I've never had a bike long enough to need to replace its tires.  So I don't know if the wear I'm seeing on my back tire is normal or not.

I think it's obvious that I need a new tire.  But what I don't know is how soon do I need to replace it?  And if this is normal wear after 5 years (it's an '03 with original tire) or maybe more to do with my recent driving habits?  Just this year I began doing wheelies a little more often.

So take a look at the pics and tell me what you think.

well I don't know that much about this, as I'm still new to Ducati.  But I seem to remember reading in the manual that the tire's expected life span was like 5 years.  I could be wrong.  But still 5 years hard use (Frequent Riding or Wheelies) on a tire sounds good to me.

Personally I'd have likely replaced it two seasons ago based on those pics.   That thing must feel horrible cornering.

Generally, tire life is measured in miles, not years.  That said, I'd replace a stock '03 tire as a matter of principle.  I don't wanna be riding around on 5-8 year old rubber.  How many miles do you do a year approximately?

And I'd replace that tire cuz it's done.  Once it starts to look like that, it's not long before you're at the cords.  Replace it now.  It's cheap insurance.  Speaking for all my prior injuires, you don't wanna fook around by trying to stretch out tire life.  Once it starts to go, ditch it.

Based on that tire wear, it looks like you do a fair amoung of straight up n' down riding.  Go for a sport touring tire.  They have a shit-ton of grip and last a lot longer than a sport tire.

I don't know if it's related to years so much as it's related to mileage.  I've typically gotten no more than 4000 miles out of my michelin pilot powers. 

Tires dry out with age.  A 10 year old tire with no miles on it wont grip worth a damn.  I just wore out a set of Powers that I put on in the spring but I do alot of aggressive riding.  On a bike I wouldn't ride on tires that are more than three years old.  Buy a new set (front and rear) and see what you've been missing.

Quote from: porschaholic on November 04, 2008, 11:13:15 AM
Tires dry out with age.  A 10 year old tire with no miles on it wont grip worth a damn. 

A lot of it has to do with how the tires were stored. My wife and I have often used 3+ year old new tires and 7+ year old used tires that came on spares sets of wheels that we've bought. Worse case situation was that the tire will slide a little easier until you heat them up or wear through the outer oxidized rubber and get down to the more pliable rubber. Naturally, I don't recommend this for anyone who is a newbie or only rides 1000 miles a year and doesn't know how their bike is supposed to handle.

You live in the Midwest? - just a guess.

mitt

I have pirelli Diablos that I put on last summer & the back one looks like that right now... about 5-6 thousand miles... It is not ONLY worn down the middle (Chicken Strips), but the middle is where you will almost always wear down to the metal.  I JUST ordered a NEW one! I would say that yours is worn out, nothing unusual, order a NEW one!!! 

that tire is done my friend. take it off the grill and put on some new meat 

Quote from: Statler on November 04, 2008, 10:56:46 AM
Personally I'd have likely replaced it two seasons ago based on those pics.   That thing must feel horrible cornering.

+1

That tire should have been replaced a long time ago

Quote from: Spidey on November 04, 2008, 11:00:52 AM
Generally, tire life is measured in miles, not years.  That said, I'd replace a stock '03 tire as a matter of principle.  I don't wanna be riding around on 5-8 year old rubber.  How many miles do you do a year approximately?

And I'd replace that tire cuz it's done.  Once it starts to look like that, it's not long before you're at the cords.  Replace it now.  It's cheap insurance.  Speaking for all my prior injuires, you don't wanna fook around by trying to stretch out tire life.  Once it starts to go, ditch it.

Based on that tire wear, it looks like you do a fair amoung of straight up n' down riding.  Go for a sport touring tire.  They have a shit-ton of grip and last a lot longer than a sport tire.

+1

Being new to riding, I was lucky enough to have a good friend who was willing to share some information with me when I started riding!  I was not aware of tire age issue prior, and probably wouldn't have given it much thought.  That said, I have to replace my tires every couple of years due to mileage.

One more thing, if you get new tires take it easy.  You will need to be very careful at first, I was surprised how slick they are when new, this is not something you want to learn the hard way.

Glenn

FWIW, I'm lucky to get 3500 miles per rear tire. Typically a front will last through two rears. YMMV.

That tire is shot. To hell. Replace and enjoy. 

Thanks for the good input.

First I should have noted that I have almost 11,000miles on my bike.  I guess I'm assuming they were original tires but I know for sure I've put 7,000miles on 'em.

Yes I am from the midwest.  How did you guess?  By the wear patterns?  I've just started noticing the wear over the past month or two.  Riding season is for the most part over up here so at least I'm not losing riding time while searching for new rubber. 

On that note... any suggestions?  Brand, style, supplier...  My bike's an 03', 1000cc, midwest rider though I like to take curves aggressively on the occasional chance I get.

Quote from: daftduc on November 04, 2008, 05:39:02 PM
Thanks for the good input.

First I should have noted that I have almost 11,000miles on my bike.  I guess I'm assuming they were original tires but I know for sure I've put 7,000miles on 'em.

Yes I am from the midwest.  How did you guess?  By the wear patterns? 

On that note... any suggestions?  Brand, style, supplier...  My bike's an 03', 1000cc, midwest rider though I like to take curves aggressively on the occasional chance I get.

I would sh!t if you got 11,000 miles on the original tires - they were Michelin pilot power sports, and I only got about 3,500 to 5,000 on 3 rears with the same 2003 1000cc bike and living in Iowa.   7,000 is probably closer, but you were stretching it.

Yes, the midwest riders typically only use the center of their tire due to the flat roads, the edges still look good.

I am trying a set of Michelin Pilot power roads this time around, but I doubt I will get over 5,000 on them based on the first 2,000 miles I have done. 

mitt

Is this a trick question? 

My bike EATS tires.  I go through 5 rears and at least 2 fronts per year.  If I'm careful I get barely over 2000 mi. on a rear tire. From my experience, if Ducati had designed the S4R/RS to destroy tires, they couldn't have done any better.

Thank goodness , my local bike shop gives me very good deals and mounts on the rim for $20.00, because I use so many tires per year.

LA