How many miles should I put on a road bike tire before replacing?

Question

How many miles should I put on a road bike tire before replacing?

Answer 1

It will be very dependent on the brand/model of tire. Those made for racing are softer and will not last as long as ones made for long distance touring. Also, the rear will wear much faster than the front. If you see tread patterns start to fade or the center starting to look flat, it's probably time for a new one. It will also depend on what kind of riding you do.

Realistically, a good set of tires should last 3000 to 5000 kilometers unless they're specialty racing tires. But, keep a close eye on them and don't just worry about mileage. Little nicks and cuts can end their useful life early.

Answer 2

As everyone else said, it depends on the tire itself, but I'm going to explain the criteria.

3 things really determine the lifespan of a tire:

1. Thread per inch (TPI). The higher your TPI, the shorter the tire will last. The body of the actual tire is woven cloth and not just rubber. The thinner the threads of the cloth, then the more you can fit into an inch, so a high TPI means thin threads. A good range is around between 50 and 75 TPI for your average cyclist. Higher TPIs over better grip, traction, and control but don't last long on the road and are better suited for racing or a track. A 120 TPI tire might have a few hundred miles and a 50 TPI might have a couple of thousand miles.

2. Rubber. The actual rubber that makes up your tire also determines the lifespan. Softer rubbers offer great traction, but they wear out much much faster. Unfortunately aside from feel, there's no real hardness level spec that tire manufacturers disclose to consumers.

3. Tread pattern. The knobbier your tire, the longer it'll take for your tire's tread to actually wear down. The smoother your tire, the faster the wear which is also a surface area problem, but the benefits of a smooth tire on the road far outweigh this inconvenience.

If you can post the name of your tire, it'll be much easier to figure out.

Answer 3

Your tires will last for a long time if you are not skidding and they are not left in the sun for extended periods of time(UV+rubber=cracks=blowouts) Other than that the tires will probably be fine.  A visual inspection of the tire is probably the best way to tell if you need to replace them. If threads are beginning to show, bald spot or deep cracks appear, its time to get some new ones.

Answer 4

You ride them until you need to replace them just as car tires or anything else. Back tires tend to ware faster so rotate a few times. Tire life is highly dependent on rubber compound and riders habits and weight.

In racing soft compound tires may last 500 miles or possibly less. On a road bike used for easy jaunts in the park and thicker, hard compounds the tires could last 5000 miles or more if the rider is exceptionally light and the roads very smooth.