Are tires on borrowed time?
 

My tires, which are the original set have almost 1,700 miles on them. They are pretty bald, the rear has a side wall injury from a accident I had last year & the side wall on both is starting to seperate from the rest of the tire. It is to the point where if I take a pair of needle nose I can finish seperating the side wall from the rest of the tire body, at least one layer of it anyway.

Yes I need new ones. I've known that so that is not the concern.

The concern is should I continue to ride on them until I get the new tires? Or in your opinions is it to unsafe to do so?

The thing I'm afraid of is having a blow out on a down hill in traffic.

What would you do?

If it is suggested that I wait I can get them by the weekend so I can ride. It is supposed to be beautiful this weekend here in Siouxland.

Thanks.

It depends how you ride.

Basically a really bald tire may be close to the point where the canvas tread shows. If so, you have much less traction at those points. Watch out for curves and sudden stops!

A really bald tire may suffer from a blowout on something minor like an uneven sewer grille.

When the canvas shows, it's a blowout waiting to happen. Beware especially of any bulges.

A blowout on the front tire is a good receipe for disaster (i.e. crash). It's less hazardous if it happens on the rear wheel, but still at fast speed, it's something I prefer to avoid.

When it happens -- and sooner, rather than later, you will have to walk home or repair the tire on the road. Why not change it at home now?

Regards,

I would get new tires and save these for the trainer. I mean would ride baldies on a car?
Also a good reason to buy a trainer, got to finish off those tires.

This happened to me on one ride last year. It was the middle of fall and I figured the end of the riding season so I was in no particulare rush to replace my tyres which had about 5000 miles on them (sometimes I can be so cheap). Luckily it happened in the rear. I had flatted earlier that day from some glass along the side of the road and replaced the tube with my spare. I was then on a long downhill doing about 40MPH when my rear tyre blew. I was going straight and unweighted the rear a bit to keep my rim from damage. After inspecting the tyre, I realised that what had happpened was that the earlier puncture had spread across the thin bald tyre casing and exposed the innertube to the road which promptly exploded and ripped the carcass right down the middle. I vow never to let my tyres go that far again.

Replace the tires, now. As the good Reverend says, it's a good reason to get that trainer you've always wanted. :D

On any vehicle, tyres are no place to economize. Buy high-quality tyres and replace them before they are officially or legally worn out. What is avoiding a crash worth to you?

I second John E's post above. If my tyres are bald, I replace them immediately.

I don't know what you mean by bald. To me, "bald" is a car tire term referring to having no visible tread. But most bike tires are smooth so they are "bald" from the get go. Now I have worn all the rubber clean off tires with just the pale inner layer showing through. I have always taken that to mean that it is time to replace the tire before the next ride. I have had tires do this about 30 miles into a century and finished them ok. But it has been a long time since I have let things go this far. Usually, when the rubber gets thin now, I get a series of flats and that "encourages" me to put on a new tire.

You know the tires are going to have to be replaced, so what's the question?

If, as you say, you are riding in fear of a blow out, or, as others have pointed out, you are continually having to fix the flats that accompany worn out tires, how much are you enjoying the ride?

I'm kind of particular about my tire selection so I keep spare tires in stock at all times. When I replace a tire on one of my bikes, I order a replacement tire to have on hand. Same with tubes, rim tape and a whole bunch of other consumables.

Warning:High speed front flats can be hazardous to your health!!!

First of all I have not had a flat in a long time. Second there was some tread on the tires. They are primo's.

My concern was should I ride on them or wait until I get at least one new one this weekend? The front will be replaced first it is the worst even with the minor side wall injury on the rear.

Thanks for the answers and suggestions though.

N_C, sidewall injuries shouldn't be taken lightly. I'm speaking as someone who's had a side-wall blow out on a ride to work one day. They're a pain in the backside to fix and they can happen at any time. Personally I'd look at replacing that one ASAP, regardless of what you do with the other tyre.

NC, You just sound like a Ramblin Gamblin Man! :D