When is a dual sport tire used up ?

[DinX]

This is a real noob question, but I just don't know the answer. I've ridden sporttourers before I bought my S10 (110k km on my previous FJR) and it was pretty clear when it was time for a new tire. A quick look at it was enough (and the feeling ofcourse).

But now I'm riding on BattleWings and don't know when to replace them. I have 11.500km now and it still feels OK (a bit square maybe from my 85% of highway km commuting).
How do you see that a dual sport tire is end of life? I can't find any wear indicators in the threads like on many sporttouring tires.

My back tire now. Almost all my km are on asfalt at the moment.

 

[Firefight911]

Tires all have a wear indicator on them. Each country's laws are different on tread depth but once a wear bar is flush with the tire surface it is considered the end of its life. Of course, if the handling has deteriorated to a point beyond your comfort level, if you are about to embark on a trip, or your off road use makes having good tread available for the terrain, then it's time to spoon new rubber on.

To find the wear bar you can run your finger along the grooves until you see/feel the raised bump in them. Also, there is usually a triangle on the side wall of tires indicating wear the bars would be along the tread.

Here's a good picture of them....

You can see yours in your picture and they are not yet at their limits. Again, check your laws for more information in case they are more stringent than the tire manufacturer.

 

[DinX]

I guess I must look better then. On my previous tires (MPR2, RoadSmarts, BT020) you could see the indicator even from a distance.

Minimum thread depth here is 1,6mm

 

[spasm]

maybe u wore the tread indicator off lol, i got 4500 miles out of my battlewings on the s10 ::022::

 

[RMac]

maybe u wore the tread indicator off lol, i got 4500 miles out of my battlewings on the s10 ::022::

To contrast with that I got 16000km out of my rear Battlewing and they weren't quite at the wear indicators. Thinking that the tire in the pics looks like it has a good bit of life in it yet if it looks like that after 11000km. Not even significantly squared off yet.

 

[GrahamD]

How do you see that a dual sport tire is end of life? I can't find any wear indicators in the threads like on many sporttouring tires.

Like the previous posters said. look and you will find the legal requirements indicators.

A friend of mine calls then slow down and take it easy indicators. As far as he is concerned you replace a tire when bits of string or steel become visible. I replace a tire when it's bald, almost bald, mis shaped, older than three years, got a few too many punctures, or just plain awful. like a BT56. ;D

 

[tomatocity]

Agree with Phil on the wear bars... plus if you don't feel good about the tire and won't ride certain roads because of it... then replace the tire.

Original Battlewings
Rear = 9,000 miles
Front = 12,000 miles

 

[DinX]

OK. I found the TWI

Now I'm even more excited about this tire. Great grip, stays round, great mileage,.... ::012::