Topic: Premature Wear on Tires?

[Angry Chicken]

Just thinking out loud here...wondering whether my rear tire (properly inflated, BTW) should be worn smooth after only 1200 km.  The chevrons on the centre section don't exist anymore.  Are Kenda tires crappy?  I bought a set of new Continentals for my wife's hybrid a couple of weeks ago and I know that *they* are a well respected brand.

[X-Traction]

I was going to say your alignment is far out of spec, until I realized you were talking about a bicycle
You're going to have to stop jamming on the rear brake to slide the rear wheel.  That's really juvenile, you know.  Just kidding!

That sounds like far too little mileage for a tire.  Never used a Kenda tire.  (Maybe you'd get better info on a bike forum.)

[goodsonr]

kenda tires are OK.

If you are using the tires on the road, I wouldn't worry about chevrons being worn away.  Just like car-tires, you now have extra contact with the road - nothing wrong with that.  If this is on a bike going offroad where lugs are needed - that's a different story.

And when your tire is worn out - it probably won't be from the part that touches the road -- its far more likely that the sidewall will go first.

So - just keep riding them.....

ron

[dr_spock]

Did you rotate your tires?   

[rrocket]

Pretty common thing...especially on bicycles...(a friend here at work is an expert..I'm not).  But also on motorcycles.  I have a brand new back tire on the Duke..and I suspect with me backing it in at every opportunity, I'll be lucky to get 1000kms out of it...

[dorin]

1200 km is a long distance for a bicycle tire.  Yes, it wearing out like that is normal. 

On a bicycle you can easily rotate your tires to even out the wear.  I do it once or twice a year on the commuter bike and I only put about 50 km a week on it.

[quadzilla]

I do about 3,000+ KMs per year on my commuter and can usually get 2 seasons out of my rear tire which is never rotated. By the end of the second year I usually find the sidewall starting to come apart and need to replace the tire anyway.

Like all tires, the wear at different rates.

[hoss]

Buy a pair of these http://www.schwalbetires.com/marathon_plus I have them on my Touring Bike, 10 000 kms no wear and NO flats (touch wood)  Schwalbe Tires are in class of their own. Expensive but worth every penny!
 Kenda tires are OK they are about average.

[Leviathan]

I have about 2300Kms on some Kendas and they are showing some wear but the chevrons are still there.

[Angry Chicken]

I have about 2300Kms on some Kendas and they are showing some wear but the chevrons are still there.

Nice.  Those look like good road tires.  My Kendas have a raised chevron on the centre section with a diamond-cut pattern in the void spaces.  They also have nice knobby sidewalls to help prevent spills when turning on loose surfaces.

I guess the verdict is that these are middle-of-the-road tires  and I shouldn't be too upset if I have to replace 'em each year? 

[Leviathan]

I guess the verdict is that these are middle-of-the-road tires  and I shouldn't be too upset if I have to replace 'em each year? 

Sounds about right. What kind of temperatures are you riding in? I don't do a lot of riding when it's >30 degrees.

[Angry Chicken]

I guess the verdict is that these are middle-of-the-road tires  and I shouldn't be too upset if I have to replace 'em each year? 

Sounds about right. What kind of temperatures are you riding in? I don't do a lot of riding when it's >30 degrees.

It's not been particularly hot here in Ottawa.  Mostly low to middle 20's.