Just found this article on tire aging:
https://www.thoughtco.com/the-science-of-tire-aging-3234377
Some manufacturers apparently are OK with 4-year-old tires still being called "new."
According to this article, tire aging does not really start until they are pressurized. But tires also don't like sitting, they need to roll and flex to keep the natural oils distributed.
So while this link points to some positive info, I can't say it "saves" the tires. I had hoped to hear from this forum that ST tires were longer-lived than normal car tires, but even with this "positive" article suggesting 4-year-old tires can still be considered "new," I can't see pushing this set much further.
I think the main takeaway from this link is that the dealership installing these tires did not necessarily do anything wrong from a safety or legal standpoint. But I still consider them dirty birds. Fresher tires would have been good for at least another year.
I will recommend my lady replace the tires.
Thanks all!
