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How do I know when to replace my Conti 4000 ll Tires

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How do I know when to replace my Conti 4000 ll Tires

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Old 09-10-18, 11:41 AM
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kenshireen
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How do I know when to replace my Conti 4000 ll Tires

The back tire shows 2 snake bite looking holes.
I probably have around 1500 miles but not really sure.
Tires are around 3 years old.

Should I replace front and back even though the front still has a slight center bead
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Old 09-10-18, 11:50 AM
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There are little wear indicator holes in the tread near the label on the sidewall. When those are gone, it is time. The back normally wears out faster, so sometimes it is best to put on a new tire on the front, and move the old front to the back.
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Old 09-11-18, 09:06 AM
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Originally Posted by wgscott
There are little wear indicator holes in the tread near the label on the sidewall. When those are gone, it is time. The back normally wears out faster, so sometimes it is best to put on a new tire on the front, and move the old front to the back.
Right, -
TWI ? Tread Wear Indicators Explained | Continental Cycle Tyres UK



P.S. For tire wear, if you see the holes you're fine. It's when you no longer see the holes (because the tire has worn down past the holes) that the tire is worn out, according to continental.

Last edited by PaulRivers; 09-11-18 at 10:58 AM.
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Old 09-11-18, 09:34 AM
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So many Unknowns to offer a 'yes or no' answer to the OP's question on replacement.

the wear indicators has been answered.

as for replacement, the unknowns are dry rotting, or how embedded are they with rock chips/glass.

I personally could get 2x that mileage out of GP4000's yet I seem to be 2 years max on dry rot cracking and still being comfortable riding the tires. Depending on what tire pressure a person runs, a rider could have a flat spot worn into a tire also.

I have also ridden GP4000's down to where I started seeing threads in a couple spots.
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Old 09-12-18, 01:40 AM
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Seems quite a low mileage to me. I'd have expected at least twice that, but, of course, it depends on what the roads are like around you. I recently had to replace a GP 4 Season with only 1000 miles on it because I'd done an emergency stop and worn a hole in it. I was gutted!
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Old 09-12-18, 11:35 AM
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Sorry to hijack thread, but I have GP 4 seasons on my bike, I have checked and they definitely do not have the 2 tyre wear indicators! Have I got some fake tyres? I bought them last September.
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Old 09-12-18, 12:32 PM
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Originally Posted by sw20
Sorry to hijack thread, but I have GP 4 seasons on my bike, I have checked and they definitely do not have the 2 tyre wear indicators! Have I got some fake tyres? I bought them last September.
Could it be that you wore them down? Or alternatively, someone might have filled the holes with shoe goo just to mess with you. My vote is for the second one.
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Old 09-12-18, 12:56 PM
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I have 3k on my Conti Gp4k's, and I'm thinking it's getting to be time. I could probably go another 1k, but I'm a better safe than sorry kind of rider.
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Old 09-12-18, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by kenshireen
The back tire shows 2 snake bite looking holes.
I probably have around 1500 miles but not really sure.
Tires are around 3 years old.

Should I replace front and back even though the front still has a slight center bead

I usually get 300-3500 out of my Conti Gatorskins without to much problem, but that is in one year. As others have said, 3 years and 1500 miles is not a lot. I'd be worried about the dry rot issue as someone else mentioned. So, maybe 3 years or 3500 miles which ever comes first.

If it were me, I'd change them out. 3 years going on no tire change is a lot to me.

john
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Old 09-12-18, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by rutan74
I usually get 300-3500 out of my Conti Gatorskins without to much problem, ...

john
Money well spent if you are getting at least 300 miles.
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Old 09-12-18, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by sw20
Sorry to hijack thread, but I have GP 4 seasons on my bike, I have checked and they definitely do not have the 2 tyre wear indicators! Have I got some fake tyres? I bought them last September.
I used to run GP4's on one bike and Gatorskins on another.
The GP4's always had TWI's, but the Gatorskins never had them.
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Old 09-12-18, 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Brofessor
Could it be that you wore them down? Or alternatively, someone might have filled the holes with shoe goo just to mess with you. My vote is for the second one.
no to both, I've only covered roughly 1200 miles, and I also checked front and back tyres for them, they still look pretty new tbh! And no, no one has filled them in!
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Old 09-12-18, 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by sw20
Sorry to hijack thread, but I have GP 4 seasons on my bike, I have checked and they definitely do not have the 2 tyre wear indicators! Have I got some fake tyres? I bought them last September.
I've only ran one set of GP 4 Season tires, I don't recall them having tread wear indicators. I could be wrong.
The GP 4k S II's do have them.
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Old 09-12-18, 05:45 PM
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last set I got almost 4000 miles, this set I'm only on 2000 + or -. so I'm hopeful for the same mileage
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Old 09-13-18, 08:54 AM
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Originally Posted by sw20
Sorry to hijack thread, but I have GP 4 seasons on my bike, I have checked and they definitely do not have the 2 tyre wear indicators! Have I got some fake tyres? I bought them last September.
Scroll up to post #3...pick the link provided...
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Old 09-13-18, 09:50 AM
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I don't ride them, but based on what I see & hear,

you know to replace them because the sidewall ripped out.

Kind of surprised at the uniformly good mileage posted here.
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Old 09-13-18, 10:58 AM
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when you ask on the internet, when, ? it's time.. now..
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Old 09-13-18, 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by AndrewJB
Scroll up to post #3...pick the link provided...
I have done this... still doesn't answer my question??
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Old 09-13-18, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by sw20
Sorry to hijack thread, but I have GP 4 seasons on my bike, I have checked and they definitely do not have the 2 tyre wear indicators! Have I got some fake tyres? I bought them last September.
According to Continental, the tread wear indicator is a phase in feature. Some tires will not have them. Look for the letters "TWI" on the sidewall of your tires if you have them.
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Old 09-13-18, 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by woodcraft
I don't ride them, but based on what I see & hear,

you know to replace them because the sidewall ripped out.

Kind of surprised at the uniformly good mileage posted here.
I am guessing that some people know how to gently install tires, while others...... are like a bull in a china shop with tire levers.
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Old 09-13-18, 01:50 PM
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When the cords are about to show through the rubber.
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Old 09-13-18, 03:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Homebrew01
When the cords are about to show through the rubber.
This
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Old 09-15-18, 03:13 PM
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I replace tires if/when the sidewall fails or the cord is showing in more than 33% of the tread area; whichever comes first.
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Old 09-15-18, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Metieval
I am guessing that some people know how to gently install tires, while others...... are like a bull in a china shop with tire levers.


Contis seem to have above average sidewall problems, but presumably average number of poor tire installers.
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Old 09-15-18, 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by woodcraft
Contis seem to have above average sidewall problems, but presumably average number of poor tire installers.
Contis seem to be the tightest tire when new (based on complaints), thus Understandably also having the higher number of tire lever damage done to them by improper installations.

I've never had issues installing them, or with bad sidewalls.

I did hit road debris at night and nicked the side wall on my 700x28. I had the tube coming out, so I booted the tire, and have not had any issues with the sidewall blowing out since then, (even with a cut). Thus I can conclude that peoples sidewall issues are from mishandling.
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