I'm looking at installing my third new rear tire in a year. I put 6100 on the original stock Dunlop tire but it still had some tread. I just wanted good rubber for our Colorado ride. I've put 7,300 miles on that tire and it's only got 2-3/32" of tread left. The manual says change the tire when the wear bars appear on the tread pattern which means that you have 1/32" of tread left. I've got about 13,400 miles on the front tire and it looks fine but I think I'll change it out when I change the rear. So, how low do you run your tread before you change out the tire?

 

If I start questioning if I need a new tire - it is time for a new tire...................

 

That depends on what bike. I know the HD's with a larger rear tire only get 7000-8000 or so. My street glide should get closer to 12000. A guy was at my shop yesterday and got 12000 out of his rear on his street glide. I hope to get 12000

 

I got 10850 out of the stock Dunlop (found a cut - had maybe another 1K left in it) and 10173 out of the Metz (it was worn jam-slam out) on my 06 SG. I'll run them till the center is gone given the following:

-I dont have a high mileage trip planned
- I am not going more than a couple hundred miles from the house on a Sunday ride
-I have found no cuts in the tread during my checks (when the tread starts getting thin, I put on jack and inspect tire throughly each week)

I ride to work everyday so running on a tire that has a few hundred left in it is another week. Some people's opinion is that I am taking chances (they maybe right) and that I should replace well before cause its only $120 (when you pay online and change myself)...but if I changed everything when it has 10-25% life left, I would be 1 broke guy...especially with prices now.

I have taken off tires that had 3K miles left when I had a 1K-2K mile trip planned to be 'safe' and it'll happen again.

 

I've got an '07 RKC. I can't see ever getting over 8,000 miles onmy rear tire. Since I've got 13,400 miles on my bike, I was trying to stretch out the tires to the 15,000 mile service which would be 9,000 miles on the tire. I guess I'll do both tires and the 15k service at 14k and call it good.

 

I get between 7,000 and 8,000 on a rear tire. I like to keep good rubber on the bike for safety reasons. You can controll the bike better with good tires. I have about 16,000 on my bike and I havethe third rear tire on it. I changed both front and rear at 15,500.

 

I have gotten as high as 12k and as low as 7k on the rear tires. Fronts always seems to be needed every other rear change. If your asking - replace it. Good piece of mind.

 

I think some of the tires come out different or something or maybe its the difference in riding styles . I got 12700 out of my back tire and my brother only got about 8000 outta his and it was slick as a babys bottom. Mine still had a hint of tread left, it's a curiosity to me. my front has right at 21000 on it and it still looks okay but I have a new one to put on when i need it. I don't ride hard but I feel like I ride a little harder than my brother does, maybe I don't

 

10,700 on rear now with 2/32 left on rkc. Probably switch to metz next.

 

I've got a little over 10k miles on my Ultra Classic and it still has plenty of thread left on the original tires. I ride the bike mostly solo on long trips.