How do you know when it's time to Re-tire?

[Motormike]

No, I don't mean from work.  I'm talking about those black rubber round things.  I know a lot of you have (like me) Multiple Motorcycle Syndrome.  So I'm looking for others opinions on when and if they change out tires strictly due to age.  If you have bikes that see little milage from year to year, do you ever decide to replace the rubber just because the tires are "old" and long before the tread is worn out?  If so, how old is too old for a motorcycle tire?  I seem to remember reading that the so-called "experts" (you know, those people that want to separate you from your money.) saying after 5 years or so the tires have aged to the point they should be replaced.  I don't do it that often (barring physical evidence, like sidewall checking) but start to get a little nervous around the eight year mark for motorcycle tires.  So what say ye...ride em till they're bald? Or replace em every few years even if they only have a few hundred miles on them?

[JJ]

"Your life rides on your tires..."

Never skimp in this area, always replace as needed and often with a quality tire!

[Ncdan]

It’s not when there is no more tread, it’s when they will no longer shed water effectively.
Also research shows that the largest percentage of flats occurred after the tire was half and beyond worn out. Also there is a factory recommended point with the little cross bar between the threads.
This also includes all road motor vehicles.

[flower_king001]

I would not go 5 years but more like 3 years.

The older the rubbers gets the harder and your life depends on just 2 tires.

[jcctx]

My '83 CM450A has it's original rear tire, and I do not plan to replace it!!

[Perazzimx14]

I'll take all the 3 to 5 year old low miles tires I can get. To me tires aren't perishable like a gallon of milk and do not expire after a certain date.

If they are weather checked, cracked or worn I'll replace them. If they fell good and pliable (dig in ye ole thumbnail) I'll run them no matter if they are 1 day old or made during the Carter administration.

I don't get the 5 year replace or risk certain death mentality that the internet is all a buzz about. It really depend on how the tire is stored. A tire in the unrelenting sun of Death Valley will degrade much faster than a tire in a climate controlled garage out of direct sunlight.

[Ncdan]

My '83 CM450A has it's original rear tire, and I do not plan to replace it!!

If you travel at higher speeds on a near 40 year old tire you are taken an inherent risk and the results are on you. Not trying to be facetious but sometimes honesty is the best response. 👍

[MMRanch]

I don't get the 5 year replace or risk certain death mentality that the internet is all a buzz about. It really depend on how the tire is stored. A tire in the unrelenting sun of Death Valley will degrade much faster than a tire in a climate controlled garage out of direct sunlight. 

* 2
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If ya just have funds to get rid of just to get rid of them , then buying tire for your Guzzi friends is a good idea !   

10 years is getting to old for 100mph ! 

[jcctx]

If you travel at higher speeds on a near 40 year old tire you are taken an inherent risk and the results are on you. Not trying to be facetious but sometimes honesty is the best response. 👍

Yea, at 78 years I am a real speed demon??????

[flower_king001]

I don't get the 5 year replace or risk certain death mentality that the internet is all a buzz about. It really depend on how the tire is stored. A tire in the unrelenting sun of Death Valley will degrade much faster than a tire in a climate controlled garage out of direct sunlight. 

* 2
................... ...........

If ya just have funds to get rid of just to get rid of them , then buying tire for your Guzzi friends is a good idea !   

10 years is getting to old for 100mph ! 

My best advice is to ride the hell out of your bike..I never get more than 5,000 +/- out of a set of tires. I always replace the front at the same time as the back. Again you only have 2 patches of rubber hitting the asphalt and I'd rather be safe than cheap but then again that is my two cents. 

[tazio]

Best time to retire?
Long before THIS.

[s1120]

Most of the time mine wear out faster in the center, like most of us that dont race of ride real hard. So once the step gets pretty pronounced, and you can feel it in the handleing..  I will replace. As for time? Well a lot depends on use, tire, and where its stored. Ill keep a good eye on them after 5-6 years. Once they start cracking they are off, or when the rubber feels like its getting hard..  Im guessing 5-7 years is a good ballpark unless they wear first.

[Stretch]

I'll take all the 3 to 5 year old low miles tires I can get. To me tires aren't perishable like a gallon of milk and do not expire after a certain date.

If they are weather checked, cracked or worn I'll replace them. If they fell good and pliable (dig in ye ole thumbnail) I'll run them no matter if they are 1 day old or made during the Carter administration.

