It was time for new rubber on the big bike,so after I had removed the old tire,I sliced it in half,so you can see how thick it is AFTER it's toast,and the belts are  showing. This is a 200 50 17 rear tire,this is a Shinko R009RR,it is the 3rd tire Ive cut from different brands (they were all 200's)...all show about 3/8 inch to 6.5 mm ish.
I made a short video.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnnrKGGXHCQ&feature=youtu.be
-CS

Need to be a member of that Road Warrior forum to see the picture

Ok thanks I'll fix this today.
-CS

VIDEO UPLOADED of the tire in half.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnnrKGGXHCQ&feature=youtu.be
-CS

cool!! .. have wondered that myself... cheers!

still wouldnt be too keen on riding on it .. unless no choice/stuck in the boonies/being chased by apocalypse zombies!! ..

thing is... belts are important .. when entire they help provide structural stability under different load angles... wouldnt want to wear them all through and push it too hard eh! .. 

i wont tell one of my mates about this though .. he already likes to leave it late to change the rubber... if he realised there was that much rubber still there he would ride it out till it was like an overfilled balloon animal! ...