Debunking The Tire Age Myth | The Shop Manual

[@RevZilla]

Enter to win a free Kershaw pocket knife here: a.pgtb.me/W6wfPG - Need new tires for your bike? Check here! rvz.la/2ZzOV0V

[@rileyhughes5613]

Kershaw's are fantastic pocketknives, really cool to see you guys partner with them. I discovered them like 3 years ago and haven't carried anything since. I bought the Shuffle for $15 on sale out of curiosity and now I own five different Kershaws. The quality is impeccable considering the price, in my opinion high-quality product at a very mid-teir price. Also if you're an Oregon native the customer service at the factory is tremendous; they'll give you a tour, replace almost anything that breaks, and sharpen any Kershaw for free. Huge fan of the product and the company, awesome that you're collaborating with them.

[@siraff4461]

Remember the gixxer vs Ducati video? How about one with even older bikes? Say an early fireblade or something with reasonable mods? Then maybe back all the way to the original gixxer 750? It would be great to see how much difference there really is through the generations.

[@stewartmckinley7639]

Tires used in the tour de france are aged in wine cellars.

[@williamdillard1249]

10 years is the shelf life for a tire 5 years is if they are in use and out in the weather in general. That's what I was taught by the US navy atleast it's actually in our manuals.

[@crazykyy]

I like how Dave is now a recurring character in RevZilla videos.

[@llspragulus]

I agree! Its fun to see how far RevZilla has come with their videos from the old days of just basic product reviews

[@kenjikenjikenj]

I hope they add more recurring characters to the cinematic universe

[@crazykyy]

@@kenjikenjikenj ha! Maybe the dumb and dumber bike will ride once again!

[@johnnyblue4799]

Yeah, I want a Dave too. Hard to find one around here.

[@ynsmsd8789]

Not a big fan of revzilla. But i do like Dave’s videos

[@etienneprinsloo6799]

We rode on tyres in the seventies that were infinitely worse brand new than late nineties tyres languishing in someone’s store room for a decade. Add Seventies suspension and brakes. Amazing how any of us survived. Still miss those days.

[@billcarson1966]

I'd love to see a video like this on helmet ages and what the experts say.

[@rookpl7877]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZ_FgqakitufpZY

[@DearMajesty]

Haha that's a good one! I bet FortNine would be up for that!

[@MattiaBiggMattGentile]

Yes please, no way a helmet never dropped has a 5 years expiration date!

[@DearMajesty]

@@MattiaBiggMattGentile even dropped is likely fine too. Particularly from less than 3 feet and with no weight inside

[@diegolainfiesta]

Fortnite has a whole video just for limit time for all equipment.

[@tooblekain]

I'm glad you covered this topic! Many people didn't believe me when I told them I raced on a slick tire that was over 5 years old and it gripped well enough for me to win the races. You hit it spot on regarding what truly affects a tire.

[@angrysocialjusticewarrior]

Where you intentionally trying to widow your wife and orphan your kids when you decided to race a motorcycle on old tires?

[@Slickhubert]

These are usually the people who also believe that after their motorcycle helmet has fallen off the table, they have to buy a new one because X-ray examinations would reveal microcracks in the crystalline structure at atomic level. Apart from the fact that this is not true, but is just talk, it doesn't occur to them that the helmet itself would still be even stronger than the soft mass in their skull cavity. If it were the case that tires age so rapidly, then you would probably have to replace all the tubes and hoses on a car engine every two years.

[@johndear4639]

10 year old tire experiences here. Had them on a FZS600 that was long forgotten. Took it directly to a track day after servicing it back from a storage. The storage years had been in a cool, fairly stable temperature with minimal light. Would have not dared otherwise. I have to say the 1st few laps were veeery cautious but, after getting familiar with the behaviour I overtook a couple of speedier bikes simultaneously and such. Just wanted to test ride it easy however it turned out a flat out track day... They were Pirelli and Metzeler sport touring tires and yes, got rid of the chicken strips. Would not recommend this thing but there u go it's done. 10 year old touring tires on a track day. :)

[@bca-biciclindcuaxel7527]

My tires are around 20 years old ( This bike stayed in the kitchen most of his life ) and tires look fine :))

[@analogmotography]

Ari always looks like he's doing 150 push-ups before filming

[@BogdanDuceac]

😏

[@LeoTheComm]

So do I and I probably haven't done one in 10 years. It's all about diet.

[@analogmotography]

@@LeoTheComm haha of course

[@jadams161]

"diet" and a TRT protocol 😂

[@Rick-qf5de]

If you notice , a lot of men has tits now from their medications.... Some are grossly obscene....

[@CAGreve1231]

Wintergreen oil can restore older dryer tires. This is what is used for Go-Karts to get them to stick to the track. So long as your tires are not severely dry-rotted, you can paint on some wintergreen oil and wait 45 minutes for it to soak in and it will be good and grippy. Additionally, you can remove the valve stem from the tire and put up to 30cc worth of wintergreen oil INSIDE the tire (so long as it is not a tubed tire) and ride it SLOWLY (no more than 30mph) for 5 minutes to coat the inside. This renews the oils in the tire and extends the life of the tire.

[@JRBoedeker]

Ari, this ranks with your best SM's ever. You handled a touchy subject in a new "fresh" way. Not to say that's not always the case, because you always do great research and come at a topic with an open mind. But it's hard to find much info about tires, and I think that's because the 5 year trope is so ingrained in us. Heck, I've spouted it at least four times in the last six months. Also, it's always great to see you and Dave on track eating "Italian for breakfast". Many many kudos on this one.

[@AriH211]

I'm glad you liked it, J.R. I was raised on the 5-year trope as well, and have even quoted it in articles I've written in the past. It was enlightening to speak directly with tire manufacturers on the topic, but even more eye opening to converse with a few elastomer experts (that work for independent labs on myriad major rubber projects, not just tires) about how and why tires degrade.

[@mickeypopa]

@@AriH211 And that is what makes a good video - research, facts & testing. You've put in effort of doing all three. Well done!

[@DatBikerDude]

Really the tire age depends on Manufacturer and models more than anything, save for heat yes. We've had TDH tires turned rock hard in 3 years on the shelf whilst 3 year old AVONs and Michelins are as good as their 3 month old brothers. We are however on the equator

[@DieselRamcharger]

environment of how they are stored.

[@michaelbrinks8089]

Sunlight, heat, cold, humidity, etc.. all play a big role especially if you live in a area where these things fluctuate rapidly.

