How often should you change bike tires? This is a question many cyclists get asked at least once in their lives. It’s a common enough question, but there are no definite answers that will suit everyone. How often you should change your bike tire depends on several factors including where you ride, and what kind of riding you do. So I have decided to answer your question along with the factors, signs, and many more related questions. So let’s don’t be late anymore and jump to know why we are here.
How Often You Should Replace Bike Tires
It depends on many factors How often you should change bike tires. We will discuss those factors below, but before that let’s know the average time of replacing the bike tires.
Whether it’s a road bike, touring bike, racing bike, mountain bike, or motorcycle tire, the average lifespan of a tire is 2,000-3,000 mileage. It means if you are not using any high-end road bike tires or mtb bike tires, you have to replace them before you ride over 3000 miles. Don’t be relaxed and wait for running 2,000+ or almost 3,000 miles, it doesn’t end here,
There are some more things you should keep in mind apart from the number of miles you ride. If the tire has signs of replacement like no available tread, wear & tear, sidewalls cut, rubber cracks, low performance, etc. the tires need replacement. We will discuss the signs below.
One more thing, if you are not a regular rider but have a bike and didn’t ride it 1000 miles in five years let alone 2,000, still you should replace them. Yes, you need to replace the tires at least once in 3 years and always have to keep them pumped up. No matter if you ride it or not, you have to follow this.
So if the bike or bicycle tires have no sign of tread wear and don’t yet run for 2000 miles, you won’t need to replace them anytime soon. Wait to see the signs or until you ride with them at least 2500 miles.
Why You Should Replace The Tire
A bike tire is not just a piece of rubber that you use to accessorize your bike. It is an important part of the bike and must be maintained properly in order to last longer and be a safe and secure ride. A tread worn-out bike tire can also affect the ride by making it difficult for you to balance and control the speed. If the air pressure in your tires is too low, they will not grip the road properly and this could result in an accident as well.
Replacing a tire when it has less than 1/4 of its pressure can reduce stopping distance by as much as 25%. If the bike tire doesn’t have enough air in it, it could result in damage to your bike or even cause an accident.
Over time, the tire’s tread wears out making noise, and may even move around a little bit. This will affect how you handle the bike. Its handling could be affected due to vibrations felt through your handlebars. And when you roll off the rim or get flung from its grip on your bike, you may injure yourself, because of its damaged state.
Factors That Impact How Often You Should Change The Bike Tires
How long road bike tires or mountain bike tires can last depends on some factors. It’s not only about how many miles it ran or tread wear & tear. It depends on the tire quality, tire types, tread thickness, rider weight, riding style, riding pavement, and maintenance. So if a cyclist wants to make the best use of the bike tires he should know them. Let’s know a little more about these factors that decide how long a bike tyre can last.
Type of tires
Different types of bikes have different types of tires. An example, a road bike has a thinner tire and a tread that makes a road bike ride more smooth. The narrow tires are lightweight and can provide more great performance but they aren’t sturdy enough, a little sharp object is enough to damage them. And they can roll easily with speed but are more likely responsive with frequent punctures. Remember when you face more flats, it means the tire needs replacement.
Unlike a road bike, a mountain bike tire doesn’t run faster and face frequent flats or punctures so easily. MTB tire is designed to run slowly, have puncture resistance, and can be ridden over any type of pavement. So a mountain biker can handle any surface on any condition without facing small punctures so often.
As a result, road bike tires need to be replaced faster than mountain bike wider tire.
Tire Pressure
Another factor that determines how long a bike or bicycle tire can last is tire pressure. Higher pressure tires ride better, and grip more pavement but also increase the risk of potentially blowing out from shocks or potholes. But when you use lower pressures, they’re easier to go through corners like smooth turns, and obstacles than riding over mixed surfaces and at high speeds.
Medium pressure does not interfere with performance too much. If you play in very soft terrain for decades and always keep the pressure low you may need tire replacement but that is a rare case.
How You Ride
Getting versatile and wanting to try riding over different trails with a different style is every rider’s dream. But remember if you want to try different stunts like wheelies, skidding, or stoppies, the bike tires will wear faster. The tread will face wear and tear, and after a period, it will be visible. One more thing, never ride underinflated tire. Riding without inflating the tires properly will cause sidewall pinch and affect the rim strip. As a result, there will be pinch flats.
Where You Ride
The lifespan of a bike or bicycle tire also depends on where you ride. If you ride a road bike on smooth surfaces it will run faster and more. But if you ride over gravel or rough pavement, the tread depth will face wear and tear faster. While you do mountain biking over the same pavement you can do it without being worried about tire lever. MTB tire width won’t give you a faster ride but will ensure a safe ride.
Maintenance
A tire is an important part of a bike. A properly inflated and well-maintained tire will last a long time, whereas a poorly maintained or overinflated tire will damage earlier. Getting a puncture or having any kind of leakage means that the tubeless tyres need sealant and repair immediately. Failure to repair will lead either to an unexpected flat or fatigue failure, which can also cause tire tread and serious damage at best.
Signs The Tire Need Replacement
The tires have become old or the sidewalls are getting discolored? Thinking about replacing them? I am sure you have too much money that’s why you want to waste them buying a new pair of tires. Just because the road tire or mtb tires are old or discolored doesn’t mean you need to change them. If you can ride with them without facing any performance problem these are enough to be your companion for a few miles more. So exactly when you should think about replacing the tires? Not before you have ridden 2000+ miles or have noticed any sign of replacing. What is the sign of tire replacement? Let’s know.
