I guess I should try to help set the record straight.
Nitto tires:
The Tire Rack focuses on brands that are used as Original Equipment (O.E.) on many of the world's finest vehicles. Of the three brands you inquired about, only Toyo has any, although limited, O.E. fitments on vehicles sold in the United States.
Nitto Tire is subsidiary of the Toyo Tire & Rubber Company.
Since these tire brands have limited awareness in the United States (with the exception of performance tires), they rely heavily on their independent dealers for sales.
Some of the larger regional tire dealers who sell the off-the-road tires used for logging and mining, H.D. truck tires used for tractor trailers and busses, as well as light light truck and passenger car tires have been given "exclusive geographic distribution privileges" to minimize competition.
This results in a conflict because The Tire Rack offers its selection of products nationwide, and is not able or willing to restrict delivery to specific regions. The regional dealers have threatened to stop selling the tire manufacturer's "full" line if The Tire Rack delivers into their "area".
While this costs The Tire Rack some sales and doesn't always provide the consumer with the best selection and service, it's the path that these tire companies have chosen to take.
Tire Age:
Nothing Lasts Forever...and Tires Are No Exception
Tires are manufactured by bonding rubber to fabric plies and steel cords. And despite the anti-aging ingredients mixed into the rubber compounds, there is a realization that tires are perishable, as well as a growing awareness that some tires will actually age out before their treads will wear out.
How many years will tires last before aging out? Unfortunately it's impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based on their calendar age alone.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and tire manufacturers are currently studying the many variables. Exposure to the elements (sun and atmospheric), regularity of use (frequent or only occasional) and the quality of care (maintaining proper inflation pressure, wheel alignment, etc.) will all influence the answer. So while tire life depends on the service conditions and the environment in which they operate, the difficult task remains how to identify all of the variables that influence a tire's calendar age and attempt to quantify their influence.
The current industry association recommendations regarding inspecting and replacing tires due to age originate outside the United States.
The British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA) recommended practice issued June, 2001, states "BRMA members strongly recommend that unused tyres should not be put into service if they are over six years old and that all tyres should be replaced ten years from the date of their manufacture."
"Environmental conditions like exposure to sunlight and coastal climates, as well as poor storage and infrequent use, accelerate the aging process. In ideal conditions, a tyre may have a life expectancy that exceeds ten years from its date of manufacture. However, such conditions are rare. Aging may not exhibit any external indications and, since there is no non-destructive test to assess the serviceability of a tyre, even an inspection carried out by a tyre expert may not reveal the extent of any deterioration."
More recently, The Japan Automobile Tire Manufacturers Association (JATMA) recommended practice issued May, 2005, states "customers are encouraged to have their vehicle tires promptly inspected after five years of use to determine if the tires can continue to be used (recommends spare tires be inspected as well). Furthermore, even when the tires look usable, it is recommended that all tires (including spare tires) that were made more than ten years ago be replaced with new tires. Additionally, because in some cases automobile makers--based on the characteristics of the relevant vehicle--stipulate in the owner's manual the timing of tire inspection and replacement. Please read and confirm the content of the owner's manual."
Several European vehicle manufacturers of high performance sports cars, coupes and sedans identify that "under no circumstances should tires older than 6 years be used" in their vehicle owner's manual. However, it should be noted that European recommendations must include driving conditions that include roads like the German Autobahn, which allows vehicles to be legally driven at their top speeds for extended periods of time.
While American driving conditions don't include the high-speed challenges of the German Autobahn, Chrysler and Ford Motor Company joined their European colleagues in 2005 by recommending that tires installed as Original Equipment be replaced after six years of service. (General Motors declined to offer a recommendation until a more scientific analysis of driving conditions and tire aging could be completed).
It is important to take into account Original Equipment tires are mounted on wheels and put into service right after being received by vehicle manufacturers, so their calendar age begins immediately. However the same cannot be said of tires properly stored in a tire manufacturers' warehouse or in Tire Rack distribution centers before they go into service. Properly stored tires that are protected from the elements and not mounted on a wheel age very slowly before they are mounted and put into service.
Since Tire Rack sells tires manufactured in North and South America, as well as Europe, Africa and Asia, it's common for us to receive new tires directly from manufacturers that are already six to nine months old. Since we rotate our inventory, most of the tires we ship are less than a year old.
However, some low volume tires in sizes for limited production vehicles (i.e. Dodge Vipers) can only be efficiently manufactured periodically where one short production run may produce more than a year's worth of global supply. In some of these cases, Tire Rack might receive new tires directly from the manufacturer that are already several years old.
Our experience has been that when properly stored and cared for, most street tires have a useful life in service of between six to ten years. And while part of that time is spent as the tire travels from the manufacturing plant to the manufacturer's distribution center, to the retailer and to you, the remainder is the time it spends on your vehicle.
Car & Driver
The test information posted previously was a Car and Driver tire test. While it was conducted at our facility we had ZERO input on what was being tested, how the tests were conducted or the results. There were a couple of drivers and very accurate timing equipment used to compile the data. Numbers don't lie but, yes some of the info is subjective. The drivers who were conducting the test are very well known for their experience and car control abilities industry wide. By industry I do not mean the media I am referring to the automotive industry. Their subjective opinions do carry a lot of weight. In the end are we to believe that a well know, extremely respected, world wide publication would jeopardize their reputation, and in turn their income stream, by 'doctoring' their test results as is being suggested.
Luke
. I will let you know how I make out.
but thanks again for the support!
FOR MY VIPERS. 
Then we will have a thread on here complaining about the shortage of tires and the price!
