used tire

[Eric]

I recently bought a tire changer and I didn't want to practice on one of my own rims so I bought a wheel and rim on Craigslist for $50 so I could practice on it. As it turns out, it's the size that would fit my Norge which now needs a new tire and the tread is in pretty good shape. But there is some rippling on the tire, perhaps from a track day. Do you think it can be used?

[rocker59]

Looks like track day use to me.

Check the date code, and if the tire isn't more than a few years old, it "might" be OK.

Since you don't know how many heat cycles it saw at the track, you won't really know if the tire is any good until you try it.

Me?  I'd buy a new tire if it was going to be on a bike I was going to use for a longer rides, or out of town trips.

[Groover]

I'm interested in seeing the tire changer. I tried irons, and that was a disasters...

As far as the tire goes... I'd also buy a new one.

[oldbike54]

 Yeah , new tire .

  Dusty

[LowRyter]

I'd ride it

[Lannis]

I'll try carefully to answer the question that was asked, since sometimes I answer a question that I have the answer to, rather than answering what was asked.

"Do you think the tire can be used?"

Certainly I do.   It could be spooned back onto a rim, the bead seated, it would probably hold air, and would support the bike and rider.   But that's just my opinion.

The question that I have the correct and undeniable answer to is:

"Would Lannis put this tire on his bike, load it up, and ride it down the highway at 70 MPH?"

Absolutely not.   I'd buy a new tire and use it no matter how "tempting" it would be to save a few bucks.

Lannis

[rocker59]

I'd ride it

Looks like a Pilot Power 2CT.  Nice sporty tire, but probably won't last long on the street.  Especially after a few track days...  And especially if it's six or seven years old...

[canuguzzi]

If you felt the need to ask you probably are looking for validation to use a used tire. Is the difference in price worth it? You have only two small patches of tire in the road, why save a few bucks there?

Tires are a safety item, like brakes. The typical consequences of a tire failure at speed are very different for a car vs a bike. Are the few $ really worth the risk?

[LowRyter]

Yeah,  I'd watch the wear bars and take it to the twisties. 

[Perazzimx14]

I'm interested in seeing the tire changer. I tried irons, and that was a disasters...

As far as the tire goes... I'd also buy a new one.

If your interested in getting your own tire changer look no further than a No-Mar classic. All you need is the changer, tire lever, yellow thing, lube and two small tire irons. You do not need the spool adapters for spoke wheel or all the other widgets they sell. I have changed easily 125 tires on mine in the last 2-1/2 years without much drama. Cast, tubed, tubeless, spoke, an even the dreaded Goldwing tires. Best thing Is they also make beer. Every time I change a tire for a buddy a case of beer seems to fine its way to the fridge.

[Silver Goose]

You bought the tire/rim for practice,so, practice. The tire is scrap or the P.O. would have save it to be used for another track day.

Walk away form using on your bike. $50.00 tire of unknown use = scrap.

How much will it cost if the tire went down in the middle of a turn?


Good Luck

[Eric]

If you felt the need to ask you probably are looking for validation to use a used tire. Is the difference in price worth it? You have only two small patches of tire in the road, why save a few bucks there?

Tires are a safety item, like brakes. The typical consequences of a tire failure at speed are very different for a car vs a bike. Are the few $ really worth the risk?

No, not at all. I'm of the same opinion as you regarding safety and I have the money for a tire. I honestly don't know what the ripples mean and how it affects the tire and safety. If the ripples means nothing and the tire is safe, it seems bad for the pocketbook and the environment to throw it out needlessly. If there is question about safety, I would never ride on it. I have reached an age where it is no longer mathematically possible to die young, so I don't intend to try.

[Eric]

You bought the tire/rim for practice,so, practice. The tire is scrap or the P.O. would have save it to be used for another track day.

Good Luck

Yes, and I will. It's a bit more complicated than that when it comes to why it was sold, but your point is well made and taken.

[Eric]

If your interested in getting your own tire changer look no further than a No-Mar classic. All you need is the changer, tire lever, yellow thing, lube and two small tire irons. You do not need the spool adapters for spoke wheel or all the other widgets they sell. I have changed easily 125 tires on mine in the last 2-1/2 years without much drama. Cast, tubed, tubeless, spoke, an even the dreaded Goldwing tires. Best thing Is they also make beer. Every time I change a tire for a buddy a case of beer seems to fine its way to the fridge.

Yes, that's the one I got. Or it might be the next one up. I'm not sure. In any case, I got it mostly for Ural tires which no one seems to be able to mount without screwing them up. I screw them up to, but it's cheaper. That's why the practice wheel.

[rocker59]

I honestly don't know what the ripples mean and how it affects the tire and safety. If the ripples means nothing and the tire is safe, it seems bad for the pocketbook and the environment to throw it out needlessly. 

The ripples are a result of the tire getting really hot, and the rubber balling up under braking and acceleration.  It looks real typical for a track day tire.  The tire was probably ridden on the street a bit, after the track day, because the ripples are smoothed out a bit.

My guess it was part of an extra set of wheels/tires that someone used for thier trackday fun.  Like I mentioned earlier, find the date code on the sidewall, and if it dates back more than a few years, don't use it.  The Power 2CT has been around at least eight years, so it could be an old tire.

Here's some trackday pix of my Sport 1100's Bridgestone BT-014 tires.

[Eric]

Thanks for the input. Looks like it isn't worth the keeping. I just didn't want to add one more tire to the pile that our earth is trying to absorb if it wasn't necessary.

[rocker59]

Thanks for the input. Looks like it isn't worth the keeping. I just didn't want to add one more tire to the pile that our earth is trying to absorb if it wasn't necessary.

Like many things today, tires are recycled...

...if they are taken to a recycle center.

[Eric]

Like many things today, tires are recycled...

...if they are taken to a recycle center.

I will sleep better. 

[Perazzimx14]

Like many things today, tires are recycled...

...if they are taken to a recycle center.

$2 per tire in Pennsylvania for a recycle fee. Take them to any tire shop pay $2 per and throw them on the pile. I just took in 26 tires I accumulated since April of this year

[Lannis]

$2 per tire in Pennsylvania for a recycle fee. Take them to any tire shop pay $2 per and throw them on the pile. I just took in 26 tires I accumulated since April of this year

All that time in the burnout pit can be pretty expensive then .... ?

[redrider]

" didn't want to add one more tire to the pile that our earth is trying to absorb if it wasn't necessary"

A few billion years and the Earth gets absorbed. I would run it and if it felt greasy, buy a new one. BTW, I have a brand new in the wrapper PR2 rear, 180 17 I do not need. PM me if interested.