What's a Safe Tyre Tread Depth?

[Slowboathome]

At what tread depth do you replace your tyres?

[Freakuk]

That's impossible to answer in simple terms...

I raced bikes years ago, you'd do 2 8 lap races and they were shot, plenty of tread left so sold on for people to use on the road, same as doing trackdays now, I can get a day out of a rear, but after that it's sliding, plenty of tread (Supercorsa's) but it's gone.

On the road, again depends on the bike and conditions, I've ridden bikes and the tyres through to the wire, it didn't inspire confidence in that I'd make it home, but it did.

For the road usually down to the wear markers before I replace, or if the rear has squared off from too many motorway miles.

[XR]

I don't go on tread depth, if its squared off on the road it gets changed, legal limit is 1mm but even if its got lots more I prefer the feel of a new tyre with a proper profile.

[trickywoo]

Yup.

You tend to either square the middle or cook the sides if you are on track.

The dream is to wear it evenly and if you can the legal min of 1mm is fine imo.

Edited by trickywoo on Tuesday 13th April 15:15

[KTMsm]

Do you ride fast in rain / through puddles ?

If not, then slicks are fine

[Iminquarantine]

Curious to hear what mileage road riders get out of their tyres?

I’ll probably change a set of Metzlers at about 7,000 miles due to squaring off.

[Freakuk]

Iminquarantine said:

Curious to hear what mileage road riders get out of their tyres?

I’ll probably change a set of Metzlers at about 7,000 miles due to squaring off.

Again an impossible question to answer based upon many variables, bike, engine, riding style, what type of roads you ride, tyre pressures, tyres, compunds to name a few.

As per my previous post, I can get through a rear tyre in 7x20 trackday sessions pretty easily on a hot Spanish race track, probably a day and half in the UK for the same tyre/bike. That's less than 100 miles from new also!

[bogie]

Depends on the tyre. Below based on rear tyre. Generally get another 20-30% out of a front.

OE Supercorsas were lasting about 2k miles of road use
DRCIII so far lasted 4k miles, probably go to 4500 miles
Metzeler 880 and now Cruisetec around 6k miles

Change them when under 2mm ish, sometimes they have looked ok with 1.5mm on them and I've done a weekends riding and come back with bald patches...the last 1mm or so seems to disappear quick

Im generally riding pleasure miles in the dry, not motorway commuting. "Safe" to me would be 2mm, especially if you anticipate rain.

[Ilikemotorbikes]

Back when I had very little money I ran a sueprcorsa down to the string on my fireblade.
Not clever or safe but true...

Had some funny looks at a bike meet as it was slowly losing pressure so I carried a battery powered compressor to pump it up before I left...

I'm glad in not sure a numpty now

I usually run rears down to legal depth on the road and fronts really depends on how it's worn and how it affects the handling for me. Sometimes I change them well above the limit as they just feel ste

[anonymous-user]

Ilikemotorbikes said:

Back when I had very little money I ran a sueprcorsa down to the string on my fireblade.
Not clever or safe but true...

Had some funny looks at a bike meet as it was slowly losing pressure so I carried a battery powered compressor to pump it up before I left...

I'm glad in not sure a numpty now

I usually run rears down to legal depth on the road and fronts really depends on how it's worn and how it affects the handling for me. Sometimes I change them well above the limit as they just feel ste

I'm amazed you didn't get picked up by plod, they usually walk around the meets looking for such things