Tyre related question

[ste12100]

Just wondering if anyone can help,
I’ve got a set of road attack 2’s on my bike.

The tread on both wheels are fine, but the back wheel has squared off a bit in the center.

Is this wheel still ok to used for some spirited riding(typical commute is motorways) but i’m off on a trip around Wales in July?

Cheers for the help.

[Talking Heads]

Squared off is a term used to make people buy new tyres they don't need.
So long as the tyre structure and tread depth are ok the tyre is fine.
No bike ever failed an MoT for "squared off" tyres.

[ste12100]

Ok cheers, I did think it was weird that it passed the mot withou any minors. If you’re supposed to chabge them when they square off.

[Talking Heads]

Tyre selling companies and tyre manufacturing companies would like you to change tyres as often as possible.
What the term "squared off" really means is "normal wear pattern".

[ste12100]

Thanks

[glang]

Hi, the only thing you might notice eventually is that as you lean the bike in corners you feel a slight change as the tyre comes off the flat bit onto the edges. Its not ideal as it can be a bit disconcerting but you have to get used to it.
If you do a lot of motorway miles which does tend to increase the rate of this squaring off its best to buy dual compound tyres (dont know if your RA2's are like this) so that theres a harder wearing rubber in the middle.

[ste12100]

Ok cool, i’ll look out for that when i change them then. Cheers.

[Biker Biggles]

Perfectly legal to use squared off tyres but if you want to do some "spirited riding" you may find the handling falls short of what you would like. Tyres work best when they are the correct shape.

[SV650rules]

Ok cool, i’ll look out for that when i change them then. Cheers.

Avon Storm 3D x-m are dual compound and I have seen some good reviews, they start off with 8mm of tread as well ( x-m is extended mileage), and the 3D 'sipes' apparently mean they warm up pretty quick. I will be getting them when change time comes. We have Avons on our cars and are very happy with them (they have been given a good workout for wet and dry grip, and are quiet), and not as pricey as European brands.

[ste12100]

So when you buy tyres off the net, do most places just fit them for a cost as long as you take your rims with you?

[R1ffR4ff]

So when you buy tyres off the net, do most places just fit them for a cost as long as you take your rims with you?

I used to fit my own tyres but my local Bike/MOT/Mech does them for a Tenner and balances them if I take the wheel off with the tyre and take it to him.

Ring around a few places and get the best price/deal e.g if two prices are close ask about a free new valve and balance in with the price use one quote against the others ;-)

PS

On ,"Squared" of tyres the Rear isn't a biggy usually but I had to replace a well past it's sell-by-date Front tyre that had been squared as well and it made low speed traffic maneuvering hard so the tyre had a bad combo of faults.It was fine-ish at speed but had to go :)

[Talking Heads]

Loose wheel plus tyre plus ten pounds cash handed to fitter has worked for me in the past.
A tyre fitter local to me can sometimes supply and fit tyres close enough to internet prices so worth checking with your local tyre fitter first.
Last time I got tyres it was around £230ish for PR4s ride in/ride out.

[garynortheast]

Pair of Diablo Stradas bought online, about £120 - £140. I fit them myself and I've never needed to have them balanced so far.

[Bibio]

i've seen people come up here to scotland thinking that their tyres have loads of tread left only to discover half way through their jollys that they need a new set. i would assume wales would be the same type of tarmac.

if the fronts ok then just go to your local bike shop and get a new rear. fek pizzing about ordering tyres from the net only to go running round places trying to get them fitted, been there done that.... so yes it might cost an extra £20 but for me its worth it not to have hassle.

[SV650rules]

Several motorbike dealers by us will not fit tyres unless bought from them.

We have been up to Scotland quite a few times and I think I remarked before how grippy the roads are up there, guess it is because you get a lot of 5h!tty weather including ice and snow - are they grippier on the eastern side as west seems to have a slightly milder climate due to Gulf stream (I have seen sub-tropical gardens on west coast).

To be honest never noticed grippier roads in Wales, maybe in the mountains.

[ste12100]

Cheers for the advice giys, i did measure tread depth and i have slightly more than 4mm all the way around.
So would this be enough?

[yokohama]

That should be fine. Absolute minimum tread depth is 1mm. The tyre should have little raised blocks inside some of the grooves, which work as indicators. When the tread hits these, it's time to change.

[shiftin_gear98]

I found it a real ball ache to get someone near to where I live to fit tyres that I hadn't bought from them.
So I bought the Abba kit. It's slowly earning it's money. 6 tyres replaced so far.
I actually didn't swear as much the last time either, so my technic must gradually be getting better too!

[Luckypants]

The squared off thing means the tyre has worn a bit more in the centre than the edges. If coming to Wales (you don't say where and we are a bit bigger than a town) you will need to keep an eye on the tread in the centre so that you know if the tyre wears beyond the legal limit in the centre. This is especially true if you have a long trip to get here.

FYI NWP posted this a couple of weeks ago showing how a 'trip to Wales' can catch you out. https://www.facebook.com/NWPRPU/posts/995165783990424

EDIT:
i've seen people come up here to scotland thinking that their tyres have loads of tread left only to discover half way through their jollys that they need a new set. i would assume wales would be the same type of tarmac.

if the fronts ok then just go to your local bike shop and get a new rear. fek pizzing about ordering tyres from the net only to go running round places trying to get them fitted, been there done that.... so yes it might cost an extra £20 but for me its worth it not to have hassle.

Good advice and what I was driving at... You can of course make sure you know where the local tyre shop is and get one changed whilst in Wales. (As I have done in Scotland).

[Red ones]

Do they have tyre shops in the provinces?

[Luckypants]

Do they have tyre shops in the provinces?

:smt098

Only for tractors.

[ste12100]

The squared off thing means the tyre has worn a bit more in the centre than the edges. If coming to Wales (you don't say where and we are a bit bigger than a town) you will need to keep an eye on the tread in the centre so that you know if the tyre wears beyond the legal limit in the centre. This is especially true if you have a long trip to get here.

FYI NWP posted this a couple of weeks ago showing how a 'trip to Wales' can catch you out. https://www.facebook.com/NWPRPU/posts/995165783990424

EDIT:


Good advice and what I was driving at... You can of course make sure you know where the local tyre shop is and get one changed whilst in Wales. (As I have done in Scotland).

Howdy, a friend of mine is organising the trip, hence saying wales. Going to try an get a rough picture of the route.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142126738@N07/28557424338/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142126738@N07/28557424338/

[garynortheast]

:smt098

Only for tractors.

.....and Landrovers.

[Luckypants]

Howdy, a friend of mine is organising the trip, hence saying wales. Going to try an get a rough picture of the route.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142126738@N07/28557424338/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142126738@N07/28557424338/Looks familiar [emoji41]

Enjoy

Sent from my SM-J330FN using Tapatalk

[Talking Heads]

Do they have tyre shops in the provinces?


Hertfordshire?
Just look around you. :tongue: