The Abarth was purchased in 5/2015, so I would consider that the actual birth date of the tires, as that is when they were first driven.
Wow! Stop with all the pressure please! I have put together some information that I have found out on the internet about Perilli Tires and their shelf life. It might be your worthwhile to look it over to get a more informative view of how to determine the longevity of tires, instead of using a one size fits all ideology. Since you are located in LA, this might not be a good match for you due to the shipping cost and I can really understand your frustration with that since the wheels are so beautiful. However, someone that does a lot of freeway miles might find this a worthwhile purchase for a short-term duration. This means less going into landfill prematurely, after all. The biggest expense in my advertisement is for the wheels, with very little calculated for the used tires. It might be best for someone that lives near San Francisco and can do a local pick-up.
Thank you for your interest! I wish you the best!
Janet
As you can see by the photos of my Abarth it is in pristine, collector item condition.
I have garaged it everyday and have driven it only weekends to and from the grocery store. This is a car that has had no hard driving, keep in a constantly cool environment and tires inflated, etc (another words - well taken care of). Yes, they may be 8 years old, but I only drove it 1000 miles per year and they are in excellent condition. This may not be something you are interested in, but someone who does drive freeway miles might be interested in awesome tires with a two year life expectancy and 50k miles. So, if you drive 20-25k miles per year on freeways, these might be a good match for you.
So here is my research article for you to read.
A little Background on Pirelli Tires and the Expiration Date of Tires
Most people agree that Pirelli makes some of the best high-performance tires on the market. Pirelli tires are beloved by high-speed enthusiasts and luxury car owners.
Pirelli tires are not our first choice for your daily commuter, but they’re an excellent option for sports vehicles, as Pirelli tires are synonymous with performance. The company’s models are made for speed, excellent handling, and grip in wet and dry conditions. Pirelli has also made considerable efforts toward sustainability, like sourcing plant-based materials and synthetic rubbers.
In summary, Pirelli is a premium tire brand. It is considered one of the premier tire brands for high-performance applications and is the preferred brand of motorsports professionals worldwide.
How Long Do Pirelli Tires Last?
Most Pirelli tire models such as the Cinturato last between 45,000-65,000 miles. Customers should replace their Pirelli tires if the tread depth falls below 2/32 inches.
Many automakers, including Ford, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz, tell owners to replace tires six years after their production date, regardless of tread life. Tire manufacturers such as Continental and Michelin say a tire can last up to 10 years provided you get annual tire inspections after the fifth year.
The Rubber Manufacturers Association said there is no way to put a date on when a tire "expires" because such factors as heat, storage, under-inflation and conditions of use can dramatically reduce the life of a tire. The Italian National Association of Tire Manufacturers has clearly stated that tires don't have an expiry date. "There is no correlation between the date of manufacture and the usable life and performance of a tire. Tires are not a perishable product like a food item, and so linking its value to its date of production or "freshness" is a misleading commercial proposal. What is more important is what happens when the tire is fitted onto the car. "The life of a tire is will ultimately depend on the conditions of use and many other variables such as the load, speed, road conditions, exposure to the heat and weather, as well as if they are correctly maintained."
When not yet fitted, tires are not fully inflated and only experience minute temperature changes in storage. Tires undergo the most stress when in use, driving on the road, and not while sitting in storage. They are exposed to differences in tire pressure, high speeds, heavy braking and accelerating, rough roads and terrain, road debris, and temperature and weather changes. These factors have a more significant impact on the life and overall health of a tire.
Over in the United States, there is no standard regulation that determines a tire's sell-by date. The
US Tire Manufacturer's Association states that tires wear down and get damaged due to a "combination of time, storage conditions and conditions of use – such as inflation pressure, load, speed, temperature, wheel alignment, impacts and road hazard injury."
However, many still refer to the DOT code to determine if a tire is still a safe and usable tire. The unseen danger that threatens consumers here is that they focus solely on tire age (DOT) and expiry and fail to maintain their tires regularly once in use. As stated by many in the tire industry, everyday driving demands have a larger impact on a tire's usable life.
Most drivers don't check their tire pressure consistently and drive around with under-inflated or worn out tires, a far more dangerous habit with a
direct effect on the handling performance of any vehicle.
While yes, it is important to consider the tire's DOT, proper maintenance is still crucial. Don't forget to check if the tire has the correct air pressure; the tire tread depth is still within the legal limits it is
aligned correctly, regularly
rotated and inspected for
cuts and holes.
