I know that everyone here trusts new tires.
I did not know that new tires become unreliable if they are over 4 years old, and should be changed when they become 6 years old, regardless of wear.
They may be new, not used, and yet the material becomes less flexible with age.

How to tell a tires age:
On the inside edge of the tire is a series of numbers. There are either 3 or 4 digits in one group, by themselves. 3 digits means that the tire was manufactured before the year 2000.
Example: 359 means that it was made in the 35th week of 1999.
Example:3401 means that it was made in the 34th week of 2001.

As of today's date, purchase tires whose number is more recent than 4804, to get two years of usage from the tire. If you usually use tires for more than two years, then buy tires with numbers more recent than 0105.

For the investigative story on the subject, view it at
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

What I hear is that if you purchase some new cars, the tires that come with with be on the softer side so they wear quicker.

Ain't that lovely?