General tire use question

how do you guys gauge how much is left on a tire. IOW, how do you determine if its done or not?? on a car or a race slick its easy, on a bike Im lost.

here is what my tire looks like,.





thanks
Bob

 

I would say that tire is toast, you seem to have very little tread depth left towards the middle. Some serious flat spotting.

 

I'd run it in the dry. Definitely stay away from water. Just a damp/wet road it should work. Though you do need a new one.

 

My rear tire is squared off worse than yours due to about 7,000 miles of high speed slab touring the last two months. I have a new set of Bridgestone Battlax BT016s, but haven't had a chance to mount them yet. From the feedback I've read here, I guess I should find the time.

 

I say do a righteous burnout directly in front of your house! If your cords aren't showing after that, ride it for another hundred and repeat.

Action

 

Hello. Just check tires sides, there is a little mark TWI (thread wear indicator) that mark runs to the center of the tire. when the tire is wearig that mark will indicate when you shoul replace tires, (about 2mm of thread dept) I think your tires are still ok to me.

 

Just spend a couple of bucks (literally) on a tread depth gauge. Usually, the recommended minimum tread depth is 1.5 mm front, 2 mm rear.
Joe

 

Most all tyres have "wear bars" molded in if you know where to look......

 

You have plenty of tread left on the sides..... But as already said, tread depth isn't the only factor.... you're running on the corner between the middle and side every time you go into a turn... That leaves very little contact patch when you need it the most.
Mich. Pilot Road 2's tyres are harder in the centre and softer on the sides so you'll get a more even wear across the tyre.... and great grip when leaning though turns.... There are other tyres that make multi-compounds. These just happen to be the ones I like, and use.........

 

That is precisely why I suggested the OP invest in a tread depth gauge; so you can take accurate readings at various points on the tire. Without it, you are just guessing.

 

I appreciate the comments guys. as you can tell by the chicken strips, I dont do much but commute on this thing. looks to me like there is plenty left on the sides, but not much down the middle. I dont see any wear indicator on the tire anywhere. Squirrleman............ show me where to look.

I bought the bike with these tires on them so I dunno what they looked like to start with.

thanks again for the comments folks.

Bob

 

BTW, Im in San Diego, Kalifornia. the only water this bike see's is when I wash it. I wish we had actual rain here.

bob

 

On those tyres measure tread depth in grooves closest to center of tread

 

You mean the center of the tire??

thanks
bob

 

Yeah, it can be a matter of manufacturer type too...what brand are they?

I said WTF and bought Full Bore Street Sports to replace the B-axes and they rock! My first concern was that there was no visible tread in the centre of the tire but they've proven great for the first 1000 miles!

Seat of the pants, easily as good or better as the tires they replaced - for one helluva lot less.

http://www.fullboretires.com/

 

I would run them further,and do till they wear into the tips of the inner sipes. More rubber= more traction for straight ahead..the sipes are for water...But I would be very aware in the wet, as for cornering, I figure you got lots left , and always will...

I am usually more worried bout punctures as they get thinner than i ever am about traction in the wet, that I can deal with I live in a desert area.....Transition on some tires can be weird though when middle gone. Some I never notice.
Unless you have sipes running across the center of your tire, a gauge wont help you as u have nowhere to measure..you just estimate by the sides where u can read either by gauge or marker.

But..no matter what! If you think you are done with them, put the front wheel against the garage door and giver her a good 2nd gear howl till they are toast..Where I lived it was illegal NOT to roast em off and freak out the neighbors! I did however do it IN the garage once..neighbor came runnin over with fire extinguisher and his wife called the dept! Next time I did it outside for all to see..and you will leave a legacy on your cement for many a year! enjoy!!

 

thanks folks. Sorry it took so long to get back to this we were on vacation in Yosemite & Sequioa (I missed the bike, LOL).

Nitro......... I got a set of them in my driveway, but they are 14.5" wide (ea) & two of them. my neighbors REALLY love me. LOL. I miss the old boat, I think its time to stick some pistons in it & raise some hell.

thanks again guys, I will run it for a while longer & then look for something new.

Bob