new tires?

I've had these Bridgestone Spitfires for at least 10 years. I ordered
some new ones (I love those tires!) the other day. Had to have some work
done on my bike, and since they had to wait for the engine to cool,
figured they could entire it during the wait.

The tires didn't come in by yesterday, but the guy told me that mine are
okay, they're not "cracked or anything." There's damn little tread left
on the center, but the soft rubber on the sides are just ducky. Still, I
am concerned about their age. I'd hate to have a blowout on the freeway,
doncha know.

barbz

 

You've had the same set of tires for 10 years!! That has to be a record!

I hate to disagree with your mechanic, but I wouldn't trust any 10 year old
tire, especially one with little tread left in the center.

I have to ask, tho ... do you ride like 500 miles a year or so?

Larry
--
______________________________
'86 GL1200 A
'84 XV700
Brain Damaged Dog ~ Retarded Cat
______________________________

 

Have to agree, change those tires, but be careful to always check your
tires for sharp objects before every trip, I once had a brand new rear
tire blow out on the freeway doing 80 mph, i walked away from it, with
minor injuries, and the cause of the blow out was a 4 inch long
carpenters nail that pierced the tire somehow. I always spin the tires
and look for sharp objects now before every trip.

 

A 10 year old tire... that's labored in the elements keeping your bike
planted right side up... is a un-tire and a mere rim protector...

Larry L
94 RC45 #2
Have a wheelie NICE day...
Lean & Mean it... the extended warranty in every corner of your life...
If it wasn't for us the fast lane would rust...
V4'S are music to the seat of my pants...
1952 De Havilland Chipmunk...
Yank and bank your brains loose...
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/

 

Nah...I don't have a car. I put prolly 400 miles a week on the bike,
just doing usual errands and stuff. That doesn't count weekends, which
racks up the miles.

On the rare occasions I get pulled over, cops often marvel that one can
have a "motorcycle only" license. Teehee...

barbz

 

Ya, that's my thought too. I'm getting the new tires, regardless of
mechanic adwice. Dain't no tread on the bottoms, and the sides are
getting worn. I do check 'em every morning, but once I don't trust
something, IT'S OUTTA HERE!

barbz

 

Ok barb...400 miles a week is 2,000 miles a month, and 24,000 miles a
year...and 240,000 miles in 10 years... now I think I know you reasonably
well...you aint lyin.

So it must be that are rolling that baby real gingerly...and you must not
have been doing 400 miles a week the whole ten years.

Phil Scott

 

I dont know...are you SURE. Maybe some tire cleaner would spiff them
up... you could put duct tape around the middle maybe...no point in
splurging.


Phil Scott

 

Well, no. Part of those ten years, I wasn't riding to and from work, I
was on the road 8 hours a day as a messenger.

barbz

 

Ok Ok....how many actual miles have you gotten on those skins? 10,000
would be superb...20,000 almost unheard of....40,000 at the absolute
bleeding edge.... 100,000 you have a magic secret... or motor sedately in
the extreme....

.....or those be some real *hard rubber tires... actually with that kind of
mileage they probably dont give good traction at all.


You may want to try some sport bike tires on that thing...you'd be amazed Im
sure at how much better it handles in the turns...sure footed and all.
....cushy... lay it right on over with confidence....much safer with sticky
rubber. you would maybe get 10,000 miles on a set.

They probably quit making those tires you had in WWII...left over from the
raids on Berlin.





Phil Scott

 

Obviously you're not familiar with the compound rubber tires and profile
of the Spitfires. Since you don't ride an R bike, you have no reason to.
Suffice it to say that I think they're the best tires I've ever had on
this bike! And yes, they still make them...

barbz

 

Save money by order your tires through a mail order site and have them
sent to the Busy Little Shop... ride out and I'll show you how to change
tires without breaking a sweat like Holly and Beth did...
http://home.comcast.net/~netters2/imagepages/HollyBethTireChange.html

Larry L
94 RC45 #2
Have a wheelie NICE day...
Lean & Mean it... the extended warranty in every corner of your life...
If it wasn't for us the fast lane would rust...
V4'S are music to the seat of my pants...
1952 De Havilland Chipmunk...
Yank and bank your brains loose...
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/-xlax-/