[@MrAdrafiq]

oh nice to see your here as well brother. Still in lahore k nikal gae agay?

[@donaldoehl7690]

When I buy a bike I don't stress out over tires or batteries. They are easily replaced and riding on crummy tires is just dangerous and, well, dumb.

[@nikaizad1]

@@donaldoehl7690 as much as i want to get a pair of pirellis or michelin, im still rolling with my iffy IRCs that came with the bike 3 years later cause im a broke college student. Not everyone can be like you boss. Patched the rear tyre once too, still goin fine even though the rear likes to slip out a lil like a naughty toddler when not in your sights

[@Volfie66]

Finally a dissertation on tire shelf life that is comprehensive and technical, with empirical first-hand findings thrown in. Excellent, Ari.

[@bobdemetrius781]

Ari is one of the best sources in the biz, A, because he's got years of pushing motorbikes too, and past their limit, and B, equally important, he's passionate about motorbikes. Listen up and take notes, cuz this cat has great advice and knowledge to share.

[@gnargnar2112]

@@TheInfantry98 That is the dumbest shit I've read all day

[@Maccaroney]

I think the best way to combat tire aging... Is to use them!

[@AriH211]

100% agree! Most people will wear their tires out well before age is a concern.

[@donaldoehl7690]

I prefer to buy bike with worn tires since I can change to tires of my own choice.

[@Chris-yy7qc]

Absolutely. But... Depends on how many bikes youve got. I own 5 and most of the time I replace the tires because of age. Not because I dont drive a lot, but because the wear on my tires evenly spreads over 5 sets of them.

[@wolfgangwind788]

@@donaldoehl7690 Wenn der Verkäufer den Preis entsprechend nachlässt , bin ich absolut auf deiner Seite

[@zoltanjezso6949]

Best comment :D

[@duncanmacleod7210]

Informative and I must say refreshing. Finally a KZbin presenter with a vocabulary that doesn't require an expletive in every sentence.

[@CubanRider]

Love it. I'm currently running a rear Dunlop Q3 that Cycle Gear sold me new for $80... for being almost 5 years old.

[@DarksideSleemo]

That's so awesome. You gotta love catching deals like those.

[@LAGman91]

Is the q3 equivalent to the sportsmart mk3?

[@eddiebones20]

Great tip. Keeping my eyes open for deals like this.

[@seniorrider9337]

Hey Cuban Rider, I know those tires won't get much older the way you go thru them. LOL! Stay safe CR.

[@CubanRider]

@@seniorrider9337 haha, you know it!

[@Showmetheevidence-]

The storage thing really is key! I had an older set of tyres that was stored in a really hot container…. And I definitely could FEEL the difference on track. But knowing that they can be properly stored - that’s awesome. You could potentially get some nice deals on tyres :)

[@AriH211]

Yup, it's all about the storage conditions. I spoke to one tire manufacturer that had a customer report severe dry rot on car tires that were only two years old. Turns out the guy had an ozone generator in his garage as part of an air-purifying strategy.

[@PMitchell106]

I was worried that he was just going to ride on the unused old tires and call idea of expiration a myth, glad to see a deeper dive into the things that actually do age tires, great information.

[@ChainsPlaysGames]

I work at a large nationwide tire shop in the US. Can’t say exactly which one cause I don’t want a message from the corporate office lol. But what I can tell you that isn’t made very clear in the video, at least to me, is that the recommended 10 year age replacement from Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental, and Dunlop are not actually recommendations. There is a federal mandate that no shop is allowed to service a tire of that age due to the integrity of the tire being so diminished from age and the other things mentioned in the video. I’m sure you could still find mom and pop shops that will service a tire older than 10, but generally it’s a bad idea. I have been told that those above companies do recommend replacement at 7 years as well, but that is for car and truck tires. It may be different for motorcycles. Otherwise everything in the video was amazing and accurate. Love to see it. Keep up the good work guys!

[@AriH211]

I researched the topic a lot and didn't find a government mandate, but most tire makers are part of the USTMA (U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association) which states that 10 years is the service life for both car and motorcycle tires.

[@daveco1270]

I recently realized the bike I've had for 2 years had a 20 year old tire on the back and a 6 year old tire on the front. I ditched them both for a fresh set of Avon Roadriders, which made a world of difference. The rubber on the old tires was rock hard, even the 6 year old tire. The new tires feel nice and spongy. The bike feels lighter now. Changing the tires was a huge pain in the butt without one of those tire changers but I'm glad I did it.

[@perryschaeffer5432]

You are comparing used/worn tires with new ones and probably a different brand. Thats not a fair comparison

[@Loanshark753]

I got a bicycle with old tires from a relative and both tires punctured and let out air slowly so i got new ones. The old ones were cracked from aging.

[@williambrandt9254]

I think of the half a dozen or so videos I’ve seen on tire expiration this is the most informative and intelligently done. Not because he is saying what I want to believe but he gives you all of the factors. Now I am trying to relate this to automobile tires as I have six year old Perelli‘s on my car. One other factor at least for automobile tires I’ve heard is the wear rating. If your automobile tire has a wear rating of 100 and is a high-performance tire that rubber deteriorates faster than the 400 on my tires. And this is the only video I’ve seen where I’ve gotten the actual recommendations for major tire manufacturers. Nicely done and thank you

[@user-hk7fs6fk2w]

I bought my bike with 7 year old tires on it, and I wasn’t sure tire aging was anything more than a sales gimmick. Decided to get new after the back wheel kept sliding unexpectedly and I noticed some dry rot on the nubs (dual sport bike), and the difference was like going from leather sole dance shoes to sneakers. I can’t believe how much better they are.

[@Angel-rg9dh]

That was my case too, Dunlop front tyre from 2015 from Factory, i bought that bike from Someone, they had about 9k miles when i changed that front tyre , and the way It inclines on the corners is so much better apart from the confindence they give me.

[@oscars665]

Very good information. Thanks for sharing. As a tire professional of 14 years, I agree with everything shared in this video!

[@PandaStencils]

Dave, the Legendary K5- Still a solid platform to test tires on! Thanks for this, Ari.

