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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Tang on July 12, 2008, 12:05:58 AM

Title: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: Tang on July 12, 2008, 12:05:58 AM

center of the rear wheel
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/dudegetasony/DSC00459.jpg)

left of the rear wheel
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/dudegetasony/DSC00460.jpg)
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: arbakken on July 12, 2008, 12:17:41 AM
looks like you need to ride more twisties, or buy a new tire... actually, do the second thing first and then the first thing... did that make sense?  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: Tang on July 12, 2008, 12:18:38 AM
ah yes lol :-D

thx just wanted to make sure i needed new ones :-D
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on July 12, 2008, 12:22:09 AM
AND after you get those Übertastic tires, make sure the pressure is correct :thumb:
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: ben2go on July 12, 2008, 02:47:45 AM
The wear bar is right below the penny.It's the little lump in the tread groove.It is telling you to start saving for a new tire and save up quick.
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: pbureau69 on July 12, 2008, 03:27:10 AM
Quote from: ben2go on July 12, 2008, 02:47:45 AM
The wear bar is right below the penny.It's the little lump in the tread groove.It is telling you to start saving for a new tire and save up quick.

yep.. dead on, the penny trick is for CAR tires... moto tires have wear indicators.
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: sledge on July 12, 2008, 04:04:34 AM
Here in the Uk, traffic laws say a minimum of 2mm tread depth must be present, any less and you could be fined up to £1000 with license endorsements and have your insurance invalidated.

On some cheap tyres the wear bars dont show before the UK 2mm limit so as a result these little depth gauges are very popular.
(http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd92/iainmcdermott/tyredepth.jpg)

Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: TGR on July 12, 2008, 05:38:42 AM
What part of the uk you from  ;)

uk law:

QuoteCars, light vans and light trailers MUST have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.

Motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles MUST have a tread depth of at least 1 mm across three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and in a continuous band around the entire circumference.

Mopeds should have visible tread.

Be aware that some vehicle defects can attract penalty points.


Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: DoD#i on July 12, 2008, 05:57:26 AM
Quote from: pbureau69 on July 12, 2008, 03:27:10 AM
yep.. dead on, the penny trick is for CAR tires... moto tires have wear indicators.

...so do car/truck tires. Have for decades.
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: sledge on July 12, 2008, 12:21:23 PM
Quote from: TGR on July 12, 2008, 05:38:42 AM
What part of the uk you from  ;)

uk law:

QuoteCars, light vans and light trailers MUST have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.

Motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles MUST have a tread depth of at least 1 mm across three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and in a continuous band around the entire circumference.

Mopeds should have visible tread.

Be aware that some vehicle defects can attract penalty points.





My mistake, you are correct.  I am quoting the IAM guideline of 2mm, the legal limit is indeed 1.6mm.........I personally dont go that low, nor does anyone else I know.......... do you?
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: TGR on July 12, 2008, 01:01:47 PM
I just change them when needed, but had afew tyres down to the 1mm mark. but saying that someones put a new vee rubber 130/70/17 62t on the rear and thats heading straight to the bin.
Title: Re: how do these treads look to u?
Post by: GeeP on July 13, 2008, 12:27:17 AM
Quote from: sledge on July 12, 2008, 12:21:23 PM
Quote from: TGR on July 12, 2008, 05:38:42 AM
What part of the uk you from  ;)

uk law:

QuoteCars, light vans and light trailers MUST have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference.

Motorcycles, large vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles MUST have a tread depth of at least 1 mm across three-quarters of the breadth of the tread and in a continuous band around the entire circumference.

Mopeds should have visible tread.

Be aware that some vehicle defects can attract penalty points.





My mistake, you are correct.  I am quoting the IAM guideline of 2mm, the legal limit is indeed 1.6mm.........I personally dont go that low, nor does anyone else I know.......... do you?


Wow, $2,200 fine for bald tires.  Eeek!  No fines for bald tires here, unless it is a commercial vehicle.  Even that isn't too bad, trucks here shed retreads all the time.  What the DOT does frown on is trucks loosing wheels.   :laugh:  If the lug nuts aren't torqued correctly, naturally the studs start to fatigue.  Given long enough, you'll lose a wheel.

Fun fact:  You'll usually know when you lose a wheel, as it will pass you if the road is straight.  As the tire is freed of the weight of the truck it's rolling circumference increases, slightly increasing it's ground speed.    :icon_razz:

Back when I was commuting 200 miles a day I'd wear a set of car rubber down to the steel belts.  I'd start budgeting for a new set of $30 tires when there was belt showing all the way around the tire.   :laugh:

2 million miles on the family's cars in the last 15 years and I've never had a flat or blowout.  Frankly, I never really noticed the difference, even in the rain.  The VW Rabbit is such a docile and easy to drive car in that respect.

But yeah, tread is a good thing on a motorcycle.   ;)

Tang, your tread is getting close, as others have said.  The wear pattern is normal for a street tire.  If you're wearing the tire evenly on the street you're going waaaaay too fast for comfort on very technical roads.   :thumb: