Tire Replacement??

[SteveADV]

I bought a 2012 People GT300i with less than 600 miles. Should I consider tire replacement due to age? A local scooter dealer who wanted to sell me one of his 2009's with original tires kinda laughed and said that tire replacement is not the same with scooters as it is with motorcycles so no need for new tires on the bike he wanted to sell me. Might be a different story if I were to show up looking for maintenance on a bike I bought somewhere else, though. What do you think?

[CROSSBOLT]

Maybe, maybe not. Tires is tires. Motorhomes says 7 years max, tread good or not, replace. Scoot tires are thinner so if weather checked you probably should replace. Maxxis seems to be Kymco's choice and they are not that good compared to other brands like Metzeler or Michelin, etc. I think they, Maxxis, are prone to oxidation more than other major brands.

Karl

[blue]

Safty frist.if you think they look bad.replace theam.remember you are only on 2 wheels.

[Mr. Paul]

If it were me I would carefully inspect them for cracks or any sign of dry-rot. If they look fine, I would ride them until they wore out then replace them. Chances are with only 600 miles the scoot was stored in a garage or structure that protected those tires from the suns ultraviolet rays. Any fading of the plastics?

[SteveADV]

My concern revolved more around bead and sidewall integrity. Stuff you can't see. And I am not familiar enough with the scooter to have developed any feel for the tires. Power to weight ratios and heavy torque demands on motorcycle tires are greater than those found on scooters with CVT, so I was thinking that I should be ok.

I probably have gone 4 years on other bikes, but can't honestly remember ever doing so. Never have gone 5. Last few years I'm 15k+/- miles per year, so new tires happen annually. Originally I was thinking the scooter will take only a couple thousand miles per year away from my other bikes (actually only one other bike at the moment) but the more familiar I become with it the more I think it might take more. Regardless of visuals or pressure leaks, I'll be getting new tires next spring or early summer.

Thanks for the guidance.

[pipster326]

Last October, I was in the same boat. I bought my 2012 DT300, with roughly 600miles on it. Tires looked good, plenty of tread. Then after further inspection, I noticed little, tiny cracks on the side wall, just above the rims. I replaced them both, with Metzeler feelfree's( old ones were Maxxis) and happy I did.


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[Stig / Major Tom]

Good question.
A) never read of a scooter rider going down because of a tire failure.
B) have seen new Michelins with tiny sidewall fissures.
C) never heard of an accident due to failure of a modern tire's structure.
E) there are a whole lot of "left-over" scooters running around in the USA.

IMHO - you've a big scooter. ..probably going to ride fast...I'd replace with better tires.
I replaced my Kendas at 400 miles with Michelins for wet riding.
Stig

[GLV55]

Good question.
A) never read of a scooter rider going down because of a tire failure.
B) have seen new Michelins with tiny sidewall fissures.
C) never heard of an accident due to failure of a modern tire's structure.
E) there are a whole lot of "left-over" scooters running around in the USA.
......

Hey, Stig, how many cups of Tim's and how many donuts did you have this morning? You skipped right over "D". A little jumpy there.