Tyres: Too old?

[1967 R502]

I’ve got a set of continentals.. they are new in the sense that they’ve never been on the road. I bought them in 2019 for a project that never materialized, figuring I could always use them on my regular rides Now I find myself in need of tyres for my regular ride, so I checked the age stamp and was somewhat surprised that they are marked 2011 and 2010. So that makes them 12 years old at this point.

Too old to mount?

[schrader7032]

For around the block rides, maybe OK. Otherwise, not worth the risk.

[xackley]

It would depend where you stored them. Odds are they did not sit out in the sunshine next to a volcano for all those years.
These are tube tires. If it were tubeless I would be more concerned about the age of a tire.

Take a screw driver and scrape the face should let you know if they still have adequate grip for an R50.

Don

[dellatorre6708]

You can buy tires and tube for around $3oo. How much do you think a ride to the ER is? Get new tires. When the compound hardens, tires lose griping ability and the least bit of smutz, yea I'm from Brooklyn, on the road will allow your tires to slip. New sticky tires might give you a few more seconds to react. YMMV.
Frank.
NYC.

[skychs]

Look at it this way ... if you were a rock climber and had to pick between an 11 year old rope that looked new or a new rope, which would you choose? That 11 year old rope may be just fine but its your life dangling from it. I would grab the new rope.

[1967 R502]

Changing the topic slightly;

Bench Mark Works sells (or did sell) Avon Roadriders which are a nice sticky compound, exactly what I am looking for.

However these have been replace by Roadrider IIs. Which is a tubeless tire.

Now obviously you Could put a tube in a tubeless tire, but it is usually not advised.

Anyone using these?

[dellatorre6708]

I have them on two of my machines. Work fine. FYI, I was riding on a set of old tires, 15 + years old, in NH last year. Entered a sharp sweeper and my rear slid out almost went down, went into it again and slipped out again. When I changed tires the old ones were so hard they broke apart. I was lucky. The Avons stick like Velcro. Any new tire is better than an old dried out one
Frank. NYC

[germancarguy]

dellatorre6708 do you use tubes with your Avon Tire Roadrider MKII Front/Rear Tire and if so what size ?

[808Airhead]

I put tubes in tubeless tires all the time...never had a problem. Read my post about the road riders.

[dellatorre6708]

Tubes, yes, spoked wheels don't work well without them. I try to find 3.25-3.50 -18 tubes. Easier to get them in the tires. I also wrap the spoke well with electrical tape then install the rim strip. Gives a few more seconds to get off the road if you get a puncture.