Tyre wear

ferrit worrier · Post by **ferrit worrier** » 21 Dec 2008, 9:33pm

Mick F wrote:My advice was aimed at equalising wear, not a permanent solution to a WORN-OUT tyre.

I accept that if a tyre is worn out, replace it soonest, but it's better to replace them in pairs to maintain the look and versatility.

Hi Mick

I fully understood where you were coming from with your post, no probs.

What is strange is that I had to bail out of the bed this am and go into work the sweetener was 12hrs at time and a half, when I got into work I checked the tyres over and couldn't find the wear pattern that was visible yesterday???? now I'd just cleaned the bike and I had a lot of grunge around the brakes and the front and rear mech(s) so I blasted then with my parrafin gun, the first time I've resorted to that tactic. might sound a bit daft but could the parrafin perhpas distort the surface, temporarily. I didn't check the tyres before I left as I had to get in but once I ws there I had a look couldnt see any problem but the tyres were then wet. must confess to being a bit puzzled by this one. I'll give them a check over in the morning before leaving.

ferrit worrier · Post by **ferrit worrier** » 21 Dec 2008, 9:39pm

willem jongman wrote:Ditch both, or perhaps keep the front tyre as a spare. The next question is what you want to use the tyre/bike for. I any case, I would fit a relatively wide tyre.
Willem

I use the bike for commuting and nice long rides when I can get out. I think I'll look at replacing them with a 700 25

Malc

ferrit worrier · Post by **ferrit worrier** » 21 Dec 2008, 9:44pm

andrew_s wrote:Kenda Kontender (random selection from google hits).

700x26 is a relatively unusual size - the normal sequence is 23 - 25 - 28 -32.
In practice, actual tyre sizes commonly vary from nominal size by 2 or 3 mm, so I'd just assume 26=25 when considering other tyres.

Andrew, Cheers for this, I'd tried a google search got no where, I'll have to do some percussive maintainance on the PC :lol:

me thinks

Malc

willem jongman · Post by **willem jongman** » 21 Dec 2008, 10:03pm

Some tyres that are nominally 28 mm may also fit. Panaracer Pasela TG is my favourite for this kind of riding, unless there is too much glass on your roads. Alternatively you may choose the superb but costly 26 or 28 mm Grandbois for the summer, and a Schwalbe Marathon for the wet winter months when more tread may be nice, and when you need a bit more puncture protection because of the wet rubber.
Willem

meic · Post by **meic** » 21 Dec 2008, 10:27pm

I think Google have been nobbled, dont smash your computer try Yahoo or one of the others for now.

dan_b · Post by **dan_b** » 21 Dec 2008, 10:27pm

Young Un wrote:Done about 1000-1200 on the road and about 100 virtual miles on the turbo.

Turbo use can really toast a tyre very quickly, especially if the pressure against the roller is wrong.

lloyd · Post by **lloyd** » 22 Dec 2008, 9:24am

rogerzilla wrote:Don't put the worn rear tyre on the front! When it's worn out (which it appears to be), put your old front tyre on the rear and buy a new front tyre, not necessarily of the same type.

The reasons for not using a worn tyre on the front are (a) the flattened profile of a worn tyre used on the front ruins cornering ability and (b) a sudden front tyre failure is a lot more dangerous than a sudden rear tyre failure. This has nothing to do with the tread pattern, or lack of it.

I'd strongly agree with this advice, reasoning is spot on, running a worn rear tyre on the front is none too safe.

Post by **Mick F** » 22 Dec 2008, 9:31am

I'm not disagreeing, but you need to define "worn".

I may (and do usually) change over my tyres front-to-back two or three times during the tyres lifespans to equalise the wear. At no time have I felt vulnerable or even believe that I am.

I suppose it might have something to do with the type/size/make-up of the tyres in question, but I don't think that saying you shouldn't put a worn tyre on the front is always good advice.

As I say, define "worn".

Young Un · Post by **Young Un** » 22 Dec 2008, 12:32pm

dan_b wrote:
Young Un wrote:Done about 1000-1200 on the road and about 100 virtual miles on the turbo.

Turbo use can really toast a tyre very quickly, especially if the pressure against the roller is wrong.

Which is why I am doing it lol, I really need some new tyres and wearing out the old ones seems like a good excuse to get some new ones.

