Road Cycling - Tire Life

Hey,

How long should a road tire last if it's never cut or damaged from pot holes or road debris?

It's my first road bike. I've got 350 miles on the tires, and the tread on the rear is bald, and the front will be too. Tread is a term I use loosely. It's not really tread at all is shallow as it is. More like a decorative design.

What should I look for? 1000 miles? More?

Thanks.

Allen

Depends on the tyre and how sticky they are.

My Hutchison Kevlar's last about 3000 miles (front) and 1000 or so rear.

I would imagine that racing tyres will last less time.

You don't mention tire brand or tire name so it's hard to say. If the tire is bald after so few miles, it would seem that it is a soft rubber racing tire made for traction. You might try other brands: AVOCET makes some good road tires; MICHELIN, Axial Pros; Continental, Grand Prix 3000; VITTORIA has ssome fine tires... Just make sure they aren't the softer rubber type and you should get several thousand miles on them.

I think it was DnvrFox that started a thread a few weeks ago about this same subject. You may try to look it up.

Tufo Specials and Specialized Armadillos both seem to last me more than 3000 miles, but my Continental Sprinters wore out in less than 1000 miles.

Well,

Like I said, calling the top surface "tread" is pushing it. The tires themselves are the stock tires, "Panaracer GT". They're made by National Tire Company LTD.

Thanks,

Allen

I once got 9000 miles from a pair of Invert 2K 700x38 tires.

Tire life depends on several things, the tire type, tire width, your weight, road surface, etc. A ballpark figure is 2000 miles, but anywhere in the range of 1000-3000 is not uncommon.
As you've noticed, tread pattern really has no significance on a road bike tire. You can ride them until the threads start showing through on the wear surface.
The rear tire wears fastest. When it's time to replace it, move the front tire to the rear and put the new tire on the front.

It depends on too many things.