I don't get the 5 year replace or risk certain death mentality that the internet is all a buzz about. It really depend on how the tire is stored. A tire in the unrelenting sun of Death Valley will degrade much faster than a tire in a climate controlled garage out of direct sunlight.

Pretty much........

If you are constantly pushing the adhesion envelope on public roads, where having the freshest, stickiest tires available are needed, then
the age of your tires is going to be the least of your worries. The rubber will probably outlive you.  If the tire isn't rock hard or cracked, it's
probably fine for most of us mortals......

                                                                                                    -Stretch

[TN Mark]

If you’re looking at your tires and questioning them, it’s likely time to replace them.

[Ncdan]

Yea, at 78 years I am a real speed demon??????

Have you ever experienced a tire coming apart at 55mph??

[flower_king001]

Have you ever experienced a tire coming apart at 55mph??

 Sure have....a Metzler!

[Motormike]

I did a bit of poking around on the web and found this.  It's lifted directly off the Michelin Motorcycle Tire Web site.  I found it to be surprisingly generous, when you consider the fact that Michelin is in the business of selling you new tires:


"As a precaution, all tires that have not been replaced after ten years should be changed, even if they appear to be in a generally good condition and have not reached their tread wear limit."
https://www.michelinman.com/motorbike/tips-and-advice/advice-motorbike/when-should-i-change-my-motorbike-tyres

[Scud]

Glad to see that from Michelin. I generally won't use a tire older than 10 years no matter how good it looks.

I also like to replace the tires as a set, even if the front seems to have a bit of life left when the rear is ready to be replaced.

Just enjoyed 200 miles today on brand new tires on the Stelvio. New tires feel great and just more fun. So I generally replace them as soon as the first wear-bar is flush with the tread.

[Tom]

  on storage.  I check/instpect the tires.  That also means the tread side too. 

[flower_king001]

I did a bit of poking around on the web and found this.  It's lifted directly off the Michelin Motorcycle Tire Web site.  I found it to be surprisingly generous, when you consider the fact that Michelin is in the business of selling you new tires:


"As a precaution, all tires that have not been replaced after ten years should be changed, even if they appear to be in a generally good condition and have not reached their tread wear limit."
https://www.michelinman.com/motorbike/tips-and-advice/advice-motorbike/when-should-i-change-my-motorbike-tyres

Wow! I wonder how much effort it will be to dismount a ten year old tire?

[Tom]

A lot especially is there's rust involved and the bead is stiff.

[Ncdan]

 Sure have....a Metzler!

Lol, yes and that’s a new tire, think of what would happen to a 40 year old dry rotted tire🤔😩😂👍

[SmithSwede]

My understanding is that tires have various softening and conditioning compounds mixed into the rubber.  If you ride the tires, get them hot and flex them, these compounds stay distributed to surface and throughout the tire.  If you don’t ride the tire and just let it sit, this stuff evaporates from the surface, promoting hardening and dry rot from non-use. 

Assuming that’s true, then one way to maximize tire life in your fleet would be to ride every bike at least semi-regularly and long enough to get the tires hot and flexed.  Probably helps avoid flat spots too. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

How soon? About 300 miles before you realize you should have.. 

[twowheeladdict]

I believe that it depends on so many factors.

How long do you go with the same valve stem?

A little variance in this stack of removed tires.










I have replaced several tires while on trips because I didn't want to push the tire further and fail out in the boondocks.

I will take photos of my tires and monitor them during the trip.

[Tom]

On a V11 Sport, you can tell from the lousy handling when to change the tires.

[flower_king001]

A lot especially is there's rust involved and the bead is stiff.

Absolute...I had a hell of a time dismounting the front tire on my 96 Cali 1100i when purchased. Had to use a saw-saw and cut it into pieces! The tire was an old Dunlop and didn't check chow old it was.

[Motormike]

As far as rear tire use is concerned, as soon as the wear bars show flush, I replace the tire.  Invariably, cupping on the front will have me replacing it earlier.  On a couple of my bikes that do more setting than running, I'll use the Michelin "ten years and toss it" guideline.  Of course, none of these bike are pushed very hard in the curves.  My peg scraping days are long over with.  Physical Therapy is just too painful. 

[Tom]

Absolute...I had a hell of a time dismounting the front tire on my 96 Cali 1100i when purchased. Had to use a saw-saw and cut it into pieces! The tire was an old Dunlop and didn't check chow old it was.

BTDT w/Dremel and cutting wheels.

[bad Chad]

I agree with TN Mark 110%.