How often and where you ride your bike will have an effect on your tires. So how long do dirt bike tires last? Generally, dirt bike tires last around four to five years.
However, the bike tire lifespan could be shorter or longer depending on many factors such as tire maintenance. If you’re curious to know what causes wear and tear to your tires and how to care for them to make them last longer, please continue reading below!
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The Lifespan of Dirt Bike Tires
Unfortunately, dirt bike tires don’t last forever, and they can only survive for four to five years. Over time, their knobs get damaged and the tires wear out.
However, if you want to know the exact lifespan of your dirt bike tires or when is the estimated year you’ll replace them, all you need to do is to check your tires.
Look for the last four digits on your tire’s sidewall, which represents the week and year the tire was made or manufactured. With this information, you can compute the approximate time your tires are due for replacement.
But you must be wondering, how many miles can your dirt bike go before they need to be replaced? On average, dirt bike tires can last around 1500 miles to 2000 miles. However, some can even last up to 4500 miles.
Some high-mileage dirt bikes can also last 10,000 miles or even 20,000 miles! These dirt bikes have very durable tires and are commonly used by professional riders.
Factors Affecting Dirt Bike Tire Longevity
Here are the factors that affect your dirt bike tires’ lifespan.
1. Road conditions
The type of terrain where you ride your dirt bike can shorten the lifespan of your tires. For example, constantly riding on rough surfaces will cause your tires to wear out more than riding on flat ground.
In addition, different terrains may require different types of tires. For instance, if your dirt bike uses regular tires come wintertime, it will decrease the lifespan of your tires. Therefore, it’s important that your tires are appropriate to the road condition to make them last longer.
Here are some examples of the recommended tires for certain road conditions:
- Soft Compound Tires: recommended for hard or dry terrains like a pavement
- Hard Compound Tires: recommended for soft terrains such as a sandy surface due to their strong knobs
- Intermediate Compound Tires: works well for both soft and hard terrains and is recommended for mixed-use.
2. Tire pressure
Your tire pressure has a great impact on your tires’ longevity. The ideal range for it is 10psi-20 psi, depending on the type.
If your tires don’t have the recommended PSI, it could result in tire failure and irregular tread wear.
For instance, overinflated tires are more prone to punctures and explosions, and tires with insufficient pressure will decrease your tires’ grip and cause washing out. All these issues will cut the lifespan of your tires.
In addition, your tire pressure is heavily affected by weather conditions. For instance, riding in extreme heat with overinflated or underinflated tires may cause your tires to be blown out.
3. Riding style
Riding excessively and riding at high speeds often will cause your tires to wear out or deteriorate faster. Therefore, if you’re the type of rider who rides daily and for longer hours, prepare to replace your tires even before the average four to five years interval.
Importance of Regular Tire Inspection
Although there are factors that will cause wear and tear to your tires, you can also extend their lifespan through regular inspection.
Generally speaking, motorcycle tires age slower, or they don’t deteriorate faster if they’re well maintained.
- One of the ways to care for your tires is to check the tire pressure regularly. Ensure they have the recommended pressure to avoid being punctured easily or blown out. Also, this will allow your dirt bike tubes to last longer.
- Another way to maintain your dirt bike tires is to check on them regularly before and after every ride to see if there’s any damage. It’s advisable to wash them with mild soap and water, especially after a heavy ride on the tracks or trails.
Signs of Worn-Out Dirt Bike Tires
To keep you safe while riding, it’s great to know when to replace your tires. So here are some signs of worn-out dirt bike tires to ensure you’re not riding with damaged ones.
1. Visible dirt bike tire tread wear
Due to riding in rough terrains often or due to the age of your tires, visible dirt bike tire tread wear is a common sign that your tires need to be replaced already.
Although it’s normal for tire treads to wear down, it’s recommended to change your tire if the depth reaches 2/32”. You may try the penny test to check the depth of the tread of your tires.
2. Torn or rounded knobs
If you ride more often or as time goes by, the knobs of your tires will become torn or rounded faster. It means they have lost their “sharp edge” already, meaning most of the knobs in the middle of the tire are now rounded or worn out.
Your rear tire may also have torn or missing knobs, especially if you’re riding mostly on rough terrains.
3. Cracked or discolored tires
Cracking and discoloration are among the common signs of worn-out dirt bike tires. It could be due to having old tires or tires that were not stored properly.
Cracks are usually found on the sidewalls of your tires, and discoloration means that the color of your tires is now faded black or grey. If you have these issues, you need tire replacement, as having cracked and discolored tires could result in accidents on the road.
4. Cuts on the tire
Having cuts on the tire is another sign that your tire is already damaged or old, thus needing replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you store your dirt bike tires?
Store your tires in a dark, dry, cool space, such as your garage, when you’re not riding your dirt bike to keep them in great condition. This will keep your tires from being exposed to direct sunlight and other weather conditions that will make your tires age faster.
Keep the tires off the ground. When not in use, it’s also advisable to rest your bike on a dirt bike stand to avoid flat spots on your tires due to the excess weight.
How else can I care for my tires?
Aside from regular maintenance and storing your tires properly, consider rotating your tires to make them last longer. The reason is that the rear tire is more prone to wear faster compared to your front tire. You can rotate tires whenever you find noticeable wear between the two tires.
What should I do with my old tires?
Aside from throwing them away (in accordance with your local waste management, of course), you can also recycle or upcycle your old tires. Although obvious, never use them again for your dirt bike to avoid safety issues while riding.
Conclusion
Overall, the durability of dirt bike tires depends on the type of rider you are and the weather and road conditions. On average, it can last four to five years and may survive more depending on certain factors.
To extend the lifespan of your tires, it’s important to conduct regular maintenance, have the correct tire pressure, and store them properly. Now that you know the answer to this question, how long do dirt bike tires last, we hope that you now have an idea when to replace yours. Happy riding!