[@mike1967sam]

I came back to riding about six months ago. I rode from 92 to 2014 and I was doing about 135 and all of a sudden this yellow hale was blown all around me and I couldn't see anything for about ten to fifteen seconds, so my heart is racing and I'm breaking and down shifting as fast and as steady as I can. It turned out to be an open back truck that blew straw all around me for whatever reason. My son was 13 at the time and when I got out of there I said "No way" ..."I'm selling the bike" and I did. Now he's a young man and I feel a bit more mature on a bike but I can't say I've completely kicked the adrenaline habit. Love your channel. Mike.

[@smith0844]

Good episode, I always appreciate an apprentice from Dave the gsxr

[@motoshoot404]

Good video. Due to difficulties in obtaining 18" rears I generally buy two, the way things are going might be having 10 yo stock in my store! My only suggestion for next time is do a blind test, where you don't know whats on the rims. It didn't matter here but if you had decided there was a difference your pre-test bias is a variable that you can remove. 👍

[@Chase_N]

This year I replaced a set of 2013 Dunlop 427s that had plenty of tread left. It wasn't the grip that warranted their replacing, they'd got a wave pattern ripple in them all the way around the front tire. Ever ride on the wake up strip? That's what it felt like. The plies or belts had let go. Now this was on a 700lb Dyna that was garage kept & it may be different on lighter bikes, but I think 8 years is tops for a Dunlops on a Harley.

[@ruikazane5123]

If the bike sat on the sidestand then it might have killed the tires. When storing a ride for the winter or something it is always better to lift both wheels from the ground to not put pressure on the tires and not deform due to the weight of the bike itself

[@mickeypopa]

@@ruikazane5123 That was my first thought too when he said 700lbs Dyna garage stored - physical stress. Though we don't have any other details, such as heat conditions in that garage or nearby electrical devices. Or even if they were inflated properly prior to and during storage. And it must have been stored a lot if he still had plenty of tread left after 8 years.

[@copo2835]

It mostly depends on the brand/model, and what kind of use they get. I work in a tire shop, and I've seen tires that are only 2 or 3 years old that are dry rotted and rock hard, and 8 year old tires that are perfectly fine

[@mymotorbikeobsessions]

It’s good to see Dave back in action. Such a solid performer and always willing to put in the work. Now the same video for helmet expiration dates would be interesting. 🤔

[@henrikforsberg683]

I’ve seen that some hardhats(safetyhelmets) have like a small “uv-indicator “ that shows when it has been exposed to a certain amount of radiation and its time to replace the helmet. Shouldn’t that work on motorcycle helmets as well? 🤔

[@mymotorbikeobsessions]

@@henrikforsberg683 I suppose it could, but with hard hats you are worried about the outer shell integrity. With a motorcycle helmets you are worried more about the inner foam’s condition which isn’t exposed to much UV overall. A moisture indicator might be better.

[@zx10rjean]

I love how they show how to stock the tyres correctly: in a vertical position but right next to a .. compressor 😉🤣🤣

[@ROLYATATAK]

Wow that was like watching Fort 9 about the myth of dark side tires. Thanks I can watch them both all day keep it up.

[@glenngardin3561]

Excellent video, Ari! Love it when the truth triumphs over BS.

[@steveb7310]

A little experience upsets a lot of theory.🧐

[@YoungMulahBB]

Perfect video for me. I bought a CBR929RR with tires from 2006. Pilot tires with tons of tred. I’ve been ripping them 100mph with no second thought oops

[@skie6282]

As someone who had 11 year old tires on a cbr i bought, it makes a big difference. If the road is anything but nice pavement then its scary. Its simply not worth not buying new tires after 5 or 6 years.

[@aukustijaatinen7315]

In my opinion the biggest problem with tire age is grip on wet and cold conditions. My experience is that old tires are about as good as new tires on warm and dry, grippy enough to scrape pegs but slippery as all hell (rear tire slipping on second gear when accelerating quickly and front tire easily locking up when braking to avoid a moose or deer collision for example) when conditions are less than desirable. And my experience is with Honda vt750 with 47hp, Metzeler me880 and me888 as tires. I will be in the future as well changing out tires when they are over 5-6 years old, doesnt matter how much they have tread left just for the grip on wet. If i would be only riding in the warm weather i wouldnt be as concerned about them. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Finland

[@steveottavaino3804]

Well researched, presented, and done. Next helmet life. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@EEDad401]

I have over 100,000 miles on motorcycles over the last 40 years. Not as many as I know some of you will reply with. But it still gives me enough experience to say that I can tell when a tire is starting to age. Between heat cycles and how many days my bike is parked in a hot sunny parking lot or stored in a cold shed for winter, it takes its toll. I've never kept a tire long enough to see cracks or other disintegrating rubber. I usually wear a tire out before it ages out. But if not, it seems like 5 years has been a rule of thumb for me. I might increase that now after watching your video.

[@thrpins8430]

I love that he literally stood on a soap box🤣

[@JJTraxson]

This topic hits close to home for me. I had purchased a front tire for my 91 Kawasaki Zephyr 750 and was surprised to find the front tire sidewall showed signs of dry rot cracks after only one year of being mounted on my bike. I checked the date code and found the tires were around 13 years old when I had purchased them "new" the previous year. I confronted the dealer i bought them from and the best he could do was give me the "wholesale" price on a replacement tire. Basically gave me the story that it wasn't the age of the tire but how they were stored. After I got home i checked to see what the going rate was for the tire I got for "wholesale cost" and found multiple sites that offered the tire for the price I had just paid the dealer to replace the over 13 year old tire they had sold me the previous year. I still shop at this dealer since there aren't many Kawasaki dealers in Kansas but from now on I check my date codes to make sure I don't ride on "aged" millennial rubber.

[@jimstartup2729]

I know a good little shop and I will prob use them as long as I ride. I even live in another country to that shop now, but if I know my tyres will need changing soon I would rather ride 10 hours on that old rubber just to have them fit a new set than risk going to some shyster garage nearby... And worryingly so a great many garages are just that.. dodgy rip off centres to whom someone's life is irrelevant next to the paper in their wallet. I lost count now of the number of let-downs from garage services where parts fell off on the ride home or an item "broke because the previous mechanic put it on wrong" during the service yet they already threw the bit away and can't show me the broken item as proof.. and the other giveaway that they also just happened to have the exact part to fit on the shelf for a ten year old bike.

[@dmaxcustom]

This was extremely educational. Great content as usual.

