helmet date ans snell rating

Discussion in 'Track Day Gear and Accessories' started by phkz24, May 5, 2016.

  1. phkz24

    phkz24 STT Staff
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    Typically when do old snell ratings rotate out of usability? The reason for asking is if i buy a closeout helmet with a snell 2010 rating i dont want it to be not up to the rules by the end of the season.

    Also correct me if i am wrong, nothing older thsn 5 years from manufacturing date is allowed on track?
     
  2. Dave608

    Dave608 Let's Ride!
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    STT doesn't have a date code restriction although I highly recommend you consider that in your decision on how long to use a helmet. Shouldn't be an issue with the Snell 2010 rating at all as there is no newer standard from them yet, that's the latest one I know of. WERA does use a 5 year from date of manufacture cutoff so if you are racing keep that in mind.

    ** EDIT **
    Looks like there is a Snell 2015 standard out now, I was wrong on that. But 2010 would still meet our specs and I don't expect WERA will change it either, they will stick with the 5 year from manufacture cutoff.
     
  3. phkz24

    phkz24 STT Staff
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    Thanks Dave. Since I won't be racing, i guess maybe I can get by this year with my current helmet. I have a barely used Shoei X-twelve but manufacture date is getting close to 5 years. I'm thinking of getting a Bell helmet on closeout as well that would be newer but may have been on a shelf for a year or 2. both helmets are Snell 2010 rated as far as I know.
     
  4. Dave608

    Dave608 Let's Ride!
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    Yeah, most race orgs have to have some limit on them and it's a good rule of thumb. A helmet can last more than 5 years easily depending on a bunch of things. How much it's been used, how it was stored, was it kept clean inside, etc. Ultimately it's your head and as long as you are good with the helmet since you know it's history I'm good with it. I use mine a lot so I generally only use a helmet a season or 2 and pick up another one and rotate the old one to rain usage, etc. I've got 3 in the trailer now, all Bells that I picked up on closeout, the last one was a Star model less than a year old at purchase time but the graphic was discontinued so it was a closeout.
     
  5. Prufrock

    Prufrock traffic

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    +1 for closeout Bells. You get a lot of helmet from a $207 Bell RS-1.
     
    gkotlin likes this.

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