Shinko life expectancy?

[wirespokes]

Here's the story:

Summer of 2024 I got a mostly finished G5 project from a forum member. It sported a somewhat working electronic speedometer that didn't have an odometer reading. At least, not that I could figure out.

I replaced the electronic gauge with a standard set of T3 gauges and set the odometer to 5k - guessing that would have been the maximum miles the PO rode it. He replaced the cylinders with nikasil, went through the transmission and final drive, installed a permanent magnet alternator, M Unit, mistral exhaust... you get the idea. So I want to get an accurate gauge of mileage since this was all done.

However, just last week I replaced the front tire - a Shinko 712 100x90 - date code 3616. It was down to the wear bars, but could have been run longer. So it wasn't totally shot, but time to go. I have put 12K on the clock since resetting.

I'm rethinking the estimated mileage. I don't recall having a front tire last more than 10 or 11K, especially a Shinko. I'm thinking this tire couldn't have had more than a thousand miles when I got the bike.

So my question is - how many miles do you get from these tires?

[blu guzz]

Is that date code correct? 2016
Throw that thing in the trash.  It doesn't matter if it has the nubs on it.  Is your life worth it?
I'm presently recovering from a motorcycle related broken leg and I can tell you, I envy those that can walk properly. You don't want to risk this on old tires.
It must have been the drugs, I thought you said you put that one on.  I see now, but I apply the above rant to "even saying it had life left in it".
I am grouchy today.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

The 712s are "budget" tires for lighter bikes, so don't last as well as the 230 Tour Master. On my Morini 350 K2 the rear would last ~ 6k miles, never wore the front out in the time I had the bike.

[Huzo]

The tyre’s life or your own…?

[wirespokes]

I think I've gotten something like 10K out of the front tires in the past. Rears are less usually.

I've been riding Shinkos ever since Bridgestones doubled in price. What's that - 15 or 20 years? I had a GSPD with a Michelin Anakee that ran 20K miles, about the longest I've ever had a tire last, especially a rear.

This particular front tire gripped just fine up to the end. It did make the steering a little heavy, worn as it was, but it didn't cup and wore smooth and evenly.

Age doesn't necessarily deteriorate tires. There are other factors involved. A durometer (tool to test elasticity) often shows old tires to be as supple as new ones. Just because the tire was 7 years old when I got it was no reason for me to toss it. It looked fairly new and wasn't cracked or hard.

[Ncdan]

I’ve ran the Shinko brand for over 20 years on everything from older goldwings, Harley full dressers, Harley sport bikes and 4 moto Guzzi cruisers.
I average 7k on the rear and 10-12 on the front.
I never run a tire down to the wear bars simply because its not safe in the rain.

[wirespokes]

Thanks Ncdan. That's about the same experience I've had as well.

I ride year-round and have had no issues riding in the rain in Portland Oregon, on old worn out tires - down to the wear bars. In a straight line, it hasn't made much difference through puddles, and in the turns, the grooves are deeper to shed water. My tires wear down in the middle first.

Because they're cheap, guys tend to think they're an inferior tire. They're not. They're actually very good quality. I guess the writing on the sidewalls isn't real classy, but they are very good tires.

[Ncdan]

Thanks Ncdan. That's about the same experience I've had as well.

I ride year-round and have had no issues riding in the rain in Portland Oregon, on old worn out tires - down to the wear bars. In a straight line, it hasn't made much difference through puddles, and in the turns, the grooves are deeper to shed water. My tires wear down in the middle first.

Because they're cheap, guys tend to think they're an inferior tire. They're not. They're actually very good quality. I guess the writing on the sidewalls isn't real classy, but they are very good tires.

My experience with worn tires in rainy conditions is I’ve felt my bike slipping at times. Not necessarily to the point of losing control but enough slip that experience and common sense tells me the tread was to shallow for the condition I was riding in.
An extra few hundred miles is simply not worth the risk of broken bones or worse, let alone a busted up bike.
However everyone rides at their own risk and comfort level👍

[Moparnut72]

I put a pair of Shinkos on the T3 I am rebuilding (re-constructing). They are good looking tires with lots of tread. I will add which models  after I make it out to the shop. When my tires start to get close to the wear bars they are gone. I have no desire to take a dive.
kk

[acogoff]

    Usually 6 or 7 thousand on the rear and 10 or 11 thousand on the front.

[Ncdan]

    Usually 6 or 7 thousand on the rear and 10 or 11 thousand on the front.

You are right where the rest of us has been thus far.
I think this is the norm for these tires.
They may be a little softer compound than some of the other brands that get better mileage. However, there is a lot of advantages to a softer compound tire.

[SemperVee]

 Agree about 7 K miles is what I got on my Vstrom 1000's.... Tires worked fine as road bike tires. Multiple sets.   That said I would not ride on tires that OLD!  No Way.

[Guzzidad]

   Shinko bought their tire molds and technology from Yokohama.

[DoubleGuzzi]

Amazed me to see vehicles in the States with zero tread, sometimes showing canvas: are there no laws on this?

The legal tread depth limit for motorcycles, mopeds and scooters over 50cc in the UK is 1mm across three quarters of the width of the tread pattern, and with visible tread still remaining on the other quarter. At this point though, the ability of your tyre to disperse water will be limited, and it will be performing far from its best in the dry.

I find tyres to be too squared off (rear) or too stepped (front) long before this limit.

Just for reference, UK & EU:

The legal limit for the minimum depth of the tread on your tyres is 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread around the complete circumference of the tyre. For safety reasons, it is recommended that you replace your car tyres before the legal limit is reached.

[Tony F]

   Shinko bought their tire molds and technology from Yokohama.

That was about 40 years ago though.

[egschade]

I ran a set of 705s on my BMW F650GS. When I sold it with about 3K on the tires the rear looked ok for another 3K but a little squared off. The front looked hardly worn with another 5-7K likely left on it.

[MikeP996]

"Amazed me to see vehicles in the States with zero tread, sometimes showing canvas: are there no laws on this?"

Yes, there are laws and vehicle inspections in most US states.  Just as there are laws setting speed limits... 

For those not familiar, the USA's 50 states are really more like 50 countries in many ways.  Each state can establish its own laws re just about anything!  Texas, for example, just recently eliminated the requirement for annual vehicle safety inspections. 

Texas used to allow motorcycle filtering; they recently outlawed it.   

Arizona did the opposite.