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Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by Andy C on February 8, 2025, 5:08 pm

While giving the Spudmasher a once over this afternoon I took a look at the TWIs on the front tyre, rear tyre was new last year so is fine.

Avon seem to like putting the TWIs towards the edge of the tyre so unless you spend a lot of time going around corners, the tyre would probably be squared off before they wore down to the TWIs.

It is the same with the Avon's I have on the Him.

According to the TWIs the tyre has lots of life left in it and it is not squared off so will be staying on.

Having said that it is quite sensitive to tyre pressures, if I run them at the "recommended" pressures it tends to squirm over white lines / follows grooves in the road, as few PSI more and it is fine - seems to be the same on all my bikes I run them a few PSI higher than the "recommended".

I am not a heavyweight by the way - about 12 stone.

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Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by Leon Novello on February 8, 2025, 10:42 pm, in reply to "Tread Wear Indicators"

It used to be the thickness of a matchstick, but now that nobody smokes, it`s TWI.

Leon Novello

Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by laverdabru on February 9, 2025, 6:26 am, in reply to "Tread Wear Indicators"

Bike & tyre manufacturers often have different 'recommended' settings. Usually I go by the tyre makers in that case. Most of the time I also use the figures given for pillion/loaded use, rather than solo.
In any case, I use the setting as a base level to work from.

Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by Tonupdave on February 9, 2025, 9:01 am, in reply to "Re: Tread Wear Indicators"

Annoys me now vehicles are now using the Bar not Lbs per square inch fortunately my pressure gauge has both.

Tonupdave..T.U.D.

Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by Andy C on February 9, 2025, 9:23 am, in reply to "Re: Tread Wear Indicators"

A bit like KM/H and Metres neither mean much to me, much refer MPH and Feet and inches.

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Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by Will on February 9, 2025, 9:31 am, in reply to "Re: Tread Wear Indicators"

I can't remember the last bike I had that there were different tyre pressures recommended for 2 up, but some did have recommended suspension adjustments, either manual mechanical or electronic.

My Mk1 Triumph Tiger 1200 had the "usual" front 36psi / rear 42psi recommended but the Mk2 it was lower pressures. I questioned Bridgestone about this and they said to ignore the Triumph handbook & use the usual 36/42. I happily took their advice as I knew the Bridgestone rep had ridden exactly that bike round the Nürburgring at "significant" speed without issue.

As a whole I agree the recommended pressures should be a base line and I adjust pressures to my preference according to road/weather conditions. With the tyre pressure monitor systems on modern bikes it is informative to see how the psi fluctuates with temperature.

One thing I have noticed is that big/heavy modern adventure bikes tend to suffer slightly weird front tyre wear. The profile gets, ahem, "worrying" long before the tyre wear indicators are reached. I guess this maybe due to their weight & large 19" or 21" front wheels with slightly off-road orientated tyres being used fast & hard on tarmac.

Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by Andy C on February 10, 2025, 2:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Tread Wear Indicators"

Don't really have any issues with tyre wear on my fleet, other than they keep wearing out -at least evenly.

Looking closer at the Speedmaster there is a TWI in the centre of the tread - currently about 1.5mm below the surface of the tyre so probably about 500 miles left as they seem to wear out quicker the lower they get.

Might just bung a new tyre on it before the better weather gets here.

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Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by ChazzyB on February 11, 2025, 3:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Tread Wear Indicators"

<<One thing I have noticed is that big/heavy modern adventure bikes tend to suffer slightly weird front tyre wear. The profile gets, ahem, "worrying" long before the tyre wear indicators are reached.>>

Right side of the tyre? They all do that, Sir. well, mine always have.

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Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by A65Bill on February 12, 2025, 11:40 am, in reply to "Tread Wear Indicators"

I'm awaiting delivery of a new Bridgestone for the Sprint GT. Betwixt £25 & £43 to have it fitted in one of the few places left that will do it - loose wheels only. Still cheaper than waiting for them to order in a tyre.
I've looked at buying my own machine, but the best is £400+ & I don't want to have to fit a load of other rider's tyres to pay for it. A cheaper one can't take the 320mm discs on mine & I'd need to make an adapter for the rear wheel anyway.
TWIs are in the middle of the tread, so as it's my work bike, mostly on A roads, just the centre is worn much.
Must be getting old (or maybe the roads are?) but the chicken strips are 3/4" wide.

Re: Tread Wear Indicators

Posted by ChazzyB on February 12, 2025, 5:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Tread Wear Indicators"

You have to change a lot of tyres yourself saving £25 a pop to recoup a £400 investment and a lot of sweat and tears using it. Tyre place in Framlingham charges me £15 a wheel though I have to balance them myself.

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