When is it time to change tires?

If I wait too long and a tire ruptures while I'm say, on the freeway doing 65mph, will I be in mortal danger? Will the bike just lay down, or can I just ease over to the shoulder on the blown tire?

The time to change tires is BEFORE they go bad.
Yes.
What the bike does depends on many factors. I've seen people lose control and crash. I've also seen somebody ride one to the shoulder.I like the way you put that,"Ease over to the shoulder."

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Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

I sneezed.

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Always wear a helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. Never ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Make sure they change the valve stem too when they put on a new tire. This practice is a given with cars but with bikes, most dealers leave the old valve stem on.

The only time I blew out a front tire while riding is when a valve stem blew out on my R1150R. I was in a middle of a right hand sweeper and it instantaneously started to go straight into the oncoming traffic. I counter steered with all my might and weight and was able to keep it going right before I was able to pull over. The fact that I wasn't going too fast, that it was a slight uphill, and I am a pretty strong guy helped me. Had I been going downhill, there's probably no question that I would not have been able to keep it in the turn.

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2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100
2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
2004 Honda CBR600RR
2002 BMW R1150R
1996 Ducati 900SS

The manual for the bike will tell you when it's time to replace your tires, usually by giving a minimum amount of tread left on the tire. Like most things, the manual is written by the people who made the machine, so you should probably abide by it.

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[IMG]http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff16/Amdonim/527606_886228938392_991908680_n.jpg[/IMG]

2000 C10 Connie

It's possible that you could "ease it to the shoulder." It's just as possible that you'll end up experiencing a horrendous crash. Up to you if you want to take the chance. Try not to hit anyone else when you lose it.

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'07 Suzuki V-Strom DL650
An armed man is a citizen, an unarmed man is a subject.
Molon Labe!!!

What ever you do,( I have been told) don't use the brakes, try to coast to the safest point...down shifting is ok.

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I follow a new highway I haven't traveled before.




IBA Member: SS1000, BB1500, BBGold

HD 07 Street Glide-mine
HD 02 Road King-ours
Honda 06 ST1300-ours
Honda 97 ST1100-mine

Had both go on me at one time.

Lost the rear on the freeway at speed. Bike wobbled and bounced like a drunken hooker at an Free Masons convention, but was basically controllable and I was able to pull over.....had to change my knickers afterwards mind you.

Lost the front in city traffic and at slower speeds, that one was actually more frightening and a lot less controllable. In the end I dropped the bike due to it going into tank knocker mode, but was able to scrub off a lot of my speed before hand. Walked away and changed said knickers again.

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Always ask why.

Given that I'm a new rider.... first I'll dodo my britches. I have read in the MSF books ... don't use your brakes.
"crumb" ?? ??

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2008 BMW R1200R and is it sweet...

There is a curse filter on this board, so "crumb" is the replacement word for some of the various words for poo, get it?

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1976 Honda CBR360R/T
1998 Honda VTR1000 SuperHawk 996

Fargo, ND supports global warming