Originally Posted by dwightdmagee
Seems a myth encouraged by the tire-men. Tires are tires in my view, and I'd only be interested in the wear indicators. This is not to say that you shouldn't inspect your tires now and then for checks/separations and the like, but beyond that, be grateful that tires do not have a shelf-life. Just imagine the costs to commercial fleets or the military if this where true. Yikes.
Not a myth, by any stretch.
Tires suffer from UV exposure if they are outdoors in the sunlight.
They suffer from ozone degradation.
The rubber material hardens over time and becomes less pliable, which means the tires don't conform as well to the road surface.
They will dry-rot over time, and this can lead to severe failure.
My recommendation is to examine the tires carefully, and if there's any cracking in the sidewall, replace them.
But overall, drive the car more.
BC.