Did a search with no answer. Anyone know why the front tire has half the tread depth of the rear when brand new? 5/32s versus 10/32s.

 

maybe so they wear out at the same time?

 

Makes some sense to me... rear tire is doing all the work and is the drive tire,, front one just goes along for the ride,,, I found I change front ones once to every three rear tires on my bikes..

 

Maybe they are thinking that a front tire with 11/32" tread would be courting dry rot problems before the tread is gone??

 

Its to stop block squirm under brakes which causes the feathering issue that the D407s are famous for.

http://w6rec.com/duane/bmw/cupping/index.htm

 

it's probably because the rear tires outlast the fronts by at least 2 and in some cases, three rears per front considering the wear.

 

it don't matter to me when I change tires I change both anyway. I have never belived in the 2 back to one front B.S. there is something about 2 new & stickey tires on a bike

 

Throwing your $$$ away on the new front tire that often. Yes, you can get 1 tire's life in front for each 2-3 tires you wear through on the rear. Just wanting to replace it each time is a matter of preference. But it doesn't become less "sticky" or wear out that fast.

 

Found this on the web in less than 2 minutes only because I really never gave it a thought. Just change em when I need to.

"Rear tires are harder rubber, designed to carry more weight, designed to resist the shear of torque from being a drive tire, and the tread is different since it is not designed to be changing alignment with the body and track of the motorcycle as a front tire does."

Makes sense when you think about it. Hope this answers your question.

 

mtairy biker is right, as rubber ages and heat cycles it becomes harder or less sticky. Not throwing money away at all changing both at the same time.