How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Last?

how long do motorcycle tires last

Knowing how long particular brands last before needing to be replaced is important if you already own a set of motorcycle tires or are considering doing so. You can find out the average tire life and when to replace your motorcycle tires by reading this post.

It is obvious that motorcycle tires have a finite lifespan, but they can also last much longer in storage than you might realize.

There are many factors at play, but as a general rule, you should anticipate getting 3700 miles from the front tire and 1800 miles from the rear tire, or 5 years from the date of manufacture, whichever comes first.

This post is for you if you wish to learn more about these elements and discover how to get the most out of your tires.

How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Last?

According to the type of tire, riding technique, weight, and performance of the motorcycle, tire life for motorcycles ranges from 3,000 to 25,000 miles (4,800 to 40,000 km). The front tires last longer because they are three times more resistant to wear than the rear tires. Motorcycle tires should last five years on average.

Further Reading:

Why Do Motorcycle Tires Wear Out So Fast?

If you’ve never owned a motorcycle before, you might be shocked at how quickly the tires degrade, particularly if you also drive a car. The question of why the rear tire wears out more quickly than the front tire is another one that many riders bring up.

how long do motorcycle tires last

Since they are designed differently, motorcycle tires deteriorate more quickly. When comparing the various motorcycle tires, the touring tires are significantly harder and will wear out more slowly than the sport motorcycle tires, which are made of stickier and softer rubber compounds and tend to wear out faster.

Factors That Affect How Many Miles You Can Get on a Motorcycle Tire

On a motorcycle tire, how many miles can you expect to get? We get this question all the time and the answer is “It depends.” There are so many factors that affect the lifespan of a motorcycle tire, but the most important ones are as follows:

  • Type and quality of the tires
  • Type and performance of the bike
  • Your riding habits
  • Road and weather conditions
  • Storage and maintenance

Let’s examine each of them more closely!

Quality of the Tires

When it comes to the available miles on a motorcycle tire, the rule of thumb is that the higher the performance of the tire, the fewer miles it will get. Because of this, touring tires have a much longer lifespan than specialized motorcycle racing tires.

Even if you don’t ride aggressively, it is strongly advised that you always use good quality, higher-performance tires on your motorcycle with safety in mind. Tires keep you on the road, so they must heat up quickly and offer the best traction.

Type and Performance of the Motorcycle

The type, weight, and performance of the motorcycle are additional significant variables that profoundly impact tire longevity.

The fewer miles you can expect your motorcycle’s tires to travel, as you might anticipate, the higher performance engine it has. Furthermore, your tires’ lifespan will be shortened the heavier and/or more frequently your motorcycle tows a trailer.

Therefore, compared to other 2-wheeled vehicles, high-performance street bikes can wear out their tires more quickly. The typical tire lifespan for these motorcycles is between 1,500 and 7,000 miles. On the other hand, lighter touring bikes’ tires should last for roughly 10,000–15,000 miles.

how long do motorcycle tires last

Your Riding Habits

Would you like to maximize the life of the tires on your motorcycle? In that case, you ought to use less throttle! The more aggressive your riding style, the fewer miles you can anticipate getting on your tires, which is a given in the world of bikers.

Because of this, a single track day can cause a set of sports tires to fail. On the other hand, if you use your tires responsibly, you can ride on them all season long!

What’s more, with some burnouts you can virtually destroy your tires in minutes. Burnouts are bad for your motorcycle because they can harm it in a variety of ways, despite what the general public thinks.

Additionally, frequent starts and stops will cause the tires to deteriorate much more quickly. Long highway miles are much easier on tires than on short ones. Because of this, the tires on commuter bikes are much more durable than those on their high-performance siblings made for adrenaline rushes.

Road and Weather Conditions

The climate and the state of the roads must be mentioned. Higher road temperatures, which heat up the tires and shorten their lifespan, are to be expected in a warmer climate. But warmer tires also provide better grip. As they say, “something for something.”

In this scene, the road’s surface is also very important. Motorcycle tires tend to wear out much more quickly on chip seal and grooved concrete roads because of their rough surface.

Tire Maintenance and Storage

You must maintain your tires properly if you don’t want to change them out frequently. The most

Important steps for tire maintenance are as follows:

  • Maintain the recommended tire pressure
  • Make regular visual checks
  • Ensure wheel alignment
  • Proper storage
how long do motorcycle tires last

How Old Can Motorcycle Tires Be and Still Be Safe?

Because the rubber materials used to make tires have a tendency to degrade over time, tires have an age restriction.

More specifically, with continued use, the rubber compounds will oxidize. This causes hardening, which results in increased brittleness and decreased flexibility.

These tires have an age limit because oxidization is a developing process, regardless of whether you use them or not.

How Often to Replace Motorcycle Tires?

Since there are so many variables that affect tire lifespans, such as storage conditions, mileage, weather, riding style, speed, and weight/power of the motorcycle, it is difficult to predict how frequently your motorcycle tires will need to be replaced. Here is a guide on how to replace your motorcycle tires.

