When Do Change Rear Tires

[FRR]

I've known a couple of guys who have had catastrophic tire failure on the highway lately. They had tires that were 6 and 7 years old with great tread. When do Trike riders switch out their tires, regardless of tread depth?

[Gorilla]

Tires will dry rot and so there is a tire live even if they never get used. The length I've heard is anywhere from 5 to 8 years.

[mhgoldwing]

Haven't reached the time/mileage limit yet on my trike because I changed out the original rears before they met the deadline.

That said, I will not ride on a tire more than five years old on any of my vehicles. Only the motorcycles are stored inside so my other vehicles are always outside and subject to all the weather conditions and sunlight.

[rhino65]

Was on a trip in June riding in a heavy rain. My rears are 7 year old Cooper CS4. Could feel rear end sliding around at times. About 3/4 worn tread. Not down to wear bars but changing out before next riding season

[hogcowboy]

Was on a trip in June riding in a heavy rain. My rears are 7 year old Cooper CS4. Could feel rear end sliding around at times. About 3/4 worn tread. Not down to wear bars but changing out before next riding season

I think 5 years old is considered time to replace them whether wear bars say to or not. Also any signs of cracking. Look closely. Cracks are so easy to miss until they are quite large sometimes. I never get to keep tires that long on either count. Two years and I need new tires although I'm still just on 2.

[GoldWingrGreg]

When I used to work for Goodyear and Firestone, back in the 80s, weather checking warranties were 1 year on passenger cars and light trucks and 5 years on motorhome and trailer tires. The same could be true today.

However, weather checking is not known for causing tire failure. The skeleton of a tire is it's cord. The cord is usually made of polyester, rayon, or nylon, and is what gives the tire it's backbone and structural ability to withstand air pressure and carry weight. Anytime sidewall rubber shows damage or wear such as weather checking or a sidewall rubber cut, the inspection process is this. Certainly look for bulges in the side wall, that represents a damaged or torn cord. With a small screwdriver, spred the cut or weather checking apart and look for any fraying or cuts in the cord. Any cord damage means that the tire needs replaced. However, cord damage from weather checking is not that common and usually more of a concern because of how it looks then anything else.

As for when to replace them. Most trike dealers tell their customers to replace them when the tread is 1/2 worn. The reason .... they'll begin to float on wet roads.

[rhino65]

Mine is below half. No wonder I had the slip, sliding, slideways feel

[CrystalPistol]

I've known a couple of guys who have had catastrophic tire failure on the highway lately. They had tires that were 6 and 7 years old with great tread. When do Trike riders switch out their tires, regardless of tread depth?

Bike or trikes??? I ask because I can understand such on a bike with oem size / load rated tires ... but on a trike with car size rear tires with load ratings several times what they'll ever carry on a trike???

The Lemans SR 215/70-15s on rear of our '97 were put on in 2005 or so, I inspect them , they spend their "off" days parked in a light tight room, no electric motors, no sunlight. No weather checking signs inside or out, they are 1/2 worn about. I'll replace them soon this next year just to get deeper tread depth ... in case of rain as they are wider and carry so little lbs. per square inch contact area they will hydroplane easily enough.

Likewise I have some tires on 4 wheelers past 5 years, they get frequent inpections for age cracks and psi as well.

Years ago, I bought a '92 Thunderbird Sport, receipt for new tires on it, they started showing age deterioration well before two years passed .... junk. I have had valve stems crumble well under a year's use.