Steve

PW · Post by PW » 22 Dec 2008, 2:42pm

I prefer to replace tyres in pairs so I can keep a close eye on the mileages. Like Mick I swap them front for back, but I do it once, just before the half way point of their lifespan. That way the rear still wears out first. They don't run to the point of falling apart anyway, a rash of punctures usually marks the end because I lose patience with trying to repair the tubes.

ferrit worrier · Post by **ferrit worrier** » 22 Dec 2008, 7:35pm

Hi Guys

I checked the tyres this morning and they are looking ok obviously there is wear visible but the surface is clear? While at work I asked one of lads who commutes on a bike what he thought. it appears that what I've seen is the reaction of the parrafin and the cleaning solution on the tyre surface, it was a sort of blister. I might experiment this saturday and see if I can repeat the condition! I'll keep you posted. meanwhile thanks for all your suggestions.

Malc

ferrit worrier · Post by **ferrit worrier** » 28 Dec 2008, 8:58pm

ferrit worrier wrote:Hi Guys

I checked the tyres this morning and they are looking ok obviously there is wear visible but the surface is clear? While at work I asked one of lads who commutes on a bike what he thought. it appears that what I've seen is the reaction of the parrafin and the cleaning solution on the tyre surface, it was a sort of blister. I might experiment this saturday and see if I can repeat the condition! I'll keep you posted. meanwhile thanks for all your suggestions.

Malc

I had a go on Saturday at repeating the cleaning process, this time I checked on the tyres as I worked. And lo and behold when I brushed parrafin onto the tyre it went all slimey! add to that some neat detergent and and the surface developed a discoloured bulge, which was washed off rapid. I tried to take some pics but the resolution on the camera isn't good enough to show the change of the surface in close up. once everything was dried the tyre retuned to it's former surface / condition. I certainly wouldn't like to leave it with that mixture on it, so be carefull what you use it was certainly a learning curve for me. Again thanks for your replies

fenderbender · Post by **fenderbender** » 28 Dec 2008, 10:21pm

Mick F wrote:First thing I'd do is to swap front for rear.

I do this from time to time, so getting a longer wear time before replacing the pair. Don't listen to folk who say you should have loads of tread on the front for extra braking, IMHO tread on bike tyres are a bit of hype unless you're off-road and need grip in a muddy field. Roadwork doesn't need tread.

Sorry, I know nothing about your tyres, but I know any tyre you've bought once, may not be available when you want to buy another. I like matching pairs, so I always buy them in pairs - consequently I like to wear them out in pairs.

Don't do it!

JohnW · Post by **JohnW** » 29 Dec 2008, 12:18am

Actually, any petrochemical or solvent is really bad news for tyres - how many of us have had a prang due to diesel-spill on the road? I have. If you polish your rims (as I do with auto polish - go on, say
it : "poser"!),keep it clear of the tyre-walls. I really wouldn't put parrafin onto tyres.

As for swopping front for rear - I used to do it after about 1000 miles on a new pair of tyres - that does add about 1000 miles to the pair. After 1000 miles, I find hardly any wear on the front, but a rear only lasts me a maximum of 4000 (the most recent came off the bike after about 2800, but that wasn't due to wear).

I get about 6000 miles on the front, but I find that other defects bring about a change of tyre before they're worn out.

The figures above will depend upon type of tyre, your weight, how hard you pump them up - indeed a whole host of other factors - but basically I'm saying that wear isn't the only factor that limits the life of a tyre.

The thing is that there are other issues as well as wear that end a tyre's life. If one uses urban greenways, the glass cuts tyres badly and if it gets to the canvas can make them vulnerable and dangerous. The short-lived tyre noted above was a Panaracer Pasela, and it had bulged and deformed - in two places - from the wire to about the centre of the tyre.

The safe condition of the front tyre is, if anything, more important than the rear, but don't be blase about the rear, because if it lets you down miles from home, say half way down Fleet Moss on a wet November night - you're knackered.

Anyway, happy new year.

Post by **Mick F** » 29 Dec 2008, 9:41am

fenderbender wrote:
Don't do it!

How many times do I have to repeat.

I swap my tyres front-to-back two or three times in their life, This equalises wear, and I can buy a new pair rather than a single tyre.

I don't wear out my tyres. I wear my tyres until they need to be replaced. I want to replace them in pairs. Swapping them round extends their lifespan.

SB, in his wisdom was correct, but he assumes you don't check on how worn your rear tyre is before you swap it. I check on my tyres, just like I check on the brakes, the rims, or the transmission.

Please understand, I know what I'm doing.