Tire Life

[ponti_33609]

Thx for all the advice. Again, mine has

 

Thx,

Bob

[GuzziMoto]

I would replace them personally. I have done more damage to a bike in one of those "WTF?" moments when let down by old tires then I saved by not replacing them. Plus, tire tech is constantly improving and even average tires now are better then great tires from 8 years ago. And new tires always seem to make a bike feel better, like new sneakers.

[Dan M]

That's the thing about old tires, they work fine until they don't, and when they don't, it will be when you need them. When I got my LeMans it was 3 years old with only 900 miles. The Bridgestones looked like new. On two occasions they let go abruptly, once the front & once the rear. I didn't crash on either occasion but nearly left a permanent pinch mark on my seat and bruised my confidence. I quickly switched to Pirelli Stradas and they are terrific. Super grip, excellent feedback, wet, dry, hot or cold.

[Ryland3210]

That's the thing about old tires, they work fine until they don't, and when they don't, it will be when you need them. When I got my LeMans it was 3 years old with only 900 miles. The Bridgestones looked like new. On two occasions they let go abruptly, once the front & once the rear. I didn't crash on either occasion but nearly left a permanent pinch mark on my seat and bruised my confidence. I quickly switched to Pirelli Stradas and they are terrific. Super grip, excellent feedback, wet, dry, hot or cold.

 

Wow! Thanks for the comments, Dan.

 

Memories of the time I lost it trying to take corners like I was at Watkins Glen on knobbies 30 years ago, still create fear sometimes when taking a sharp corner on the Guzzi, even though there is no comparison.

 

So the tires were made around 2002, right?

Do you recall which Bridgestones they were?

[Dan M]

So the tires were made around 2002, right?

Do you recall which Bridgestones they were?

 

 

I'm not sure which Bridgestones were fitted - they were the OE tires, maybe BT020. I did not look at the serial # to check the production date but I'd guess late 2001.

 

I am by no means claiming the Bridgestones are inferior. I just think they were hard from age. That said, I've nearly always removed OE Bridgestones from bikes and opted for Metzelers, Avons or in this case Pirellis.