(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4362405957_29560cf47e_b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4363146998_6e219a9fc3_b.jpg)
Should I replace this tire before going on a 2000+ mile trip??? I'm at a dilemma as to whether to replace before during or after my trip. I definitley have life left, but I would hate to be in the middle of no where in a rain storm with bald tires. However, at the same time, I hate to put new tires on and then immediately square them off with a ton of highway miles. Seems like highway miles would be a good way to finish off this tire... I just don't want to gamble too much. It is not to the wear marks (but getting close) I hear that once a tire gets towards the end of it's life, it tends to go fast??? I am new and have no prior experience, so I don't know (please don't flame too badly if the answer is an obvious yes).
Let me know your opinion. I have the Bridgestone Battlax BT020 on the front so I am probably going to put these (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/11802/ITEM/Bridgestone-Battlax-BT-021-Rear-Tire.aspx?SiteID=CSE_Gbase_396&WT.mc_ID=80003&zmam=88421133&zmas=1&zmac=45&zmap=11802) on the rear..The BT021 is the newer version of the BT020... It is a sport touring tire.
I leave in a month. Here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=38.67774,-87.26824&daddr=38.55618,-86.48111+to:37.61078,-82.70633+to:37.14721,-81.24398+to:36.98452,-81.52959+to:36.38964,-81.24977+to:36.27973,-81.37576+to:36.14580,-81.71233+to:35.91058,-81.96720+to:35.73366,-82.31758+to:35.53699,-82.50348+to:35.45405,-82.66629+to:35.30980,-82.88017+to:35.50884,-83.29777+to:35.52517,-83.99316+to:33.47713,-84.60674+to:30.29559,-89.77170+to:30.46646,-97.77925&hl=en&geocode=FewsTgIdcGTM-g%3BFRRSTAIdKmfY-g%3BFRzlPQIdZgAS-w%3BFUrSNgIdtFAo-w%3BFchWNAIdCvUj-w%3BFQhDKwIdFjoo-w%3BFbKVKQId8E0m-w%3BFYiKJwIdNish-w%3BFbTzIwIdoEcd-w%3BFZxAIQId9O4X-w%3BFV5AHgIdyBgV-w%3BFWL8HAIdzpwS-w%3BFejIGgIdVlkP-w%3BFWjSHQIdFvoI-w%3BFTISHgIduF3--g%3BFQrS_gEd7AD1-g%3BFSZGzgEdTDGm-g%3BFZzh0AEdzgEs-g&mra=ls&sll=36.712467,-85.550537&sspn=6.752951,9.876709&ie=UTF8&ll=35.5054,-84.836426&spn=6.857299,9.876709&z=7) is my route.
Before or after, never during. You won't want the down time during your trip and you will also be required to have the work done at a shop you're not familiar with if you do it during your trip.
Im in my own field here...but if i ride my bke 2,000 miles chances are i could care less if my rim gets a bit scratched up from a shop, i'd just be grateful my bike is mechanically sound.
with that said, if you can afford it, replace it. if your tight on a budget, id ride it till i had no choice to replace it....such as within 500 miles of the tires death. But a tire wears based on usage. Are you going to be gunning it down the highway? are you going to be going 100mph or 80mph? etc..
Those don't really look like they'll make the whole 2K (but I haven't *seen* the tires) safely. If it's not going to break the bank, I'd say do it before you leave and be sure to get a sport-touring tire that leans more toward touring as you'll be slabbing it for a good long while it looks like.
No matter what, here's to a great trip! [beer]
I'd say replace. I did about 1000 of 1500 miles on a tire that started off looking like that, and didn't look like it'd see me 500+ mi safely home.
You're going to be very close after, if not during, your ride.
(depending on this particular tire's life and the riding conditions)
It's not a nice feeling to wonder if it's safe, which is what you're already feeling?
Also depends if your tire is a sports touring or just a regular sports tire. Also, if its going to be hot your tire wear will be excessive; specially if you ride non stop. The more often you stop the more of a chance tires get to cool down before you start again. Take all the factors that everyone has pointed out, weigh them in your head and make the the best decision. Check weather to give you an idea of how hot the slab will be. Oh, and have fun on your rode trip!
