How often do you change tires?
#4
For me it depends on age and the amount of wear or loss of tread depth.
Get yourself a tire gauge and measure the center of your tire(s).
The "rule of thumb" is to replace them at 3/32nds or less.
The other factor is of course the age of the tire as well as the condition.
Check the manufacture date of your tire---should be a 4-digit number, The first 2 numbers are the week and the last 2 numbers is the year.
Some people recommend replacing the tire at 6 years old, some say 8 years old but keep in mind that when you're checking the tire for a manufacture date you should also be looking for "cracks or splits" in both side walls as for and damage (nails, screw, etc,) that may be in your treads.
Just because a tire is NOT old doesn't mean that it is safe!
I had to replace a tire (actually two front tires) on my wife's 'Vette (due to a side wall "split" at THREE YEARS OLD.
I've know people who ran old tires for years past the recommended replacement window without an issue but is comes down to your judgement (unless you live in a vehicle inspection state), how and where you ride your bike and how safe you want to be.
I have one bike with tube type tires that are now ELEVEN YEARS OLD with less than 1,000 miles on them.
They're still fully inflated and look like new.
I wouldn't hesitate to take the bike for a short occasional short run on a county road BUT there is no way that I would even consider longer trips with sustained freeway speeds in summer heat but it will be getting a "new set of shoes" in the near future.
JMHO (NOT ADVICE), IF a tire looks good (sidewalls and threads) and doesn't leak air pressure I would run it in it's 8th year but IF I was planning a long trip I would seriously consider replacing it due to it's age OR IF the thread depth was at 3/32nds.
Get yourself a tire gauge and measure the center of your tire(s).
The "rule of thumb" is to replace them at 3/32nds or less.
The other factor is of course the age of the tire as well as the condition.
Check the manufacture date of your tire---should be a 4-digit number, The first 2 numbers are the week and the last 2 numbers is the year.
Some people recommend replacing the tire at 6 years old, some say 8 years old but keep in mind that when you're checking the tire for a manufacture date you should also be looking for "cracks or splits" in both side walls as for and damage (nails, screw, etc,) that may be in your treads.
Just because a tire is NOT old doesn't mean that it is safe!
I had to replace a tire (actually two front tires) on my wife's 'Vette (due to a side wall "split" at THREE YEARS OLD.
I've know people who ran old tires for years past the recommended replacement window without an issue but is comes down to your judgement (unless you live in a vehicle inspection state), how and where you ride your bike and how safe you want to be.
I have one bike with tube type tires that are now ELEVEN YEARS OLD with less than 1,000 miles on them.
They're still fully inflated and look like new.
I wouldn't hesitate to take the bike for a short occasional short run on a county road BUT there is no way that I would even consider longer trips with sustained freeway speeds in summer heat but it will be getting a "new set of shoes" in the near future.
JMHO (NOT ADVICE), IF a tire looks good (sidewalls and threads) and doesn't leak air pressure I would run it in it's 8th year but IF I was planning a long trip I would seriously consider replacing it due to it's age OR IF the thread depth was at 3/32nds.
Last edited by 2AMGuy; 07-21-2023 at 09:08 PM.
#5
#6
For me it depends on age and the amount of wear or loss of tread depth.
Get yourself a tire gauge and measure the center of your tire(s).
The "rule of thumb" is to replace them at 3/32nds or less.
The other factor is of course the age of the tire as well as the condition.
Check the manufacture date of your tire---should be a 4-digit number, The first 2 numbers are the week and the last 2 numbers is the year.
Some people recommend replacing the tire at 6 years old, some say 8 years old but keep in mind that when you're checking the tire for a manufacture date you should also be looking for "cracks or splits" in both side walls as for and damage (nails, screw, etc,) that may be in your treads.
Just because a tire is NOT old doesn't mean that it is safe!
I had to replace a tire (actually two front tires) on my wife's 'Vette (due to a side wall "split" at THREE YEARS OLD.
I've know people who ran old tires for years past the recommended replacement window without an issue but is comes down to your judgement (unless you live in a vehicle inspection state), how and where you ride your bike and how safe you want to be.
I have one bike with tube type tires that are now ELEVEN YEARS OLD with less than 1,000 miles on them.
They're still fully inflated and look like new.
I wouldn't hesitate to take the bike for a short occasional short run on a county road BUT there is no way that I would even consider longer trips with sustained freeway speeds in summer heat but it will be getting a "new set of shoes" in the near future.
JMHO (NOT ADVICE), IF a tire looks good (sidewalls and threads) and doesn't leak air pressure I would run it in it's 8th year but IF I was planning a long trip I would seriously consider replacing it due to it's age OR IF the thread depth was at 3/32nds.
Get yourself a tire gauge and measure the center of your tire(s).
The "rule of thumb" is to replace them at 3/32nds or less.
The other factor is of course the age of the tire as well as the condition.
Check the manufacture date of your tire---should be a 4-digit number, The first 2 numbers are the week and the last 2 numbers is the year.
Some people recommend replacing the tire at 6 years old, some say 8 years old but keep in mind that when you're checking the tire for a manufacture date you should also be looking for "cracks or splits" in both side walls as for and damage (nails, screw, etc,) that may be in your treads.
Just because a tire is NOT old doesn't mean that it is safe!
I had to replace a tire (actually two front tires) on my wife's 'Vette (due to a side wall "split" at THREE YEARS OLD.
I've know people who ran old tires for years past the recommended replacement window without an issue but is comes down to your judgement (unless you live in a vehicle inspection state), how and where you ride your bike and how safe you want to be.
I have one bike with tube type tires that are now ELEVEN YEARS OLD with less than 1,000 miles on them.
They're still fully inflated and look like new.
I wouldn't hesitate to take the bike for a short occasional short run on a county road BUT there is no way that I would even consider longer trips with sustained freeway speeds in summer heat but it will be getting a "new set of shoes" in the near future.
JMHO (NOT ADVICE), IF a tire looks good (sidewalls and threads) and doesn't leak air pressure I would run it in it's 8th year but IF I was planning a long trip I would seriously consider replacing it due to it's age OR IF the thread depth was at 3/32nds.
I also bought an 05 Dyna a few years ago knowing it needed tires but they looked “ok” enough to get the bike home, with only minor cracks in between the treads, so I rode it 20-30 miles to my house.
When I got home I was terrified to see the front tire had damn near shredded. I guess it had sat so long and dried out the tires then when I got them hot running them at 70 mph on the highway they started coming apart. That could’ve been a disaster.
#7
Trending Topics
#8
Can only come across bad but I speak regardless. If you’re replacing tires due to age, probably should sell the bike.
They’re not cheap. Honestly, it’s okay, to let it go. I for one expect to sell if that day happens.
God willing I can ride until I have the wherewithal to sell it and find new adventures.
They’re not cheap. Honestly, it’s okay, to let it go. I for one expect to sell if that day happens.
God willing I can ride until I have the wherewithal to sell it and find new adventures.
#9
#10
I replace my tires every 18 months. Unless I have a good year and then I change them every year. Lol
On my 2019 FLHTP, my last rear tire lasted me 12,000 miles. I had a another 3000+ moles left before down to 3/32, but with peak riding season for me in July/Aug, I decided to out the new Metzler 888 front and rears on my bike. Now I'm good for another 15k miles.
On my 2019 FLHTP, my last rear tire lasted me 12,000 miles. I had a another 3000+ moles left before down to 3/32, but with peak riding season for me in July/Aug, I decided to out the new Metzler 888 front and rears on my bike. Now I'm good for another 15k miles.