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[Pete7539]

Does anyone replace their tires if they have significant amount of treadwear left? Mine were mfg halfway through 07 and with only 7k on them there's still a lot of life left on them. No cracking, don't look "dried out". Reading on the interwebs from various makers giving 5-10 years life before recommended replacement. Any real world feedback appreciated. TIA

[Thermodyne]

I've heard 7-10 years before they begin to degrade.   With that said, the tire on my FXR4 are 12 years old.  They look fine, and they have lots of tread left.  Not sure I'd want to test the speed rating on them.

[Vyscera]

As long as they arent cracking or showing signs of dry rot they should be fine. But with an older tire, cracks will spread faster as the rubber isnt as pliable any more, think of an old rubber band.

[grc]

My old employer, after being burned by some tire related bad publicity, recalls, and lawsuits, studied this subject extensively and came out with a recommendation that tires more than six years beyond the date they were manufactured should be replaced regardless of tread wear.  I personally believe that is an excellent recommendation.  Other's with a different axe to grind, like tire dealers with a lot of old inventory, tend to go with a longer period of time.

If six years is a reasonable limit for vehicles with four tires on the ground at the same time, I would submit it is more than reasonable for vehicles with only two tires on the ground.  Fortunately, motorcycle tires tend to wear out rather quickly so only the garage queens need to worry about the time limit.  Anyone who rides 3000 miles or more per year on a Harley will be replacing the tires within the recommended time frame anyway.

Jerry

[grc]

Funny how it works sometimes.  Shortly after I posted my previous response, I came across this article from Popular Mechanics that addresses this same issue.  They didn't mention the other tire killer, ozone, or the fact that UV rays are more intense these days, but the overall article is short and to the point.

http://autos.yahoo.com/news/do-you-really-need-to-replace-those-tires--205330198.html

Jerry

[Pete7539]

Thanks for the read Jerry. Tires have about as much UV exposure as I do. If I'm inside, more than likely so is the bike. Even though there are no signs of age this will be the last season for them. Debating on whether to do a burnout or not. I've been pretty lucky so far, not sure if I want to push it and risk blowing something up other than the tire...

[s.imfeld]

how do you get 7 years without wearing out the tire. i have yet to get more than 3 and mine are beyond wore out. ride more

[Thermodyne]

how do you get 7 years without wearing out the tire. i have yet to get more than 3 and mine are beyond wore out. ride more

You buy a twelve year old scooter with hardly any miles on it.

[Pete7539]

how do you get 7 years without wearing out the tire. i have yet to get more than 3 and mine are beyond wore out. ride more

Unfortunately work gets in the way

[grc]

how do you get 7 years without wearing out the tire. i have yet to get more than 3 and mine are beyond wore out. ride more

Some folks don't spend all their waking hours on the road; they have other things to do. 

There was a time early in my life when I drove as much as 60k miles a year calling on dealers over a territory that covered the southern half of Virginia, or the eastern half of North Carolina.  Holidays meant loading up the personal car and driving from Richmond to Michigan to visit all the relatives.  Weekends meant loading up the car and pop-up camper and driving over a hundred miles to Bugs Island Lake (John Kerr Reservoir) to do a little camping with friends.  In other words, it seemed like I spent most of my time behind the wheel.  And that doesn't include the time I spent on my motorcycles over those years.  So excuse me if I've lost the desire to be on the road all the time as I've gotten older.  I had this fantasy as I made it to my fifties of retiring early and spending a lot of time touring on a bike.  In preparation I even bought a Touring bike when I hit fifty five years old.  When I retired a month before turning 57, I still thought I might enjoy hitting the road.  Then three weeks after I retired I had a heart attack.  Funny how life changes our minds for us.  Now I limit my riding to local jaunts out in the country, usually rides of 50 to 100 miles.  And I don't ride when it's cold, I don't ride when it's extremely hot, I don't ride in the rain, and of course the riding season in the Chicago region is only about six months at best anyway.  So yes, what used to be a 6500 miles a year riding habit has morphed into 3000 miles or less.  I have no idea how old you are or what your health is like, but before you make too many assumptions about how many miles other folks ride you might want to think about it.  I remember when I used to think I was invincible and could go forever also; unfortunately all too often reality has this nasty habit of screwing up our best laid plans.

Jerry

[phato1]

Sorry you're health limits your riding GRC.

You make several valid points with which I agree. I used to ride over 10k a year when I was riding one of the bikes to work during riding season, but now I have a company provided vehicle that I commute to/from the main facility - and no I don't get the option to leave the vehicle at the company facility at the end pf the work day/week because I'm "on call" 24/7. Now if I can get 4k a year on the bikes(total among the three) I'm lucky. Work, kids, home ownership chores ect.. seem to get in the way.

I know the tires on my FLSTFI need replacing due to age. They are almost six year old Metzlers.

[s.imfeld]

to answer,i'm 48 i'm not invinceable i've been riding since i was 5 and i'll continue to ride as long as i'm breathing. i ride in the sun,rain,cold, heat. i've ridden a complete winter when i had no other wheels.( that was on a rigid 69 shovel).the only rule i have now is, as long as it isn't raining when i open the garage door i take the bike (i don't like getting wet on the way to work anymore)i will ride right into my grave and pull the box closed when i'm done.

life does happen but it's still your choice what you do with it. i happen to know a guy who still rides even though he lost both legs in a bike crash.he turned a side car hack into a wheelchair hack. controlls and all.there are plenty who ride with 1 leg ( my neighbor) with the use of air shifters.i have another neighbor well into his 70s and i think he clocks more miles than i do. although he did tell me he's thinking about a trike attachment now.
htfu