Was given a brand new wrangler tire off a TJ , it was never used but I also don't think ever unmounted for years. Had a cover on but I when I mounted in my XJ I noticed where it touched the TJ mount it has flat spots and tiny cracks in 3 places. Any tire experts know if this is ok , or is the tire trash even though it's never been used ? Thanks hire to be stuck with a flat an hour from home and have the spare blow.

 

Hard to tell from the pic.

Tires degrade over time regardless of whether they are mounted and used or not.

I just recently tossed out my original spare on my 99.

Try to match tires and tread depth for best and safest performance.

 

The cracking looks superficial. Take your fingernail and pick at them, if the rubber feels dry and flecks off it's probably dry rot. But otherwise you're probably good to go with it, just make sure it has air. It's hard to tell in the picture, but the last four digits in the DOT number will tell you when a tire was made. Looks like 0101, which would mean it was made the first week of 2001.

 

You should be OK to use as a spare but I really wouldn't trust it for a long distance.

 

Any tire that hold air is better than nothing when you get a flat.
With that I mean, nighttime and raining everything with air is better, just drive slow with tire and you can come home.
Manny years ago I was touring Australia, and out at nullarbor flats a wheel with a bald tire was worth about $50-100, same wheel at wreckers $5.

 

The tire is junk for 2 reasons:

1. It is dry rotted where it touched the carrier since new.

2. The tire is 11 years old. A tire should be replaced when it has been in service or aired up after 7 years regardless of tread depth. Goodyear says 6 years.

Small cracks can become big cracks if placed back into service, leading to a catastrophic blowout through the sidewall.

I have been in the tire business for 35 years.

 

XX2 ^^ what Firestorm500 said. Put it on and do burn outs with it

 

But, close to home.