new avon venom front tire for the I/S?

[stratmarshall]

I'm needing a new front tire. I've been calling around and found a new avon venom for $165.00. Since this tire has been discontinued should I be worried that its a older tire that never sold? Thus the better price. I haven't seen it yet. Do you ck the date code like dunlops? Should I get it or get a new Elite III for around the same price? I understand tire are good for 5 years after manufacture, but if its a couple years old already it may go bad before I wear it out. not a high mileage rider you know.Thanks, Rick

[hoser]

I wouldn't worry about it,  I haven't had a tire problem in 62K and 7 years,  and I've never looked at the code yet.  If I get a good price, I buy them 2 or 3 at a time.  They might sit in my garage for 2 or 3 years! I store them in a big plastic bag.  jmho  hoser

[MP]

+1 hoser.  I do not think it could be old enough to be a problem.  A couple years I would not worry about.  8 or more, maybe.

MP

[hoser]

I put a new BS front on the interstate before I sold it.  It had been in the sack for 2 years.  Still smelled new when I got it out.  If I remember right it Cost just over 120 bux a couple years ago, so I bought 2, the other one is on my tourer, has been for 12 K.  I'm waiting for a good price to buy a couple more.    Hoser

[cookiedough]

+1 on what MP said.  I still have on my 2001 interstate the crappy dunlop D206 tires and I think the date on the tire was either 2002 or 2003, cannot remember.  Either way, both tires are around 8 years old and still holding air and not too bad weather checked and still maybe have another 1-2,000 more miles tread on it, but would not trust it anymore to go longer distance touring with it.  95% of my driving on the bike is within 50 miles one way, so I am going to replace both tires this year, but not an extreme rush.
If the new Avon's in your mind are a good deal being 2 years old not used on a bike yet vs. buying a new Dunlop Elite III for about the same price, I would not hesitate on purchasing the Avons.  My .02 cents.

[stratmarshall]

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and picked it up. Can't wait to get it installed and get some dry weather to put some miles on it. Thanks,Rick

[MP]

I am sure you will be happy with us.  Find the DOT code number on it, then go online and find the decoder ring!  Let us know what year and week it was produced.  I believe 0343  is the 43 week of 03, but not positive on that.

MP