when do you change your tyres?

Hey, My back tire definitely has 3 or so mm left on it. But today I was coming down a hill, and these two girls in an slk mercedes (****ed off b/c my engine was completely out roaring their car) stopped in nearly the middle of the street. I pulled and stepped on the brakes and my back tires started skidding. I did not fell like I pulled the brakes that hard. So I let og of the brakes seen the road was clear and went around them. then I turn the corner, and on the next block a car pulls out in front of me. Same thing happened again and my back tire locked and skidded for a bit. I went aroudn that one too but it left me concerned. I have only about 5000 miles on it. The ridges on the tires seem completely fine. What do you guys think?

[yorkie_chris]

The harder you brake with the front, the less grip the back has. Stop locking it up!

When they start squirming over lines in the road as soon as it gets a bit damp.

[yorkie_chris]

I change mine when they've got "3 points and £60" written all over them. The front a little before, as losing the front just from being banked over tends to hurt quite a bit and be rather inconvenient.

sounds good. I'm pretty new to riding, only done maybe 30 miles. but the town i live in is really hilly.

[yorkie_chris]

You just need to be more careful with braking. The back will slide easily because weight transfers to the front wheel as you brake.

You need to progressively apply the front brake to weight the front tyre. Apply the back brake gently, if at all.

wait. from your first answer, it seemed like you were suggesting i should use less of the front brake and more of the back.

but I get it now.

thanks a bunch for the advice

Wait until the secondary wear indicator starts to show - the canvas. Primary wear indicators are for puffs and people with too much money to buy rubber with.

Change them when thy go FLAT .haha

As were all twits and give stupid awnsers ill tell you what the book says ,recomended change is 2mm so there should be some grip left all round the tyre untill about now. But legal is 1mm. Off course unless of bad slits and and odd wear .