General Cycling Discussion - Have you ever worn your rubber down?

I was wondering, how far do you guys wear your tires down before changing them. There's a local grup of kids that I sometimes ride with (ages 12-65) and some of these guys are riding on the threads, I offered to get them some new tires, but they say they like them that way, easier to skid. So what about you guys.

you mean when almost all the spikes are gone? on the mtb yes...
but i don't think i would on my road..

I change them at around 60% wear. I notice massive traction loss at that point.

He said rubber......

-Beavis

I wear them down till they start to flat often, about 3500 miles = 4 times a year.

I wear them down pretty far- you can see massive wear on the tires, but I just decided that I wasn't going to do that anymore, in light of all the packing problems I had with my bike when I was on my last trip.

Koff

A guy I ran into on a century two yrs ago had two flat tires, one of which was shredded. Said "yeah, I noticed a bald spot last few days, but I thought it would last the century" If you skid on a bald spot you are asking for an instant blowout. My tires are about equally split between discard for tire cuts large enough to make me nervous and discovery of the first bit of thread through the tread, usually where thinned out by skidding. Steve

I ride them 'til I start seeing patches of threads. Seems like an invitation for trouble after that (I get enough w/out asking for it).

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
I wear them down pretty far- you can see massive wear on the tires, but I just decided that I wasn't going to do that anymore, in light of all the packing problems I had with my bike when I was on my last trip.

Koff

Koffee is not telling the full truth. Her tires were so worn she was riding on threads in the rear!

I let road tyre treads wear down pretty far, but not so that I can see the cord. When I used Specialized Ground Control tyres on the mountain bike, I had to replace them when the sidewalls got frayed, well before the tread was worn out. I am having more even wear with my Raptors.

Of course I told the truth! I said I wear them down pretty far- that implies that they're on their last legs. I let people make that inference.

Originally posted by Maelstrom
I change them at around 60% wear. I notice massive traction loss at that point.

According to the bicycle acrticle (written in foreign language),
the pattern of the tread on ROAD tires makes VERY INSIGNIFICANT difference (concerning traction), and it is there only for estetical purposes. The reason for that is that the size of the pattern is often smaller than irregularities of the road surface. Therefore, ideally, tire should be completely bold.