How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Last?

When it comes to motorcycle safety, your tires are literally where the rubber meets the road. Therefore, old tires can cause you to skid or lose traction and can even blow out from years of wear and tear. In turn, you should change your tires before they wear down and become a safety hazard.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about how often you should change your motorcycle tires. Here is a quick guide to help clear things up.

How Do I Know I Need New Tires?

There are a handful of reasons to replace your old tires. These include:

• Ordinary wear: Just like car tires, motorcycle tires lose tread over time. Eventually, there’s no tread remaining, and they will no longer grip the road. Some motorcycle tires are manufactured to last for 1,500 miles or less, while others can last over 10,000 miles.
• Uneven wear: If you do most of your riding in a straight line, the center of the tire can get flattened out. As a result, the bike will hesitate to turn, then suddenly drop. Replacing the tires, in this case, can restore ordinary handling.
• Age: Rubber oxidizes over time and eventually hardens, reducing the tire’s grip and increasing the risk of blowouts. To avoid this, most manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are five years old or older.
• Punctures and other damage: As we will discuss, plugs are a temporary measure at best. You should always replace your tire if a puncture occurs that is irreparable, as patching will likely only provide a temporary solution.

Now that we know why your tires might need replacement, let’s discuss how to tell whether or not they are still safe to drive on.

Inspecting Tires For Wear

The easiest way to find out if your tires are too worn to drive is to check the tread depth. Depth gauges are relatively cheap and easy to obtain. Federal law requires a minimum tread depth of 2/32 of an inch. If the tread is shallower than that, you will need to replace your tire.

If you don’t have a depth gauge, a penny serves as a suitable substitute. Turn the penny upside down, and put the edge in a groove. The tread around that groove should cover the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head. If you can see all of his head, the tread is too shallow.

Keep in mind; motorcycle tires will tend to wear more in the center than on the sides. For this reason, the sides of the tire may have plenty of tread, even as the center is nearly bald. Therefore, when you check the tread, make sure to inspect the center of the tire diligently. This way, you know the entire tire is safe.

When checking your tread, it is also a good idea to examine the sidewalls. Look for cracks or dry rot. If the sidewalls are badly cracked, you would want to replace the tire whether or not the tread is in good condition.

Another thing to look for is whether the sidewalls are bowed. If they are, it could indicate uneven wear or a problem with the tire structure. That said, it could also be a symptom of low pressure. So before you panic, check the tire pressure and reinflate it, if necessary.

Are My Tires Too Old?

As we already mentioned, tires will oxidize as they age. In this process, oxygen from the air reacts with chemicals in the rubber, which causes them to harden. Eventually, they become brittle, and cracks and other damage can occur.

Oxidation in motorcycles usually is slow. However, it can be accelerated by heat and sunlight. Concrete can also leech moisture from the tires, further accelerating drying and cracking. For this reason, it is best to park in a cool place to extend your tire life. It is also wise to move your motorcycle regularly. Leave it in place for too long, and flat spots can appear.

As you can imagine, there’s some variation in how long it takes tires to age. That said, the rule of thumb is to replace your motorcycle tires after five years, even if they appear to be in good condition.

If you don’t know how old your tires are, it is relatively easy to find out. First, there will be the letters “DOT” followed by a series of numbers on the tire’s sidewall. Once you have located these numbers, look at the last four digits. The first two digits signify the week the tire was manufactured, and the last two digits represent the year.

For example, imagine a tire with the last four digits, “1620”. In this instance, the tire was manufactured in the 16th week of 2020, or essentially, around the end of April.

Are Patch Kits Safe?

If you go to any motorcycle shop, you will likely see a patch kit among their selection of products. It’s a good idea to carry one, but you should never rely on a patch kit as a long-term repair. Unlike cars, ATVs, and other four-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles are not designed to be ridden with a patched tire.

However, patch kits do have their place. For example, if you run over a nail, you can use a patch to haul your bike to the shop. Just don’t do any unnecessary travel.

Do I Need To Change Both Tires?

There is a persistent myth that you need to change both tires on a motorcycle simultaneously. You don’t. You should replace your tires when they become worn, damaged, or aged out. For example, if the rear tire is worn out but the front is intact, it is acceptable to simply replace the rear.

In fact, this is standard practice. Since the rear wheel is the drive wheel, it tends to always wear out first. As a result, many riders go through two rear tires for every front tire they wear out.

However, there are a couple of instances when you change both tires at once. The first instance is if both tires are worn or aged out. The other example is if you are switching to a new brand or pattern. Since tires are typically designed in pairs, mixing and matching different pairs can cause problems with handling.