uoficowboy

Hi - I have a Jamis Aurora that I purchased in the summer of 2007. The tires are the original tires. I've put easily 5K miles on them, but probably significantly more. Hard to keep track!

I've taken a couple photos showing their condition. The tread at the center of them is essentially gone. They also have some holes from many pieces of glass over the years. Further they have some cracks on their sides that don't look healthy.

I do not like to waste anything - I really believe in tossing things when they are completely ruined. But I'm starting to think that I've come to that point with these tires. Then again, to be fair, I've put a lot of miles on them recently with zero issues. So I'm not sure. What do you all think?

Thanks!

Panthers007

You've stated they have cracks, yes? Going about on them as is, they will - sooner than later - make the decision for you. They will blow out on the road somewhere. Then it will be time for Murphy's Law to come into play. I suggest you start looking for replacements and if you find the one's you want at a good price? Read the above again about Murphy.

Best to at least have tires ready to go when the one's you're on now are called home by the Great Rubber Tree. And I'd carry some cash for a taxi.

uoficowboy

I'm not sure if cracks is the right word - see the photos I posted. That shows the cracks I'm referring to.

On a side note - I'd love some suggestions for some similar all around tires. These have been going strong for ~7 years so something similar would be my preference

Panthers007

'Cracks' is the exactly right word. Not knowing the type of riding you plan, or your terrain makes it difficult to suggest a particular tire. But one company that covers quite a bit of <koff> ground is Continental. Give 'em a google. And I'm sure more folk will drop in to offer their 2 cents.

Retro Grouch 

Are you a tinkerer or just a rider?

If all that you do is ride, you might just as well buy replacements now. You know that you're going to be due for new pretty soon so you might as well get them now so you can put the question out of your mind.

If you're a tinkerer and you're willing to put up with fixing flats on the side of the road in order to save a little it of money, those tires have a little more wear. My test is when I can see a different color stripe start to wear around the circumference of the tire. Usually though, before that happens, I start getting more frequent flats.

TheReal Houdini

The sidewall cracking is cosmetic - it's not integral to the function of the tire. I ride my tires until I can see patches of casing threads, then I move the old front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front. The other way I lose tires is to large casing cuts.

Retro Grouch 

Yup, you're a tinkerer. Thanks for proving my point.

TakingMyTime

4 words.... Buy some new tires.

Bezalel

If you're satisfied with what you have, why not just get the same tire? Vittoria recently changed the tread pattern but the Zaffiro is still in production.

melloveloyellow

Personally, I would ride those some more.

Nashbar is my go-to source for tires. I use the Slick City, and they can usually be had for ~$15 delivered. Sidewall specs say inflate 65-100 psi. (Nashbar on-line says max 85 - they are wrong)

Nashbar Slick City Tire - Tires

I've had good results with this one, as well. 40-60 psi

Nashbar Streetwise City Tire - Tires

My rims are 26 inch, BTW.

RubeRad

I'm admittedly a cheapskate and a tinkerer, and I would let those tires keep rolling until the first threads show through. I did just recently splurge on the best possible tires (for comfortable, flat-resistant commuting): Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, but they are quite spendy. Before that, I got more miles than I expected from used tires that I bought for $5 each from a vintage bike shop (essentially a co-op).

fietsbob

Bored with the ones you have and want something different is often sufficient.

RoadTire 

Consider tires a safety issue. If you are going along all day at only 5 mph a flat probably won't be too bad, but even at 15 mph a sudden blow can cause a crash that will cost you far more than tires. I used to let my tires crumble and run down to nothing, but after reading about crashes here on BF, my opinion has become much more conservative. Me or the tires? I choose me.

bkaapcke

Get new tires to have them on hand. Keep riding the ones you have until you're tired of fixing flats. Then install the new rubber.

OTOH I find fixing flats a real boring chore, so I replace early. I don't mind the incremental expense. So, decide how much hassle you're willing to put up with to get the last dollars worth of wear from your tires. Then pick your approach. bk

uoficowboy

I hate fixing flats... But it's been probably 1K miles since my last one. So it's definitely not a problem yet. Not sure if I qualify as a tinkerer or rider - I try to do all my own maintenance on my bike, but I don't particularly enjoy it - I just like riding

So I should expect to start getting more flats when it becomes time to retire my tires?

Bezalel

Except that as long as the casing isn't exposed there isn't any significant risk of a blowout.

10 Wheels

Yes and No...I have had many flats on New Tires during the First ride.

Looigi

I haven't a noticed a correlation if flat rate and degree of tire wear. It seems the majority of the flats I get are due to small sharp items embedded in the rubber that work their way through the cords and tube over many rotations. Tires with thinner rubber may be slightly easier to penetrate overall, but the thinner rubber tends to retain fewer embedded objects than thicker rubber. Basically, I run tires until the cords are starting to show.