Tires - Wear Bars Starting

[Caba]

I bought a used 04 with 3500 miles on it three months ago and it now has 7500 miles. The wear bars are just beginning to show in the middle on the Bridgestone BT20's. I'm planning to replace them with Avons from what I have read here.

Anyway, what I want to know is when you actually break down and change the tires? Just as the bars are showing or do you use up some more of the rubber?

 

[XLR8]

You change them now.

-r

 

[GunMD]

Wait for the GZ wear bar...

The source of my sarcasm

 

[XLR8]

WTF man? My cat would crawl up on your rim and have a **** right there thinking it was a litter box! You get a chance to clean those things over the summer?

-r

 

[Warchild]

Just as the bars are showing or do you use up some more of the rubber?

I personally would run them a bit more... but not a whole *lot* more, now that winter is not too far off.

Probably shouldn't wait until the Zelenz wear bars are showing.... :lol:

 

[Caba]

Yeah, I was planning on changing them before that. :dribble:

 

[GunMD]

The amount of rubber that I burn off of the wear bars depends on where I'm riding. Daily commute for the next few weeks??? Let 'em ride. BBG or a planned run in the curves? Replace them a little sooner.

It seems that for the past year every time I get anywhere near the "half way point" on my tires I've got some big ride(s) planned and end up taking off a perfectly good set of tires just to ensure that I have good rubber for my entire planned event. Sucks. Desert Cycle Works might make someone a good deal on some 60% used Avons to fit an FJR.

 

[madmike2]

The B020s are noted to wear espnentially. In other words, change it now, when it looks like you have 2k left, you don't! It will wear through the last bit really quick.

Personally, once my tires get close to the wear bars, they're gone. But that's 'cuz I'm old and chicken. I know others who'll ride them until air shows through.

 

[BruceTheBaldGuy]

I wore out my stock BS,in about 8000 miles,the front was cupped like crazy,I switched to a dunlop sportmax,(I think),and the back wore out in seem like 4500 miles,but the front tire hasn't cupped at all..

 

[dcarver]

I know others who'll ride them until air shows through.

Yeah.. I used to know thee guyz too.

I've been known to run a full knobby tire on the street down to the cord but only on a 45 hp machine..

with 145 ponies? and 600+ pounds.. no no noo waay.

 

[Heber Guy]

I must agree with WC as I would run them a bit more also. I usually change about the time you see them below.

Of course the new tire is treated much better and is changed in surgically clean conditions after a first class plane trip to Deadhorse, AK

Also I wash the bike once a day if it needs it or not but the days are long in Alaska. Just added that because I can see the comments coming as to the spotlessness of the FJR.

Again you have lots of miles left.

Al

 

[GunMD]

Is that blue duct tape on your FJR??

 

[Heber Guy]

GunMD

That is specially treated anti-foul substance but I guess some people call it duct tape.

Al

 

[VFRMike]

Like Madmike2 said. I have never had a set of tires wear SO quickly after the wear bars started wearing as the Bt020's. The wear bars were just starting and so I thought it'd be fine for a couple hundred more miles- this has never been a problem on any set of tires I've used. Anyway, while stopped for gas about 100 miles later I see LOTS of metal chord showing in the (rear) tire. Payed up the nose for a new tire to get home safely on. Given that they're 020's I'd change them.

VFRMike.

 

[Rogue]

Unless I've got a long ride planned (And its been too long since that happened) when the wear bars start to show I order new rubber and install it as soon as I have a chance (Not ASAP but as soon as I have a chance).

 

[Bounce]

WTF man? My cat would crawl up on your rim and have a **** right there thinking it was a litter box!    You get a chance to clean those things over the summer? 
-r

Clean? Rims? What r yoo say'n'? Yoo tink dis iz uh Wingster 4um er sumpin?

Cheese, main! Goe bie yerseff uh ring-o-farh!

:haha:

BTW: Here are my OEM BT020's at 6k miles.

Serious cupping

Seriously squared off (no gurlie-main clean rimz neidder!)

 

[BruceTheBaldGuy]

Herb you need a knobby

 

[06FJRAEPILOT]

It's your butt! Change now!

Good maintenance, good tires and good safety clothing are your best insurance against accident and injury.

If you want to get a few extra miles on a tire, do it on something that has four wheels.

I keep a few rear and a front tire stored in a small dark room ( my tire room) so there is always a tire at the ready. Never know when you may need a new tire.

Purchasing them two or more at a time eleminates shipping charges.

I would change them myself, but don't have room for a automatic tire changing machinge. Don't think I want to mess with a manual changer when dealing with radial tires. Maybe if I was 20.

So, I pull the wheel and take the wheel in and the shop changes the tire for ten bucks. They charge me for the cost of weights to balance. Ends up being about thirteen bucks a tire. Don't imagine it's the best deal on the planet, but it's the best I can find.

 

[Caba]

In the few days since I started this thread, I have seen the BT20's almost evaporate. Man, it is amazing how fast they wear at this point!!

Ordered my Avon's today. Will change next week.