New tire purchase question: 4 year old vs newly manufactured ?

[GreaseMonkey]

Like @ridgebackpilot said, sometimes tire rack has older stock. When I bought my Pirellis, I was concerned that they would be old since I drive 3x less than the average driver. So I asked.

Tire rack could not tell me definitively what the manufacturing date was on the specific tires I bought (they claimed that they will have it in the system once tires are shipped to the customer). They were able to pull the last order they shipped and provided the date (which was 6 months earlier and acceptable to me). Mind you, this SKU is specific to the Mach-E and is not the same as what comes optional on factory-spec-ed cars (Mexico for OEM and German made for after market). My tires were made on the same date they mentioned on the phone.

I felt it was worth the call for some additional peace of mind…

…Despite being dead set on recording the least amount of mileage for Pirelli P-Zero and breaking the 4,000 mile record. Stay tuned!!

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[sparkout]

So I zeroed in on the tires I want for my Rally wheels and need advice.

Bridgestone Alenza Sport RFT in 255-55x19.

Looked around and found my local Walmart has them in stock for less ($206 each).

So I went to my local tire store ($297 each) who told me they would not match Walmart prices.

Was told by the tire shop that the Walmart prices are up to 4 year old tires that are still new, but have been stored ????

They could not match them because they are an older date manufacture and theirs is newly manufactured.

What they could do is match based on newly made tires by giving me a $50 price match instead of $90 each.

I could not find any mention on Walmart's site that it's an older manufactured tire.

Does this sound correct ?
Am I being "scammed" by the tire dealer ?

Check the date code, It's listed on all tires.

 

[4sallypat]

Check the date code, It's listed on all tires.

Picking up today at Walmart.

Will post pix on date code.....

 

[4sallypat]

UPDATE:
Walmart tires I bought have a date code of 0724 which means these are about 1.5 years old ?

Should be OK to mount on the Rally wheels ?

If so, I will be having a chat with the tire shop manager and let them know they would not price match because their rep said it's 4 years old.

Factory sticker - showing EV, wet traction and sound level:

 

[tuminatr]

UPDATE:
Walmart tires I bought have a date code of 0724 which means these are about 1.5 years old ?

Should be OK to mount on the Rally wheels ?

If so, I will be having a chat with the tire shop manager and let them know they would not price match because their rep said it's 4 years old.

Factory sticker - showing EV, wet traction and sound level:

As others have mentioned, I wouldn't run a tire that's that much different from the factory size; it will likely rub.

With the higher load rating, make sure you lower the pressure so the tires ride right

111 load rating supports 1852 lbs @30 PSI 2271lbs @39psi
103 load rating supports 1819 lbs @39psi (this is the factory spec)

The 111 load rating will have noticeable center wear from being over-inflated if you run them at 39psi

 

[4sallypat]

As others have mentioned, I wouldn't run a tire that's that much different from the factory size; it will likely rub.

With the higher load rating, make sure you lower the pressure so the tires ride right

111 load rating supports 1852 lbs @30 PSI 2271lbs @39psi
103 load rating supports 1819 lbs @39psi (this is the factory spec)

The 111 load rating will have noticeable center wear from being over-inflated if you run them at 39psi

Thank you for that - never thought about even wear due to pressurization vs load ratings.

I'll have the tire shop first do one Rally wheel and tire first to see about any rubbing or clearance.

 

[RickMachE]

UPDATE:
Walmart tires I bought have a date code of 0724 which means these are about 1.5 years old ?

Don't know why there is a question mark there. 0724 means the 7th week of 2024, in other words 2/12/24 - 2/18/24. Using today date that makes the tires almost exactly 1.5 years old, yes.

Given a guideline of replacement at 6 years, you've used up 25% of the life before installing them. As long as you understand that, and the price reflects it, go for it.

Years ago I bought a 1998 Ford Explorer, new. Like all my vehicles, I dropped the spare to check it and air it up. It was faded with age from the sun(which is impossible under a vehicle) and over 2 years old. Needless to say, dealership replaced it with a much newer spare.

As I stated prior, I never buy tires older than 90 days.

 

[4sallypat]

Don't know why there is a question mark there. 0724 means the 7th week of 2024, in other words 2/12/24 - 2/18/24. Using today date that makes the tires almost exactly 1.5 years old, yes.

Given a guideline of replacement at 6 years, you've used up 25% of the life before installing them. As long as you understand that, and the price reflects it, go for it.

Years ago I bought a 1998 Ford Explorer, new. Like all my vehicles, I dropped the spare to check it and air it up. It was faded with age from the sun(which is impossible under a vehicle) and over 2 years old. Needless to say, dealership replaced it with a much newer spare.

As I stated prior, I never buy tires older than 90 days.

Thanks for confirming date code.

Funny, these tires I bought at Walmart have stickers from a tire store in KY.
That tire store sells them for MORE than what I paid for, but less than Discount Tire.
Is it because it's older set of tires for the discounted price ?

Also found 2 had 0724 while the other 2 tires have 3324 - a bit newer.

Should the newer ones go to the rear or does it matter ?

 

[RickMachE]

It is irrelevant where each tire goes, unless a half year of age means you might replace 2 instead of 4 in the future, in which case put matching date codes on same axle.

 

[4sallypat]

Walmart sells for less because they hope while you wait you go shopping and buy $400 of worthless crap you don't need. The tire guy only sells tires.

Since I don't need anything else at Walmart, I saved over $350 compared to Discount Tire on a set of 4 so I am happy.

 

[RickMachE]

Since I don't need anything else at Walmart, I saved over $350 compared to Discount Tire on a set of 4 so I am happy.

https://www.discounttire.com/customer-service/low-price-guarantee

 

[nuMach]

FUD fear uncertainty doubt.

Sales tactic when the seller sees the sale going south, so you wont look elsewhere.

It a real thing.

 

[rhougey]

Don't know why there is a question mark there. 0724 means the 7th week of 2024, in other words 2/12/24 - 2/18/24. Using today date that makes the tires almost exactly 1.5 years old, yes.

Given a guideline of replacement at 6 years, you've used up 25% of the life before installing them. As long as you understand that, and the price reflects it, go for it.

Years ago I bought a 1998 Ford Explorer, new. Like all my vehicles, I dropped the spare to check it and air it up. It was faded with age from the sun(which is impossible under a vehicle) and over 2 years old. Needless to say, dealership replaced it with a much newer spare.

As I stated prior, I never buy tires older than 90 days.

The old guideline of 6 year tire replacement is a bit like the old guideline of 3,000 mile oil changes. The most commonly accepted current tire replacement guideline for quality name brand tires is 10 years unless they’ve been abused. Use common sense to adjust for your own environment, use, and abuse. In my world I would have no problem mounting tires manufactured 18 months ago unless they had been stored for 18 months outside in the sun.

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