Sunlight/oxidation does the most damage to tires, so tires stored inside in a temperature controlled setting are good for years. But no manufacturer recommends using a tire over 10 years old under any circumstance or storage history. Rubber dries out with age it's not really a new concept.

The guy with the van still knowingly had those tires for 5 years and probably should have had them checked out before letting his son go on a long trip. Astro vans and most Chevy vans in general have a propensity for wearing out the shoulders of the front tires and exposing cords and the belt package in just a few years. Even a new tire with a slow leak will generate enough heat on a short trip at highway speeds to fail violently and with explosive force. So was it age, severe shoulder wear, or was it a puncture or a leaky valve stem that caused that tire to blow out? The news crew never asked about the vehicle owners culpability in this situation in regards to getting the tires inspected before a long trip.