Shelf Life Of An Unused Good Quality Winter Tyre -- 4 Years Old

[fredsmith]

May I trouble one of the experts for some advice please?

Exactly 4 years I bought a set of 5 winter tyres for my IS 250. The car was new, and in error, I didn’t realise that the spare in the boot wasn’t a standard wheel/tyre as I’d had on previous cars.

So anyway, I’ve had this unused spare for 4 years, and as I now need a new set of winter tyres I’m wondering if I can use the spare and just buy 3 to make up the numbers.

I have read that tyres deteriorate with age, but should a 4 year old still be OK? It’s been sitting undisturbed in an indoor cellar for 4 years, kept cool and dry and in the dark for all that time. It’s a high quality Dunlop. Can’t recall the exact product but it was at the higher end of the range.

Any thoughts?

Thank you in advance.

Fred

[Captain Fizz]

Apparently they should not be stored on their sides as the sidewalls can suffer - But I think that's mainly for the bottom tyre in a stack with rims rather than a single tyre on it's own.

If not perishing I would expect it to be fine.

[mikeyv]

Should be fine, but if you have any concerns, just get the place you buy your new tyres from to inspect it, before putting on the car.