How long do bike tires last? (A very long time, unless these signs for replacement come up)

So you’re at your family house for the weekend and your Aunt brings up a good idea. We have bikes here! Why don’t we go for a bike-ride along the beach? You begin to dread this moment because this doesn’t mean that your Aunt is going to be the one to get the 7 bikes out for everyone to ride. It also doesn’t mean your Aunt is going to be the one to tune up all 7 of these bikes for all 7 of the people to ride. It means that it’s going to be you doing the work because she thought up such the wonderful idea that everyone agreed to. (We will not confirm or deny that this is a personal story.) The first question that comes to mind is, OK these bikes have been sitting and had infrequent use for the last 12 years, amongst many things, what need fixing? Well the first question looks to the bike tires and how long do bike tires last?

In this post we will discuss how long bike tires last. We will also tell you what signs to look for that your tire needs to be replaced. We will also talk about why tread doesn’t really matter for bike tires in comparison to car tires. Finally, we will discuss unused tires in storage and how long they last.

How long do bike tires last?

A bike tire will last for a very long time. If you need a specific number, in storage a bike tire can last 10+ years when stored correctly. A bike tire in use can last 4000-5000 miles when used correctly. However, it is more important to look for the signs that the bike tire needs to be replaced rather than focusing on the specific metric. 

The reason being is that tires don’t need replacing when their tread runs down – which is the life limiter for car tires. Here are the signs to look for that your tire needs replacing:

• Fraying, brightening rubber: This is a sign the integrity of the rubber is drying out. Similar to a rubber band, when the rubber is dryer, the springiness of the material is lost and more apt to snap. This leaves the innertube exposed which is not made to have much direct pressure placed on it.
• Rubber falling off of tire: If there are pieces of rubbing flaking off of the tire, then it is time to replace the tire.
• Uneven wear: Uneven wear on the tire can be seen through discoloring in the tire tread. You will notice that part of the tread is balding whereas other parts seem new. This is not great for the rider experience and once one part of the tire begins to wear, it accelerates at an uneven pace.
• Number of Flats: If you are getting more flat tires than typical, consider replacing the tire. Hot tip: To help protect the new tire, Tire liners will keep you sane when you are out on mines road with only 2 tubes while looking ahead to many thorns on the road.
• Knob Treading on Mountain bikes: If you are on a road bike, treading is not the most important reason to replace a tire. However, if you are on a mountain bike, when your knobs in treading wear down, it is time to replace your tire.

What about tread on road bikes?

Tread on road bikes may wear faster than the wear indicator on your tire will tell you to replace the tire. Unless you are riding consistently in the rain (which does not seem very fun), then tread on a road bike is not of utmost importance. The reason why tread is a signal for replacing on a car is because:

1. Traveling at higher speeds can lead to a loss of control without competent treading
2. The torque on the initial acceleration of a car is far higher than the torque generated in a bicycle
3. You will find yourself in rain typically more often in a car, than in a bicycle

Is it expensive to replace a bicycle tire?

No, it is not expensive to replace a bicycle tire. In the aforementioned story, one of the tires was fray and when I pumped the tire, the tube blew. Here are the list of costs at our local bike shop that we faced in a suburb of a large metropolitan city in the United States to replace the tire:

1. $25 – Tire Replacement (You do not need matching tires on your bicycle.)
2. $10 – Tube replacement
3. $6 – Wheel Installation

Conclusion

A bike tire can go for many years without being used. It also can go for many years while being used if proper care is taken. How long do bike tires last? They can last 5,000 miles and many more if taken care of the right way. It is more important to look for signs of wear rather than focusing on the specific amount of miles that are being ridden to decide if your bike tire is good enough to ride.