As with most consumables, tires have a shelf life. Motorcycle tire manufacturers advise that even if a tire has lots of remaining treads, the drying out of the tire's multiple rubber compounds means it will need replacing every 5-6 years.

On the side wall next to the U.S. DOT tire identification number you will find a 4-digit number. The first 2 digits indicate the week of its manufacture and the last two are for the year. In our example, the 0916 translates to the 9th week in the year 2016.

Dunlop has been building tires using domestic and foreign materials in Buffalo, NY, since 1920, and to this day proudly manufactures motorcycle tires in the same facility.