I bought my first set of these about 1500 miles ago. They are great. Very nice riding tires.

I've noticed that the rear now has a very pronounced flat spot. I suppose this is natural, but wondering if 1500 miles is a normal time for this to appear and really, it's been there longer (i.e. less mileage). Front is still roundish. Is it good to rotate them or not so good to have a flat tire on the front?

What I'm thinking is when the back is totally gone I can move the front to the back and put a new one on the front.

Classic over inflation problem, reduce the pressure a little...like 105 psi for a 175 pound rider...tire will rider better and last loinger

Don't rotate. You always want the best tire on the front for steering control. Use the back as is until worn out, move the front to the back and put a new one on the front.

I run mine at 100 psi rear and I'm 190ish, same wear pattern. I think that's just the classic rear tire problem.

Maybe under inflation. I'm 195 and ride with 100 psi give or take.

Typically you buy your tires in sets of three as the rear will wear much faster than the front from all of the smoky burnouts that you do!

Cool. I did buy 3 and have one more waiting. How many miles "should" I get on a rear gp4000? Approx.

So is 1500 miles only a normal life span for these? Mine has about 1400 miles and are starting to look square, plus several cuts on it. Made me wonder if I should buy another set or try the gatorskins instead... 90 bucks every 3 months is too much for me

The GP4000S has wear indicators built into the tread (a pair of offset dimples) that will tell you when you need to change the tire if it survives to that point. I've got 2600 miles on my rear tire this year and it looks like it'll go another 1000 or so.

Yeah, the dimples are still very clear for me so I think there is still rubber left. Just didn't like the squaring off but probably not uncommon.

Ride them till the wear indicators show, the cords show, or you start getting lotsa flats. Change the back tire with a new tire, and by the time tire #3 is worn out, change both front and rear. YMMV.

I have the same issue. I have been running mine at 110psi, and I'm about 173lbs. Maybe I should try 100psi?

I'm on GP4000Ss after years on GP3000s. I'm about 180lbs and I get probably 2000-ish miles from a rear, which has remained fairly constant despite the change in model. I usually have 95psi / 100psi (F/R).

I don't think that's bad, given that they are lighter tyres (less rubber to start with) and made to be grippier (softer compound, although I think the main running belt has a harder-wearing compound than the peripheral areas).

This. Tires "square" from being used. Don't ride your bike if you want them to stay new looking.

lol

Every rear tire gets squared off, since there's more wear from accelerating the bike. It's normal.

Once it has the flattened center, it won't get worse very fast. You could put another 1000 miles on the tires, and they won't look much different. You still have a lot of wear to go.

Continental tires have two small dimples in the tire. When these wear indicators are worn completely away, there's only a very thin coating of rubber remaining over the tire casing.

If I left my front tire on until it was worn down, it would take many years, and the rubber would have a lot of small cracks and many cuts from road debris. Instead, when my back tire is worn out after about 3,500 or 4,000 miles, I move the old front to the back, and put the new tire on the front. ( Continental GP4000. these are great tires.)

I don't think inflation pressure affects the flattening. I'm about 170 lbs, and use 95 psi front, 105-110 rear on 23c tires. Lowering the front pressure makes a much more comfortable ride, and I think I get better grip on sharp turns.

To me the cost of tires is not a big deal and I change them when they get cut-up. If the rear has flat spots that bother you I would change it. If you can live with the ride and are not getting flats leave it a while longer.

I tried a set of Gators and the ride was so hard it was like riding on stone wheels.

If you ride in really cold weather changing flats is no fun. So in November or December I would put a new tire on the front and put the front tire on the rear.

Same here, about 4000km and hope to get another 1000 out of it. I'm 180lbs (82kg) and I pump my tires to 110psi.

The squaring off is entirely normal. Don't sweat it.

So, are yall saying that if i stop the smokey burnouts, my tires will last longer?

please advise.

I ride GP4000S's, & I too always get that same characteristic flat wear pattern on the rear around the 1500 mile mark...but I usually can get another 300-800 miles out of a rear tire before it actually compromises the ride.

Gotta stop the sideways skids too. Ya know, the kind where you get up to speed, jam on the coaster brake, and flick out the rear wheel. (I think I just had a flashback)

When you can see the cords through what used to be rubber .... then you need a new tire. When you can see the tube through the cords, you REALLY need a new tire.

Really? I've been putting more air in mine than I'd like to, because if I don't, my back wheel feels like it wants to slip in sharp turns. It doesn't slip, but feels like it's about to ... and makes me nervous. Is that something I just need to get used to?

100 front, 110 rear is good for most road applications. Less and you get pinch flats, more and you get rough ride with no benefit.

200 pounder on 23's at 95f & 105r and riding 4seasons that get 2500 miles on the rear and 5k on front easy.