Sorry but you are buying into a BS case. I have run tires that are 30 years old! This has been a push by manufactures in order to keep the factories busy. The main cause of tire failure is LOW AIR PRESSURE! Older tires can weep air at a great rate than new ones, but there are way to rejuvenate the inner liner. Tempature cahnge also affects the pressure in your tire. For every dropp in 10 deg there is a 2 PSI dropp in pressure. Weather checking or pulled belts are issues that need concern with radial tires, but this age stuff isn't as important as a quality inspection of a tire. Unfortunately there are less people that actually know anything about tires these days so its easier just to go by date...
Now before you start saying i'm off my rocker, have you noticed how many USED tire shops have popped up? Between the price of new tires and this age BS they are everywhere.
There is the magic triangle for tire use. Air pressure, weight, and speed. if you increase air pressure you can in crease weight or speed. if you decrease speed you can increase weight, or decrease air pressure. 99% of blow outs of tires that are in good shape are caused by low air pressure. Old tires are not the only cause for lowered air pressure. Your valve stem could be leaking, even a small amount over time can cause trouble.
Does anyone remember the ford explorer tire explosions and the resulting rollovers and the recalls on tires? I do. Those tires were OK to run, there was nothing wrong with them. the one problem was that they had 27psi stamped onto their sidewall. ford worked with the manufacture to get a better ride, and the MFG made the mistake of lowering the psi "Recommendation"
most people don't realize that the PSI stamp actually is a recommendation. Most of the roll overs happened in the SW during the summer on long trips 3-4 hrs on the road. This combination added heat build up because of the slightly lowered air pressure from 32 PSI BAM! tire goes out and diver doesn't know how to handle it.
I mentioned earlier that there are ways to rejuvenate the inner liner of a tire. there are products like Tire Life that condition the inner liner so less air weeps through. However the active ingredient has a same ingredient as anti freeze. I had an old bias Ply 4x4 tire that was so weather checked it leaked air through the cracks. You could see it bubble up with water. I took 1 quart of used antifreeze and put it into the tire. I aired it up and flipped it several times keeping the air pressure up at the max. It finally sealed up. I have wheeled that tire until i shanked it on a root.
If you spend the big money on new tires, by all means check the date and sweat the tire dealer on the date. If you want a deal on tires buy them off craigslist, the used tire shop, or any other place you can find them. BTW i have gotten some SMOKING deals off craigslist for tires.
There is ONE application where even i might be a little more cautious when buying tires. Motor homes. The main reason for this is IF a tire were to blow the damage would be much greater than if it were any other application. HOWEVER checking your air pressure before long trips seems to lack in priority anymore, and can save you LOTS of hassle...
