Trying to establish an exact lifespan for motorcycle tires is like predicting the weather with an astrological chart. There are too many variables at play. Some motorists change them with just 3,000 km, while others stretch them up to 15,000. How is it possible? Easy: we don’t all drive the same, we don’t use the same motorcycle or step on the same asphalt.
In the case of our reader, Marcos Giménez and owner of a Triumph Speed Twin 1200their Bridgestone S21 They last about 6,000-6,500 km. At first glance it may not seem like much, but taking into account the type of tire, the motorcycle and the use it describes (mountain routes and some highways), it is not an unreasonable fact. The S21 are soft compound sports tires, designed for grip and precision, not high mileage.
However, there is a key detail that explains this wear and tear somewhat faster than expected: incorrect inflation pressures.
The decisive role of tire pressures
Our reader comments that he usually rolls with 2.4 bars on both wheelsbut according to the values recommended by Triumph for the Speed Twin, they should be 2.5 front and 2.9 rear. It may seem like a minimal difference, but those tenths have a direct impact on the behavior and durability of the tire.
Driving with insufficient pressure causes the tire to work more with the flanksgenerating more heat, deformation and irregular wear. In practice, this translates into a excess footprint which accelerates rubber wear, especially in the central part of the rear tire.
Furthermore, low pressure worsens wet gripby not evacuating the water correctly, and makes the bike clumsier in changes of direction, increasing the physical effort of the pilot and reducing precision in curves.
Therefore, we are not only talking about shortening the useful life of the tire, but also about compromising the safety and dynamic behavior of the motorcycle.
Motorcycle, driving and environment: the wear equation
Even with perfect pressures, the life of a tire depends on three main factors:
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The motorcycle. A Speed Twin 1200, with more than 100 Nm of torque, demands a lot from the rear tire. Every strong acceleration or corner exit imposes an effort that a pure sport tire, like the S21, takes on with pleasure, but not without consequences.
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The driving style. If you are one of those who enjoy linking curves and taking advantage of the motorcycle’s full potential, your tires will live a short but intense life. It is not a defect, simply the natural result of sporting use.
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The type of route. Mountain roads wear out much more than the highway. The constant change of inclination and the abrasiveness of the asphalt shorten the kilometers of useful life, especially on the sidewall of the tire.
What can you do to extend its life?
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Always respect the pressures recommended by the manufactureradjusting them cold and checking them every 15 days.
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Avoid riding with cold tiresespecially on cool days or after long stops: the compound needs temperature to perform and wear evenly.
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Keep the motorcycle in perfect condition and with the suspensions in good condition. A soft rear shock absorber or a poorly adjusted fork also punish the tires.
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Adapt the choice of tire to your actual use. If you do long routes with some pace, but without pushing the limit, a model Sport-Touring like the bridgestone T33 It will offer you an ideal balance between grip, comfort and durability.
The 6,000-6,500 km life of your Bridgestone S21 are not abnormal in a Speed Twin with road and cornering use, but incorrect pressures have played an important role in its accelerated wear.
Correcting them and evaluating a cut tire Sport-Touringyou could easily win between 2,500 and 3,000 km more useful lifein addition to improving stability and wet grip.
Because, in the end, tires don’t wear out on their own: They wear out how you use them..
