Shimano cleats - How can you tell when they need replacing?

ThePriory1978

As it says in the Subject.

Do they have wear indicators? Manuals vague. Just says replace when worn.

Ta.

alfablue

In my experience they get difficult to release from the pedals (which seems counter-intuitive, but new cleats fixed it!).

bentes

I replaced mine when I got new shoes.
The old ones still work after 5 ou 6 years though...

rubertoe

SPD - SL have handy worn indicators. (yellow or red depending on if they float or not)

I have no idea about SPD's though (arent they metal)

TownyDC

I'm still using the same cleats after 10 years, new pedals though and shoes but not cleats.
Still clip in and out fine, had plenty of use as i'm always falling off.
Towny

njee20

IME worn cleats tend to feel sloppy in the pedals and you get a lot more accidental releases, there's no indicator or anything, replace when you think they need it!

Mccraque

if they still work, then don't worry.

Mine were 7 years old. replaced on saturday just gone! and they still worked but were a lot looser and kept pulling foot out on climbs - and descents (more dangerous).

No matter how much I tightened the pedals, they would not get tighter

.blitz

As above you lose that smug 'clack' noise, climbing is a chore and your feet are all over the place.

Like riding with flat pedals

bentes

njee20 wrote:

IME worn cleats tend to feel sloppy in the pedals and you get a lot more accidental releases, there's no indicator or anything, replace when you think they need it!

Now that you mentioned it, they used to have a few accidental releases but since I started using the new ones they stoped.

bike-a-swan

They feel looser, but are actually harder to get out in my experience. Then you start falling over, at that point it's probably time to change!