Calculation of estimated tire life?

[TWILKIN650]

Starting out with a new tire and a tread depth gauge, is it technically possible to plot tread depth versus miles and estimate (within 1,000 miles or so) miles to wear bars? I know lots of you guys go through a rear tire in 3,000 miles, but for those of us who get more miles to a rear tire (maybe 5,000-7,500) is this calculation possible?

If not, and you just eyeball the rear tire and say "time to order another tire, 'cause this one's going to die in two months", maybe that's all we can do. I've got 5,000 on my rear '05 now, and plan to order a tire to have it ready when this one gets further down to the wear bars. After wearing a tire out on another bike (unexpectedly, my fault entirely) on a 2,000 mile trip, though, I'd like to be able to predict its demise. I know the variables are many and combine to wear a tire out faster than predicted under adverse conditions, but.....any rules of thumb?

Other than "if you can see the cords, it may be time for a new tire"?

Admins, feel free to move this to "Never-Ending.........Threads" if needed.

 

[Bike Effects]

I used to do this, but have not been lately. It is simply a matter of establishing how many miles it takes to wear 1/32nd off of your tire and then do the math. Minimum tread is 2/32. You need to know where your particular riding style wears the tire the most and measure there.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I measure my tread on a regular basis and my experience is that the first 1/32nd of tread and the last 1/32nd of tread (before you get to the wear bars) seem to wear at twice the rate of everything in between. So, on a rear Avon, which comes with 9/32nds of tread, I get about 85 percent of the tire life between 8/32nds and 3/32nds. When I get to the halfway point, I really only have about 1/3 of the tire life left.

 

[zzkenoman]

Ask Dkirk..he uses the "count the thread showing on my tire" method, well at least thats what it looked like on his bike last week..lol

 

[MikeYork5]

Was going to say - take advantage of the Pirelli Free tire Offer and have another set waiting so you don't have to think about it - BUT - '0' tires left on the offer - WE BOUGHT EM OUT BOYS!

 

[twowheelnut]

'Sperience has learned me that the rear tires goes at 6,500 and the front is toast by 9,000. I order new hoops at these intervals.

 

[FJRMGM]

not really cause the number of heat cycles the tire goes through accelerates the wear at the end of its life.

I did just get 13,900 miles on my rear Avon ST-45 - on the FJR.

And it was not totally worn out.

 

[Toecutter]

I did just get 13,900 miles on my rear Avon ST-45 - on the FJR.
And it was not totally worn out.

Geez, did it still have the nipples at the edge as well? You don't by chance have one of the French detuned motors do you? I think the '05s got them in the US.

 

[TWILKIN650]

Thanks for the comments, observations and suggestions. Time to break out the tire gauge and do some estimation............I don't ride in the twisties as much as many of you do, so the center 1/3 of my tire is fading fast. Probably time to call Guru Glenn............

 

[Bluestreek]

Since nobody in my area carries Avon tires to fit my bike I keep a set in the garage You never know when you might need one in a hurry.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

Since nobody in my area carries Avon tires to fit my bike I keep a set in the garage You never know when you might need one in a hurry.

Now I know where to get tires in a hurry !