Did you know that your motorcycle tires don’t have an expiry date? Many people aren’t sure how many months or miles their motorcycle tires last and are often afraid that their new set might be stale.
However, most people don’t know that they can’t go stale if appropriately stored away from the sun. They have to be safely stored away from all weather conditions, but that shouldn’t concern you as much if you’re shopping from a reliable dealer.
Tires can’t just go bad, so what it is that it happens to them? How can you know it’s time to replace them? Continue reading to learn all the critical info about the lifespan of your motorcycle tires.
How Often Should You Replace Motorcycle Tires?
It’s hard to predict how long they will last because many factors affect the matter. It’s not always about the manufacturing date but storing, usage, pressure, weather conditions, riding style, speed, etc.
You should take a moment to inspect them from time to time to see if you can find any signs of wear or aging. If you drive across damaged roads with many holes, your tires won’t last as long as if you were on a smooth road. The little details like this one determine how long your set will last.
It’s recommended that you inspect for signs of external damage or deformation of any sort. You should also have a professional look at them occasionally especially before and after a long trip.
Once you use the same set for five years or more, you should have it checked by a professional mechanic possibly every year. After five years, you have to closely monitor if they’re showing any signs of aging or wear.
In most cases, professionals advise that you replace them after each 6 to 7 years. Some people used theirs for ten years, but those cases are rare and in most cases not really safe.
How Many Miles Do Motorcycle Tires Last?
Again, there are no rules since so many factors affect the lifespan of every individual tire. Still, to make things a little easier, we’ve taken on an average number to use as a guideline.
Front tire can last about 3,700 miles while the rear one can last 1,800 on average. All that exceeds this number is considered quite dangerous.
The numbers only apply to tires that have been well-maintained and checked regularly. The reason why this shouldn’t be taken as a rule is that all bikers are different as are the roads they ride on.
For example, if a tire is at two or three PSI less than what’s recommended it probably won’t last as long. In most cases, a wrong pressure can cut its life by a half.
Also, miles on a smooth road aren’t the same as miles on a rough and damaged off-road track. All of the factors we mentioned above might also affect this. This means that they could last longer or shorter than that depending on how you’ve maintained them over the years.
Curious what’s high mileage for the rest of your ride? Find out.
How Many Years Do They Last?
Most leading manufacturers claim give their products six years on average. Using them for a longer time might be dangerous and is just not worth the risk.
However, it all comes down to how you’ve used them over those six years. Where did you drive? Have you had them checked?
Just think about what tires go through during their five-year lifespan. It’s normal that the usage leaves its mark which is why many people consider them to be as good as dead after five years.
It’s up to you to decide because there are also people who managed to use their set for as long as ten years. If you do choose to use them for longer than five or six years, make sure to keep a close eye on them.
Inspect each tire individually and often to see if it’s showing any signs of wear and aging. If you live in an urban area with smooth surfaces, you might get more from them. However, if you live in a rural area, you should probably replace them every five years and still have them regularly checked.
When Should You Buy New Motorcycle Tires?
One thing that you should remember is that they don’t have an expiry date as such. They can’t just expire although they can wear out and age.
There’s no “use by” date on them merely because of the many factors that affect their lifespan. For example, if you leave your bike outside, they probably won’t last as long as those on a bike that’s safely parked in a garage.
Still, all models have a four-digit number on the sidewalls. This indicates the week and year of manufacturing that you should use as a guideline. It’s also quite important to check and note if you’re buying a used bike.
Use this code along with the five-year guideline. The only time you can make an exception is if you got a new set from a dealer. It still has a lot to give even if the five-digit number shows the set is a few years old, but this only applies if you got it from a reliable dealer.
Keep in mind that the 5-year guideline is just that, it’s not a rule so it shouldn’t be taken as such. Inspect your tires now and then so you can notice if anything is wrong with it. They show signs of wear, so don’t ignore if you see anything unusual even if you’ve recently bought them.
In case you need it, here’s our guide to top rated tires.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a little insight in when you should replace your tires. As you can tell, there are hardly any rules on how long they last because every situation and biker is different.
Consider if they are exposed to weather conditions and what are the roads around you like. However, if you’re not sure about whether or not you should change your tires, it’s best you consult with a mechanic.
