do tyres have a 'shelf life'?

[Dunk]

I've just bought a '99 GS1150 which has only done 5800 miles and 1000 in the last year. It has 'knobbly' off-road style tyres (or they seem that way compared to the 010s on my Hornet). I'm wondering if these tyres will still be ok or does the rubber harden over time, therefore making them less 'sticky' and more dodgy to ride on the road on. I'm assuming that they are the original 1999 tyres.

Another thing: how are the 'knobbly' tyres on the road, in the rain. I can't fault the Bridgestones 010s on my Hornet and was thinking of changing over to 020s for the GS.

Cheers

 

[Greg Masters]

Yes, tyres do have a shelf life but I doubt that the tyres you have will be past their best yet. Look for cracking in the sidewalls - if there's none, then they are OK.

But I doubt that they are original tyres. I don't think that the '99 GS had the option of TKCs and I also don't think that they last nearly 6k miles.

Once the tyres are 'profiled' into the bike, they work pretty well - just be a little circumspectful when it's wet.

Greg

 

[nleader]

Can you take a look at the tyres and tell us what they are? I doubt they are proper 'off road' tyres. More likely they're the hybrids most of us use, such as Metzeler Tourance (great), Avon Distanzia (great but unlikely to be the original tyre fitted by dealer), Michelin whatever (didn't like mine) or Bridgestone Trailwings (ditto).

I will be trying a set of BT020s myself when I change, as I never go off road - but that is a quest for something even better, not a criticism of the Metzelers or Avons - they are fine for normal riding.

Norman

 

[Dunk]

The bike's still in the shop (I can't take it out till Sept due to insurance problems) and I had a quick look at the tyres on Sat. when I was in and couldn't quite make out what they were.

I say they are off-road tyres as the look like 'knobbly' mountain bike tyres as opposed to road riding 'slicks' and felt like them too like being in a Land Rover. They may actually be dual purpose; I'm not sure.

 

[Jon]

Dunk,

If they look like this (minus the nail ), then they're TKC80's. Fine (in fact suprisingly very good) in the dry. Make you concentrate in the wet tho