Importing tyres

[Landmine]

Tyres ordered 24th Aug from Rocky Mountain ATV Arrived today 28th I would say that is very quick. Impressed with service.

[bazman]

Yeah, that's pretty impressive delivery time....especially when you consider exactly how far they are travelling to get to ya in that time!!

What sort did ya end up getting, Landmine?

[Tony Nitrous]

How old are they ?

The date IS on the side wall.

4 digit number,
1st two numbers are the week of the year,
2nd 2 are the year.
EG: This week is 3512.

Some are a LOT older than others,
but the US stuff is normaly quite good / recent.

[Landmine]

Bridgestone bt 016 and manufacture date if I have this correct. Rear DJE 1012 Front VDK 2112. do you know what the letters mean?

How old are they ?

The date IS on the side wall.

4 digit number,
1st two numbers are the week of the year,
2nd 2 are the year.
EG: This week is 3512.

Some are a LOT older than others,
but the US stuff is normaly quite good / recent.

[Tony Nitrous]

Not sure on the letters.

A few folk have told me they are now getting nice new tyres
out of the US and seeing a lot less old stock. **12 is good.

[jeffro45]

Hi there a word of warning buying from overseas!!! I just received my order (three days ago!) of Dunlop GP- A tyres for my busa, with the intention of using them on the track. A close inspection revealed these tyres are NOT fresh!! They are nearly 4 years old!!! I got them from Jake Wilson tyres Utah USA after reading here people were happy with their service.......
Needless to say I am REALLY pissed off that they deceived me and sent some tyres that were probably at the back of the warehouse getting hard and mouldy!!! Of course they couldnt get rid of them over the counter (who in their right mind would buy tyres at that age at premium prices??)
Furthermore....before the actual purchase they were very good at replying to all my questions...however after receiving them and emailing them about my disappoinment in them sending me these OLD tyres ..havent heard back...this verifies that this mob is SHONKY!!! Give them a BIG miss!!!

Stick with people you know is my advice or at least ask what date of manufacture are the tyres they are sending you!!!
Just my bit!!!
Take it easy...
Jeffro

[Shifu]

Hi there a word of warning buying from overseas!!! I just received my order (three days ago!) of Dunlop GP- A tyres for my busa, with the intention of using them on the track. A close inspection revealed these tyres are NOT fresh!! They are nearly 4 years old!!! I got them from Jake Wilson tyres Utah USA after reading here people were happy with their service.......
Needless to say I am REALLY pissed off that they deceived me and sent some tyres that were probably at the back of the warehouse getting hard and mouldy!!! Of course they couldnt get rid of them over the counter (who in their right mind would buy tyres at that age at premium prices??)
Furthermore....before the actual purchase they were very good at replying to all my questions...however after receiving them and emailing them about my disappoinment in them sending me these OLD tyres ..havent heard back...this verifies that this mob is SHONKY!!! Give them a BIG miss!!!

Stick with people you know is my advice or at least ask what date of manufacture are the tyres they are sending you!!!
Just my bit!!!
Take it easy...
Jeffro

I am not sure if the same is applicable to motorbike tyres (it should not make any difference) but the car tyres usualy have 6 years shelf life. So you still have plenty of time to wear them out. 2-3 track days should do it I bought the set of Dunlops at the PI track and they were 3 years old. Have them on my Gixer now and haven't noticed any issues so far. Are there any members with good tyre knowledge that could enlighten us on this topic please?

Cheers.

[CeeJay07]

Who checks the date of manufacture when buying from their local tyre guy??? Not too many I would guess.

[bazman]

I never used to, CeeJay....but now that I've been informed what those numbers on the sidewall mean, I'll be checkin' next time I wander thru the shop....juz to compare with the tyres, ooops TIRES from the states, to see how they stack up against each other!!

[conscuba]

I ordered my tyres from rocky mountain in 2011 and the date on the tyre was 2010. guess thats not too bad.

[jeffro45]

Yeh the only reason I knew the tyres were old was because someone here in this thread emlightened me in what the numbers really meant!!
In the future I will be ASKING what dates are on the tyre BEFORE I actually order them!!!'

Anyone on this forum tell us from experience that tyres 2...3..4...5 years old make a difference?? Since my bad experience in the last few days have found out (from Dunlop) that tyres can last up to 5 years providing they are in a climate controlled enviroment??? And that up to 5 years are considered new... Can someone verify this???? Thanks boys....
I dont know about you guys.... if I am paying for tyres that are keeping me from meeting upstairs I want the best and freshest tyres available not the warehouse seconds that I reckon I got sent!!!

---

I never used to, CeeJay....but now that I've been informed what those numbers on the sidewall mean, I'll be checkin' next time I wander thru the shop....juz to compare with the tyres, ooops TIRES from the states, to see how they stack up against each other!!

Me too mate only found out what they meant as mine were getting delivered..then to my disappointment saw fuckin 08 manufacture on the side!!! Shonky pricks!

[bazman]

heya jeffro,

I'm juz curious what brand & model you ordered?

[jeffro45]

Bazman,
Hi mate I ordered the Dunlop GP-A tyres....they advertised them at $420 for both (120/70/17 and the 190/55/17). Front soft compound, rear soft medium...postage $85.00 total of $505.00 which I thought resonable, but you know the story.... they screwed me!!

