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How long do your rear tyres last


StanTheMan's picture

By StanTheMan - Posted on 05 June 2013

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

This is my rear tyre, Its pretty shagged, LOL, I know. At that stage it had done 1800 km. Its now just over 2000 km. mainly around the Northern Beaches. I've just received my replacement tyre and it will be fitted in the next few days. This tyre had sensational grip when it was fresh. Front tyre was mounted new at the same time but still has plenty of meat left on it.
To me rear tyre grip makes a difference. I know when both tyres are fresh. It makes me just want to hammer down the hill, especially the cascades or back end of Manly Dam. Even on Stromlo along Skyline & luge. its just so confidence inspiring.
Whats eveyones exerience. how long do your tyres last. when do you notice significant change in grip, how important is rear tyre grip to you personally?
at what stage do you chuck out your tyres?

I'm not whinging about my tyre wear. Ive been very happy with the grip of these when fresh. I'm just really chatting. & procastinating work.

Antsonline's picture

That tyre is ready to race!
You have low center knobs (fast rolling) and nice solid side-knobs - perfect for cornering!!
I do know people who take some snips to their tyres (the center line) to reduce rolling resistance - it actually insipred Specialized to produce a 'LK' (low knob) version of their popular fast-trak tyre.

In terms of climbing traction, as long as the pressures are low enough, it will still grip like "all sorts of things to a blanket..."

c3024446's picture

My RR looked like the above after 1600km. Replaced it with another.

1800km out of a tyre is pretty good IMO. Some may last longer, but i'm just a massive fanboi of the ralphs.

StanTheMan's picture

ohh really ?.... the side nobs are totally worn out though. they have absolutley no sideways strength. The tyre is on tubes now the sidewall ripped a few weeks ago. so pressure is at around 40psi.

Yea I'm a classic RR & NN fanboy LOL.

Pete B's picture

I get worried by the sidewalls wearing thin and letting go long before the tyre has worn out. In fact, I don't think I've worn a tread out in the 3 years I've been riding, but I have worn a side wall out on a crossmark after about 18months.

I very rarely lock the back wheel into a skid as you don't have full control at that point so my tyres last forever. The main reason I get new tyres is to try different ccombinations of brands/tread patterns.

Hugor's picture

My RaRa looks like that after 600km. Fastest wearing tyre ever IMO.
Most tyres I've used go for about 1500km.

nh's picture

1800kms from the RRs is good. They are my favourite XC tire, sticky rubber, roll well and slide predictably. The down side is they wear faster than most of the maxxis tyres that I have tried. I will take increased performance over long wearing any day.

For me they seem to wear more evenly on the front and back. I replace them when you can no longer see the slit in the blocks on the centre of the tyre.

StanTheMan's picture

This one is a snake skin Racing Ralph. It was set up as Tubeless until recently when the Stans gue wouldn't seal up the hole. So currently its tubed.
The tyre itself is 6 mths old.
I noticed the lack of grip when I used my sons wheel a few weeks ago after mine was out of action for repairs. That tyre is 2 year old Continental racing King or is it Mountain king ?.... Its fairly worn but the side nobs are 100% intact. My son inherited that tyre because I thought grip was pretty ordinary after riding on the NN RR combo on someone elses bike around Manly Dam

However I noticed how bad the grip on my rear tyre was after riding on my sons Continental. But at that stage my replacement tyre had already been ordered.

I think I still have the original Maxxi Crossmax fitted to my AnthemX I purchased almost 3 years ago. Its currently fitted to my Big W Shitter, but they tyre itself probably has done less than 500km. and has been fitted to 3 different bikes LOL.

amarkie's picture

I spent the first 6 months riding local Red Hill, Terrey Hills (Perimeter & Long) and Manly Dam pretty regularly (1000+ km) and even with a couple of hundred on-road my Maxxis High Roller rear was fairing well. A day at Stromlo, 1 day at Thredbo and a week riding Jindabyne did more damage than the previous 6 months. Those hard packed "granite sand" trails are HARSH!

I replaced my tyre around Easter, did three days at Thredbo and the rest on the Beaches with basically no road and its already showing signs of wear.

My gut feel is that the wear is because I'm riding much faster, especially on fire trails and generally braking much later on all rides (but don't skid - too old for that shit). I'm also successfully riding up a lot more hills and waterbars than I used to 6 months ago. At 110kg I'm putting a fair stress through the tyres when Im going hard or climbing.

My front (Maxxis Minion) is still the same tyre (12 months old and about 1800+ km) and might last another 12 months.

I bought another wheel so I could mount my spare worn tyre for XC riding .. Only I've never used it. Since I found Bare Creek, Duck Holes, Chiltern and Centre and their GLORIOUS descents and waterbars I've never gone back to the Perimeter/Long Track where I would be comfortable riding on slicks Smiling

So to answer one of your questions .. descending fast over rough rocky and loose fire trails with large waterbars at 110kg and 42 years of age ... GRIP IS BLOODY IMPORTANT and a new rear tyre costs less than a trip to the GP.

Cotic Tony's picture

Shit, my tyres never get that worn in the centre, I usually go through the sidewall in around 600km despite using a reasonably tough XC race tyre (Tubeless or Snakeskin). Conti Race Kings coming out marginally longer lasting than Schwalbe RaRa's. I thought that was acceptable, especially compared to just a few rides on the silly light & delicate, supposedly UST capable tyres like the Conti RS & Schwalbe TL tyres....
The exception to this seems to be the Maxxis UST's (ignitor/crossmark) which despite weighing about 150g more per end lasted approx 2years before the Iggy got pretty bald & the Crossy developed the famous Maxxis mumps where the tread separates/delineates...

hawkeye's picture

@Ants: Makes sense... Sticking out tongue

The trouble with Schwalbes is that in Sydney conditions by the time they look like that the sidewalls just below the side knobs in that shot are looking very secondhand, even the full UST ones. Sad

Hop fiend's picture

Cement paths or Ashphalt roads to extend tyre life,as in my experience this shortens life quickly

newby's picture

l have a l deal y your tyres where out is becuace you are rideing your bike to much

hawkeye's picture

Can anyone translate that into English please? lol

armo's picture

I have an idea why your tires are wearing out, you ride to much.

Pete B's picture

Tyres & too. Eye-wink

Oldernslower's picture

To paraphrase Little Richard - Till they start slipin and a slidin, creepin and a hidin, won't hold a line no more.

Don't care what the tread looks like - does it grip/hold a line, once they get to the point of showing a lack of grip then they get changed. And that point will depend on trail conditions and ability (or lack of it Sad)

armo's picture

Or is it Too tired tyres.
@ Pete B thanks mate I not good at grammar or sleep

Pete B's picture

Only a gentle gee up, I'm definitely no grammar or spelling Nazi! ha ha Laughing out loud

armo's picture

I am all about fun and enjoying the ride Pete

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