[@rasoulsadeghi8635]

Thank you very much. I have been searching around for the same question

[@shngsam8777]

Excellence subject and good testing. I always suspect those "5-years-rule" are created by shops to sell more tires, and people getting scared when hearing stories from the shops

[@Choo-choo-chookcha]

As a person who worked for motorcycle dealership, I was sure to check on what was the recommended interval on tire replacement. And since we worked mostly with Pirelli I followed their guidelines that mentioned 5 year warranty for tires to hold factory specs. I cannot point to a specific document, but I didn't just invent it. More so, I've had enough clients asking to replace their tires after 3 years...

[@718Hustle]

I just got a 01 cbr600F4i and the tires are from 05 and 06. I thought I was good since they look brand new but definitely got to change them now. Thanks for the video

[@aleksanderscernjavic9009]

Would have been nice to see a comparison with a used 3-5 year old tire, or which was used at least a few times in the start and then stored away, like when you put the bike away for a few seasons.

[@isaks3243]

i'm not a biker, so I don't know why I enjoy watching your and fortnines channel so much. but it might be because you two are so informative and thurough on you research so it is interesting even to I don't ride bikes. this video tho applies to cars aswell. I own a rare classic car, off which I don't drive much and we have a similar misconception in the car community that no tire is good for more than 5 years whilst I have with my chemist background thought that environment plays the biggest role when it comes to tire life. I have been such a firm believer that I use anti uv and anti oxidant tire wax on my classic car twice per month to keep the tires looking new and to make them last for longer

[@158158cow]

Not sure if it’s already mentioned below, but oxygen molecules are smaller than nitrogen and will filter out of the tire. So, the first fill-up will lose ~20% pressure and the topping-off will only lose a small percentage. Effectively, you have nitrogen-filled tires after your second tire pressure adjustment (unless you change pressures a lot)

[@scorpion-ninja8228]

Ari, this is great news! As I picked up a set of FREE Pirelli rain tires from a guy. He used them for 1 rainy WERA race here at Grattan raceway in 2014! Then he took them off and stored them in his basement and forgot about them until recently. Put up a post on local facebook group and I got them. Havent used them yet, but least its nice having a 2nd set of wheels with Rains to bust out on the off chance the weather turns to shit and you can still get your moneys worth out of that day!

[@nunyabusiness896]

I think I'm about to set the record here: I have the 600cc version of Dave, albeit in near showroom perfect condition vs. street art and rainbow bear stickers. The previous owner rode it to college for a couple of years and then started riding very rarely and stored the bike in their climate controlled house as basically a living room ornament. The tires are currently about 13 years old but I cannot find anything wrong with them to merit changing them. My wife has an identical year model bike (it was one I had looked at when buying mine and she decided she wanted it) with the same Michelin Pilot Power tires (though hers are 2CT, but that only affects leaned over grip anyway) and I really don't feel a difference between the two. Interestingly, her bike had a much newer but very dry rotted rear tire when we first bought it, which goes to show how much storage affects the life since my bike was stored in air conditioning and her bike's previous owner rode it to work and probably parked it outside and then stored it in a non-climate controlled shed. IMO, more than age is just looking at the tire and testing the grip. Is the surface full of cracks, especially deep ones? When you brake hard in a straight line, does it bite hard or try to slip (talking front brake, rear brakes will always lock without ABS if stomped hard enough)? Honestly, if it's not cracked and grip is there, the tire is still good, I can't find any instance of a modern (say, last 20 years) tire that didn't have obvious signs of dry rot having a blow out or a crash that was truly the fault of the tire and not the result of a bad rider input. The 5-10 year rule probably dates back to the 70's or before when tires were made of garbage materials compared to what they are made with today. Times change, just like new synthetic oil vs old conventional.

[@jimstartup2729]

How do you know the grip is there until you test that grip? I had a front a grarage fitted that was about 5 years old and it was ok In The dry, but as soon as it was a bit damp on the road it was lethal. Letting go in straights under mild breaking sometimes. I had so many close calls and eventually the bike let go in a car park after a downpour at walking pace. I wish I had kicked up more fuss with the garage considering it wasn't even the manufacturer I asked for let alone the model of tyre, I think they just took the opportunity to get rid of old stock as my bike at the time had a less common wheel size.. assholes

[@nunyabusiness896]

@@jimstartup2729 The shortest answer: dry grip=/=wet grip, full stop While I avoid deliberately riding in the rain, I did once get caught out in the rain with these tires and they weren't really any better or worse than the probably less than one year old Q3+s I had on a track day that erupted into rain. The siping design and compound choice of dry summer tires or track day tires and rain tires are drastically different. True track tires or slicks like to be north of like 170 F and summer/dry street tires like to be north of 120 F. Imagine riding down the road on a 50 degree day through water that is also 50 degrees with a high specific heat, that tire's not going to get even close much less stay at 120 F. A wet tire, on the other hand, not only has far more siping to prevent hydroplaning, but also has a compound designed for grip at lower temperatures. I don't know what tire you had, but most likely it was a combination of not enough siping and not enough heat combining to create a slippery situation. Sometimes pavement is also slippery from oil/dust/etc. loosened up by the fresh rainwater and will make it slippery on any tire. You also may have been too forceful and sudden with inputs as braking and cornering needs to be more gentle and progressive in low grip situations when you can get away with it in warmer dry conditions. Bottom line, there's about a dozen things more likely to have made your front tire feel slippery and being 5 years old likely had nothing to do with it. The only way that 5 year old tire should've been bad is if it was left out in the sun and elements for 5 years and possibly frozen a couple of times to boot. Knee jerking to blaming equipment keeps people from progressing at riding and getting a better understanding of the physics involved. It's no different than the guy that bangs off the rev limiter doing a burnout for 5 minutes and then blames his blown engine on the last guy to change the oil.

