How old is too old for tires?

[Stanley Rockafella]

Looking at a new set of tires beign sold from someone off of CL.

The tires are Continental DWS's and have gotten great reviews on tirerack. The size is 205 50 16's for my e30/

The tires have never been mounted and still have the original stickers on them. Problem is, is that these tires are about 4 years old acc. to the seller.

Is this a gamble worth taking? he wants 400 for the set I know these are great tires, but is this too old?

thanks in advance

[Stanley Rockafella]

I'm going to check out the tires today. If they are too old I won't buy (acc to the date stamp on the sidewall). So far I can tell the tires should be maybe 3-4 years old.

[Galactodactyl]

Should be fine if they were left out of the weather

[Stanley Rockafella]

hmmm...that's the thing. the AD shows them stored under a deck or something but outside nonetheless.

Mined you, the temps here don't get below 23F very often.
not sure if that should matter much

[agent]

There is a point where the manufacturer will no longer warrant the tire, though I'm not sure what it is. Five years?

Either way, unless these tires were properly stored in a climate-controlled garage they're not worth $100 each at that age. Earlier this year I got a set of DWs in that same size for $100 each brand new...

[DisgustipatedAP1]

Looking at a new set of tires beign sold from someone off of CL.

The tires are Continental DWS's and have gotten great reviews on tirerack. The size is 205 50 16's for my e30/

The tires have never been mounted and still have the original stickers on them. Problem is, is that these tires are about 4 years old acc. to the seller.

Is this a gamble worth taking? he wants 400 for the set I know these are great tires, but is this too old?

thanks in advance

$400? What the fuck? I bought Federal 595 RS-R's 205/45/16 brand new for $83/each. Those spank the shit out of those tires.

Don't buy something so old for so much. I wouldn't give him more than $200 for that. His loss for keeping them for so long.

[TimKninja]

6 years is the cut off for tire age. If you dont plan on them lasting longer then that then maybe go for it, but DONT pay $100 a tire for something that has 1/3rd life left.

Conti DWS are very good.

[Fusion]

I've been driving on Conti SportContacts made in 2002 for two years. The tires are hard, i tracked and overheated them like 7 times.
I just had them swapped but will probably use them on the DD.
Check for hair-thin cracks or anthing weather related. I payed 250 for the set. 400 is new tire money.

[xxx-Lost-Soul-xxx]

Michelin tires are the only tires id buy that are old. If they dryrot then the tire was in a very bad place. Most tire places wont install a tire older then 6 years.

The guy is out of his mind. $200 tops.

$400 will get you newer RE760 Potenza's.
From my experence with Conti is they ware way to fast,They are the best in the rain though.

[GillesBigCowboy]

unless u think u are going to use them up in a couple years, just buy some new ones

[E30SPDFRK]

Michelins are the worst for cracking actually, pilots usually start cracking after only 2 years.

No way I would pay $400 for them, especially if they've been stored outside. $200 tops like everyone else said, but I'd offer $150.

[bowtie2bimmer]

Look at the production date on the tire

[jeffnhiscars]

I bought brand new DWS Extremes in that exact size and paid about $500 mounted & balanced w lifetime rotation AND a tread wear warranty. Thats exactly what those will cost you by the time you get them installed with none of the perks.

[unevolved]

Like everyone else has said, if they'd been kept inside you'd be fine, but given the circumstances I wouldn't even bother. If you offer him half what he wants, he'll just be insulted.

[Stanley Rockafella]

Yeah go them for 300. He actually stored them indoors in his garage as when I go tthere they were just pulled out for the pics. Overall i'm happy as they are very new and still have the stickers.When pricing these tires out here in Canada, the cheapest I could get was 150 each plus tire disposal, tax, install, balancing etc. So easily I could spend about 700 OTD for these tires. at this point all i have to do is have them balenced and mounted. I have a guy who does that for 20 a wheel

The prod date indicates that the tires were made in the 50th week of 09, so that's decent enough for me. Considering I hardly use the damn car anyway. Figure I'll sell off my steely e30 wheels and tires now that I won't need them anymore

thanks again for all the help guys!