As it turns out I go today to the track day at Eastern Creek, and I looked at the suppliers "Madaz" tyres that apparently go there every track day and they have these tyres (but the newest 2012 version) I think they are called GPR a11 going at $399 fitted!!!! Far out i thought!! If i had known that!!! Anyway the moral to the story before buying ANYWHERE check the date of manufacture!! I reckon anything over 2 years is frickin old for a bike anyway!! Someone here said car tyres have a 6 year life span and bikes similar he would guess...well I dont think they compare at all. Car tyres are just simple one compound construction (usually),,bikes on the other hand are are piece of art in manufacture and the rubber much more sensitive to light, temperature and other nasties that attack the rubber from day one...
Live and learn mate!!!
Cheers!
Jeffro

[Mono]

Jeffro,

The Dunlop GP-A that you have purchased I believe are called a D211 GP-A - the D.O.T. approved ones.

We hold stock of these tyres (medium front & rear) at our warehouse and a pair sells for $585.00 + $20 delivered anywhere in Australia. You also get a bonus Dunlop N-Tec t-shirt with our deal.

The Dunlop D211 GP-A is the current control tyre for the ASBK Supersport/Superstock 600 series. We have been advised by Dunlop that this week have held all stock pending next weekend's round of ASBK at Willowbank.

The date on the pair of tyres we have on the shelf (which we received only last week) is Front 3110 (August 2010) and Rear 0412 (January 2012).

The stock we receive from Dunlop Australia is picked straight from the stock they use for the ASBK series.

So when the question is raised about the dates on the tyres, Dunlop only supply fresh stock to the racers which is what is then also supplied to us to make available to you guys.

If Dunlop say that a tyre is too old, then they send the tyre to scrap, it does not get sold. Bearing in mind, all tyres are made in batch quantities for economical manufacture and are to be stored until sold. So a new batch it not made until quantities are near exhausted. Some tyres e.g. OEM fitment tyres, they only make one batch and they can be sold up to 5 years later.

Overall, date of manufacture is only one component. It a tyre gets a bad name it will sit round for a lot longer. If a tyre gets a good name it will be constantly be reproduced because of high product sales.

Storage is probably more of a factor. Remembering, why do you get Apples all year round? Answer - they are stored for up to 2 years to get constant supply. If they can do that, then tyres should be a walk in the park!

Also, as we are one of the highest Dunlop resellers & stockest in Australia, we can supply the D211 GPA DOT treaded tyre. However, we have been clearly advised by Dunlop, it is not advised to use on the road because it is harder to keep a higher temperature, being in the medium compound (which is the only compound available in Australia) on our aggressive road surfaces. A totally different story on a race track because of its smooth bitumen which results in great heat transfer to the tyre.

Depending on what race meet / track day you go to, there are a few guys out there in the industry that sell at the track. Just double check exactly what tyres are being sold today at the track as what you have purchased I believe is the Dunlop D211 GPA.

There is a Dunlop tyre call an GPRa-11 which is a Dunlop Alpha 11 and it is "ZR" rated. This is a super sticky tyre. But the GPRa-11 tyre has been superseded by the GPRa-12 which is the current stock. Please note that the GPRa-12 is only a "H" rated tyre and not available in anything bigger than a 160 rear.

We have good supply of 190/50-17 GPRa-11 mid-late 2009 manufacture.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Dunlop-Sportm...23199a3507

Would also like to point out that the D211 GPA is an an American made tyre which is a control tyre. This is to set the field all on equal rubber. This is by no means stating this is the ultimate tyre to ride on and it will always remain the bridesmaid to the D211 GP Racer Slick.

The current slick is made in France, and has come off being a control tyre last year, which has now been reduced in price down to $450 a pair. This French NTec is superior to the US control tyre and is also available in all compounds bare hard fronts.

Tyre sizes available are 120/70-17 fronts, 190/55-17 Rears and 200/55-17 Rears. Most 6" rim fitments go the 200. Price does not change.

There is also more race tyres available in the Dunlop range in the UK NTec K106 front & K108 rear. These are good for an extra 2 seconds around Phillip Island. That's if you can really hold a set of handlebars and don't mind paying near double the money.

Also, if you want the freshest Dunlop slick tyres, we have current stock from the latest container received by Dunlop Australia. These were manufactured in the middle of 2010. You will not get any fresher than that and these are from the same shipment that get sold at the track.

Also would like to point out if Dunlop believed these tyres to be too old an not give the required results on the track, they would be more than risking their name in the racing industry.

There is no control tyre in ASBK series next year, it is open slather ! So that will make it interesting !

If there are any questions that you want to know about Dunlop tyres, or any other tyres, please do not hesitate to ask. We work with Dunlop very closely, especially with all Dunlop race tyres.

BTW, here's a couple of links

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FREE-SHIRT-DU...231cacc117

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/FREE-HOODIE-D...232124d365

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DUNLOP-SPORTM...231c9fa3a8

Or call 1800 MC TYRES.

We are the biggest motorcycle tyre warehouse in Australia.

Cheers,
MONO (Nigel)

[bazman]

Lots of good info there....thanks for shedding some more light on this subject, Nigel!!