provide return postage for the tire ($35) and claimed they only sell what the distributor sends them and do not control the mfg date. So they are saying they will refund the tire cost but not shipping and the age of the tire is not their problem. I've contacted Dunlop about this and await their comments.

Best,
Peter

Their claim that the age of the tire is not their problem is unsupportable. While there is no current legislation or regulation on tire age at installation (that I can find), auto, truck and commercial vehicle manufacturers widely recommend that tires (in service) over five or six years old be replaced, and that tires of the same age not be installed as new. A simple internet search can find many citations to support this. As a retailer, Derby Tires is responsible for checking the quality of the goods they sell - just as my grocery store is responsible for checking that their distributor didn't send them outdated goods.

File a LOUD complaint with Amazon, copy Dunlop, the DOT, and the state Attorney General and consumer affairs office in the state where Derby Tires is located. Even if Derby caves, these business enablers should be aware of what they are allowing Derby to do. It's one thing to sell a 3 year old tire where it's a question of judgement; it's another when it is clearly beyomd its safe and serviceable life.

BTW, when I have bought tires (locally or online) and received units with unacceptable dates (for me, anything over 24 months), I have never had a problem returning them for replacement with a fresh product. Seems to me this retailer needs to step up to the issue.

[Farmer Dan]

In 2010 when I got my '72 Eldorado it still had the original tires on it.  I drove it to work for a week until the new tires I ordered arrived.  I wouldn't recommend doing that but it did make for an exciting ride. 

[Kiwi_Roy]

They get away with that because most people don't even know how to read a DOT date, let alone even check them.

 :1: I think it's safe to say that only 1 in 10 of the guys I know read the date code

Someone please explain it to me again or provide a link.

Roy

[Peter from Sch'dy]

:1: I think it's safe to say that only 1 in 10 of the guys I know read the date code

Someone please explain it to me again or provide a link.

Roy

here you go:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

[blakebird]

In 2010 when I got my '72 Eldorado it still had the original tires on it.  I drove it to work for a week until the new tires I ordered arrived.  I wouldn't recommend doing that but it did make for an exciting ride.

my '97 one-owner 1100 Sport came with 5,770 miles on it and the original Pirelli Dragon GT's.
They looked great (climate controlled garage) but didn't feel very confidence inspiring the first time I took the bike up into the local canyons 

/hijack

It's been a long time since I received an old tire buying online, and that was in the early days of internet tire shopping.
Bought tons of dirtbike tires online, don't even check them...

[jreagan]

Derby is in KY. 

http://ag.ky.gov/civil/consumerprotection/Pages/default.aspx

[jreagan]

Oh, and I think they are having business problems.  They had four locations: Shelbyville KY, Frankfort KY, Lexington KY, and Louisville KY.  Their Lexington KY store abruptly closed.  Their website still shows the retail location open.  I went there a few weeks ago looking for some chain lube.  It is now a T-Mobile store.

[leafman60]

Buyer beware.

Certainly file a complaint with Amazon. They should not be fronting someone selling old tires that will not fully refund a return. The old tire may not be the retailers fault but they are responsible to their customer and they can go back to their distributor.

Beware unusually low tire prices.

I have experienced the same problem with more reputable retailers. Last year, I ordered a set of tires for one of my bikes from Superstore.  When they arrived, I saw that they were several years old.  Superstore exchanged them for another brand of tire without a question, including return shipping, when I explained the problem. The replacements were fine.

[Dimples]

Amazon takes itself seriously. Here's an interesting article on the work ethic at Amazon in today's NYT:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/technology/inside-amazon-wrestling-big-ideas-in-a-bruising-workplace.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

[Peter from Sch'dy]

A big thank you to all suggestions and links. I'm curious to hear Dunlops take on this but am thinking Derby is selling off all inventory with the expectation of closing, probably soon. I will pursue this claim through Amazon and see where it leads.   

[leafman60]

A big thank you to all suggestions and links. I'm curious to hear Dunlops take on this but am thinking Derby is selling off all inventory with the expectation of closing, probably soon. I will pursue this claim through Amazon and see where it leads.

I'm not taking up for the retailer but the distributor could easily be the one at fault. That's what happened to me.  Most of these retailers don't stock a lot of tires.  They just drop ship from the distributor.

Now that I think of it, I believe the "old" tires I received last year were Dunlops too. In fact, I redeemed a discount coupon for them for $50 or $60. I sent the coupon in right after ordering the tires. Later, I sent Dunlop a note about the old tires I had returned but I received the rebate check in the mail anyway since it had been apparently processed by a subcontractor.  I wrote them back and returned the check since I didn't feel right about keeping it and about 6 months later received an acknowledgement that I received $0 rebate, lol. 

Read your tire date codes!

Most of the new tires I buy are made within about a year of my purchase.  If I am installing on a bike that I use often, I am a little flexible on the acceptability of the production dates. If I am installing on a seldom-used bike that is likely to wear the tires a few years, I want the newer production dates.

[ken farr]

Leather up has had very good prices, fast delivery with fresh tires.


ymmv


kjf

[Chuck in Indiana]

I ordered a new Sport Demon for the Lario from AMT last week. It arrived the next day (!) with an 8-15 date code. (!!) I guess that one is pretty fresh. 

