Tyre tread depth for AMCC ART

[p.dath]

You know when you have a question, and you already know the answer, but it makes you feel better when other people tell you? I have one of those.

I am a road rider, and after the last ART day my tyres are down to about 2mm of tread depth. I'd like to go to the next ART day, but I'm thinking that 2mm probably isn't enough tread depth to make it through the whole day safely.

I do not have a lot of skills, so I don't tend to push the bike (or its tyres) near their limits. The tyres are road tyres (not track tyres).

I don't want to spend money for the sake of it replacing tyres when I don't need to.


Do you think I should get a set of new tyres?

[Ocean1]

What's an ART day?
If it's on a public road buy new tyre.
If it's on a track don't buy new tyre.

[p.dath]

What's an ART day?
If it's on a public road buy new tyre.
If it's on a track don't buy new tyre.

Its Advanced Rider Training on a track run by the Auckland Motorcycle Club. And the track is far more demanding on tyres than the road ...

[Ocean1]

Me, I'd be more worried by what shape the tyres are rather than tread depth for track work. Unless it's wet, in which case: you're there to learn, but make haste carefully...

[Latte]

If it's dry, and they'll pass scrutineering let em run, just think of them as "soon to be" slicks ;)

.........:innocent:

[rwh]

If the track day isn't immediate, just do lots of riding to make sure you get good value out of what's left before you change them :)

Richard

[Gremlin]

Where is the tread depth in relation to the wear markers? You don't want to turn up and be blocked from the track because of your tyre... I guess you do want to finish a tyre there, but do you have to ride home?

If its wet, it could be an issue... tyres look comparatively cheap next to repairs on your bike. Then there is the handling on a worn tyre, but it wouldn't handle any better on the road.

I've run in brand new tyres at the track (fitted Friday, at track Saturday). I guess you can get a sick buzz out of smelling brand new rubber peeling away... Safety first for me. The old ones were finished, if they are new for the track, so be it.

To look at it another way, it doesn't matter when in the tyres life you get on the track, the tyre life will still be shortened by the same amount (bar having to pull off early).

[Morcs]

Meh just go hard.

[onearmedbandit]

They'll be fine. Shit you should see my back tyre after the last track session. I think it might have 2mm somewhere on it. It'll last me another 500km.

[White trash]

They'll be fine. Shit you should see my back tyre after the last track session. I think it might have 2mm somewhere on it. It'll last me another 500km.

Aaron told me your tyres have heaps of tread on the sides and it's only the centre 20mm that's wearing.......

[Kiwi Graham]

You know when you have a question, and you already know the answer, but it makes you feel better when other people tell you? I have one of those.

I am a road rider, and after the last ART day my tyres are down to about 2mm of tread depth. I'd like to go to the next ART day, but I'm thinking that 2mm probably isn't enough tread depth to make it through the whole day safely.

I do not have a lot of skills, so I don't tend to push the bike (or its tyres) near their limits. The tyres are road tyres (not track tyres).

I don't want to spend money for the sake of it replacing tyres when I don't need to.


Do you think I should get a set of new tyres?

Phil, the next ART day isnt until December. I would have thought it may have worn past the wear indicators by then any way!

As someone else has already said the cost of a tyre is nothing compaired to the cost of your bike. I would always advocate you have the best condition tyres you can on your bike and if doubt is there then there is your answer.
I would always prefer to ride on the track with new tyres than is so often the case many prefere and wear out their old tyres on the track.

Cycletreads will always be there to fit some new one on the day for you if it fails the scrutineering anyway.

Cheers

KG

[onearmedbandit]

Aaron told me your tyres have heaps of tread on the sides and it's only the centre 20mm that's wearing.......

Sheeesh mate, leave it out will ya, us ChCh riders have got an image to try to uphold. Race ya around turn 1 at 'puna?

[Luckylegs]

I'm sure its covered elsewhere in the land of KB but I had a cursory glance and didnt see anything and since the next time this bike goes anywhere it will be to an ART day I thought Id post in this thread....

