Ebay "new" tyre buying- beware
 

Just bought a "new" tourance 130/80-17 from a 99.7% positive feedback seller in Liverpool. date code 25 00.
Thats 11 years old. no cracks in it, obviously unused, but WTF is someone doing selling this kind of tyre! Even orangutangs down he zoo would have trouble hanging on in the wet.
:(

With "rubber-type" materials it's more of a WHERE it's been stored rather than HOW LONG. UV and Ozone is what fcuks rubbers. Stored in a cool dark place should be OK for many years. Out in the sunlight or near lots of electric motors will damage quite quickly. Blooming is one of the first signs of damage. Also, rubbers will continue to cure with heat so it may be harder than originally intended.

If the listing wasn't for New-Old-Stock, then the seller was a bit naughty. Un-used, isn't the same as new.

You could try asking for a partial refund if you feel you were misslead

I think it will probably be fine.... I've got a 10 foot tall stack of tyres. Some much older than that.

I swap them over now and again and notice no difference in them..

There's very little organic material in tyres these days. If left out in the African sun for ten years or frozen/thawed countless times in the arctic then I would be worried..

But a temperate Liverpool climate ! Relax !!

Tyres have makings that will tell you the week of manufacture- For example 2410
Means made during the 24th week of 2010.
If you deal with reputable people, you can ask / make it a condition of the sale.
fleabay of course....doh
enjoy

He's fine about a refund of £50. However this tyre is for winter commuting. The tyre has a brown kind of look to the rubber, and was coded 25 00. (hence I knew the age).
Cold, damp winter roads? I don't think so. It maybe ok for summer.

I don't blame you for being unhappy - if the item is advertised as 'new' that is obviously not the same as 11 years old! Even if stored in excellent conditions I cna't believe it will have the same properties as a 1 year old tire.

That's just bloom (oxidisation) it will probably wash or rub off. I would be happy to use an old-stock tyre. If the price was right of course !