The general consensus is that it should last for about 5 to 7 years, with anything past that point needing to be closely examined for any signs of wear and tear. Later on, we will discuss how to properly inspect your tires on your own.

To make sure they are safe to ride with, a professional mechanic should inspect them after five years. Your tires can be inspected as part of the yearly maintenance that you should have done with a mechanic, which is a good idea in any case.

It is worthwhile to have your tires checked out as well if you have been driving on the same set of tires for a while and are preparing for a long trip.

Pushing your tires too far just isn’t worth the risk that riding with worn or aging tires carries; with typical use, 5 years is a good lifespan for your tires, as they will have endured 5 seasons.

You must take into account the fact that your tires will need to be replaced sooner and will exhibit signs of aging and wear if you ride every day, commute to work, or frequently go on long tours.

Should You Always Replace Both Motorcycle Tires?

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As previously mentioned, the front tires typically last longer than the rear tires. Therefore, the majority of riders always inquire about whether they should replace both or just the worn-out part.

Only tires that are worn out or have tread depths below the threshold should be replaced. It’s best to replace both tires, though, if you find any damage to the other one.

In order for your bike to be stable, it is also preferable to replace both tires if they are older than five years.

On the other hand, if you change brands, make sure to change both of them because different brands will perform differently and make riding challenging.

Tips and Tricks for Motorcycle Tire Care

Your finances may suffer if you have to replace your motorcycle tires frequently before they wear out.

Luckily, you can observe the following motorcycle tire maintenance tips to ensure your tires stand the test of time:

  • Check your tires for cracks or punctures before each ride.
  • Maintain the manufacturer-recommended PSI for your tires at all times.
  • If at all possible, avoid storing your motorcycle (or your tires) in direct sunlight as this can shorten the life of the rubber in your tires.
  • Don’t push a fresh set of tires too hard or rev them up too high; instead, give them some time to break in.

How to Check Your Motorcycle Tire?

The best way to keep you safe and your motorcycle in top condition is to know how to properly inspect your tires. Here, we’ve divided up some of the most important things to check and how to do it into sections.

Tire Tread

The thing that will keep you firmly planted and deflect any water is the tread on your tires. For safe motorcycling, you need a good grip, and tread provides that grip. As a result, if the tread on your tires is worn too thin, they become unsafe and hazardous to ride on.

6-8mm of tread is considered to be a good amount. It is important to check your government’s transportation website for details as most nations have a legal tread limit that tires are not permitted to fall below because doing so would be unsafe.

When you ride, tread patterns can become uneven. For example, if you drive a lot of highway miles on the straight, your rear tire may flatten off, which can make cornering feel a little lumpy.

If you notice that your tires have lost their original shape, it’s time to replace them. You want your tires to maintain that shape.

Defects

Tire flaws on motorcycles can be fairly simple to find from the outside, unlike with a car. The possibility exists that the tire will be unfit for use if there is a bulge, crevice, or even wear pattern in the tire wall.

You can usually tell if something doesn’t seem quite right or to fit with the rest of the tire’s shape by running your hand around the tire.

When riding your motorcycle, you might experience some pulsing, vibrating, or handling issues that are pushing you in one direction or another. This could be caused by a problem with your tires, so you should take it to a mechanic to have them look it over.

how long do motorcycle tires last

Age

As we have discussed, the general rule is 5 years from the date of manufacture, with a few exceptions. You can extend this time frame without risk if you keep up with your tire inspections.

Cracking

The sun is the enemy of your tires, and when it shines on the rubber, it can lead to sidewall cracks. Once you begin to notice cracks, it is time to have the experts look at the tires and probably time to replace them.

Loss of Tire Pressure

Regular motorcycle tire maintenance includes checking tire pressure. You may experience tire deflation while riding, which will affect how the bike rides.

However, regularly checking your pressures is good practice regardless, and you can stay on top of it then. If there are no punctures, the bead may have worn and the tire needs to be replaced.

Tire Pressure

Keep an eye on your tire pressures and be careful not to over- or under-inflate them as this can affect how your motorcycle performs in the long run. When I wheel the bike outside, I see the recommended tire pressure written on the wall of my shed, which serves as a visual reminder for me to check.

Cuts/Punctures

Always check your tires for cuts or punctures because these could cause the tire to blow out, which could have some pretty dire consequences. Some punctures can be fixed, but it’s important to know that you had one since it means you should think about replacing the tire more quickly than you would have otherwise.

Conclusion: How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Last

A motorcycle tire may, with luck, last up to 15,000–20,000 miles, but with just one track day or a few burnouts, it could be completely destroyed.

Depending on your riding habits, the state of the roads and the weather, the type and performance of your tires, and your age, your tires will last longer. As a result, if you want your tires to last longer, you should make sure to maintain them properly.

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