Hi guys, just thought I'd try and see how old the tyres in my CBR1000F are and got instantly confused by it not having a 4-digit date code on them, only a 3-digit one so did some quick searching online and found how to read them
(it's a Metzeler MEZ3 Racing btw).



Yep that says 459.
Turns out that a code of 459 is the 45th week of 1999. It's a bloody 19 year old tyre!!
The bike's done 50,000~odd miles, how the hell is it not bald yet??
Obviously I'm getting the old ones replaced asap but thought I'd share my random discovery with y'all.

 

It's a shame to have to let a tire go due to age. I've just had to replace a couple tires on an older bike that still had plenty of meat on them.

 

Poor vid quality, but an important 20/20 segment:

 

I remember many years ago, old timers would buy their tyres and hang them in the shed for a few years to `harden' them to make them last longer when finally fitted to the car!

 

It was most likely sitting for a while before it was mounted. A small shop probably had it stored for some time before it could sell that size. That's very dangerous.

 

Noticed this on the rear while I was putting a new exhaust on it yesterday aswell so I'm now off to local garage to get a pair of new tyres.

 

Tyres were replaced with some Michelin Pilot Powers (only ones the garage had in stock while I was there). £200 later and it's safe to ride again.
Unsurprisingly they said "...its the oldest tyre they've removed from a bike" (the front).

 

Yeah old tire removal stinks - Just took me forever to change a decades old tire with a Motion Pro bead popper, cursing and sweating for 20 mins lol. Usually just takes a few whacks.