How much tire weather crack is too much ?

[kballowe]

Dunlop American Elite 130/90B-16 front with approx 18,000 miles on it. 

The date code shows it to be approx five years old.  This bike lives in climate controlled comfort when it's not being ridden.

The tire still looks quite nice, with good wear pattern and plenty of tread left.  The issue is that there is some light weather cracking in the tread grooves.  The sidewalls show none.

Run it or change it ?

Go

[blackcat]

With it being 5 years old and 18,000 miles, I’d toss those tires.

[Gliderjohn]

How do you get 18,000 miles out of a tire?
GliderJohn

[kballowe]

How do you get 18,000 miles out of a tire?
GliderJohn

John -

This is a front tire - and those Dunlop American Elite tires really wear well.  I changed a rear tire with 18,xxx miles on an Indian Chief last fall.  It had cord showing, but hey - 18,xxx miles !

[Shiny Hat]

Pffft, pull a Burt and fill the cracks with shoe polish.

[John A]

Evaluate weather cracks the same way you evaluate cuts. Depth, width, length , number of cracks , anticipated use ,all that jazz. That’s from aviation tire manufacturers recommendations.I wouldn’t worry too much about them but I wouldn’t be heading out across the plains in hot weather at extended high speed.

[n3303j]

My Avon Road Riders used to crack between the threads in the first year or two with less than 10K miles on them. I rode them to the wear bars with no surprises.

[Bulldog9]

ANY on the sidewall or between threads is too much for me unless it is just going to sit in the garage or plunk around in the neighborhood or town. Not worth the risk.

[Vagrant]

Would you bet your life on a rubber with known cracks?

[Moparnut72]

I wouldn't ride much of anywhere on those tires. Common expression "is your head worth a $100 dollar helmet." Same with tires, is your life worth saving $200 on an old tire. I don't fool around with tires, I cut a trip short last summer because a tire wore faster than expected, I got home just as I hit the wear bars. I couldn't find a bike shop anywhere near where I was so I went home.
kk

[kingoffleece]

Taking a chance on tires seems to be adding risk where it doesn't need to be.  I know I'd be completely dismayed if I threw a bike down the road because I neglected older tires.

[cappisj1]

Ah, they are fine right up tell they aren’t. Have ridden on some pretty bad, old and cracked tires. Never had one fail. I just wouldn’t ride on them all day and get them hot then toss it into a corner at twice the posted speed. If it’s babied and you’re taking it to breakfast with the fellas then ride it. Especially if it’s a tubed tire.

[SIR REAL ED]

Would you get your life on a rubber with known cracks?

You mean after drinking or while still sober?

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

At that mileage the tire's been good enough value I wouldn't shy away from replacing it. In Colorado I've had new tires crack from sun exposure within 6 months, I make it a point to just rack up the miles to get rid of them each season.

[bigbikerrick]

Here in dry Arizona, some tires develop dry cracking in as little as 2 years. Its pretty superficial, though, and has not seemed to cause any problems, as long as not over 5-6 years old on the sidewall number.
Rick.

[kballowe]

What ?

No tire brand recommendations ???

[rocker59]

With it being 5 years old and 18,000 miles, I’d toss those tires.

Yep.  Without a second thought.

[mechanicsavant]

Tires are much cheaper than plaster of Paris !

[vintagehoarder]

Dunlop American Elite 130/90B-16 front with approx 18,000 miles on it. 

The date code shows it to be approx five years old.  This bike lives in climate controlled comfort when it's not being ridden.

The tire still looks quite nice, with good wear pattern and plenty of tread left.  The issue is that there is some light weather cracking in the tread grooves.  The sidewalls show none.

Run it or change it ?

Go

All rubbers have a shelf life no matter how well maintaned.   I would probably get some new rubber.

[blu guzz]

I've spent a lot of money over the years changing tires that some people would continue to ride for another 1,000 miles or so.  Also, other than picking up a nail or screw on the road, never had a failure.  Also, older tires make bikes much less fun to ride. 

[Scout63]

18,000 on a tire and a shine you can get lost in.  Your bikes live well.

[blu guzz]

That Eldo is a stunner for sure.

[Dirk_S]

I would email Dunlop and see what they say. Who knows—instead of the expected liability-backed heed of caution, they might want to put you on their record books and interview you for an ad!

[Stretch]

Run it.

I think entirely too much is made of minor cracking and date codes on tires.

There was a video - I might have gotten the link to it on this forum - showing
a club racer putting 10-year-old tires on his race bike. Lap times were similar
to new tires. ( Okay, okay - maybe that shows he isn't the next Barry Sheene, but
they didn't disintegrate and spit him off, either.)

Are minor surface cracks going to cause the tread to separate from the carcass?
Are massive chunks going to fly off on the way to work? Sudden, catastrophic deflation?
I think not.......

I had an old Michelin on my SR500 with cracks as you mentioned. It was on the
front for well over a decade and 20,000+ miles. Stopped, stuck, and handled fine -
even in the wet. I finally wore it out.

Don't sweat the small stuff - get out there and ride!

                                                      -Stretch

[kballowe]

Well, it's winter, and it needed a rear tire anyway.  Might as well get on with the rest of it.

Valves, flush coolant & brake fluid, new plugs, etc.  Valves were in spec, coolant clear, brake fluid was decent.

I got about 5k miles out of a Shinko 777 rear tire.  We're always 2-up on this bike, so not going to complain too much.  However, this time we're trying out the Shinko SR 999 "long range" tire.

A new SR 999 front tire should be here today.  Matching front and rear tires.  Imagine that.   
And rear brake pads.

[moto-uno]

  I wasn't sure which one of the red bikes you were referring too :) !  Peter

[kballowe]

  I wasn't sure which one of the red bikes you were referring too :) !  Peter

Peter -

This is our 2014 Yamaha VStar 1300.  It's been absolutely reliable.  LOL - we'll see if that trend continues, especially since I've disassembled it and then....... put it back together.

[kballowe]

OK, new front tire now.  All ready to go for the 2024 riding season.

[John A]

OK, new front tire now.  All ready to go for the 2024 riding season.

Then the years will pass and it’ll be weather checked again….
It’s all part of the fun!

[Dirk_S]

OK, new front tire now.  All ready to go for the 2024 riding season.

Quitter.