How long do motorcycle tires last?

Most motorcycle tires last somewhere between 8,000 and 24,000 km (5,000 and 15,000 mi). Where yours end up depends on the tire, the bike and how you ride, so distance is only a rough guide. Replace a tire when the tread is worn to the wear indicators or the legal limit, when it's damaged, or when it gets too old, whichever comes first.

Why the range is so wide

A soft sport tire grips hard and wears fast; a harder touring tire lasts longer. Hard acceleration, heavy braking, a passenger, luggage and rough roads all take tread off sooner.

The rear usually wears out before the front, since it carries the engine's power. Long straight rides also wear a flat band into the middle of the rear, while the front wears more evenly.

When to replace a tire

Worn tread

Every tire has tread wear indicators: small raised bumps at the bottom of the main grooves, with their positions marked on the sidewall. When the tread is worn down to the bumps, the tire is done.

The legal minimum depends on where you ride:

• Sweden: 1.0 mm (0.04 in), measured at the most worn spot of the main tread.
• UK: 1 mm (0.04 in) in a continuous band across at least three-quarters of the tread's width, all the way around, for bikes over 50 cc.
• US: the federal standard is 0.8 mm (1/32 in), and some states, including New York and Texas, require 1.6 mm (2/32 in).

The legal limit is the least you may ride on, not a target. Grip in the wet drops as the tread wears, so don't wait for the last millimeter.

Damage and uneven wear

Look over the tread and sidewalls for cracks, cuts and bulges. They weaken the tire, so have it checked or replaced. Tread that wears unevenly can point to a problem with the suspension or wheel alignment: get that fixed too, or the new tire will wear the same way.

Age

Rubber hardens and cracks with age, faster in sunlight and big temperature swings, even when the tread looks fine. Michelin's advice: once a tire is five years old, have a mechanic check it every year, and replace any tire that reaches ten years, whatever it looks like.

Storing your bike so the tires last

• Clean and dry: wash off dirt, oil and road grime before you put the bike away.
• Out of the sun: store it somewhere cool and dry. UV light ages rubber faster, so a shaded spot or a cover helps.
• Off the ground: put the bike on stands so the tires don't get flat spots.
• Moved now and then: if it can't go on stands, roll it a little now and then so the tires don't rest on the same spot all winter.

Not sure about a tire? Check the tire maker's recommendations for your model, or ask a tire dealer to look at it.