A tire question

[Deadlego]

The bike has "new" tires on it. The owner put tires on it befor she let it sit. It has been sitting for about 4 years not on the road. The tires have about 10 miles on them from what she was saying. They still have the string things on it. Should I replace them because they are old??? They not dry rotted or anything. They are like new from the shop. No dry rott wear or anything. What would you all do?????

[Guth]

Aging

How soft/pliable do they feel.

One analogy might be a pencil eraser - are they still soft like a new eraser, or hard & slick like an old aging eraser?

Guth

[SMF]

tires are the only thing keeping you from hitting the asphalt and, arguably, are the single most important piece of saftey equipment you have on the bike. if tires fail in a catastrophic way you're F-ed...

whenever I wonder to myself if I should replace a set of tires I just do it. you're buying peace of mind.

[Deadlego]

to me I think that they are ok. they fell and seem like the new ones my gixxer but the prevous owner says I should replace. They seem soft

[juicedstang999]

Re: A tire question

The bike has "new" tires on it. The owner put tires on it befor she let it sit. It has been sitting for about 4 years not on the road. The tires have about 10 miles on them from what she was saying. They still have the string things on it. Should I replace them because they are old??? They not dry rotted or anything. They are like new from the shop. No dry rott wear or anything. What would you all do?????

If they look and feel OK, than ride em. Most tire companies recommend changing a tire regardless of mileage after 6 years or something like that. If the tires really sat "new", maybe the protective cosmoliene coating was never worn off and they are still good? I say if they are soft and show NO signs of age or weather cracks- your good for a season or two.

[jaysun0ne]

ride them
just not hard
and once you have the bike running good and a few extra bucks change them then.

[thepathlesstaken]

First off figure out what the birthday (DOT number) of the tire is. On the side wall there should be a 3-4 number code depending on the year they were made.

Tires out gas for a considerable amount of time and their composition changes as this occurs.

I had a pair of 10-12 year old Metzler ME1s that looked excellent when I pulled my bike from storage. I knew that I could not rely on these tires as they were far too old.

If they are under 5-6 years old and are looking in good condition (no cracking, discoloration or chunks missing) then I would not be in a hurry to exchange them.

[NT400]

tires are the only thing keeping you from hitting the asphalt and, arguably, are the single most important piece of saftey equipment you have on the bike. if tires fail in a catastrophic way you're F-ed...

whenever I wonder to myself if I should replace a set of tires I just do it. you're buying peace of mind.

Better not ride at all than ride with doubts about your bike's attitude .

[MrDude_1]

do burnouts.

take pics and video

then buy new tires.

[Deadlego]

here are the dot number off the tires. can some one tell me the year pls

Bridgestones battlax bt 45

dot en3p pah3304 (rear)
Dot enlo pac3504 (front)

[jaysun0ne]

do burnouts.

take pics and video

then buy new tires.

i second that idea

[Guth]

age

Those were made in the 33rd week and 35th week of 2004 respectively.

Guth

[Logicus]

I bought mine off of a showroom floor and it came with Metzler M-1's and it had had them for quite a while. The bike felt very non-confidence inspiring and I replaced the back tire with a Pirelli Diablo Strada. After I did this, the thing stuck to the ground immediately upon leaving the shop - even during 'break-in' it was what seemed like 10X more sure footed than the previous Metzler. So then I changed the front to a Diablo and now I feel like I can throw the bike around through any set of curves dished up. From what I'd read the Metzler's were pretty good tires and they had just aged and lost their pliability.

My two cents.

[Deadlego]

Well I gess I will try them and see how they fell. Right now I dont have the money to buy tires.... The guy that wanted to buy my gxsr just kind of dissapared....

[Deadlego]

well these pics might help there still "lines" arounds tires like painted ones



FRONT ABOVE



REAR TIRE let me know what you all think