There are a lot of bikers who are pretty concerned about the health of their motorcycles. As part of it, they may often ask how long motorcycle tires last.
Well, you should note that a couple of factors affect the average lifespan of motorcycle tires. So, it’ll be a good idea to check out all the factors to get a good idea about your motorbike’s tire’s lifespan.
So, how long do the motorcycle tires last? Generally, they can have approximately five years, considering you take good care of them. But there are other things too that you will need to think about.
Let’s check out everything you need to know about it; that way, you’ll be able to tell what influences the lifespan of tires.
How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Last?
Well, the correct answer to this question is that it depends on many things you surely need to consider. In this part of the article, I am mentioning each aspect that plays a very important role in the lifespan of motorcycle tires.
1. Tire Tread
T tire tread is an important determinant of driving safety and performance. It helps the tires to grip the road tightly while driving. And to do that, it must have a standard level of depth. Otherwise, it can’t work properly.
According to federal and state laws, the tread of the motorcycles must be 1/32 to 2/32 deep to serve its purpose accordingly. So, if you are worried about the lifespan of your motorcycle’s tires, you can check out their tread depth.
You must keep in mind, like other parts of a motorbike, its tread is also wearable. Mostly the middle of the motorcycle wears faster than the rest due to its vast contact with the road surface. So, you can determine when your motorcycle tires need to be replaced by looking at the tire.
2. Defects on the Tires
Not only can the tread wear affects the tires’ longevity, but also the defects of the tires hugely cause the motorcycle tires to go bad. And if you think about it, it’s pretty self-explanatory that defects on the tire can impact the lifespan of a motorcycle tire.
You’ll usually see cracks as the tire ages too much. If you find such cracks on your bicycle tire, it’s recommended that you take it to a repair, and better off, replace it completely. If it’s exposed to direct harsh sunlight, it’s likely to explode, and that’s not a pleasant scenario.
Another thing you should be checking is the side profiles of the wheels of your motorbike. If you ride your bike roughly, it’ll start to have odd-looking square wheels. The basic rule of thumb here is to replace the tires if you see any interrupted patterns rather than round shapes. Such interruptions tell you that your bike tire is suffering from intensive wear and tear.
3. Age
Another pretty obvious thing that can have a huge impact on the durability of your motorbike tires is the age of the tires. As the tires get older, they lose their quality and structural integrity, which makes them less dependable.
You should expect around 3700 miles from a decent sports bike tire. Once you reach the point where it’s close to the expiry date, you should consider changing the tires to have a hassle-free riding experience.
Not to mention, it’s always a good idea to do regular maintenance check-ups rather than relying on a solid number. Remember, every tire can have a different life span, and you should be able to decide whether it’s necessary to replace the tire or not all by yourself.
When Do I Replace My Motorcycle Tires?
Like the endurance of motorcycle tires, the call for a tire replacement is also influenced by some factors. So, there is no other best way to know when you should make a tire replacement for your motorcycle other than having an in-depth understanding of those factors.
Let’s go over everything you need to know about those influences so that you can easily determine the perfect time to replace your motorbike’s tires.
1. Legal Wear Limit of Tread
As you knew earlier, motorcycle tires have tread that keeps close contact with the road’s surface to ensure driving safety, especially on wet surfaces. After a long time of use or frequent bike rides on harsh surfaces, tires tread rip out, and tires lose their ability to grip the surface tightly. As a result, you may encounter severe accidents.
So, whenever you want to decide whether your tires need a replacement, you should at first check out the depth of the tread. Don’t delay to take specialists’ help if necessary. And make sure to change the tires before the tread reaches its legal wear limit of 2/32nds. Otherwise, you may have to pay for it.
2. Signs of Aging
Finding out the exact age limit of a motorcycle tire is not easy because it has no relation to the date of its manufacturing. Rather, its lifespan is greatly influenced by the weather conditions, storage and usage conditions, load, speed, tire pressure, maintenance, riding style, etc.
Due to the difference in those factors, some motorcycle tires show signs of aging quite earlier than others. So, you should regularly inspect your tires to determine whether they show any signs of aging, such as deformations or cracks in the tread, shoulders, or sides. If necessary, you can even go for a professional check-up of your motorcycle tires.
You must remember that most good-quality tires offer a lifespan of 5 years. So, if you successfully spend five years with your old tires, you should set them for professional inspection every 4/6 months. However, you must replace your motorcycle tires after ten years, regardless of their condition.
3. Damages of Tires
Do you love to ride on uneven roads? Then, this part will be a great help to you. Whenever you drive on a rough surface, your tires underdo extra pressure. Besides, frequent exposure to sunlight also worsens their conditions. Consequently, pavements, holes, or blunt objects can easily damage them. However, slight damage is pretty easy to repair. But when the damages go beyond repair, you have no other way but to replace the tires.
At that point, you might be wondering what damages bound the tires to replace. Here is a shortlist for you.
- Tires got punctures to the sides.
- Beads got deformed.
- Unstuck or deformed tread rubber.
- Damages arose from oils or corrosive substances.
This list does not contain everything about this irreparable damage. So, make sure to go for a professional inspection after any cracks or damage.
4. Loss of Pressure
There are many reasons for tires to lose their pressure, such as natural emissions, pressurized air, damaged rim, valve insert, etc. No matter what the reason is, it will be alarming for the riders because it causes a decrease in tire performance, hampers safe journeys, and so on. So, if you observe an imbalance of pressure on your motorcycle tires, you should immediately set it out for professional treatments.
5. Mileage of Tires
Although the lifespan of tires depends on various factors, there is an average mileage for motorcycle tires. According to the most reliable observation, the front tire of a motorbike can sustain about 3700 miles, whereas the rear tire can last for 1800 miles on average.
So, if your tires exceed this limit, let it for a professional inspection.
However, this measurement is not applicable for all tires due to the difference in riding style and frequency of the owners, the road being taken to ride, and other elements. If you are a regular rider off-road or keep your motorbike under sunlight for a long period, you should initiate the inspection before the average user.
6. Wrong Tire Selection
The manufacturers of vehicles recommend accessories that may need to be replaced from time to time. The same thing applies to motorcycles. If you are going to replace your motorcycle tires, don’t forget to check out the manufacturer’s suggestions.
However, to get the best experience, pick the tires with the same design, tread, and wear pattern for the front and back. Otherwise, you might lose balance and stability while driving on uneven or wet surfaces.
In case you made any wrong tire selection disrupting your rides, you must get a tire replacement as soon as possible. Many professionals are out there to help you in that case.
Conclusion
You just went through a lot of information on how long motorcycle tires last, and you should be pretty clear on it by now. As you saw, no one thing determines the lifespan of the motorbike’s tires.
However, if you want to get the best out of the durability, you should consider using the information given on the factors that influence the lifespan of the tires.
That’ll help you get a more enjoyable ride on your bike rather than using a defective tire, which risks accidents.
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