Tire Wear Bar Question

[UltraLT]

I got away with one yesterday and it won't happen again. Let me explain, then I will ask my question.

Doing pre-ride check in my dimmly lit garage, the rear tire look like tread is getting low, but no wear bars as I am accustomed to seeing on car tires. So, I say to myself it is oK to do a 350 mile day to a PGR mission and back. I rationalize it is OK to go and check the rear time when I get back. I get to the destination, about 170 miles from home base, it is raining and I happen to look at the rear tire again. Wow, a solid stripe of no tread whatsoever, about 2 1/2 inches wide on the rear tire. All kinds of images run through my mind as I contemplate my return ride in the rain. Saying to myself, Darwin strikes again. Obviously, you are getting this note, I got home safely.

So my question is this: Do MC tires have wear bars? Any brand, any type? Mine were 880 Metz. I seemed to have always changed out tires in the past before they got this worn because I was preparing for a long trip and did not want to change tires on the trip.

The Lucky Man

Ultra LT

[messenger13]

I have yet to see a set of m/c tires withOUT wear bars. Sometimes, you just have to learn to look where to find them. Your Metzelers definitely have (had?) them.

One thing about m/c tires, they seem to go from having tread to not having tread in about a mile. ;)

[ATFLT]

The 880's have them but they are a little hard to see. One thing I have found out is that the 880's show cords in the middle shortly after going past the wear bars.

[cfell]

Methinks your "guardian angel" is still hanging around.... I respectfully suggest you check your tires more thoroughly in the future... especially when you are getting close to the mileage expectations...

[dukey33]

On most tires, there are arrows on the sidewall that indicate where the wear bars are on the tread.

I did recently read something about motorcycles and hydroplaning. It is supposedly very unlikely for a motorcycle to hydroplane. Although motorcycles are relatively lightweight, the typically rounded profile of the tire does a good job of pushing the water aside and getting down to the pavement. If you consider the front tire does most of the Moses-like work (parting the water), then the back tread become even less critical.

This only applies to steady-state riding in a straight line at 'reasonable' speeds. Cornering, braking and accelerating have a much more complicated free-body diagram. :p

And of course, the pucker factor of riding in the rain in only amplified when you know your tire has no tread.

[jkersh1]

You find the wear bars on the 880 by finding the letters 'TWI' (tread wear indicator) molded into the sidewall. There are three on each side IIRC. Once you find the 'TWI' you find the wear bar in the groove that is in line with the 'TWI'. It's a small raised bump in the bottom of the groove. When it's level with the surface of the tire, it's time for a new tire.

[UltraLT]

Thanks for your info. I will go look for the marks on the side walls. No pucker factor coming home. I just went faster to get it over with. :histerica

Ultra LT

[hallzee]

You need to look for more than just wear bars. I had a set of Bridgestone 020s with about 11,000 miles on them - but still had a way to go before wear bars would show (I always check tires/pressure before every ride, and always maintain 42/46 psi front/back). I thought I'd get another couple thousand out of them.

During a two up 200 mile dinner ride, the bike developed a wobble between 30-45 mph. Got off and inspected, and found that the back tire was badly mis-shapened (is "shapened" a word??).

Immediately changed tires (went Metzeler, cuz my brother loves 'em, and decided to give them a try). The 020 had a radical deformity that had taken shape over the last couple hundred miles of it's life; there was a bulge popping out one side.

What I am saying is - be observant in a few areas, I guess. BTW - NOT complaining about lifespan of the Stones; I can't bitch about 11K miles.

[NRuest]

I am extremely unhappy with the wear I have gotten on the Metz rear. I have about 6K on it and I am getting to the wear bands. The wear is limited to the very center of the tread which leads me to believe I have them over inflated. I bumped them up to 46 when I saw it here that other have been doing the same and it looks like it excellerated the the wear. The previous Metz I had on the back got me about 11K and I kept the pressure at 42. Looks like I am ordering another tire.