[@jimstartup2729]

@@nunyabusiness896 yes... Sudden Inputs... I now have 27 years of motorcycle experience under my belt, and that is year round riding not just dry summer days and tracks. I know how greasy a road can be on the first rain after a while, I know what mud, gravel, leaves, over-banding, drain covers, painted lines, petrol, diesel, cut grass, plastic bags, glass and even small animals are like to drive over, hell I even rode on and around snow and ice back when I was at college before I got my car license. Thanks for pointing out the obvious to any motorcyclist that has likely covered more than 500 miles of riding in the UK (you will get caught I the rain). I never fully trusted that front end, so never pushed it that hard in the dry, but with normal commute riding edging towards spirited, there were no "moments" to make you think it was going to let go, but there was very very little wet weather performance, and the tyre did actually have a fairly aggressive tread cut. Personally I genuinely think the rubber was way past it's best and my experiences with how shocking it was in the wet lie only with that one tyre. When it let go I was following another chap on a bike and had several chaps behind me all in a line.. in a car park so yeah probably a bit greasy, but it was almost walking pace, and it dropped like it was on ice. Some of the other times it was similar, no progression just letting go very very easily. The number of let-go moments with that tyre I had on separate occasions.. separate roads etc puts any road condition reasoning to bed, and as for warmth... I am talking much less grip than I would ever expect out of a cold tyre. It was prob older than 5 years old mind you,as I think you couldn't even buy that model of tyre off the shelf anymore (I looked it up cos I was miffed by them fitting it, since I specifically requested certain tyres. Unfortunately I was pushed for time and needed my bike as transport so they got away with it without any real complaint - which I guess happens rather a lot)

[@jimstartup2729]

I would also add. I am an Engineer by education at least (ok I changed profession some years back) so it is not like I have little understanding of mechanical forces or materials. My point is merely.. a very old tyre might be fine, but it might also have some very degraded performance characteristics that are not immediately obvious.

[@jimstartup2729]

I do "test" my grip fairly regularly in a straight line (every few weeks or so) both to prove the equipment and keep my emergency stops sharp. It's a worthy routine. I think my reason for that does stem from experiences like that tyre.. I like to prove grip is there before betting my life on it.

[@Stromma1100]

This is Shoeis recommendations: For safety reasons, we recommend replacing a helmet after about five years. The outer shell (fiberglass) is relatively resistant against aging. However, the material of the inner shell (EPS), which is substantially involved in the safety (shock absorption), hardens with time. So the inner shell no longer has those important absorption characteristics. There has also been much work on the development of helmets in recent years. Improved helmet shells, advanced materials, better comfort, changeable inner lining, more efficient ventilation systems, higher requirements also in the official test standards such as the E22 homologation, visor quick-change systems, etc. - in summary it can be said that helmets have simply become safer. Note that it's the only recommendation they have so you have to assume that this apply for maximum use, around the year riding with loads of street riding, commuting and occasional track days . That would mean a pretty warm climate round the year with warm summers and probably loads of perspiration inside the helmet. I'm in Sweden and most people here ride for five months while I'm actually riding about 9 months. Not many people commute so it's more a good weather thing to take the bike for a spin. Number of possible track days is limited by our climate as well. The rest of the year our helmets are cleaned and tucked away in a box in the garage. Still people buy into the replace-every-third-year-or-you-die bulls***t.

[@whateverrandomnumber]

You guys mentioned getting a new set of old stock tyres. What about having the tyres for such a long time past expiration? I bought two used cars which sat unused and uncared for for a long time, and they both had expired tyres. One of them was visibly dry and cracking, the other seemed ok but developed a puncture spontaneously in an unexpected spot.

[@MrBurrrG]

Yea my car tire just ripped apart on the highway after a sudden full stop (due to accident) and the metal inside the tire was sticking out. My tire guy told me it was because they were 9 year old and the rubber was all stiff so it couldnt handle the sudden pressure, change in shape and heat

[@BillBodrero]

Dave and Battle Toad! 2 of my personal favorites.

[@hebergarcia1146]

Saw you guys at buttonwillow with Dave and have been waiting for this video!

[@smoke05s]

How much does a buttonwillow track day cost?

[@hebergarcia1146]

@@smoke05s It was $180 for that day, it was a Monday

[@CC_956]

I pitted in a garage next to you and Troy that day and my 660 was part of the Italian munchies for Dave. lol

[@lavrentievv]

UV light degrades rubber, not age.

[@CosmicSeeker69]

Which is why virtually all tyre companies keep them racked in the dark of a warehouse.

[@mr2_mike]

So sitting in a dark garage is ok.

[@alejandrogarciagarcia7561]

Actually, rubber ALWAYS age, UV just accelerate the process. I've seen many unused racing tires with +20 years that seemed more like pvc than rubber

[@saeedhossain6099]

​@@mr2_mike much better than being stored outside. but Dry rot/chemical exposure also affects aging.

[@prairydog8872]

I bought a Bandit 1250 last year that had 8 year old Michelins in good shape on it. Because I'm cheap I tried riding on them for a few hundred miles. They definitely didn't feel right. I had a couple of close calls and I never felt confident on them. Putting on new Dunlops made all the difference!

[@jasonvsd]

I am glad nobody told my tires they expire. I grew up tearing around gravel roads at high speed on tires that were never newer than 20 years.

[@OM-df9lj]

a few years ago nobody knew the tyres have DOT so tyres were not aging...when people discovered DOT, all of a sudden, tyres 1 year old are considered dead...

[@ryanmg02]

​@@OM-df9lj^tires

[@OM-df9lj]

@@ryanmg02 "Tire and tyre both mean a covering for a wheel, usually made of rubber. Tire is the preferred spelling in the U.S. and Canada. Tyre is preferred in most varieties of English outside North America." (source; grammarist)

[@ralphnadams]

I bought a 10 year old Yamaha Vmax with 3000 miles on it. Traction was sketchy at best. 3rd gear would spin the tire on good road conditions. I replaced with the same Bridgestone tire and got significant improvement on traction. Good video!

[@1212goose]

So I bought a used 1200 mile 2014 triumph daytona 675r. Stock everything. Tires lasted till 8k no problemo and im an aggressive rider 0 track days.

[@chrisredfield3240]

I've got a BMW f800gs 2014 on 1331 miles original everything. Even the pirelli scorpion trail tyres. They feel fine even in the wet. Always been in a nice cool dark garage. On carpet and sometimes on the centerstand

[@janstrom3482]

... and I always thought that freezing cold was bad for my tyres... winter storage feels better now, thanks 😀

[@darius2640]

on my car i had 14 year old continental summer tires and they were totaly fine very grippy and i had 6 year old off-brand winter tires that were sliding all over uncontrollably, and a seemingly trustworthy dude who works in a tire mounting shop also told me in summer its whatever you just need to care about age on winter tires, so thats what i've been doing since, just got some new hankook winter tires that are just one month old dont have any snow yet but in heavy rain they grip awesome

[@yago6040]

Also have 13 years old Goodyear tires on my Pontiac Solstice which I bought month ago, so far so good...

