Tire picked something up

[Tallemertes]

I was doing the usual obsessing over every inch of my bike and I noticed a piece of metal in the back tire. It's really small and the tire isn't loosing air. Should I be worried about it?

[tomgus]

In short, yes.
I rode back from Birmingham to home - a distance of over 150 miles before noticing a very small screw in the front tyre. The tyre was fully inflated and remained that way for at least 24 hours, but when I gently removed the screw the tyre immediately deflated. I dread to think what might have happened if I'd had a blowout on the motorway.
No choice I'm afraid - get it renewed or repaired as soon as possible.
At least you have the consolation that you discovered it before it caused you any problems on the road.
Safe riding.

[Janx101]

Mm yeah +1 ... It's in a tread block so thicker rubber ... But you have no way to tell how long it is .... Also by the look of the groove/sipe just below the nail/screw? ... You have teensy cracks in the bottom of the groove..... No massive issue! ... But to me it indicates that is a reasonably old tyre....

AND ... On another glance the groove+wear marker at top of the pic above the hole .... Is worn out!! ... So I reckon the tyre is more or less worn flat around the centre line and needs replacing anyway!

.. You will love new tyres !! ... Mmmmmm smooth!! 

[Tallemertes]

Sounds like I'll be down $100! The front tire is newer and has alot better tread and no cracks so I'll just replace the back one. The back one is 130/70, which I'm pretty sure is stock size? I've been reading and I'm thinking about 140/70. Can I do that with the stock rims?

[Janx101]

You can indeed .. Expect a little more tip-in when cornering though .. And also expect nonono! Why 140, stick to 130 also 

And .. (Just looked it up) ... Check tyre types ... You can reasonably run a radial rear tyre with a bias front.... But it is strongly!!! Recommended that you do not run a radial front with a bias rear!!!!!!!

Personal choice is Pirelli Sport Demon (eat the pie!! Join us!!!  ) ... But so long as YOU are happy with any tyre you buy .. Looks/cost/feel then its all cool bananas! ... Just DON'T have a radial front and BIAS rear .... No one thinks that is a good idea!! ... It's possible to ride with that setup .... Just no fun at all and you can get all out of shape when you least expect it... So all the reports tell us!

[Tallemertes]

How can I tell the difference between radial and bias? It turns out the back tire was the stock bt-45.

[Janx101]

errr .. radial says radial on it normally?

far as i know the bt45's are all bias ply .. so are Sport demons ..

quick web search usually shows the info ...

what tyre you actually thinking of?

[Tallemertes]

Stupid question: my tires are battlax bt-45R.  Could the R stand for radial?
I've researched alot and I'm stuck between two tires, the bt-45s and the sport demons. Is the extra grip worth the mileage loss?

[gsJack]

No the R in that case means rear, other tire should say BT45F.  All BT45 are bias tires as are Demons, Lasertecs, Activs, GT501, and Roadriders.

Radials will have a R within the tire size designation besides saying radial somewhere on it like:

130/80HR-17
180/55ZR17
150/70R-17

[gsJack]

Stupid question: my tires are battlax bt-45R.  Could the R stand for radial?
I've researched alot and I'm stuck between two tires, the bt-45s and the sport demons. Is the extra grip worth the mileage loss?

Might want to read this bias tire comparo made in UK on a track on a GS500 covering 7 major brand bias tires.  The Demons recorded the fastest single lap time but their first choice Roadriders were only a tad behind the Demons and ahead of the others.

http://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php?title=Tire_Comparison

[Tallemertes]

Thanks for that link! Based on the reading, it sounds like the sport demons wore out quicker than the others. I think I'm going to go with the bt45s or Avon road riders depending which is cheaper. Where do y'all get your tires from? The stealership? A tire shop? Wal mart? Online?

[Kerry]

I bought my current rear tire (a stock-size Avon RoadRider) from [Rocky Mountain ATV*MC].  I'm lucky enough to live about 20 miles from their showroom / warehouse, so I drove down and picked it up myself. 

[mister]

I currently have more miles on my front Sport Demon then I put on the stock BT45 that came with the bike. So better wear there.

My first rear SD got me worse mileage - stock BT45 got me 23,000km SD got me 17,000km. I am now on a 140 rear sport demon and have over 23,000km it and it's not worn yet.

Before you lose sleep over any reduced mileage from a tire, how far are you riding in a year?

[Tallemertes]

Before you lose sleep over any reduced mileage from a tire, how far are you riding in a year?

I've only had the bike for a little over a month but I've put around 750 miles on it so probably around 9000 miles a year? I'm going to take the bike to college so it'll be parked outside. Should that affect my tire choice?

[fetor56]

I'v been caught with a large screw in the rear tire & no descent repair kit.Now all my bikes have slime in either the tubed/tubeless tires & a FULL tire repair kit.