Do Motorcycle Tires Expire if Not Used?

Motorbike tires are probably the most crucial part of moving your motorbike ahead. Thus you need to make sure that they aren’t expired. Now the question arises, do motorcycle tires expire if not used?

A motorcycle tire’s shelf life begins the moment it leaves the manufacturer companies, meaning it can expire when unused. It does not matter how much you use your motorbike tires; the tires expire month and year and will not be changed. 

Let’s consider what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about the motorcycle tires’ expiry period. 

Do Motorcycle Tires Expire if Not Used?

Motorcycle tires’ expiry period is something that you need to focus on most because it can affect your riding experience a lot. And thus, the question arises, do motorcycle tires expire if not used? 

A motorcycle tire’s shelf life begins the moment it leaves the manufacturer companies, meaning it can expire when unused. It does not matter how much you use your motorbike tires; the tires expire month and year and will not be changed. 

Its’ because the expiry is of tire rubber which doesn’t affect when not in use or stored in the control environment. 

Why do Motorbike Tires Expire if Not Used? 

Indeed motorbike tires expire if not used; now the question arises, why do motorbike tires expire if not used? 

Motorbike tires do expire even if it’s not used and in mint condition, because the expiry period isn’t for your motorbike tires but it is for the tire rubber, which starts to lose its flexibility with time. 

With the loss of flexibility and strength, your motorbike tires won’t give you good performance and will start showing problems like punctures frequently. 

What if You Used Expired Motorbike Tires?

So far, you understand that the motorbike expiry period doesn’t affect whether you store it or use it. Now the question arises, what if you used expired motorbike tires? 

After hitting the expiry period, the motorbike tires will start to lose flexibility and their nature, impacting your riding journey a lot. For instance, your motorbike won’t run smoothly after the tires expire, mainly off-road. 

Not only this, your motorbike tires will start to puncture frequently. They won’t give you a smooth non-stoppable riding experience. And that’s why experts never recommend the use of expired tires. 

When to Use Stored Expired Tires? 

Indeed you won’t get a smooth experience while riding a motorbike with expired tires; now the question arises when to use stored dead tires. 

You can use stored expired tires only when they’re in good condition, or there’s no sign of wear on motorbike tires. Your motorbike tires should have a clearly visible pattern responsible for generating enough friction while riding the motorbike. 

Avoid using motorbike tires when they start causing problems like punctures and malfunctioning frequently. 

Should You Permanently Remove Expired Motorbike Tires? 

So far, you understand that expired motorbike tires won’t give you a smooth experience while riding the motorbike. Interestingly, the question arises, should you permanently remove expired motorbike tires? 

You should remove the motorbike tire if it’s expired because riding the motorbike with the expired motorbike tire won’t give you a smooth riding experience. It is also dangerous for you because it doesn’t facilitate enough friction. 

To generate enough friction and experience a safe riding experience, you should remove the expired tires every time, no matter how healthy they look. 

What’s the Shelf Life of Motorbike Tires?

Indeed you should remove the motorbike tires once they expire; now the question arises, what’s the shelf life of motorbike tires? 

The average shelf life of motorbike tires is around 6 years; in this period, your tires will give you the best performance and enough friction you need while riding the motorbike. 

However, the riding style, the temperature at you ride the motorbike, and the tire pressure impact the motorbike tires hugely. 

If you ride the motorbike carefully and avoid a lot of off-riding, then the shelf life of tires can be extended up to 10 years. 

How to See the Expiry Period of Tires? 

So far, you understand that the shelf life of motorbike tires can be extended further if tires are used carefully at the ideal temperature. Now the question arises, how do you see the expiry period of tires? 

To see the expiry period of motorbike tires, you should see the side wall of your tires; on the side walls of tires, you can easily see the years and manufacturing months of the tires. With this date, you can calculate the expiry period of your motorbike tires. 

And if your motorbike tires are expired, then it would be best to not use them. 

Can You Remove Tire Before Expiry Period? 

Indeed you can see the expiry period of your motorbike through its side walls; now the question arises, can you remove the tire before the expiry period? 

It is not unusual for motorbike tires to show problems such as frequent punctures and other problems even before expiry. And suppose your motorbike starts showing issues before the expiry period. In that case, removing the motorbike tires is better before the expiry period. 

However, you can continuously use your motorbike tires if tire problems like punctures are uncommon and caused by extrinsic factors.

How to Read the Motorcycle Tires Expiry Date? 

Now that you are aware of the lifespan of your motorbike tires, it is equally important to know how to check their expiry dates.

To ascertain the expiry date of your motorcycle tires, inspect the sidewalls for the acronym “DOT.” Within this marking, you will find four digits that indicate the specific date and year of manufacturing. The initial two numbers represent the week of production, while the remaining digits indicate the year.

Let’s consider an example for better comprehension:

Assume that the four-digit number on your tire sidewall is 3019.

According to this number, the first two digits correspond to the week of tire manufacturing, indicating the 30th week.

The last two digits signify the year of manufacturing, which, in this case, is 2019.

In conclusion, your tire was manufactured during the 30th week of 2019.

Additionally, you can determine the month of tire manufacturing. Use a calculator to divide 30 by 4.3.

In this instance, 30 divided by 4.3 equals approximately 6.97.

Hence, your tire was produced in June 2019.

To calculate the expiry date, subtract the year of manufacture from the current year.

In this case, subtracting June 2019 from June 2021 results in a tire age of two years. In other words, you have three more years of use before needing to replace the tire.

Therefore, you should plan to change your tire in June 2024.

For more informative content, you may want to read my previous post discussing the feasibility of leaving your motorbike battery charging with a trickle charger. Click here to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict:

Do Motorcycle Tires Expire if Not Used? A motorcycle tire’s shelf life begins when it leaves the manufacturer, meaning it can expire when unused. It does not matter how much you use your motorbike tires; the tires expire month and year and will not be changed. 

Suppose your motorbike tires are showing problems even before the expiry period. In that case, you should consider removing them asap to improve your riding life.