Sign 1 – The Suction feels high. This usually occurs when the inner tube or spare tube is not inflated properly or has lost even a little amount of air. To know if you have to replace the bike tyres, look at it from end-to-end in both tires for tire wear indication. If there is any deflating you can see, whether fast or slow pace, this could be an indication for replacement.
Sign 2 – Road vibration is a good indication of tire replacement! Even if the outer material looks well maintained and it seems you can ride 1000 miles more without any problem, still consider it as an indication. Because road vibration should never go unnoticed.
Sign 3 – Uneven Pavement Wear is a good indication of tire replacement. This can be observed when you load up some speed or braking. The mountain bike tires get stuck somewhere in this top layer thus creating an uneven wear patch or edge at its corner. This will lead to faster air loss leading to not just uneven wear patches but also wrinkles.
Sign 4 – If you feel even a slight bounce while driving or having a street ride, it means the rear tires need a replacement! If you feel a very tight curve, while making turns, riding at high speeds, braking sharply, or even dropping off the bike then check immediately, these too are signs of wear.
Sign 5 – Sometimes during good weather or warm days the stem gap (distance between rim and tire) gets opened out too much. If you face this on long rides a bit above normal speed such as 125-160km/h with the high load, it’s another indication the bike tire needs replacement.
Benefits Of Replacing Bike Tires
Replacing a tire is an important task that you need to complete if the bike or bicycle tires are damaged or worn out. Tire replacement in time not only saves money but also reduces the overall fuel consumption.
Here are some of the more benefits of replacing a bike or bicycle tire:
Comfortable: Replacing a tubeless tire will make a ride more comfortable and enjoyable by providing better traction. It also improves handling and increases the lifespan of the bike.
Reduce Rolling Resistance, and Stopping Power: A replaced tire is lighter than the original old tires because it does not have to carry as much weight. Replacing the tires on your bike can help you gain more speed and traction on smooth roads. It also ensures great stopping power whenever you need it.
Smoother Ride: Bike riding is one of the most popular forms of transport.
Replacing the tire on your bike will make the ride smoother by reducing friction from your moving parts against the ground and other sharp rocks that you might hit.
Prolong the bike life: A bike tire is the rubber layer that covers the rim of your bicycle wheel, which helps you stay on your bike when riding it. When you replace your old tread wear indicator tires with a new one, it can increase your riding speed up to 50%. A good tire change can also help keep you safe on the road.
Avoid flats and increase safety on the road: Replace the old tire with a new one and make sure that it is inflated to the correct pressure. If you want your motorcycle tire to be more stable when riding, use a fender as well.
The reason why replacing a flat tire can avoid flats and increase safety on the road is because if you have an air leak in your tire. So, there will be less friction between the rim and tire which will lead to more wear on the bike rims.
Exercise and Fun: Replacing the tire will increase the fun and enjoyment you get from riding a bike because you will feel more confident and safe on the road when the tire has been replaced with a new tire.
How To Replace The Bike Tires
Most of the riders know how to replace road bike tires or mountain bike tires but many of them don’t know the trick of replacing them.
What is the trick? Replace the front wheel with a new one. Surprised?
When the rear tire needs replacement and the front tire is absolutely fine, why I am telling you to replace the old front tire?
Well, all of us know that the front tire doesn’t face wear and tear and never gets a damaged or flat spot. Due to this reason, we never got a chance to change the front tire. And due to being used for a long time, it gets degraded.
Maybe now you think you can change the old front tire with a new front tire, why replace it with the back wheel? Yes, you can do it but that will be one kind of waste. To avoid this waste some riders use the trick. They change the back tire with the front one and get a new one for the front. This will continue forever. Whenever the road tires or mtb rear tire gets damaged, replace them with the front tire and follow the same procedure. Like this, the front tire will be used and get damaged and get replaced without doing any waste.
Be alert always, when the signs of replacing the bikes are showing up replace the tire, or after the average mileage if you feel low performance, change the tires immediately. Because not replacing the tire on time can cause problems for you.
We have also discussed the problems you can face due to not replacing the tire on time. And if you are thinking about the tire replacement cost, I can give you an idea of how much a bike tire costs. Read the article to know more about the new bike tire replacement cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do bike tires last on average?
The lifespan of a bike tire is highly dependent on the rider. If you are riding more than once a week, your tires will last about 1-2 years before they need to be replaced. However, if you ride less than once a week, it can last up to 4 years before needing replacement.
This is mainly due to how much you use the bike and how well it is maintained.
How do I know if my bike tires need replacing?
When the rubber in a tire starts to wear out or show you other signs or replacement, or the bike is ridden almost 3000 miles, you should understand the tires need replacement.
How long do unused bike tires last?
Usually, you shouldn’t ride a bike with 5-year-old tires. But according to the manufacturer, unused bike tires can last up to 6 years.
How much does it cost to change bike tires?
The average cost to change the tires will be between $50-$250. Check out our guide on how much a bike tire costs, to know more.
Are 5 year old tires safe?
Absolutely not. No matter you have used or not used, 5 year old bike tires are not safe to use. You shouldn’t ride a bike with old tires that age more than 3 years.
Conclusion
I know you have already got your answer, I have shared all you need to know about replacing a new set of tires. Now you know how often you should change the bike tires and related details. If you have something more to know, ask me through the comment. I am always ready to share my knowledge about mountain biking with you.
I am Ryan Ford, a mountain biking enthusiast who loves to explore the outdoors. I also like to go on adventures with friends and anything else that involves being outside. I love my bike because it gets me out of the house and gives me an opportunity to enjoy nature.
