When to Replace Your Motorcycle’s Tires
Riding on worn, damaged, or old motorcycle tires can compromise your motorcycle's performance and safety. Often, motorcycle tires that appear to have plenty of miles left in the tread should be replaced. Here are some things to look for to help you understand when to replace your street bike and Harley Davidson motorcycle tires.
Our calendar fills up fast… don’t miss out on riding the open roads.
5 SIGNS IT’S TIME TO REPLACE MOTORCYCLE TIRES
1. Your Tires are Worn
Worn motorcycle tires provide reduced traction, can adversely affect stability and handling, and may be more easily damaged, leading to potential tire failure. It’s time to consider installing new tires when the tread depth reaches 2/32 inches, and tires should be considered worn out and potentially unsafe when the tread depth is 1/32 inch or less. Past this point, there is no guarantee that your tires will keep you safe or deliver grip and performance, particularly on wet surfaces. Most tires have wear bars moulded into the grooves of the tire tread. A small triangular indicator on the tire sidewall may point to the wear bars' location.
Tires should be replaced before the tread wears down to the level of the wear bars. The traction of off-road tires will diminish as the tread wears, and the rear tire usually wears out at twice the rate of the front.
2. YOUR TIRES ARE OLD
Many factors can affect tire lifespan, including weather conditions, storage and usage conditions, load, speed, tire pressure, maintenance, and riding style. Even if older tires appear to be in good shape, the rubber compound can begin to dry out over time, and the internal construction can deteriorate. All riders should regularly spend some time inspecting their tires to pick up on any external signs of aging or wear, such as deformations or cracks in the tread on the shoulders or sides.
The UV in the bright sun can prematurely age the tires if the bike is usually parked outdoors. Inspect your tire’s sidewalls for small cracks or discoloration that make the tire appear to be drying out.
The date-of-manufacture code on the sidewall of every motorcycle tire will indicate the tire's age. The code is preceded by DOT (Department of Transportation), followed by a series of numbers. The last four digits are the date code – the first two numbers represent a week, and the second pair indicates a year. For example, a tire with a code of 3522 was manufactured in the 35th week of 2022. Checking this code is important when buying a used motorcycle to determine if the tires should be replaced. Dunlop and Michelin recommend that after five years or more of use, tires should be examined yearly by a professional mechanic and replaced ten years after the date of manufacture, even if they have not reached the legal wear-out limit.
3. THE TIRE IS DAMAGED
Rough pavement, potholes and impacting blunt objects can seriously damage tires. A professional mechanic should carefully examine any tear, cut or deformation in a tire.
4. THERE’S CUPPING OR UNEVEN WEAR OF THE TREAD ON THE TIRE
Tread that is worn unevenly can affect handling and cause uncomfortable vibration. It may also indicate another problem, such as an unbalanced wheel, a bent or misaligned axle, a damaged wheel rim, a bad wheel bearing or riding with incorrect tire pressure. A professional technician can often diagnose other problems by looking at uneven tread wear.
Our calendar fills up fast… don’t miss out on riding the open roads.
5. YOU HAVE THE WRONG TIRES ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE
Motorcycle manufacturers carefully select tires for each model, which are often integral to the motorcycle's performance. Harley Davidson only recommends using its specified tires in the original size, speed rating, load rating, and construction as the Original Equipment tires.
WHERE CAN I BUY NEW and used MOTORCYCLE TIRES?
Openroad Kustoms sells new motorcycle tires. We offer many brands, such as Dunlop, Dunlop American Elite, Michelin, Metzler, and others. We can help you buy motorcycle wheels and find the exact size your motorcycle needs for tire installation.
Call us for tire change and maintenance services to guarantee that your motorcycle delivers optimal performance and safety on the road.