So is a tyre that has turned blue shagged, will the blue simply be scrubbed next time out and and more importantly will it pass scrutineering at ART blah blah blah. Its obviously not the whole tyre but a strip an inch or so wide on each side (probably 3/4 of thay to the sides, as thats about as far as the bike was leaned in the wet last time out)

The tyre came on the bike when I bought it. Im not sure of its age (I havent checked the codes on the tyre yet) but its certainly got very little tread wear. The only riding I have done was at Hampton Downs earlier in the year on a cold/wet trackday. I cant say I recall the tyre being blue before that but it certainly is now.

[Luckylegs]

Came home and checked the date of manufacture tonight and it says 3102 which if I've read correctly means it was made 31st week of 2002. This certainly makes it an old tyre. It doesn't seem too hard though but will this have contributed to the blueing?

[p.dath]

Came home and checked the date of manufacture tonight and it says 3102 which if I've read correctly means it was made 31st week of 2002. This certainly makes it an old tyre. It doesn't seem too hard though but will this have contributed to the blueing?

I don't know anything about tyres turning blue, but I do know it is not advisable to use tyres older than 7 years.

[Luckylegs]

I don't know anything about tyres turning blue, but I do know it is not advisable to use tyres older than 7 years.

Yeh, I was somewhat dis-heartened when I realised the Tyre was that old. It obviously sat around for a fair while before being put on the bike as the tyre shows very little wear at all.

Based on the condition of the rubber (that I can see/feel etc) it doesnt seem that hardened or cracked so if it was not for the blueing I would probably feel comfortable doing one more track day on em. Im hardly fast, so Im not pushing tyres to their max anyway.

I'm pricing up replacements now, but, hmmmmm, dunno! I dont know what will be worse, the old tyre on there or a new, unscrubbed one.

Still interesting to know what the ART scrutineers point of view is. Ie Do they specifically look at age or just condition, and if the latter, will this juect be limited to tread depths and no obvious flaws (cracks etc etc)

Bugger!

[p.dath]

Yeh, I was somewhat dis-heartened when I realised the Tyre was that old. It obviously sat around for a fair while before being put on the bike as the tyre shows very little wear at all.

Based on the condition of the rubber (that I can see/feel etc) it doesnt seem that hardened or cracked so if it was not for the blueing I would probably feel comfortable doing one more track day on em. Im hardly fast, so Im not pushing tyres to their max anyway.

I'm pricing up replacements now, but, hmmmmm, dunno! I dont know what will be worse, the old tyre on there or a new, unscrubbed one.

Still interesting to know what the ART scrutineers point of view is. Ie Do they specifically look at age or just condition, and if the latter, will this juect be limited to tread depths and no obvious flaws (cracks etc etc)

Bugger!

New tyres will take hardly any time to "scrub" in. Pretty much only Michelin use mould release compounds these days.

And as I understand it, the risk with tyres more than 7 years old is to do with sudden delamination (aka blowout) while be used.

[sharky]

Came home and checked the date of manufacture tonight and it says 3102 which if I've read correctly means it was made 31st week of 2002. This certainly makes it an old tyre. It doesn't seem too hard though but will this have contributed to the blueing?


The 'blueing' is just the oils coming to the surface and yes it will scrub off, BUT that tyre is far too old so I'd be chucking it if it was me.

[Luckylegs]

The 'blueing' is just the oils coming to the surface and yes it will scrub off, BUT that tyre is far too old so I'd be chucking it if it was me.

Ha! You think thats old. I had naievely thought Oh yeh they'll be about the same age so didnt bother checking the front. Thought I better check that last night and blardy hel, its an '01 so even worse than the rear.

BUGGER!

[p.dath]

Ha! You think thats old. I had naievely thought Oh yeh they'll be about the same age so didnt bother checking the front. Thought I better check that last night and blardy hel, its an '01 so even worse than the rear.

BUGGER!

Best you get those tyres off - before they get you off. The race is on. :)

[Luckylegs]

Best you get those tyres off - before they get you off. The race is on. :)

The wheels are already in motion... :lol:

[FROSTY]

Dpath--I've a srt on my gixxer600 that have only done a couple of trackdays. New set sitting in shed eady to go on -if it helps