How to tell if motorcycle tires are good?

Question

This lady I'm buying a bike from doesn't know how to tell if the tires are good, so how can I tell her to check? Is there a method like putting a penny in the tread?

Oh and this is the Ladys daughters bike which is why she doesn't know about tires and whatever else.

Answer 1

Minimum tyre ( Tire) depth may vary country to country but in UK the minimum legal tread depth is 1mm.
( Although I tend to change the tyres out before that, maybe 1.5mm simply because in Scotland we have very changeable weather conditions so need good tread depth to disperse rain water of which there are copious amounts).
Tread depth can be checked accurately with an inexpensive tyre depth gauge. If you don't have one, measuring somethin to 1mm and using it as a makeshift gauge is not rocket science. Some coins are OK.. measure first

That tread depth must be evenly distributed around the tyre pattern. If the depth is OK around the walls but below in the centre, that is a fail.
Some sport bikes with a rounder profile tyre wear quicker in the middle than the walls depending on riding style. I seldom ride in a straight line ( vertical) on my sports bike anyway!

Give the tyre an overall visual check. If it is really old you will see it. The rubber will be dull and probably show lots of small crazy paving cracks. AVOID!
Look out for nails and stuff embedded in the rubber. Bald patches, signs of uneven wear, cuts and bits missing, signs of repeated plugging or repair.
If it generally look OK and the tread depth OK, get down and read the writing on the tyre walls.
Check the tyre size corresponds to the rim size.
( This can be found in the owner or workshop manual or online)
Also, very important, check the speed rating of the tyre and ensure it corresponds to the makers recommendation. The Speed rating is a letter contained within the tyre size.
e.g.
100/90Hx19
100/90 is the size/profile
H is the speed rating ( This tyre is BMW tyre my Yamaha has a V speed rating)
19 is the wheel diameter.
Many bikes have different diameter wheels front and back.
Lastly make sure you know what the tyre pressures are.
It seems a lot of stuff to check and worry about but if you think about it, it is a piece of that rubber, with a footprint as small as an egg, which keeps the bike shiny side up.
It is worth getting it right.

Answer 2

Depending on your riding conditions & what you plan to do with the bike(drag racing,cruising,moto cross..etc).If you plan on cruising the paved roads a 1/2 inch tread all the way around the tire with no obvious wear & tear will do.In my country all bikes must pass a safety check conducted by an authorised mechanic & that includes tires.

Answer 3

Mimimum tread depth, down center line of tire is 2/32"

Answer 4

the most common way is if the wheel is a spoke wheel, then it has a tube in it, this is because there is now way to seal the wheel where the spokes come thru the center of the wheel, so you've got a rim strip and a tube. Now that said, that does not mean all mag wheels don't have a tube in them, but most commonly mags don't have tubes and spoke wheels do have a tube. also the side of the tire should say tubeless if it is,,,tubeless

Answer 5

listen if she doesnt know if they are good dont buy the bike..its probably trash. if she doesnt know shi*t about tires do u think she will have taken care of other things? does she know how to put gas in it???????

ask her how deep the treads are and any cracks...id just look for yourself

Answer 6

I'm not sure of a certain tread depth, but tell her to look for cracks in the sidewalls.

Answer 7

you realy asking a LADY about bike tires better go look you self my neighbor has 2 harleys I thought one had a tire that was thin he said its still got air an i dont see cords showing so its ok Me i would have replaced it

Answer 8

I CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY LUCKY IN THAT I ATTENDED


A REMARKABLE EDUCATION AT THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW


YORK CSI. I WORKED HARD TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF

Answer 9

tell her to look...geeze