Topic: Riding on tires with cracks in tread

[eigenvector]

Would you consider a tire that had cracks along the base of the lugs to be safe to ride?

I have a set of TKC 70's on my BMW that are showing cracking at the base of the lugs and along the center of the tread crown between the lugs and are definitely beginning to lose air (1 psi a week or so).  My inclination is "Those tires are unsafe" and so far I've grounded the BMW until I can get new tires for it - but I wonder if I'm being overcautious.  Tires are expensive, and at 15 to 18 thousand miles a year - it adds up.

[dhall57]

Don't take any chances. Get you some new rubber!

[navydad]

They are cracking because the rubber is hardening. Hard rubber is slippery rubber, in the right conditions they may just go out from under you. Tires are expensive. How much is your hide worth?

[Terry in Australia]

What is it about America's weather (I presume) that causes tyres to crack so quickly? The Metzelers on my Triumph Rocket III are 9 years old, but have no signs of cracking, yet I've read several posts here where tyres are cracking within 2 years of purchase? But anyway, +1 for the above, replace them, it's a long way to fall down from the seat of a GS BMW.....

[BomberMann650]

We should all know by now, what can happen when the rubber breaks 

[grcamna2]

Keep the rubber side 'down' dude 

[eigenvector]

Well I have an appointment on Saturday to get them swapped out.

Not a cheap high by any means, but yeah - I prefer to not get taken out by a blowout.

[grcamna2]

What brand tires you thinking of ?

[eigenvector]

Anakees.

Same tire that they sold the bike with and the same tires I got 15k on.
They aren't dual sport tires though.  It's the reason I got the TKC 70's that are on it right now - TKC's are 70/30 and offer a pretty good compromise between road and dirt, except the tires are crap in my opinion.

If I wanted to get good dual sport tires, I'd either have to go TKC 80s or Heidenau K60's - but they'd be terrible on the highway, which is where 90% of my riding is.

[Terry in Australia]

I'm pretty sure I've got Michelin Anakees on my old R1100GS Rob, and they're great tyres. No idea how long they've been on the bike, my guess is several years, but they still stick to the highway like glue, and are good in dirt too. Cheers, Terry.

[70CB750]

I rode Dorothy on original tires, they were cracked badly.

Red wheels came with 12 years old 404 Dunlops and I used them up  - but they had no cracks.

Nobody gets hurt by being over cautious, would I take those Dunlops cross country?  He ll no, but I got few thousand local miles out of them,

[MoMo]

Not normal practice but like Prokop I've ridden with cracked tires(also while on crack but that was in  a past life).  No high speeds and no long rides where the tires could get super hot. The Connies on Tequila Sunrise are quite cracked, longest I've ridden it is 30 miles and no faster than 60...Larry

[eigenvector]

Well it's going to get me to the stealership.  I'm not stressing, the cracks are there, I know about them, I caught them before they became a problem.  Swap them out for new skin and done.

I was poking around the web a bit and it seems I'm not the only one who is seeing crown cracking on these tires after not many miles.  The consensus is that the tread blocks start tearing away - which is what I'm seeing. 

[Terry in Australia]

Well if you're only gonna ride at 60 MPH (88 feet per second) you'll have plenty of time to slow down if your tyres disintegrate underneath you!

[MoMo]

Well if you're only gonna ride at 60 MPH (88 feet per second) you'll have plenty of time to slow down if your tyres disintegrate underneath you!

I have super fast reflexes.  Not normal practice though Terry, think I've ridden it 5 times at the most. Waiting for a buyer but get tempted to ride it once in awhile. 

[scrapvalue]

At least you will be riding.

[Terry in Australia]

At least you will be riding.

Or sliding. (and tumbling, flying, barrel rolling, somersaulting, pirouetting etc, until you come to a halt, at 88 feet per second........)

[Terry in Australia]

Well if you're only gonna ride at 60 MPH (88 feet per second) you'll have plenty of time to slow down if your tyres disintegrate underneath you!

I have super fast reflexes.  Not normal practice though Terry, think I've ridden it 5 times at the most. Waiting for a buyer but get tempted to ride it once in awhile. 

That's a beautiful bike Larry, why haven't you sold it yet? Cheers, Terry.

[grcamna2]

Terry,
Why don't you take your next vacation over here to the States? We can try to see how many beers it will take to slow you down.. 

[MoMo]

Well if you're only gonna ride at 60 MPH (88 feet per second) you'll have plenty of time to slow down if your tyres disintegrate underneath you!

No title seems to be the problem.  Asking 2000 on Craigslist but will take considerably less.  11000 miles, runs well, holes in exhaust though and of course the bad Connies.  Thx for the compliment on the bike Terry.


I have super fast reflexes.  Not normal practice though Terry, think I've ridden it 5 times at the most. Waiting for a buyer but get tempted to ride it once in awhile. 

That's a beautiful bike Larry, why haven't you sold it yet? Cheers, Terry.

[eigenvector]

When I buy a bike there are some things I just take for granted and don't even factor in when pricing it.

Tires:  I don't care if the tires look brand new - I won't trust tires on a used bike and replace them at the first opportunity
Carbs:  Unless I know otherwise I assume the carbs are sludged up inside

Otherwise - does it look clean, is the metal rust free, all the parts present, get good engine compression?  If yes - then I don't mind paying 4 figures (within reason of course)

So yeah I don't see the big deal with that bike - other than that wacky paint job

[grcamna2]

The blue 'Tequila Sunrise' that Larry posted is a solid CB750 that only needs a new owner to enjoy the vintage paint and ride that beauty;wonderful seat and backrest,I'd make an offer on it myself if i wasn't moving out West.I need every inch of space because i'm moving on a budget w/ a UHaul trailer behind my old car.

[333]

Here's the straight poop on tires;

There are two types of cracks that occur on tires.

    A) the harmless "checking" that happens as tires dry out. This is okay for the first couple years after it appears, because only the surface is drying at first.  As time goes on, these cracks do get larger, and should then be addressed  In other words, you don't have to run right out and replace them when you first see this.  To help tires last longer, never put any kind of treatment on your tires.  Many of these things have chemicals that actually dry out the tire prematurely.  Just clean with soap and water.
     B) Then there's the deep cracks that occur where the tread and sidewall meet.  These occur when you have under-inflated tires for somewhat long periods of time.  Now is the time to run right out and replace them.  Tires loose air somewhat naturally.  If your bike doesn't get much use, a good way to help keep this from being a problem, take the weight off of them.  Putting the bike on the center stand gets the front one in the air, and then try and jack the rear off the ground just enough to not plant the front one back down.  This is a trick RV'ers use on their campers that only get used once or twice a year.