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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :
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Posted: 07:53 - 07 Apr 2021 Post subject: When to replace tyres? |
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I've been in the unusual position that other than due to perishing rubber on bikes I've bought, I've not yet had to purchase new tyres for a motorcycle (this is partly because I've been chopping and changing bikes a fair bit since I passed my test). Anyway, the Crossrunner has managed about 4k miles on the brand new Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2's and I've recently began to feel the bike feels a bit vague on wet roads. In the dry they're fine. A mate, who is more knowledgeable than me in such things, reckons the rear tyre needs changing - there is a just about detectable flatspot although it's noticeable more by feel than sight. The front tyre has a bit of cupping where I can feel in places there is a difference in tread depth either side of some of the "cross grooves".
I appreciate this is a subjective topic anyway, but my question is - when do I replace the tyres? They're not cheap to replace a set, circa £240 plus fitting for a decent set of hoops. There's tread depth left so it's not like there's a shortage of rubber (I think something like 4mm on the back and 3mm on the front). Obviously if it gets to the point where the handling feels horrible, it's a no brainer (although of course, the handling may have already done this albeit very gradually so I just don't notice it) My bigger concern really is am I dicing with reduced grip levels through the cupped front tyre and slightly squared rear?
Cheers. ____________________ TG. |
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davebike |
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davebike World Chat Champion
Joined: 15 Nov 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 08:20 - 07 Apr 2021 Post subject: |
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When the tread of down to what you accept is OK
I tend to change front at 2mm+ but will run the rear to the legal minimum of 1mm
I also find some front tyres were unevenly and they get replaced asap
In my view front is way more lightly to affect handling than rear so I way more lightly to change a front with tread left than a rear
I is best nicest to change a as pair but seldom works out that way ____________________ Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
davebike1@gmail.com |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Karma :
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 17:54 - 07 Apr 2021 Post subject: |
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Err on caution and reliability.
More tread depth provides better grip on wet roads. More efficient at displacing water/blood.
And more tread helps prevent air loss due to punctures. The pointy things have to be longer to penetrate through the inner tube. (For those not in the know, Tubeless tyres have an inner tube bonded to the tyre. )
The 1mm legal minimum is risking a spill or a longer skid into something/one too.
And if the tyres do not feel good change them.
I use tyreleader for my bike tyres as they are the ch3apest. Still need to find a fitter amd pay for fit, balance and scrap disposal. Unless you can do those yourself. ____________________ Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN. |
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blurredman |
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blurredman World Chat Champion
Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :
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Posted: 19:23 - 07 Apr 2021 Post subject: |
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I tend to get it pretty close to the minimum on both f+r.
I do get tempted by bargains though.
I had bought a new tyre for the front of one of my bikes recently v. cheaply, but I didn't like the way it felt- so I put the original tyre which I had deemed to be pretty gone (actually, it had about 2-2.5mm left, I was just sick of the sight of it), back on the bike and saved the new one for the rear when that needs it.
It looks like I'm going to get another 2k miles from that tyre which I had originally removed.
Rears rub away pretty quickly anyway even on low ft-lbs. If they're square I try and live with it when it gets beyond redemption, if I can. But my fronts never cup or square, they wear very nicely and evenly around the curve. So, in contradiction to my first sentence, I sometimes replace the rears early.
I don't buy matching pairs, and I don't buy matching makes.
As an addition, if I know I have a long riding holiday (normally they entail 5k in roughly 2 weeks) then I will buy new tyres (or 2nd hand with plenty tread), and save the ones I take off for another time to put back on when the 'new' ones have got to end of life. ____________________ CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 17k. , 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 9k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 38k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 49k |
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
Joined: 04 Jun 2015 Karma :
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :
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xX-Alex-Xx |
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xX-Alex-Xx World Chat Champion
Joined: 12 Sep 2019 Karma :
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Posted: 11:56 - 08 Apr 2021 Post subject: |
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If they don't feel right, replace em. Better to spend a few hundred quid on new tyres than a few grand on gear and plastics etc
Gonna replace the tyres on my 750 soon, they've felt a bit crap for a while, and it's only recently I had a peek at the date of manufacture on them. Which I'd done it sooner - they were MUCH older than I thought they were ____________________ DILLIGAF
Last edited by xX-Alex-Xx on 21:31 - 08 Apr 2021; edited 1 time in total |
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c_dug |
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c_dug Super Spammer
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kgm |
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kgm World Chat Champion
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
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Tdibs |
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Tdibs Traffic Copper
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
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redeem ouzzer |
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redeem ouzzer World Chat Champion
Joined: 06 Oct 2015 Karma :
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Posted: 07:41 - 09 Apr 2021 Post subject: |
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Is 13 years old too old for a front tyre?
Asking for a friend.
**Edit - actual date code is 4403 - i.e. week 44 2003 so tyre was five years old before it was even fitted** ____________________ Be a REAL MAN! |
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to v or not to v |
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to v or not to v World Chat Champion
Joined: 24 Nov 2020 Karma :
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ThatDippyTwat |
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ThatDippyTwat World Chat Champion
Joined: 07 Aug 2016 Karma :
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 3 years, 14 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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