Legal Tyre?

Author
Discussion

M3EVO

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Monday 17th November 2003
quotequote all
My rear Pirelli Supercorsa looks a little worse for wear after this summer's abuse. The tread, does not go all the way to the edge of the tyre as you may know, the legal depth is 1.6mm, I have measured 2mm in the centre of the tyre but nearly 3mm where the tread moves out towards the edge and then stops. When should I consider replacing it as IIRC the 1.6mm should be across 75% of the tyre according to the law?.

If it is time to replace it can anyone recommend a good supplier around the Surrey area (Guildford tyres??)

DennisTheMenace

15,605 posts

275 months

Monday 17th November 2003
quotequote all
Thought legal tread depth was 1mm for bikes , In that case better get the summer slick off the back then

a j

450 posts

256 months

Monday 17th November 2003
quotequote all
So.........nope just stopped myself M25IKEA!!!

Micheldever tyres nr winchester is the place. I would like to say Guildford tyres as they sort of sponsered me racing. But they are quite a bit more expensive. Stay clear of National tyres in G'ford all i'll say is no idea.

Good service at Micheldever, as cheap as you'll find anywhere else, specificly designated m'cycle fitting bays with a while you wait service......and ikea cataloges in the waiting rooms! Well i had to didn't i ?!

As far as wear can you see the threads yet?

veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Tuesday 18th November 2003
quotequote all
Right then AJ that is the last of M25IKEA as I have changed my login to veetwin. I dont think the M3EVO is suitable anymore. Besides that we have now gone upmarket to Heal's, we have grown out of Ikea now. Habitat has some nice gear in too!!

Thanks for the tyre info, I cant find anything on legal tyre depths. Any ideas?

AJ You still going up to the NEC on Saturday? I shall be going up after the Rugby finals.

Steve_T

6,356 posts

279 months

Tuesday 18th November 2003
quotequote all
1mm definitely - if concerned though, you can always ask on Speeding, Plod and the Law.

Second the vote for Micheldever. They were £30 cheaper than FWR (who claim they're the cheapest out there) for a front and rear for the SV. They even gave me a nice route home to scrub the tyres in.

Steve.

veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Tuesday 18th November 2003
quotequote all
Just found a website re. tyre tread depth:

Cars, light vans and light trailers MUST have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference "Motorcycles", large vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles MUST have a tread depth of at least 1mm across three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and in a continuous band around the entire circumference. Mopeds should have visible tread.

iguana

7,055 posts

267 months

Tuesday 18th November 2003
quotequote all
veetwin, M3Evo, Ikeaboy- or whoever you will be in ya next post

How does the bike ride with the tread that low? My old Bandit is a real nightmere to ride when the tread is as low as 2mm on the rear- in the dry the rear just feels odd but in the wet as I go over the white lines on overtakes I get genuinly scary- 'I really think Im gunna come off here moments'!

None of my little Honda 400's or my Kwak 500 have felt like that- infact my old VFR when I got it from its previous old geezer owner the rear was practically bald in the middle & loads of meat on the sides, the front was a prehistoric old thing- made from old turnip leather or somat & was still ok!!

stooz

3,005 posts

291 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
I agree with iguana, the handling deteriates before the legal limit does IMHO. CHnage it when your no longer confident with the grip.

veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
Deffo stickin with veetwin. Ikeaboy was never an option although some around here may have you believe different!! (I know where you live!)

Anyway, the bike never gets ridden in the wet as the Supercorsas dont have tread anywhere near the tyre edge so I never fancied trying; that and the fact that Dukes don't tend to like nasty weather.

The only noticeable difference in dry handling is that the bike seems to want to turn-in to a right hander quicker than a left hander. I put this down to road camber. I think I will look at a different tyre next time as these ones are more suited to track riding, maybe some Michelin Pilots are in order?

stooz

3,005 posts

291 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
who mentioned the wet?!! Mine get skippy on the back under hard revs in the dry! starts to hop on fast corners...

heres what happened to an MCN road tester when he road tested a ducati in the rain last month...



veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all


The rear is still grippy in the dry although given huge amounts of stick usually provides either spin or front wheel lift dependant on which gear is selected.

a j

450 posts

256 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
veetwin said:
Right then AJ that is the last of M25IKEA as I have changed my login to veetwin. I dont think the M3EVO is suitable anymore. Besides that we have now gone upmarket to Heal's, we have grown out of Ikea now. Habitat has some nice gear in too!!

Thanks for the tyre info, I cant find anything on legal tyre depths. Any ideas?

AJ You still going up to the NEC on Saturday? I shall be going up after the Rugby finals.


May go up after the rugby or sunday, just not keen on the crowds.

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

255 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
On the track an old set of Supers will lap around a second (or more) slower than a fresh set. However, on the road outright grip is less of a factor in general riding and so I'd keep hold of the supers until they wear really badly.

B

PS Now is a good time to begin locking the rear on approach to t-junctions. It's sooo much more entertaining than pulling up wheels-in-line.

veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
Ben, I honestly thought that you had hit something when I saw the back of the Gixxer lift approaching that junction (down that dirt track on SC1)!!! Im glad that you are now recommending rear-end sliding on junction approaches.

As for my road riding, I will be trying to get on the California Race School early next year to try and get my confidence up. I think that up until then I really wouldnt be able to tell any difference as I never really corner that hard.

I went round some Basingstoke roundabouts recently (early morning) and took it nice and easy getting used to the lean. The Duke seems to go on forever before knee-touchdown, I dont recall the CBR on Ron Haslams Race School taking half as much effort to get over. Maybe it is all psychological?! All in all the rear tyre felt very good (I was the limit in all this!!) and upon inspection I still got me some 2mm chicken strips. Looks like some track time is necessary as I wouldnt feel comfortable taking it any further on average roads (with sh1te surfaces).

stooz

3,005 posts

291 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
suspension changes can alter lean angles, as too the height of your rearsets, probably higher than the ron haslam bikes?

I got the twist of the wrist DVD last year, isnt that superbike school? I didnt learn anything particulary mind blowing..

veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Wednesday 19th November 2003
quotequote all
Good point Stooz.

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

255 months

Thursday 20th November 2003
quotequote all
A bit of track time will work wonders. However, get a copy of the book "twist of the wrist 2". It's got some fantastic technical descriptions of how to ride a bike quickly and covers more than I think any school could for the money. I found it was best to read a chapter and then try it out on the road. You couldn't possibly hope to read the lot and put all of it into practice straight away.

Maybe do a Brands Hatch Indy track day this winter. You'll easily get your knee down there.

bennyboysvuk

3,491 posts

255 months

Friday 21st November 2003
quotequote all
I think when I finally knacker the supers on my gixer I may go for the diablos since I've no need of outright trackworthy grip on the gixer anymore. Hail to the SV650S race bike and it's gorgeous rennies.

PS. I never touched that TRX. He went wide of his own accord.

veetwin

Original Poster:

1,572 posts

264 months

Friday 21st November 2003
quotequote all
Habitat do orders over the internet so it could be a possibilty over the 2004 summer season of silliness. Diablos are the top of the list for a replacement at the mo. I was looking into Michelin Pilot Sports as well.

I was at Goodwood revival in September and was hanging around the bike paddock when some asked Mr. Whitham if he was riding the Cagiva GP500 in the Barry Sheene tribute. He turned round and said something about the Pirelli Tyres being absolute shiiite for grip. When I got round the back of the bike I discovered it was wearing SUPERCORSAS.