Do these tires look ok?
Hi, I just bought my first bike used. It’s a 2011 Trek Lexa S, the owner was a bike mechanic and said the bike has less than 500 miles on it...but I question that will the way the tires look. He said they look the way they do simply because the have been sitting on the bike in the garage. What do you think? Has this bike been used a lot more than represented, and more importantly, do I need new tires or approx how many more miles can I use these?
0
Comments
-
TBH after 6 years I'd probably want new tyres on anyway. Regardless of use.0
-
Kinchi wrote:
Really, if they haven’t been used much they need to be replaced? I’m just starting out and don’t want to spend money unless necessary.0 -
Those tyres are perished and need replacing.0
-
Can someone answer my question about how these got this way? Were these clearly more than 300 miles of usage or does this happen by sitting in the garage? If this bike was clearly used a lot more than represented, maybe I will just bring it back to the owner? I was told it had less than 300 miles on it, which is partly why I bought it...0
-
Can someone answer my question about how these got this way? Were these clearly more than 300 miles of usage or does this happen by sitting in the garage? If this bike was clearly used a lot more than represented, maybe I will just bring it back to the owner? I was told it had less than 300 miles on it, which is partly why I bought it...0
-
Tyres don't perish through usage per se, they perish mainly because of the quality of the rubber and/or the time they have been standing.
If the rest of the bike is sound, just replace the tyres and carry on riding..0 -
Imposter wrote:Tyres don't perish through usage per se, they perish mainly because of the quality of the rubber and/or the time they have been standing.
If the rest of the bike is sound, just replace the tyres and carry on riding..
Okay, thank you. That's what I was wondering about. I don't want to feel like I can't trust the rest of what the person that sold me the bike said about it. The bike seems otherwise fine, but then I don't know much about bikes!0 -
Tyres, even with modern manufacturing techniques, don't last indefinitely. I notice with my GP 4 Seasons, which I consider to be fairly expensive tyres, they seem to develop those longitudinal cracks after a couple of years, regardless of use. They seem still to grip well, but they do then start to wear more quickly. Interestingly the cheaper Michelin Pro 4SCs on the other bike still look box fresh after the same period of time.
I don't think the state of those tyres is necessarily an indication that the bike has done a higher mileage than claimed
You could just ride it as it is and see how the tyres behave. But I think given their age I'd just bin them; they'd likely be a lot less flexible and hence less grippy than when new. Even a fresh budget tyre would be a better bet0 -
The braking track looks almost new so assuming those are the original wheels I'd say the bike is low mileage as stated.
Best bin the tyres and get new though...FFS! Harden up and grow a pair
0 -
Known as 'ozone depletion' humidity, heat and sunlight make it worse. Stored in the cool and dry and dark they would have lasted much longer.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
-
Some thoughts for you to contemplate;
1. The rims look like they have had very little wear, so I suspect the rims have done very little mileage (is the rest of the bike in a similar condition?) if it is then the chances are it is a low mileage bike, but maybe the rims (more likely wheels) could be off another bike, or been replaced under warranty etc etc, so in order to decide if the bike is genuinely low mileage you need to consider the amount of wear and tear to the rest of it.
2. As mentioned by others, tyres wear (or more correctly) degrade when they are stored in less than ideal conditions. This leads to the perishing that the one photo shows.
3. Tyres fitted to budget (and even to more expensive) bikes tend to be of cheap quality. This is an area which can help the manufacturer keep the cost of the bike down, without it looking cheap. Think about it, sat in the show room, one black tyre looks pretty much like another to the layman, but if you skimped on the paint job the bike would look crap! So the original tyres probably cost the manufacturer less than a tenner each and hence don't have the same performance of more expensive rubber.
4. You are starting out and on a budget so don't want to spend money unnecessarily. I get that. BUT, failure of a safety critical part could lead to serious injury or even death. You will be descending hills at speeds of up to 60mph when you really get into this game, so would you risk your own safety by doing that on a perished tyre? :shock: I certainly wouldn't. In my opinion you need to ensure that tyres, brakes and anything else safety critical is where you don't skimp on your maintenance and spending. Skimp on other areas like jazzy bar tape, latest and greatest must have saddles and top end electronic gears!
5. Go online and look for a pair of new tyres that get good reviews and that are in budget. Many of the stores do bundles and discounts, ProBikeKit immediately spring to mind as I am always getting tyre bundle discount emails from them (although I still get them cheaper from other stores with discount)...
Happy, safe cycling.
PP0 -
PlanetX often have tires that are extremely cheap. They have the Hutchinson Nitro 2 for 6 quid (or Halfords)
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TYHUN2WT/ ... wired-tyre
Check the reviews.BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
Instagramme0
