Do Motorcycle Tires Go Bad with Age?

Motorbike tires aren’t only the medium to move your motorbike ahead, but it is also the most crucial motorbike part which we riders usually ignore. Now the question arises, do motorcycle tires go bad with age? 

Motorbike tires go bad with age, thus the manufacturing date is always listed on the tires so that you can replace them when they’re old. Experts always recommend replacing the old tires with new ones if your motorbike reaches the six-year mark. 

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 whether you should ride the motorbike with old tires or not. 

Do Motorcycle Tires Go Bad with Age? 

Motorbike tires are one of the parts we usually ignore, especially when it’s about its age. Now the question arises, do motorcycle tires go bad with age? 

Motorbike tires go bad with age, thus the manufacturing date is always listed on the tires so that you can replace them when they’re old. Experts always recommend replacing the old tires with new ones if your motorbike reaches the six-year mark. 

It would be best if you note down the manufacturing date of your brand-new tires so that you can replace them when it ages. 

Do Motorcycle Tires Age Varies? 

Indeed it would be best if you replaced your motorbike tires when they get old. Now the question arises, do motorcycle tires’ age varies? 

The age of motorcycle tires varies depending on their environment and how they are used. If you store the motorbike tires at room temperature after minimal use, they’ll last a long time. 

While if you use the motorbike tires in the high friction zone or in a high temperature, your motorbike tires’ life will be less than 6 years. And that’s why experts always recommend considering motorbike tire usage before deciding on the tire’s life. 

Can You Use Aged Motorbike Tires? 

So far, you understand that motorbike tire age varies hugely because of the environmental conditions they’re used in. Now the question arises, can you use aged motorbike tires? 

Although it’s less likely that your motorbike tires will withstand beyond their expiry date, if somehow it exists, then you should stop using them. It’s because the aged motorbike tires do not provide your motorbike enough elasticity and strength, which is much needed. 

Also, the aged motorbike tires likely don’t have a pattern, which impacts hugely on motorbike braking, especially if it’s about off-riding. 

How to Know if Your Motorbike Tire is Aged? 

Indeed you shouldn’t use motorbike tires which are already expired because of various safety reasons. Now, how do you know if your motorbike tires are aged? 

Your motorbike tires have the week and year printed on the sidewall, so you can know how old they are. However, because of high usage, the printing on the motorbike tires’ sidewalls can be diminished.

You can also observe the malfunction arising in the motorbike tires in the past six months, even after regular safe usage to know the health of motorbike tires. 

How Long Do Your Motorbike Tires Survive? 

So far, you understand that you can see the motorbike tires’ age by seeing the sidewall of your motorbike tires. Now the question arises, how long do your motorbike tires survive? 

Motorbike tire’s age depends upon many factors, such as your riding style, the environment in which you’re using tires, and the area in which you’re riding your motorbike. But on average, your motorbike tires will last 5-6 years. 

For instance, if you’re riding a motorbike in a cool climate, then your motorbike tires will last longer. And if you ride off-riding often, your motorbike tires won’t last long. 

Should You Replace Motorcycle Tires Before Expiry? 

Indeed your motorbike tires can last upto the 5-6 years of manufacturing; now the question arises, should you replace motorcycle tires before expiry? 

Suppose your motorbike tires hit a peak of problems, for instance, frequent puncture problems, and balancing problems. In that case, you can replace the motorcycle tires before expiry. 

After encountering the problems frequently, riding the same motorbike tires can make your riding life hell. Also, it would impact your safety a lot. 

Can You Extend the Motorbike Tires Aging? 

So far, you understand that you can replace your motorbike tires before hitting the expiry date if you encounter frequent problems. Now the question arises, can you extend the age of motorbike tires? 

You can extend your motorbike tires’ age by riding the motorbike safely, storing the tires at a suitable temperature (around room temperature), avoiding off-riding, and maintaining the recommended air pressure in both tires. You can even extend using of motorbike tires after they have crossed the expiry date. 

However, you must ensure that your motorbike tires remain in healthy condition and provide you comfort while riding the motorbike. 

Can You Replace the Motorbike Tires at the Same Time?

Indeed you can modify the motorbike tires’ expiry date by riding the motorbike carefully and avoiding riding harshly. Now the question arises, can you replace the motorbike tires simultaneously?

You don’t need to replace both motorbike tires simultaneously because both tires don’t wear at the same rate. For instance, the rear tires get worn out much faster than the front tires, which is why they need to be replaced earlier than the front tire. 

However, if both tires have the same expiry year, you can replace both motorbike tires simultaneously. 

How to Determine the Expiry Date of Motorcycle Tires?

Understanding the lifespan of your motorcycle tires is essential. Equally important is knowing how to check their expiry dates accurately. Here’s a guide on how to do just that.

To determine the expiry date of your motorcycle tires, inspect the sidewalls for the acronym “DOT.” Look for a four-digit code that indicates the tire’s manufacturing details. The first two digits represent the week of manufacture, while the remaining digits signify the year of production.

Let’s use the example of the code “3019” on your tire sidewall:

The first two digits, “30,” indicate that the tire was manufactured in the 30th week.

The last two digits, “19,” correspond to the year 2019.

In conclusion, the tire was produced in the 30th week of 2019.

Additionally, you can determine the month of manufacture by dividing the week number (30) by 4.3. In this case, 30 divided by 4.3 equals approximately 6.97, indicating that the tire was made in June 2019.

To calculate the tire’s remaining lifespan, subtract the manufacturing year from the current year. Using our example, subtracting June 2019 from June 2021 reveals a tire age of two years. Consequently, you have three more years before the tire expires, and it should be replaced in June 2024.

Also, read my previous post where I discussed what’s the appropriate cost of motorbike maintenance and how much will it cost to change motorbike tires, CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Final Verdict: 

Do Motorcycle Tires Go Bad with Age? Motorbike tires go bad with age, so the manufacturing date is always listed on the tires so that you can replace them when they’re old. When your motorbike reaches the six-year mark, experts always recommend replacing the old tires with new ones. 

If your motorbike tires are worn out, then you don’t need to wait for them to expire; it would be best to replace them as soon as possible.