[guzzi4me]

I ordered a new Sport Demon for the Lario from AMT last week. It arrived the next day (!) with an 8-15 date code. (!!) I guess that one is pretty fresh. 

I have ordered many tires through American Moto Tire and have never had a date code issue. Very good pricing and it arrives in 2-3 days max.

Ride safe and often,

Jeff

[Peter from Sch'dy]

Spoke with Dunlop this am. They said their (Dunlop's) warrantee is 6 years after manufacture assuming perfect storage conditions. Tire then good 'til the end of September 2015. Trying to get amazon to respond to my inquiries.

Best,
Peter

[Lannis]

I'm not taking up for the retailer but the distributor could easily be the one at fault. That's what happened to me.  Most of these retailers don't stock a lot of tires.  They just drop ship from the distributor.

Suppose a grocery store tried that ploy?   "Hey, sorry that the milk we sold you was two weeks past its 'sell-by' date, but that's not our fault, it's the distributor we buy it from.   We can't control the dates."

We'd all call BS on that so fast that it would make their collective heads spin.    The retailer is absolutely responsible for the quality and safety of every single thing they sell.   That's why they call it "RETAIL" and add a margin to it!    If I don't want those protections I can go buy from the manufacturer or from a guy selling watches from the inside of his mackintosh ....

Lannis

[atavar]

Raise havoc every where you can.  What you ordered and paid for was a new tire.  What they delivered was an NOS (new old stock) tire.  Two completely different things and the difference has been addressed before in many venues.  There is a huge difference between new and unused. 

[ITSec]

Spoke with Dunlop this am. They said their (Dunlop's) warrantee is 6 years after manufacture assuming perfect storage conditions. Tire then good 'til the end of September 2015. Trying to get amazon to respond to my inquiries.

Best,
Peter

So this means that the manufacturer would not even honor the warranty 90 days after you received the tire (assuming perfect storage conditions). Another good reason for sending it back.

[Scud]

Just an FYI that a bike at a dealer could still have seriously old tires.

When I got my 2002 V11 Scura last November, it had the original tires and only 185 miles on the clock. Although it was at a dealer, they didn't put new tires on. Presumably, because it was a "used" bike, was there on a consignment sale, and the dealer never took title on the vehicle, they were not obliged to put tires on.

However, I will say that the tires looked great and I put about 1,000 mostly easy miles on them without incident. Now on second set of Angel GTs. 

[ITSec]

Just an FYI that a bike at a dealer could still have seriously old tires.

When I got my 2002 V11 Scura last November, it had the original tires and only 185 miles on the clock. Although it was at a dealer, they didn't put new tires on. Presumably, because it was a "used" bike, was there on a consignment sale, and the dealer never took title on the vehicle, they were not obliged to put tires on.

However, I will say that the tires looked great and I put about 1,000 mostly easy miles on them without incident. Now on second set of Angel GTs. 

I don't know about the insurance company for that dealer, but when I worked at a dealership, any bike we took on consignment had to pass a state safety inspection that included the tires. We could not accept a bike, no matter how apparently pristine, unless the consigning owner agreed to make all necessary repairs to pass the safety inspection; anything else was their option. Since laws and practices differ from state to state, I'd recommend that buyers always check (or ask for a report) on key items like tires, brakes, and other safety items when buying through a dealer, even if it is a consignment - perhaps especially if it is!

[Penderic]

Those new airless tires look so much more stylish.

For the hipsters!

[twhitaker]

The latest issue of American Motorcyclist in the article about the Mid Ohio Vintage Days mentions a '65 Honda going around on the original tires. Guess they don't make them like they used to.

[Scud]

I don't know about the insurance company for that dealer, but when I worked at a dealership, any bike we took on consignment had to pass a state safety inspection that included the tires. We could not accept a bike, no matter how apparently pristine, unless the consigning owner agreed to make all necessary repairs to pass the safety inspection; anything else was their option. Since laws and practices differ from state to state, I'd recommend that buyers always check (or ask for a report) on key items like tires, brakes, and other safety items when buying through a dealer, even if it is a consignment - perhaps especially if it is!

No re-inspections whatsoever in California. When I registered an out-of-state bike in CA recently, an initial inspection was required, but all they wanted to see was: California emissions sticker, Federal safety sticker, frame number, engine number, and odometer reading. I didn't even have to prove that it had the emissions hoses and canister (which had previously taken up residence in a cardboard box).

Bottom line on tires - it's smart to pay attention to the date codes when buying tires or bikes.

[Peter from Sch'dy]

I have not yet figured how to specify maximum age I will tolerate when buying through Amazon. Anybody know? If no way, I'll not buy there anymore.

Best,
Peter

[ITSec]

I have not yet figured how to specify maximum age I will tolerate when buying through Amazon. Anybody know? If no way, I'll not buy there anymore.

Best,
Peter

Easiest way is to send a question using the internal message system to the Amazon store you expect to buy from, asking them to confirm the age of the product, or stating that product past a certain date will be returned. That way, there's something showing your due diligence and their response. It makes the resolution issue easier...