So seeing as i've cranked up some miles on the NC30 in this fine weather we're all having my squared off Bridgestones needed replacing.

As i live quite close to a Honda dealership I gave them a call to ask for a quote - i asked for a BT092 on the rear, and BT090 on the front (i commute a couple of days a week on the bike), they quoted me £230 including fitting, which I thought was reasonable, plus the location of the garage meant it was convenient to get there and back from work, they even gave me a loan bike for the day.

So picked the bike up this evening and was quite excited about getting some new rubber. But when i got there, i was a little bit pissed off.

Firstly, they'd given me a pair of BT090's and not a 92rear and 90front. That was irritating, because i didn't get what i asked for and wasn't told beforehand, but then the 090 is sweet so I couldn't be too mad, so i kinda of let that die, plus they gave me a small discount for the hassle - fair enough. The dude i was dealing with said that they get their tyres from one of two bridgestone stockest, and Bridgestone won't let them have a non-matching set (load of bollocks?) and they were unwilling to fit a 92 to the rear because Bridgestone advised them that they shouldn't.

But more worrying, is that looking at the DOT numbers on the tyres, i see this:

Rear = 0003106
Front = 0003103

That would imply the rear was made in 31st week 2006, and the front 31st week 2003 if i'm reading that right? that's pretty much half the age of my bike, WTF , and i'm wondering if i should go back to the dealership and kick up a fuss?

Thoughts?

Bloody hell, did they get them from the Bridgestone museum? I'd be wanting newer replacements.

HI luke

Take them back, im not sure its law but most tyre places will not sell tyres older than 5 years old. Yours are too old by any standard.

yeah i think that's the first thing i'll be doing tomorrow. I nearly fell over when i read the front, i had to do a double check to make sure.

Hey Tony - i've got a vague memory of hearing something like that, might do some digging to check, even if it's not illegal, it's not on.

thanks for the confirmation chaps. Let's see what shit they come out with tomorrow.

It is pretty poor.. I'd have them, for half price perhaps - if they were stored right then they will do the job OK..but tyres are all about confidence and if you are not happy with them in your head then they may as well be made of wood.

Get them to sort it out - might be that they cannot source any newer...

FWIW - I used a tyre from 03 for a trip to the ring...I got my head around it after a trackday and a few hundred miles...wore it to death and it was fine.

have a look on oponea can pick up a pair of 090s for fairly cheap

^^^
And they'll be newish.

Are you sure thats the proper DOT number and not the sereial number?

My tyres have a 0000 number and a dot code

the dot code is 4 digits only.

Neosophist - i took another look at the tyres, also tried the bridgestone website, but couldn't see any ageing guide, but i did see another number....

looks like I win biggest donut of the year award. I took another look at the tyre walls (LHS) and saw DOT VAK4012 on the rear, and DOT VAK0913 on the front.

I'm hanging my head in shame, what a schoolboy error.

Thanks to all who replied - sorry for kicking up a fuss whilst i was being a retard!

Luke86 wrote:Neosophist - i took another look at the tyres, also tried the bridgestone website, but couldn't see any ageing guide, but i did see another number....

looks like I win biggest donut of the year award. I took another look at the tyre walls (LHS) and saw DOT VAK4012 on the rear, and DOT VAK0913 on the front.

I'm hanging my head in shame, what a schoolboy error.

Thanks to all who replied - sorry for kicking up a fuss whilst i was being a retard!

Yes that sounds about right, Made in march this year and about october last year.

:)