How long till you replace OE tires?

[Sixjours]

So I have Vittoria Zaffiros stock on my new Jamis Xenith, looked them up, they are like 15 bucks.... question is, do I actually go out and ride for a while, or simply change them right away?

Thank you

[cxwrench]

really? ride 'em or replace 'em...only you can make that decision. obviously there are better tires available, but do you actually NEED them? only you know the answer to that.

[ZoSoSwiM]

You're not a real cyclist unless you spend money needlessly.....

..

Honestly.. ride them until you no longer feel safe on them because you've worn them out with a bazillion miles. Tires can last anywhere from 1 mile to over 5000.. depends on your roads.. what you hit.. and luck.

[Teo]

You're not a real cyclist unless you spend money needlessly.....

I haven’t heard a more true statement.

As for the tires, replace them if you they are worn out or if you feel your performance would increase with a different set.

[clydeone]

when the threads show

[LC]

I would get a better front tire for more grip because front tire slides really don't end well. Use both of those cheap tires on the rear till they wear out, and then that better front tire will still have plenty of life left. Cheaper tires with harder rubber like the Zaffiros actually make for decient rear tires since they can take the wear better.

The front tire is also more important for feel which usually means you want a high thread count along with softer rubber for the best grip. The rear gets muted through your saddle and padded shorts so it does not make as much of a difference.

[Winters]

How long till you replace OE tires ?
.
Last week, while replacing a neighbor's 17 year old tires, they asked:
.
... Do you think it needs new tubes too ?
.
........ Priceless .

[tihsepa]

How long till you replace OE tires ?
.
Last week, while replacing a neighbor's 17 year old tires, they asked:
.
... Do you think it needs new tubes too ?
.
........ Priceless .

No kidding. I have had people come in for tires and gripe about a tube. I dont get it.

[Kerry Irons]

As for the tires, replace them if you they are worn out or if you feel your performance would increase with a different set.

The problem with this statement is that "feeling" you get when marketing interferes with logical thinking. This forum is a constant testament to the willingness of people to buy the hype. More than once we've had someone claim (vociferously) that their new tires gave them over 1 mph of speed. Of course this claim is beyond ridiculous but hope springs eternal.

If you're a bike rider you wear out tires or experience tire failure. That is the time to buy new ones. The fact that the OP is asking this question is the very definition that they are not (yet at least) a high performance rider. Buying new tires for someone like the OP in hopes of "performance improvement" is a waste of rubber.

[Pitts Pilot]

I rode my original tires home and then changed them that night. I guess about 4-5 kilometers. I disagree with the statement that there is no performance difference. I don't think any tire will make me any faster, but there is definitely a slight difference in comfort/feel/ride quality and, more importantly, grip. I ride a lot of VERY steep, wet roads. Some tires slip, as they don't have the same in-line traction as my favorites. More important than any of this, however, is how they look - of course. (And the obvious fact that you'd probably be happier on 25's than the stock 23's) How's that for stirring the pot?

[twinkles]

If you want, get some new tires. If you ride a lot, you'll eventually ruin an almost new tire and be pissed. At that point, you'll have a couple of almost new tires at home to replace the tire that met an untimely death. I sometimes use cheaper tires for winter riding, because there is usually more crap on the road to cut up tires, so you could save your oe tires for that. There is no right answer to your question, but it's good t keep a few tires laying around, just in case.

[Sixjours]

It was just a simple question, mainly because I noticed the tires on the bike where selling for 15 bucks, thats all. Thanks for the answers.

[Chris-X]

It was just a simple question, mainly because I noticed the tires on the bike where selling for 15 bucks, thats all. Thanks for the answers.

I got a couple of serfas secas from Jenson for $9.99, no kidding. At that price I'd ride them for as long as I could get them....

[iheartbenben]

I use zaffiro tires by vittoria for my training tire.

They are 10 bucks a piece on sale, durable, and close to 300g in 23c. That's a sweet deal.

Race tires are for races.

[tednugent]

after a couple of punctures....

I got tires with better puncture protection...

[DanM]

when the threads show

This. I ride my Vittoria Open Paves either down to the threads or more likely, when they suffer damage that to me looks unsafe.

[nor_cal_rider]

I figure they are free...so I ride till they wear out (1500 - 2000 miles for the rear stock Madone tire, with about twice the amount for the front).

Then it's Conti GP4000s - till I find something that rides better for me and my bikes (riding style and location/roads).

[AndrwSwitch]

Unless I have a problem with a road tire, like a stock tire that has no flat protection, I just ride them until they wear out. If I'm actually buying a tire, I like GP4000s. Although my commuter gets cadged tires my friends are too good to ride relatively frequently...

My mountain bike is another story.

[harrypy]

I went out and bought expensive Conti GP 4 Seasons right away and just stashed the elcheapos for backup. I wanted 25 instead of 23, and also to feel confident in tight curves in the damp. I also wanted some extra puncture protection without a lot of weight. I was willing to pay some to maximize my riding pleasure instead of scrimping.

And I was going to pull the tires to check the rim tape anyway because I never trust what the folks in China do in that department. So once I went to that effort I figured I might as well replace the tires

[j.carney.tx]

I say, the cheaper the better. I went through 3 tires withn a few months: oem zaffiro pro-cut along center line, michelin pro race 3-2 inch long screw, and a 2nd michelin pro race 3 (forget exactly the damage). These were all on the rear. The front is still the OEM Zaffiro Pro. After quickly going through the two michelins, I decided cheaper was better. Bought 2 more zaffiros. Haven't flatted since.

[charlox5]

The OEM kenda that came on my giant was awful. constant flats, awful feel, overall just a terrible tire.

replaced them after a couple hundred miles and never looked back.

though my current rubber stockpile is getting to be kind of ridiculous.

[Special Eyes]

Do I really have to answer your question??

[MR_GRUMPY]

I have my Butler Jeeves replace my tires (and wheels) after every ride.....(you can never be too safe)
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[davelikestoplay]

I have my Butler Jeeves replace my tires (and wheels) after every ride.....(you can never be too safe)
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Not the frame? It might have cracked....just throw the whole thing away and get a new one.

[Margal]

My bike came also with same zaffiro slick tires and I put about 400 miles on them . But I got glass cut in front. I removed the glass piece out but the cut seams deep. I had no flats during my rides with these tires. I can not compare them to other brand yet but what I notice is that they seamed slippery on wet roads to me especially at the corners. So since I got the cut in front tire and i realy do not want to take chances and after reading the posts and researching I concluded to replace both of them with higher quality tires, most Likely I 'll go with conti gatorskin or 4000s and see the deference. As for OP's question ride them for few hundred miles and definitely replace them for better tire.