Bicycle tires are among the parts of the bike that wear out with use. It is no longer safe to ride a bike when your tires show certain signs of wear. You can avoid getting a flat in a bad situation if you pay attention to your tire conditions and you can avoid getting into an accident. How do you know when to replace your bike tire?
Bicycle tires normally last 2000 – 6000 miles. Replace them when they wear out or get damaged beyond repair. The weight of the rider, the terrain, the riding pressure, and the quality of the tires determine how long they last. Front tires typically last longer than rear tires. More important than the mileage are the signs of wear when it comes to getting rid of your old rubber.
These are the signs you should check to decide if it’s time to replace your tire.
Worn tread, knobs
The more you ride your bike, the more the tread starts to fade or the knobs become smaller. This is a sign of normal wear and tear.
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Some bike tires have a tire wear indicator on them, which shows you when it’s time to replace them.
If you don’t change your tire when you see that it has been worn, your chances of getting a flat or exploding your tire increase.
Here’s an example of my rear tire, which is showing signs of wear after nearly 6000 miles and will soon be replaced.
Compare it to my front tire has the same amount of mileage and is still in good shape.
Tear or cut on tire
Tears and cuts are signs that your tire has sustained some damage. Some of these tears are small and not dangerous, but some are. If the inner tube becomes visible, it is a sure sign that you need new tires.
Damage to bead
If the tire bead is damaged (the tire bead is the contact surface between the tire and the wheel) as the result of hitting a pothole or another accident, it’s time for a new tire. Unfortunately, such accidents can happen even to new tires.
Cracked sidewalls
This is a typical problem of old tires and of tires ridden at insufficient pressure. Cracked sidewalls mean weakened structures. While not all cracks are equally dangerous, they are signs that the tire has reached or is coming to its end of life.
Recurring flats
If you get regular flats, it could be a sign that your tire has been worn and even smaller pieces of glass or thorns penetrate through its structure.
Before trashing your existing tire,
- make sure that your inner tube is replaced or the hole is patched correctly
- run your fingers gently on the inside of your tire to check for a piece of glass or broken thorn or anything sharp that may cause the flats.
Replacing both tires vs. replacing one
Front and rear tires don’t wear out at the same rate since rear tires bear the rider’s weight, up to 80% more than the front tires. More weight equals more friction, which results in quicker wear.
There are three possible approaches to replacing tires:
- Swap front and rear tires with each other: this is the quickest and budget-conscious solution, but this is the least advisable one. You can only swap tires if needed and your rear tire’s structurally intact, but the treads have started to fade.
- Replace the worn tire only: this is a good option since your front tire is often in a good enough condition to be used twice as long as your rear tire.
- Replace both tires: This is the best approach for those who want to avoid keeping track of front and rear tires separately. Riders taking this approach often replace their tires on a schedule, e.g. once every year or once every 2000 miles. This is the safest way of riding.
Causes of tire wear
When you ride your bike, there’s friction between the tires and the road. This is what allows you to move forward. It’s natural for the tires to wear out with use. The more you ride your bike, the more the tires wear out.
Tires made of soft rubber provide more grip, but they wear faster than tires made of hard rubber. Soft tires are advisable for cold climates because they are less rigid and slippery in cold than hard compound tires. They become stiff and slip easily in cold temperatures and may cause you to lose control in corners or when braking (just like winter and summer tires on cars).
Tires wear ideally when you ride them on the type of surface they were intended for: slicks last longest on paved roads, and knobby MTB tires on trail roads. Some tires on hybrid or gravel bikes are designed to be used on a mixture of paved roads and off-road. They achieve this with a strip in the middle and some treads or knobs on the sides.
Here are a few other factors that come into play in how fast your tires wear out.
- Rough road surface
- Tire pressure
- Weight
- Accidental damage
- Skidding
- Storage
Road surface
Riding on the intended surface whether it be paved or off road maximizes tire life. Riding slicks off-road or knobby tires on paved roads shortens its life span. If the road is full of potholes, it further reduces it since hitting a pothole results in a very concentrated high impact. It can damage your inner tubes as well as the sidewall of your tires. If the impact is big enough your wheel rims can sustain damage as well.
Cobblestones also cause tires to wear faster than paved roads since the tires are constantly exposed to impacts, and some stones may have sharper edges.
Tire pressure
Tire pressure is an entire field of study in itself and numerous researches have been conducted as to what the best tire pressure is for different tire widths, rider weights, and riding styles.
The narrower your tire and the rougher the terrain, the higher pressure you need to inflate it to protect tire sidewalls and rims. The less air you have in a narrow tire, the more it deforms on imperfect roads and the more quickly it wears out. The range within which you need to keep your tire pressure is written on the tire’s sidewall and varies from tire to tire. For the most part, it’s between 25psi on the low end for some MTB tires and 130psi on the higher end for road tires (1.7 bars and 9 bars).
Weight
The combined weight of the bike, rider, and cargo also comes into play, and it’s closely related to the optimum tire pressure: generally speaking, the heavier the weight the higher the pressure should be. Make sure though not to exceed the maximum recommended pressure for your tire, since excessive pressure can be just as damaging and dangerous as too little pressure.
Accidental damages
Tires also sustain some accidental damages, such as cuts from broken glass, nails, sharp rocks or debris on the road, etc. Even when the damage doesn’t result in a flat tire, it may damage the rubber surface and cause the tire to wear faster.
Skidding
Skidding (blocking your rear while the bike is still in motion) wears your rear tire on a single point like nothing else. It’s like using sandpaper trying to damage it.
For some fixie riders who ride without brakes, this is inevitable and it’s part of the fun, but they can tell you how long their rear tires last.
Dry rot
Rubber ages even without riding your bike. The way you store it makes a difference. If the rubber is exposed to the elements during storage, such as extreme cold in the Winter and extreme heat in the Summer, the rubber structure starts to weaken, and cracks can spontaneously appear on the tire’s sidewall.
How to make bike tires last long?
To maximize your tire’s life span, you should select a good quality tire and follow best practices.
Choose good quality tires
I’ve written another article (link to article) about the best 700c commuter tires. The Schwalbe Marathon Plus (check price on Amazon) or the Continental Ride Tour (check price on Amazon) are excellent options for most riders. I use both of them on my wife’s and my bike, and they have lasted very long without giving us any trouble.
Check pressure
Keep in mind that tires lose air over time. Instead of taking a lazy “set-it-and-forget-it” approach to tire pressure, take a proactive approach and check and adjust it regularly. I like checking mine once every one or two weeks since I have potholes, cobbles, and train tracks on my commute.
Avoid potholes, curbs and select your route
As a kid, I dealt with a flat every other week because I didn’t take much care where I rode my bike. Since I started commuting a few years ago I haven’t had to deal with a single flat tire on my commute despite there being curbs, cobbles, potholes, and tram tracks.
Approach rough road sections with care or if possible, find an alternative route, which is easier on your tires and bike.
Avoid skidding
When breaking, don’t wait until the last moment. Scan the road so you can react in time and you don’t have to come to a sudden full stop. This maximizes not only your tire life but also your brake pads will last longer.
Store indoors
Avoid keeping your bike outdoors overnight if possible. This means that it’s not exposed to extreme temperatures, and the weakening of the rubber structure is slowed down.
Conclusion
Nothing lasts forever in this world. This is true for tires as well. They wear out and need to be replaced from time to time. If we take care of them, they can serve us for a good while, and we can extend their lifespan.
I hope you now know when to replace your bike tire, and you will pedal many joyful miles in between tire changes.
Happy Riding!
