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Just when should you replace your tires?

So, are we buying this? I have two bikes with tires aging out right now.
 
I have no problem with the findings of the video. But that's just me. I'm sure there will be a lot of people that will disagree with me and err on the side of caution.

That's their prerogative.

I get the fact that we only have two wheels between us and a get off as opposed to cages that have at least 4, but in over 40+ years of riding, I've never had a blow out. I have had a few tires go down while riding due to picking up foreign objects but it has never caused a wreck.

I'm also known to be quite anal about checking air pressure in the tires before riding. Maybe this is why I've been so fortunate.
 
In the limit, as t approaches ten years and you still have tread then your mileage is approaching zero so it will be fine 'cause your not riding anymore :)
 
The video does a good explanation of the various factors that wear out rubber.

Over the years after changing tires on bicycles, passenger vehicles and trailers, etc. you do get accustomed as to when it's time.

My regular long rider (VStrom) wears out the tread every few years so I change them.

I just changed tires on the GS because they were on since the previous owner and I wanted new ones. Plus, they were dried out and starting to crack...

I try and be fairly OCD on checking pressure and tire condition. If they look good and are holding pressure, I use them. If they are approaching 7 years and/or show signs of degrading, I'll change them.

Fresh rubber sure feels better and is fairly cheap insurance :)
 
I think the critical bit is how they've been stored.... the same thing with helmets :)
 
Personal preference, what ever "you" feel comfortable with. It sure feels good when you've used them up till the cords are showing thru, then put on a new set & it feels like you traded bikes. Didn't realize how bad the old ones were till the new ones were installed. I's a little surprised about what he said about the UV light. Back in the 50's & 60's most tires came from the factory wrapped with paper, to keep the light off of them. In the 70's and still today the mfg. quit doing anything to keep the light off of them, now it seems he's saying that would still probably be a good idea.
 
to keep the light off of them
Click to expand...
I notice that RV owners cover their wheels when they leave them in the driveway...but my bike's under cover, so UV's not a worry.

Old tires seem to need a little more time to warm up, is all I think I notice. I think it's possible that really gummy tires "age" faster too or at least,feel like they do. But they wear faster too,so that cancels out.
Ride a lot fast? buy gummy tires.
Ride a lot slow? buy touring tires.
Ride the bike not much?(or have a lot of bikes) Buy cheaper tires or decent touring tires and take it easy for the first while.
 
to keep the light off of them
Click to expand...
I notice that RV owners cover their wheels when they leave them in the driveway...but my bike's under cover, so UV's not a worry.

Old tires seem to need a little more time to warm up, is all I think I notice. I think it's possible that really gummy tires "age" faster too or at least,feel like they do. But they wear faster too,so that cancels out.
Ride a lot fast? buy gummy tires.
Ride a lot slow? buy touring tires.
Ride the bike not much?(or have a lot of bikes) Buy cheaper tires or decent touring tires and take it easy for the first while.

PS all that and still need to inspect tires (nasty suprises possible-dam Avon!), maintain pressure.
 
I don't know about you guys...but I've always liked buying new tires....it just means I'm out there riding. I remember one year I bought 11 new tires for my bikes...lol...it was a perfect storm of tire need. :)
 
Gorminrider said:
I notice that RV owners cover their wheels when they leave them in the driveway...but my bike's under cover, so UV's not a worry.

Old tires seem to need a little more time to warm up, is all I think I notice. I think it's possible that really gummy tires "age" faster too or at least,feel like they do. But they wear faster too,so that cancels out.
Ride a lot fast? buy gummy tires.
Ride a lot slow? buy touring tires.
Ride the bike not much?(or have a lot of bikes) Buy cheaper tires or decent touring tires and take it easy for the first while.

PS all that and still need to inspect tires (nasty suprises possible-dam Avon!), maintain pressure.
Click to expand...

Yeah. We started covering our RV tires. We replaced them before an Alaska trip a few years ago due UV damage, they were pretty old, and it's really hurts replacing 7 (including spare) large truck tires when they're only about 25% worn. Hurts less than being stranded in Moose Nut Gap, Yukon.
 
trev, back in the early 80's, I did the same thing, I'd make a bike pymt., & buy a new rear every month...Gosh these birthdays have really changed things a lot.
 
My Shinkos lasted me 15,000 km and probably had another 5k or more on them, but they felt like I was riding on hard plastic, especially in the wet. Yesterday I had my first long, backcountry ride on the Bridgestone Battlax and they?re much more grippy.
 
Admiral Beez said:
My Shinkos lasted me 15,000 km and probably had another 5k or more on them, but they felt like I was riding on hard plastic, especially in the wet. Yesterday I had my first long, backcountry ride on the Bridgestone Battlax and they?re much more grippy.
Click to expand...

15,000kms with another 5k???????????????? Wow!!!
I've never got more than 12,000kms out of a tire....I find that out of this world. How old were they?
 
I've had over 10,000 miles out of the Avons before.... Don't usually have to deal with wet :)
 
trevor said:
I don't know about you guys...but I've always liked buying new tires....it just means I'm out there riding. I remember one year I bought 11 new tires for my bikes...lol...it was a perfect storm of tire need. :)
Click to expand...

Several times, my wife has asked, "Wait, didn't you just get motorcycle tires a few weeks ago?"

"Why yes, yes I did. But those were for a different bike."

"Oh."

"And I'll need tires for the other, other bike in a few weeks, too."

"Ah."

Fortunately, motorcycles, motorcycle parts, motorcycle tires, and the money involved are firmly in the "stuff she doesn't want to know or care about" category.





Not sure what my yearly rubber record was, but a typically active year includes two or three sets on the KLR, one set on the GS (maybe two), and at least two sets on the V-Strom (since replaced with an FJ-09, which had a new set and now probably needs a front).


One of the things that really shocks people who aren't familiar with motorcycles is how fast the damn tires wear out. I mean, the tires on a big 'ol heavy car last 80,000 miles... a motorcycle tire that makes 8,000 is exceptional.
 
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Admiral Beez said:
I’ve read that some H-D riders use car tires on their long distance machines. It must make for exciting cornering.

https://www.hdforums.com/how-tos/a/...g-converting-to-a-car-tire-on-the-rear-416176
Click to expand...


Yeah, quite a few motorcycle owner communities have a fair percentage of members who are "darksiding". Gold Wing, V-Strom, FJR, lots of large cruisers and cruiser-based tourers, etc.

It's always a great way to spark an argument.

Not for me, but I think it has been pretty clearly proven to work well enough. You do indeed get incredible mileage, grip in various conditions is fine (one rider I know of uses a winter car tire, and reports that it works great in the snow) and it changes handling less than most would think.

I've mounted lots of motorcycle tires for myself and friends, but never a car tire on a motorcycle. However, if someone wanted to try this I wouldn't turn them down.
 
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