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[cev318ti]

I have a question about judging tire life. I have a Michelin Road 2CT rear with 2-1/2 track days (one of those days being in the wet this past Saturday at CMP). The tire was manufactured in 2013. The tread is still good, traction seems good (it only slightly broke loose in the wet, none in the dry) but is it too old? I know street riding you need to replace them if they're 6 years old but how does that compare to track riding?

Thanks!

[JRA]

I was running one from 2011 on my bike yesterday, lol. It sounds to me like it's fine, but if it concerns you at all just get a new set. A lot of this game is mental and you need to feel good about your tires.

[cev318ti]

That makes me feel a lot better about keeping it for next season lol. Correct me if I am wrong but tires begin to go off toward the end of their life instead of going out like a lightbulb right? I am running a Novice pace so I would imagine if it started to go I would feel it wiggle a bit where it normally wouldn't instead of leaving me in the grass all of a sudden.

[JRA]

They go off gradually until you make a mistake big enough for it to be like a light switch. Seriously, the decreasing grip is subtle. As the tires decrease in grip you will likewise back off of the grip you are asking of them. You do that subconsciously and also consciously. The subconscious part is just the "feel" you get from the tires. The conscious part is if you have a moment like a slide you weren't expecting. If a tire has a dollars worth of grip when it's new, you're wearing that grip off a penny at time, and not ten or twenty cents at a time. That's why I say as grip decreases its a subtle thing. The best way to feel that is to mount brand new tires in the middle of the day. You should feel a big difference then.

Your question was mostly about the age of the tire though and based on your description I wouldn't be too worried about that. If it feels good when you are riding on it run it. When you lose confidence in it change it.

[dbosch11]

I have a question about judging tire life. I have a Michelin Road 2CT rear with 2-1/2 track days (one of those days being in the wet this past Saturday at CMP). The tire was manufactured in 2013. The tread is still good, traction seems good (it only slightly broke loose in the wet, none in the dry) but is it too old? I know street riding you need to replace them if they're 6 years old but how does that compare to track riding?

Thanks!

Way too used. I'll just take them off your hands next event 

[RocketDan]

From my experience tires wear out or I want to change them for other reasons long before time can make them unusable (assuming they aren't dry rotting in a field somewhere).

It is highly unlikely your tires will turn to glass all of a sudden. I'm not too familiar with Pilot Roads on the track but you should be fine as long as there is still rubber. It is important to always listen to what the tire is telling you.

But if you keep riding track you will start searching for more grip and there is a good chance you will want to move to a more track oriented tire.


Daniel
OTP Racing #14
Yamaha R1
Wilmington, NC

[RocketDan]

PS: I won't tell you how old the rain tires I was running on Saturday, Just that they were WAY older than you are talking about. When I ditch them this off season Dean will probably run them for a couple more seasons. LOL


Daniel
OTP Racing #14
Yamaha R1
Wilmington, NC

[cev318ti]

Thanks guys, this gives me a reason to not spend money when I don't have to (or have it lol).

[Viffer]

Well I just saw this today and all I can say is thanks everyone for the quick responses to the question asked.  All very good info.  The PRE guys and this forum is the best.

[52 Ruhe]

I ran 2007 date code Rains this past year and a number of us ran 2009 slicks. Not how old really it's how stored. Dean-o I have a beautiful set of GP Pros for ya bro!!!!!!!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[52 Ruhe]

I ran 2007 date code Rains this past year and a number of us ran 2009 slicks. Not how old really it's how stored. Dean-o I have a beautiful set of GP Pros for ya bro!!!!!!!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[jsnonzzr]

I had Pilot road 3 (i think the 3)  on the 300.  They where about 2 years old before I started tracking them.  As long as you are not outriding the tire... the feeling thing that JRA was talking about and there are no signs of dry rot, they should be fine.

When I switched to a more sticky rubber I got a lot faster because I could trust the tire more.