[@cyjanek7818]

During the winter tread is more important and rubber won't get hot and sticky. I wonder how this test would go on wet surface

[@Renegade21888]

I just purchased a 7 year old cb659f with the factory fitted tires still on it. First thing I did was book her in for new tires. Have no confidence in the old ones and that's good enough a reason to change them in my book.

[@jarlgawain8876]

Best moto series on youtube, change my mind. (With possible exception for FortNine) Great work as always.

[@ironhorsehero1988]

As ever a really informative piece, no bs just open minded facts. For quite some time I’ve been requesting tyres no more than 12 months old for two reasons, (a) they’ll probably last longer (b) I’ve no wish to pay top money for older tyres. Couldn’t agree more about the importance of regular tyre pressure checking.

[@arjenbootsma6881]

Not really an issue for me, I'll wear out my tires before there's even the remotest chance of aging.

[@steveb7310]

That’s the best solution 😃

[@kleinbottled79]

True for me also, but I ran up against this issue once when buying a used bike. When I switched tires and the bike felt a million times better I was ready to blame the make and model of tire. But my tire guy says that maybe age was a factor since they were 6+ years old and had been on the bike almost that whole time. (But of course a tire salesman would push the age thing right?) Still ...dunno. Edit: The tires and the bike only had 740 miles on them.

[@kayhoww]

@@kleinbottled79740 miles? Well before you blame the make/ model or aging, consider some bike mfgs cut corners on OEM rubber.

[@grumpy_cat1337]

740 miles on a bike for 6+ years? Who rides like this? I did like 450 miles yesterday.

[@kleinbottled79]

@@grumpy_cat1337 Right? Someone who bought a bike and then decided motorcycling wasn't really for them. I've put 8000 miles on it in about a year and a half.

[@fattymcgee123]

Funny that this video came out just now. Switching to winter tires for our usual 8 months of snow, noticed my car tires had tons of tread depth left, but were made in 2011. Cracks noticed on tires, too. Good thing they're tiny and relatively cheap to replace

[@fiveowaf454]

The cracking of the sidewalls with age is my biggest concern, I've seen that occurring within 10 years. If you are riding conservatively any loss in traction may not be an issue, but cracks could result in tire failure. I have had a set of Avons crack in 5 years.

[@Chris-yy7qc]

You can drive as conservatively as you want: A fresh set of tires might make the difference between an almost crash and a crash. Especially on dirty roads or if you need to do hard cornering/braking in order to avoid crashing. Dont forget its not always you making the misstake. So dont risk your health by cheaping out on your bikes maintenance.

[@fiveowaf454]

@@Chris-yy7qc I agree, I keep my own tires fresh, because I want maximum safety, I was making a generalization that people need to check for tires cracking if they plan on keeping them long.

[@markjones464]

@@Chris-yy7qc I do not Know how old you are You are a 100 % Right ✅ I am 61 Years Old Ride and Ride a Kawasaki Zxr14r Limited addition it Maped and has OHLIN'S Suspension , It Maped to Make use of the Headers 209 Hp At the back Wheel , do I use the power , just ask Some young blokes when I clime of You don't forget how to ride just because You get older , Smooth and Fast and what You alluded to Tyres I Run Bridgestone S22 , I Change Front and back at the same Time 6000 -7000 Km , that the Key as you Said there already saved you , many times How can you afford the TYRE'S , I had said To me , My answer is not about $ It About YOUR Safety . I don't swap Bikes TO try them out , one reason is I be Tradeing Down , THE big KAWASAKI Is still in my Mind the Best bike for me , but most of Important I don't trust other people With there bikes maintenance and Tyres

[@Chris-yy7qc]

@@markjones464 You're right, sir! I'm about half your age.

[@markjones464]

@@Chris-yy7qc Do you want to swap Our ages , I loved to be young in Age again , you displayed a a lot Of Wisdom in your commet about Tyres , I stoped at stops while I Been out rideing , Blokes my age Who should know Better , Bold And tyres not up to standard , I Don't ride fast any more, they Should no Better as you said It life and Death could be the Different All the Best 👍 Stay safe

[@tonypitsacota2513]

I know several Porsche 935 owners that prefer the vintage Pirelli stock from the late 1970s. Better than new tires, with a much longer life. Tire dealers will hoard the good ones....

[@oktanskioktan9372]

I'm not sure, my 10 yo tires are much much harder that brand new and it is especially shown on car. I don't know on motorbike. I got some 5yo max, then they are flat or bald

[@mamfilord]

When I started riding I didnt know much about bike maintenance and knew no one who would explain me. My first bike I bought was an old Yamaha XJ 600 from 97. The tires on the bike had still plenty of depth, I checked frequently. 2 years ago I sold the bike and checked the depth of the tires one last time. I realised that, after riding the bike for 15.000km, the depth still was the same as when I bought the bike. I wondered why and only then I checked the age of the tires and was shocked - they were still the factory tires from 1997, 23 years old with 50.000 km on the clock... Never had a problem with them, not a single skid.

[@peedee4065]

Lol. You basically said that tires become more durable as they get older :)

[@mamfilord]

@@peedee4065 yeah thats actually a fact. When I looked this up I learned that some bikers who plan to go on a world trip prefer to buy unused old tires rather than new ones because they are more durable for a trip around the world were you dont really put your knee on tarmac and dont need much grip. If you dont race your bike and avoid riding in rain, old tires are fine. With growing age you win durability but lose grip.

[@peedee4065]

@@mamfilord That's absolutely bonkers. While I didn't doubt what you originally said, I was kind of being tongue-in-cheek with my statement. And then you replied that it is indeed a fact. Very entertaining and makes sense. It's as if the rubber compacts and looses sponginess as it ages. It loses the interstices that give it resilience and grip and almost becomes plasticine in nature.

[@neilbarnett3046]

Very sensible and accurate. It is worth noting that the biggest ozone concentrations are in sunny cities with high concentrations of vehicles, where they are a factor in forming other corrosive gases, collectively called PAN or peroxyacetyl nitrates. These are more stable oxidants than ozone, so they last longer, travel to other parts of the city and cause the most damage.

[@TheRealBhuado]

saw it with my own eyes. 4 year old Bridgestone cracked on the treads a few minutes after beading. probably not stored correctly but still, would you want to "take a risk" on how older tires were stored in some warehouse? i know i wouldn't

[@DarkIzo]

2 year old bt45s cracked pretty much everywhere so yeah, its not just about the age

[@GardenBoy4U]

I’m rolling on tires from 2018!and they’re just fine. I worried about them. This video puts my mind at ease.

