[wtipster]

Hi all, I'm a newb to the forum. Can anyone tell me if I'm right in thinking the age of this tyre on my CB450 is 1964? Cheers

 

[Gixxer-18]

Welcome to the Forum... it's unlikely to be that old (1964) as it's a four digit code; which would indicate it's made after 2002, is the Tyre a Sumitomo brand? Also if you are in any doubt about the age and condition of your tyres just get new ones. It's not worth the risk running on old rubber.
Nigel.

 

[wtipster]

Hi Nigel, cheers for the reply. It's a Dunlop Qualifier f11. I understand also that tyres of a certain age would only have three numbers, hence the confusion! But it's written after the DOT so you'd have thought it'd be correct. I've searched the net but can't find any info. I'll dig some more.

Ps I'll ride it once on the tyres...... to the tyre shop

 

[J-T]

IF UK uses the same date code as US does your tire was manufactured in the sixth week of a year ending in 4 prior to 2000.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...codes&[email protected]:20170819032906:s

 

[wtipster]

Hi JT. My 450k6 is imported from the US to here in the UK so they're actually US spec tyres. So what you're saying is the 3 is just a random part of the code? Seems a little strange but I'm no expert. Cheers

 

[dtsmjr8dan]

Is this a possibility??

3........ March
06...... 6th
4........2004

 

[wtipster]

From all I've read over the last few days trawling the net..... only days and the year were included, but suppose it's possible. When it's on the road I'll take it along to a tyre specialist and pick their brains. Cheers

 

[WintrSol]

As a 4-digit DOT code, that number is nonsense. If you assume it is a 3-digit code, then the leading '3' is an optional character, and it is the 6th week of '94, '84, ...

 

[JamesPal]

I agree with Rick, the four digits do not conform to the date code system in affect since the year 2000. I would suspect these tires to be older than 2000 and use them at your own risk. The rubber hardens as it ages. The coefficient of drag reduces as the tire ages. There is also the problem with the inner tube being old. Years ago the spare tire on my truck exploded for no other reason than being old. Of course it was of tubeless design, but it threw about 7 inches of belt. We also lost a tire on an aircraft cargo loader at work. Same thing, it was a truck tire over 20 years old and it exploded in the same fashion.

 

[dtsmjr8dan]

Rick's opinion on the code seems the most likely. Regardless of what year it really is, that date is over the usable age limit. Still curious to find out the actual date for next time.

 

[wtipster]

Cheers for the input gents. I send an email to Dunlop, who knows they might reply Do you guys in America know if there's any way you can trace previous American owners of a bike from the uk. I have the old title and managed to get hold of the previous owner but he only had it for a short period and didn't do much with it then sold it on. So it's the person before the last owner I could do with contacting to pick his brains. I guess I'm clutching at straws but worth a try. Cheers again

 

[JamesPal]

It would be very difficult to trace the owners. Vehicles are registered by state and there is no national registration system. I live in the State of Washington and they are very closed about previous owner information. It is treated as private info to be protected.

 

[450roo]

I agree with Rick, the four digits do not conform to the date code system in affect since the year 2000. I would suspect these tires to be older than 2000 and use them at your own risk. The rubber hardens as it ages. The coefficient of drag reduces as the tire ages. There is also the problem with the inner tube being old. Years ago the spare tire on my truck exploded for no other reason than being old. Of course it was of tubeless design, but it threw about 7 inches of belt. We also lost a tire on an aircraft cargo loader at work. Same thing, it was a truck tire over 20 years old and it exploded in the same fashion.

I had that happen on a 450 some years ago doing 50 with a pillion passenger only the good Lord and some fancy riding kept me upright.:lol:

 

[WintrSol]

Any MC tire (tyre) more than 6 years old is unreliable at best, dangerous at worst. While finding the true age of the tire is an interesting exercise, I wouldn't ride a mile on that one, since it must be over 20 years old; you only have two, after all.

 

[wtipster]

The tyre looks like new.... it still has the bobbles on from the manufacturing process. If you look closely or zoom in to this photo though (and yes..my 450 is very......very green!) it looks like light cracking all the way round the perimeter of the wall. It's going to the great tyre rest home in the sky

 

[wtipster]

Hi all, this is the response from Dunlop


Dear Wayne

The only F11 we list in Europe by Dunlop UK is in the size 100/90-19 and is a tube type tyre.

This pattern may have been produced in the far east by Sumitomo Rubber, they own Dunlop in Japan.

The DOT does not decode on our system.

Regards

David Mullin
Technical Customer Support & Service
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd
08453 453453

So none the wiser

 

[wtipster]

Received an email today .....


DOT ETH4 NW 3064 will either be week 06 1984 or if there is a dot or triangle after the 4 it is week 06 1994. 06 tells me the week and the 4 tells me the year.

Regards

Peter Wayte

----------------------------------------------
Peter Wayte
Senior Advisor
Technical Customer Support & Service
Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd
08453 453 453


There is indeed a circle after the 4 so it?s 1994. Good as new ;-)