[café_racer]

I'm still running my stock tyres front and rear, it's been 4 years, I don't know tho if I should change tyres soon.

 

[Tronix]

do you know what T-CLOCS is? Come on, how can you ride a motorcycle and not know when to change the tires...

 

[cjc]

They're fine on the sides, but I'd change them because I don't think you have enough tread in the center if it rains.

 

[Buck Futterson]

They're fine on the sides, but I'd change them because I don't think you have enough tread in the center if it rains.

There is plenty of information on the c-sectional tire shape on a motorcycle very much resisting a hydroplane. I have intentionally hydroplaned dirt bikes across shallow lakes on the ODNRA lots of times. I have unintentionally hydroplaned a street bike twice. Once a zx6r at 75, I chopped off throttle instinctively and went down hard, once at 90ish On a zx10, stayed on it, no problem, creepy though, long slide. The 6r had no tread left, the 10r, very little tread on pilot powers. Tread doesn't matter in rain on the rear tire, the front displaces the water. Tread on the front tire must be at least minimal IF you chop throttle. If you stay on it and maintain position you can surf a bike significant distance, even on slicks,, I've done it. If you don't live in the PNW and or don't ride dirty, I don't recommend you try any of this. Wet conditions however, have little to do with performance capability on bald ass rear tires. DISCLAIMER wrists may vary.

 

[cjc]

All I know is that I don't like slicks on a wet track. Tread seems to help, and rain tires with lots of tread seem to help the most. Your slides sound like fun though! (Other than the crash.)

 

[tp555]

Self-respect is a concept systematically denied us hoi-poloi by the oligarchy's manipulations of Western macro-economic systems. A more equal distribution of opportunity, wherein we would be vastly more likey to buy new rubber rather than risk our limbs to save a buck, should be the primary goal of anyone with a conscience. Sudden death while doing what one loves is preferable to a decrepit wasting in some unheated hovel, scraping a meager minimum of calories to continue drawing breath. I blame my swiftly dwindling prospects as a corporate wage slave for what is more likely a genetic predisposition to ride my tires deep into the carcass. If you got a silver spoon hanging loosely from your sneering, upper-class mouth, by all means, replace your tires arbitrarily. Worn rubber is a manifestation of solidarity with the exploited classes. I find the suggestion of ones self-respect correlating directly to the conditions of one's tires tremendously pompous and dehumanizing of the less fortunate whom happen to own brand new 10,000$ motorcycles. Also, I'm remarkably cheap.

That nailed it. I agree.

 

[Buck Futterson]

All I know is that I don't like slicks on a wet track. Tread seems to help, and rain tires with lots of tread seem to help the most. Yur slides sound like fun though! (Other than the crash.)

I think that may be less a function of tread amd more a function of compound and operating temperature. That said, I just ordered a set of Michelin pr4's. :smile: you can't ever have too much grip lol

 

[upinsmoke]

This is the stocker at 2600 miles, it probably has about 500 miles left on it at my wear rate.

 

[easbaysav]

OP, from your pic, it's evident majority of your riding is highway miles and conservative in the corners; and you've accumulated double the miles people say they get out of their same make tires. However I wouldn't judge tires by the amount of miles others get out of their tires due to different riding styles. Some of them may be changing tires sooner than they need to also.

I had 2k miles with 1 trackday on my stock Supercorsas when I took them off my bike and they had plenty of miles to go (probably could've done another 2-3k). Only swapped them out because of a puncture in my rear tire. I plugged the rear tire and it held up fine for a few hundred easy miles, but I like to do spirited canyon rides (didn't do any with the plug though) and planned on doing more trackdays.

I've seen people run their tires to the chords, but I wouldn't do that myself. You've got some life left on your tires, but keep an eye on the wear bars; also take it easy in the rain or if you don't ride in the rain then don't worry about it. Another thing to look out for is how old they are and whether there's any dry rot or flat spots (from bike sitting on the side stand for a long period of time).

 

[Luthorcrow]

Looks to me like you got your answer a few times over but on a side note, you are wasting money on tires. Based on the center wear, those fat chicken strips and your statement that you ride to work a few times a week, wasting money on sport tires is just throwing money away. You would be better served putting sport touring tires on that would be slightly cheaper and last about 2-3 times as long as those Pirellis.

You are simply using the wrong tool for the wrong job and paying too much for it in the process.

 

[TwoWheeledWonder]

All I know is that I don't like slicks on a wet track. Tread seems to help, and rain tires with lots of tread seem to help the most. Your slides sound like fun though! (Other than the crash.)

Track and street riding are totally different things. Comparing them shows a lot here...

 

[Polystigma]

Even street tires will probably be heat cycled out after that many miles. Despite what the wear indicators show.

 

[cjc]

Track and street riding are totally different things. Comparing them shows a lot here...

Fair enough, but I think you misunderstand me. I was replying to another member's comment to me about whether treads matter, not to the OP.

 

[Buck Futterson]

This one's done at 3700 street only, almost all very twisted two or one lane, and I don't ride fast at all.

 

[weezy84]

Apologize for the thread hijack but didn't want to start another thread on a similar issue.

Attached are pics of my stock tires on my '09 (bought used in '11 with 1k miles). About to hit 10k, 90% of the time commuting, as you can tell by the middle wear and chicken strips (flame on :smile. Finally going to to the track for the first time in a couple weeks in the Beginner group. The sides seem good but the center is some what squared and the fact that they are about 5 years old. Bike's been garaged in the winter. Front still looks pretty good.

Just wanted to get some opinion/advice on if I should get freshies for the track (answer prob obvious). I have a set of new tires standing by, but if I don't have to change them for the track, then I won't. Thanks in advance.

 

[tp555]

I would bet $ the tech wouldn't let you on the track with those tires. The center wears out
quick. See the above post pics for cords coming thru.

 

[Chirp]

I simply fail to understand any notion of "running it until the cords show" I would not dream of running a tyre which is questionable. It is my life and limb at stake unless I am unlucky enough to run into anyone else. The idea that any opinion-internet or real is worth juggling with is tosh. Just get a safe set of rubber and show some self respect:thumbup:

I've run them to the cords twice, neither time on purpose. Both times I left with some, albeit little, center tread left. Oddly, the cords have very little traction and it makes for a slow, unsettling ride home.

 

[wvstr]

I know tires are a major cost to riding, especially for someone that has to take the bike in for a tire change to a shop, but to put yourself or others at risk because you're trying to stretch a few more miles out of them isn't safe. Is it worth paying for tires or parts or worse case paying a medical bill because you were skimping on tires. If you're riding hard you need good tires especially for track riding, it's the best safety feature you can have on any vehicle, two or four wheels.

 

[DaytonaSpidey]

Tires aren't a major cost for riding, if you are on a budget you should be keeping an eye on your tire wear and planning accordingly like I do. It would suck to have bald tires and no funds when it's still riding weather. As for the track...if you need to ask just replace them as it's already putting a doubt in your mind, which you don't need at the track as there is plenty of things you need to be thinking about other than iffy tires.

Sent from Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[xseta]

I got 9400ish miles (14500kms) out of my original tires; so it depends on your riding/maintenance and or what surface your riding on.

But from your description of riding maybe try the Pilot Road 4's or T30's etc. as your next choice.

I've now done over 2000kms on the PR4's and would recommend them