Tyre tread depth for AMCC ART

**p.dath** · 14th October 2010, 20:03

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** · 14th October 2010, 20:06

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** · 14th October 2010, 20:38

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 14th October 2010, 20:57

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** · 14th October 2010, 20:57

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

.........

**rwh** · 14th October 2010, 23:48

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** · 15th October 2010, 00:20

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** · 15th October 2010, 09:27

Meh just go hard.

**onearmedbandit** · 15th October 2010, 09:53

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** · 15th October 2010, 10:18

Originally Posted by 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.

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

**Kiwi Graham:Me** · 15th October 2010, 10:23

Originally Posted by 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?

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** · 15th October 2010, 10:29

Originally Posted by White trash

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** · 23rd November 2010, 08:11

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** · 23rd November 2010, 20:27

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** · 24th November 2010, 08:11

Originally Posted by 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?

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