[@jmushroom]

How about storage in winter temps? My bike sits in a barn during 4 months of freezing temperatures. 2 months of that is below freezing at night and above freezing during the day. Does this fluctuation and sub-zero temps also contribute to hardening or cracking of the rubber?

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Speargun rubber gets kept in the freezer. Your winter is probably advantageous.

[@zone47]

Interesting subject and good to know. I have two cases: I bought a Porsche 930 that had new rubber and I kept the car 8 years. I only put 3K miles on the car but the buyer was complaining that the tires were shot due to age (yet good tread and no dry rot). I'm thinking maybe in the wet they won't grip as well, but it's not the kind of car to take out in the rain and snow anyway. Next is a 2004 Yamaha R6 that I bought with only 1,700 miles. The date codes are 04 on each tire. I'm not too crazy about running the front tire but I think the rear will be just fine. Yeah the rubber is hard but again, I don't like driving in the rain, so I think it will be fine. That was good about tire storage as I have a set in my shed. I might re-think that this summer. Thanks for a great video!

[@me1ne]

When test riding my fazer before I bought it, it had about seven years old tires on it, with almost new tread depth. It came like a shock when the rear tire started slipping on clean, dry tarmac at maybe 50% lean angle. So, yeah: old tires can be dangerous.

[@adziomen]

hey , you are comparing 7 years old tires were mounted on the bike and were in use for a time , he tested 7 years old but "new" tires . thats big difference

[@rosewood1]

Great review. Thanks. As an anecdote that doesn't relate to my motorcycles. I stored my 2.5 ton caravan in the open for about 3 years. The 4 heavy duty tyres had loads of tread life. However on inspection all 4 tyres had developed deep cracks in the tread where the tyres had sat. The mechanical load damp ground had destroyed the tyre integrity in just these 4 contact areas. I was lucky that the inspector had spotted the failure.

[@FappinSteve]

My bike had 11 year old tires when I got it. They were definitely a hazard, as soon as I got new tires, I couldn't believe I had been riding on the old ones. Edit: the bike only had a total of 4,000 miles, the tires still looked great. And the bike was mainly stored in their garage, they weren't subject to the sun and weather constantly.

[@ritterkeks]

Same for my first bike, the front tire was so hardened, it never went below the min thread… so I drove it for years. But it didnt stick on dry roads and on wet roads it was a nightmare. Shoulda just spent the money…

[@flyinghigh2000]

In my view old virgin tire is different from old worn tire. I swear the heat cycle from being used and kept for a long time I can feel my old weekend bike tire felt harder

[@coreymeisenheimer1724]

@@flyinghigh2000 This is the point that this video is missing. I think mostly when people talk about a 5 year age limit they are referring to 5 years of use rather than being unused for 5 years and being put on.

[@taz4100]

@@coreymeisenheimer1724 that's basically what metzler has said about tires when they where talking about a slick I believe. I would think it would be due to the oils rising to the surface from heat cycles. But I'm not sure I believe that new tires don't age at all. I put 5 year old new tires on my bike. The tires where stored in a heated garage in there plastic. They only had a tiny bit of slip whenever I was in the middle of a agressive downshift without a slipper clutch and a deer ran out in front of me and I basically popped the clutch out to 10k from idle to focus on braking. When they where 7 years old I replaced them at 20 percent tread because I didn't want to bring them out another season.

[@kenwittlief255]

I got a Royal star (1300 V4) the previous owner put a new tire on the back when he got it, 10 years prior, and he only rode the bike 2,000 miles in those 10 years. The first time I had to stop quickly I was shocked at how easy the rear tire locked up! It skidded like it was made of black chalk. Brand new tire a few weeks later - world of difference.

[@tammyforbes2101]

My 2016 GSX-S1000 still has its factory front on it but I am switching to pirreli Rosso Corsa 2’s this spring! Already got the back on and it’s hooks good!

[@perryburns6515]

Cheers Ari. Dave is freaking awesome!

[@10fantic]

When he went on the air pressure rant I felt that. People are so clueless about how important pressures are for soooo many things.

[@fidelcatsro6948]

what tire pressure do you use when riding? F and R?

[@DennisJPolson]

Very informative and myth busting. Great episode, Ari.

[@xplaur]

You have all my respect, for not playing the "let's make noobs buy more" card! Aging is a major factor,, but not the only one and, at the end, is the rider making a whole difference!

[@bobolsen4369]

How about on wet surface? 😜 I personally know from experience how that goes. But really, don’t use old tires on wet surfaces. Even though the treads look good.

[@free2rhyme14]

this exactly! that's when old tires really show their age. any tire will perform well on hot surfaces on the track

[@stevepercival4774]

Got 20 year old tyres on my T140 bonneville

[@nickthequick]

A lot of people rave about FortNine, and I get it, it's entertaining and well produced, but the Shop Manual is a show that's both educational AND practical without being long winded, and that, in my book, takes the prize. Keep up the good work.

[@r1sabotage]

lol, the right way to have tested this was to not let you know which tires were new and which were old. But since you over came the placebos affect, good review.

[@DearMajesty]

I'm quite conservative when it comes to tires having learned it the hard way, I have to disagree a bit with the findings of this video. Of course how it's stored, sunlight, temperature, first date of use, tire brand/model, all make a big difference...no disputing that. It seems like a lot of others express similar findings. I feel like having the best case scenario for tires that are brand new and stored properly isn't a good representation of how most tires age, particularly tires that are used and already on a bike. Even though these are hypersport tires, they're not track tires and so I'm sure on a hot day/track the feeling of degradation of the dried out rubber is going to be much less. Maybe the dried out rubber will even aid somewhat to an extent in this street tires' heat capacity so it doesn't overheat as easily on the track! Important to note, that a huge contributing factor to the highly publicized death of Paul Walker and Roger Rodas, a professional race car driver, who was driving is that the tires on the car were 9 years old! If you've ever had old tires (not particularly worn out) and then had them replaced, there is a profound difference in how they feel. I also think that certain tires models/brands age significantly worse than other. Bottom line, if the tires are old and don't inspire confidence, get them changed! Every tire ages differently, don't take the risk. It's the single most important "mechanical" part on your bike. For me, real life experience with many, many tires, especially on older and used bikes (perhaps more than you'd encounter on press bikes) says that 5 years is an excellent rule for tires. I'd change them out sooner too if the tires don't feel right. They get this slight icey kind of feeling with not just less grip, but they will suddenly snap and break loose extremely quickly. That's what old tires can be like! Also, just another aside. The advanced riding clinic by Lee Parks gives much lower time lines for tire wear and break it down by tire type. 2 years for sport tires, 3 years for sport touring tires, and 4 years for touring/cruiser tires. Really hope everyone exercises caution here!

