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    Do I need new tires? How soon do I need it?


    I'm fairly new to cycling and just got a 2nd hand bike that I got 3 months ago.

    The shop says that it has cracks because it was stored for a time but is serviceable. I am now noticing some fibers "leaking out" from the tires.

    Is it dangerous to ride on these tires? I'm planning to get new ones anyways but I'm thinking getting it some time around June. Is that too late? Do I need new tires ASAP?

    Do I need new tires? How soon do I need it?
    byu/shirhouetto inbikewrench



    by shirhouetto

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    24 Comments

    1. Unintelligibl on

      Tires are the one thing keeping you rolling on the pavement. Without them you can’t ride your bike, and if they pop while you’re riding you’re going to be left at best walking your bike back to where you left. I wouldn’t take a chance on tires that looked 50% better than those, but it’s up to you

    2. Endurance_Cyclist on

      Yes, you need new tires. I wouldn’t ride on those, and the shop probably shouldn’t have sold them.

    4. da6id on

      How much gap is there between the tire and frame?

      From this angle it looks uncomfortably low

      I also agree with others that these tires are done and hazardous to ride

    5. ryuujinusa on

      I think you need more tire clearance. Although hard to say exactly from this angle

    7. N_Sayed on

      Once you’re seeing threads/metal wires coming out of a tire cracks your past the time to change the tires. It’s plain dangerous.

    8. wyrrk on

      very toast. riding on them would be like tempting a facial rebuild. maybe youre into dentists, maybe youre not?

    10. Active_Ad_5322 on

      Ok… finally a post about tires that are actual dry rot.
      So many posts of tires showing small up close cracks are often mistaken for what THIS post actually represents.

      Yes, OP, these tires are done-zo. Large dry cracks with casing fibers poking thru.

      I’m saving this post for future reference.

    11. SillySpook on

      Yikes, lots of dry rot for a new tire. I’ve ridden on worse, but I’d be pissed about that. Would I ride on that? Yes I would, for a time, if I had nothing else available. But I’d be keeping a close eye on condition, as they need replacement sooner than later.

      I’d go back and ask for a swap, even if it’s for used tires, just so long as they’re not cracking like that.

    12. RozzleCoptor on

      Those are toast. Exposed fibres will get damaged and (potentially) very quickly open up meaning the tyre could let go whilst riding which is obviously very dangerous.

      Replace asap.

    13. shirhouetto on

      Thanks for the advice. I just had a 80km group ride yesterday with >6% descents where I was zooming around 50kph+.

      I just paid more attention to my tires when some of my buddies told me my tires look a bit worn.

      I have home safe and fine, and might have just spent my entire year’s worth of luck by doing so. I will be changing my tires as soon as I can.

    19. 4changdotcom on

      That’s a shame they sold you dry rotted tires. I had a car dealership do the same thing to me and we had to fight them to replace them free of charge.

    21. Virtual_Club8510 on

      Not enough clearence, I would actually consider going down in size. If you have a 28″ wheel for example, downgrading to a set of 27,5″ allows you for greater variety of tyres.

    22. conversation_pace on

      You need to replace those tires asap. Also never go back to the shop that sold you that bike and said the tires are “serviceable”

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