| Tyre age and DOT numbers for motorcycle tyre |
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The age of motorcycle tyres may be determined with the help of the DOT number. This number may be found on the side of the motorcycle tyre.
Example:
DOT EB V3 BRD 1200
The DOT numbers have had four digits since the year 2000. Since the 1st of January the DOT numbers have been stated in four digits. The first two digits state the calendar week; the last two digits indicate the production year.
Example:
2305 = 23rd calendar week 2005
DOT
The abbreviation DOT stands for "United States Department of Transportation" (USA). A tyre labelled like that meets the legal provisions of the US.
When are tyres no longer considered new?
Tyres are generally developed and produced so that the production features remain effective for their entire life span. Still, each tyre is subject to an ageing process, which also occurs during storage. Due to the different profiles, rubber compounds and constructions the ageing process is different for each tyre. The tyre manufacturers add substances to their rubber compounds, which slow down the ageing process. If a tyre is stored properly it will keep its full performance even after several years (up to 5 years) and will be considered "as new". The age limits generally is around 10 years - a tyre should not be mounted and used thereafter. If a manufacturer asserts different recommendations, they must be complied with.
Test results: old tyres versus new tyres
The tyre manufacturer METZELER has tested a set of motorcycle tyres aged five years and a brand new set of motorcycle tyres in racing conditions and has then compared the results. The five-year-old tyres had been stored properly. The old and the new sets of tyres were driven over a distance of 200 km and tested for 5 laps with the same motorcycle on the test run Vizola. The differences between the lap times between the old and new tyres were so minimal that there was no clear winner and that the quality difference could practically not be determined.
[Source: METZELER technology seminar 2004]
Adjudications and recommendations of professional associations
After the following times tyres are still considered "as new".
- BRV: 3 years from production date
(BRV: Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkaniseur-Handwerk e.V., Federal association tyre trade and vulcanising craft)
- ADAC:
2 years from production date
- AG Worms: 2 years storage after production date
(District Court Worms, decision from the 03/12/1992, DAR 1993, 303)
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Delticom /
moto-tyres.co.uk
07.02.2012 06:18
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