Author Topic: How many miles on tires?  (Read 2698 times)

Stig / Major Tom

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How many miles on tires?
« on: May 18, 2014, 01:37:57 AM »
Was wondering how many miles you fellow Like200i owners are getting out of a set of tires? I have 5100 miles on a set of Michelin City Grips.....the front looks practically new...and the rear looks like it, well don't really know.  Could go another 4000 or so?   Would like to go to a 140 rear next time, to get a little more Michelin under me ....but the only Michelin that size is in the Power Pures. Don't want to mix the 2 treads waiting for the front tread to wear out.
How are your tires doing?
Stig
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zombie

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2014, 02:26:47 AM »
There is no issue at all in using different treads or compounds. In fact you may find your present rear tire is actually a hindrance to performance. '

There are MUCH better tires available for your bike, and only experience will prove that out.
"They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn't want to be broken."   Bobby Sands...

NeoGenesisMax

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2014, 02:58:47 AM »
My Like is now at roughly 3200 miles.  I have very little wear on my front tire. My rear tire is still safe but I might need to keep a closer eye on the wear after the next thousand.  I rode about 4200 miles on my Buddy 50 before selling it. The tire wear was almost identical.  I was told by my deal that this is normal. He said it's normal for the rear tire to wear out about three times faster.  To me this makes sense. I feel like the rear wheel has to carry more weight and do more work.  Also I've read that most all motorcycle tires are super soft rubber. This would seem reasonable enough to me.

TroutBum

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2014, 05:53:22 AM »
I have just over 7,100 miles on the stock tires. The front look to have 85% of its tread remaining. The rears look to have 65% of its tread remaining. I'm actually surprised the stock tires are doing so well.

2wheelfun

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2014, 01:37:24 PM »
Well does the standard 3/32nds[?] of tread left apply to scooter tires? 4/32nds is an 1/8th and that's pretty thin in my book and would be the minimum for safety. Old school test is to put a penny in the tread and if the tip of Lincoln's head is = to tread depth or less it's time for a new tire. Some states they're also illegal at that point.

Stig / Major Tom

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2014, 06:23:25 PM »
Well does the standard 3/32nds[?] of tread left apply to scooter tires? 4/32nds is an 1/8th and that's pretty thin in my book and would be the minimum for safety. Old school test is to put a penny in the tread and if the tip of Lincoln's head is = to tread depth or less it's time for a new tire. Some states they're also illegal at that point.
Don't know. I stick my finger nail in the groove and feel for how much rain grip I'll have on most tires.
I keep new Michelins under my family.
Beetles always rotted the sidewalls before the tread wore out.
Kenda tires, I am told, wear like iron - and have about the same wet gripping capacity!
For decades I have read that if a tire compound lasts a long time - it has traded off wet grip characteristics in the process.
I'm no tire chemist or engineer - but that makes sense to me.
So, I don't worry too much about how many miles my tires will last - being more concerned about things like temp & speed ratings, wet & dry grip & braking. (Noise - I recently found was an issue with a set of Pirrelis and happily dumped them long before they were worn out! Stupid things howled at all speeds! But that's not an issue on scooters - too noisy to hear the tires!)
Boston Strong
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Stig / Major Tom

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2014, 06:32:41 PM »
Thanks guys for reporting on your tires!
This kind of info is pretty interesting - and gives us something to think about when deciding things about our scooters.
I came real close to getting some Heidenau snow tires for my LIKE last winter - but good sense won out & I took the city bus.
Well....The $250 for tires and mounting had more to do with it, than good sense - if I had very much of the latter I wouldn't be riding a scooter. And if I had very much of the other, I'd be riding a bigger scooter! ;)
Stig
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zombie

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2014, 07:37:39 PM »
We talked about adding winter studs to scoots a few years back. It's something I did successfully on dirt bikes for 20ish years.

No snow to deal with in Fl. but it might be of interest to you 365 bikers up north.

http://www.gripstuds.com/Motorcycle_Winter_Dirt_Bike.php
"They have nothing in their whole imperial arsenal that can break the spirit of one Irishman who doesn't want to be broken."   Bobby Sands...

TroutBum

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2014, 03:27:42 PM »
When I lived in snow country for a few years after high school I was introduced to snow riding and the needs for studs. What a difference they made. You really appreciated them when you hit 'black ice'. Saved me from going down hard.

Puffpoppy

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Re: How many miles on tires?
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2014, 10:12:23 PM »
Here is what Pennsylvania recommends. Other states might be different so check you states motorcycle inspection requirements.

(1) Inspect the tires and wheels and REJECT IF one or more of the following apply:
(i) A tire has two adjacent treads with less than 2/32 inches tread remaining at any point.
(ii) A tire is worn so that tread wear indicators contact the road in any two adjacent groves.

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