[@brianpeterson9290]

My thoughts exactly. I worry that Revzilla using the very specific example of a completely unused tire that's been properly stored for 7 years is going to be used to justify the (much more common) case of tires that were initially used for a few hundred miles and have been sitting "drying out" for 8-10 years since.

[@NOONE-hp8bw]

I've had 22 year old tyre on my bike, my riding style is a mix of commuting and hard riding and those tyres felt great, didn't have an issue with them. I always check the tyres I get before they go on my bike first

[@DearMajesty]

@@NOONE-hp8bw which tires? Did you read the date code correctly? It changed about 20 years ago

[@MaximC]

Thank you so much for this great, useful comment, MotoBoy.

[@robertos4172]

2 years for sport tires? You will be changing them before you get them mounted.

[@JoshuaMcTackett]

Arri Henning being on Revzilla - Subscribed in 2 seconds. Revzilla NEVER let him go no matter how much he wants to get paid. I now see all your videos on my notifications thanks to just knowing what's coming with him.

[@sjv6598]

I went to view a new (to me) bike last week. The tyres were date coded march 2017 (6 years old almost) they were hard and shiny, and I couldn’t dig my fingernail in, not a chance I would have ridden on them in our damp winters. Tyres don’t necessarily expire with age, but tyres that have been exposed to sun and weather? I’ll bet Ari won’t risk a tack day on them 😉

[@Jenuin]

Great informative video. Thank you.

[@MrKamechan]

Okay....so the rubber can last longer than 5 years. But what about heat cycling? Isn't there a limit of cycles that tires can go through before they lose traction, (even for street tires)?

[@philipolsson7162]

Not sure about what, if any, effect sensible heat cycling would have on vulcanized rubber but I suppose the number of heat cycles are related to tread wear. Since tires most often are put out of service due to tread wear, the heat cycling probably is the lesser issue

[@DearMajesty]

Certainly yes. The traction doesn't just fall off a cliff, it degrades slowly day by day. Heat cycle by heat cycle

[@JoshuaTootell]

You aren't heat cycling them without riding them. So, I would imagine by the time they are bad from heat cycling they are already worn out.

[@DearMajesty]

@@JoshuaTootell not true. Heat cycling occurs simply sitting in the sun or even in your garage with the temperature variation from day to night

[@thomaslemay8817]

@@DearMajesty you have stepped on a slippery slope . How much temperature change is required to accomplish one heat cycle. 20'f range cold to hot or 70' or 100' I work with materials that require a change of 3000' f to achieve one cycle. Anything less stays unchanged, or no cycle .

[@pandasracing6984]

Good point. I think the difference in grip would be more noticeable in a colder weather conditions.

[@tomast9034]

if it smells like rubber its ok.

[@chrisnichol1855]

I had a set on a barn find Kawasaki S3 with a set of brand new tires with the stubbies still on em from......1980s (spit fires) on it...... they were frightening to test ride the bike with, hard as a rock!

[@andyreyno9312]

I felt so proud when Dave passed that Ducati lmao

Right now I have 12 year old Michelin Pilot Road 2s mounted in my quite heavy Guzzi 1200 Sport. I had them installed in 2012, but hardly rode for the next ten years. They were on the bike, with pressure, in an underground garage two stories down, on the bike's sidestand. I started to use the bike back in 2022, and at first I was highly skeptical, but they had had literally no use, so I rode cautiously with them (not that I'm a sport rider anyway). So far so good. I haven't had any warnings from the tires, they look fine and behave fine. They haven't been degrading unevenly or anything else that could point to a problem.

[@Baleur]

I weep everytime i see the paintjob they smashed onto Dave.

[@eddiebones20]

Like an old pit bull wearing it's permanent scars. Thankfully Dave found a good home.

[@jimmybdeluxe]

riding here in Thailand, where its essentially summer all year long, you can tell fast your tires are bad, simply pushing the tread you can feel the rubber is hard as opposed to pliable when new. For me its 4-5years or by feel.

[@BlokeOnAMotorbike]

I have a 1983 Raleigh Burner with its original rear tyre. It's still rideable. I bought my lowrider 16 years ago with BF Goodrich Magnum T/A tyres. I still have the original rear on that.

[@johndeere1951a]

Hey Dave! Your the dude that rode the racing sidecar from VT to Canada . 👍 This was a good basic tyre knowledge. presentation. 👍👍 CD , retired Racer in New Hampshire. 👍🏁

[@Mik01ist]

What a great and timely video! I had the same question last week when I changed my rear and found out that previous owner left the front there for nearly 5 years. Luckily my little bike tyre shop owner confirmed everything you've said, so will keep the front for a little while until next big tour and no longer than the summer anyway. Loving these SM videos, keep going!

[@stevejpm1]

Great Video, I always use front and rear stands through winter storage and while on my drive in the summer, the only reason is that i don't like to use the kick stand for long periods of time plus its easier for cleaning/Maintenance and tire inspection.

[@GoodBalak]

Well, I know something about using really old tires: My dad purchased his bike in Dec 2003. He used it for a year or so before buying a car, after which the bike became a "just maintain and keep it running" vehicle. Until I turned 17 and was on my learners' license. This was in 2013; 10 years of just being maintained but kept in sunny/moist/dry-winter conditions in the open garage. The tires had tread but rubber was tough and brittle, so many cracks had appeared on it. It did not have much grip, not that I knew back then, but my dad did and he didn't let me take it out much. But being the hooligan, I still took it out for spins on weekends. After I got my full fledged license, I started taking it out to college and the way I ride it I started to know that I didn't really have much grip. Stopping in case of an emergency was dangerous, and I used to have very frequent punctures; to the point that it was embarrassing. Rode it like that for about a year, after which my dad gave up and bought me a new set of tires. By this time, I had gained much valuable experience on how to handle your bike even when traction is low or non-existent grip. After the change of tires, the bike felt completely different. Handled superbly and I could now take corners with much higher speed - and without wobbling! Now I can even take on sandy, muddy, rainy terrain without any effort because riding it with old tires gave me all the experience I needed to take any kind of road on.