How about plan ahead and set up for new tires in Atlanta?
What is your time table for the trip? If you can spare a half day, it might be good getting some rest.
This way you can use up what you got on the bike now, then put another 1K on it, which should not square them up too bad.
Quote from: He Man on February 16, 2010, 08:57:36 AM
Im in my own field here...but if i ride my bke 2,000 miles chances are i could care less if my rim gets a bit scratched up from a shop, i'd just be grateful my bike is mechanically sound.
That's what I'm worried about. A loose chain adjuster plate can really dampen your ride if you forget to check it after you pick your bike up and the shop tech is sloppy. An acquaintance of mine dropped off his ninja 250 at a cycle gear for them to change his rear tire. They left out the spacer. [bang]
alright well... i didnt think someone could make the beast with two backs up a tire change. A monkey could seriously do it.
No, wiat, a team of ants could probably do it.
If thats the case, you could always plan a stop at a reputable shop.
Thanks everyone for your replies.
I think what I am going to do is go ahead and change the tire, but keep the old tire and put it back on when the new tire dies. This way I definitley have good rubber for my trip but I am not wasting the last 1000 or so miles I have left in my current tire.
What was bugging me more than anything was throwing away a tire with life left in it. I am a tight wad and frugal by nature so the wasting of a good tire was really bugging me. I found a tire changer near me that only charges $20 to change and balance the tire, so spending an extra $20 to put the current tire back on when my new tire is worn is worth the peace of mind during my trip.
That's probably a good decision [thumbsup]
And besides, if you're going to be on fun roads, the not squared off rear will make for a more fun ride. On my trip I did the Dragon one way on my beat square rear and the return on a new tire. The old girl was definitely easier to tip in on the new rubber
save the 20, buy a harbor freight tire changer and a nomar mount/demount bar.
So are the pilot road 2 (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/10987/ITEM/Michelin-Pilot-Road-2-Rear-Tire.aspx) worth the extra $27 of the New Bridgestone Battlax BT-021 (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/11802/ITEM/Bridgestone-Battlax-BT-021-Rear-Tire.aspx?SiteID=CSE_Gbase_396&WT.mc_ID=80003&zmam=88421133&zmas=1&zmac=45&zmap=11802)? And I have the old Bridgestone Battlax BT-020 on the front -- would it be a bad idea to mix the Michelin Pilot Road 2 in the rear with the Bridgestone Battlax BT-020 on the front if the consensus is that the Pilot Road 2 is better than the BT-021?
... and heman, I am going to look into changing the tires myself and see if it is something I want to do. I haven't changed a motorcycle tire before, but I would prefer to do it myself if I can.
Sorry, no experience with the battlax but the the Pilot Road CT2s are awesome if you do lots of super slab.
Quote from: He Man on February 17, 2010, 11:21:54 AM
save the 20, buy a harbor freight tire changer and a nomar mount/demount bar.
Harbor Freight's the King!
I did a 2800kms on a rear tire that kinda looks like what you have,i wouldn't do it again,the last leg on my trip i couldn't concentrate on my ride coz of the tire getting really worn out.My suggestion? change it before and enjoy the ride.
Quote from: He Man on February 17, 2010, 11:21:54 AM
save the 20, buy a harbor freight tire changer and a nomar mount/demount bar.
I have that setup and it works great. It cost me less than $200 and I have saved more than that. The Nomar bar costs more than the changer but the HF bar that comes with it is only worth to use for the bead breaker. The local shop charges $40 a tire plus you save a lot of money buying the tires and shipping them to your house. After two tire changes and the money you saved on tires it has paid for itself. Just bolt it down. There are a few Youtube videos on it.
A Pilot Road 2ct might be a good choice for you, seeing how flat you ran that tire. You gotta get on some twisty`s.
Good luck on your trip.
I've picked up new tires half way through long trips a number of times............but I'm a cheap SOB and hate the idea of pulling off a tire with 1000km's left in it.