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Just How Are Your Tires?
Tires
can cost a lot (Sometimes up to $200-$400+ a set). When compared to the cost of some used
bikes, that can be a lot. Tires are critically important to a motorcyclist - how many motorcyclists
have you heard of that have had a "blowout?" There's a darn reason why you
haven't - it doesn't happen.
So what should you do to protect yourself against getting a
blowout?
Here's what to look for in your tires:
Tread- 1 mm or less (if you can see the
top of Abe Lincoln's head if you stick a penny in the tire tread) and the tire
really should be replaced.1-2mm deep usually means they have about an average
of a season's worth on 'em (depends how much you ride and how much horsepower
the bike has, of course). More than 2 mm, and you're pretty much ok for a
while. Here's a picture of a tire that has some tread left...notice you can
not see the top of Abe's head. Click the picture to enlarge.
Dry Rotting- or "cracking." Usually
means that the tires are old and/or the bike has not been in covered
storage. Real "light" cracking may be ok, but basically if
there is excessive dry rotting, you should get new tires.
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