And the reason he would say that in this instance is... If your 1/2 way through at 5k miles, and he may and I do run 15-20k miles per year on our bikes, then I would be changing tires more than once per year. With the cost of my Metzlers per set at $400 installed and the deal described for Shinkos at less than $200, there is no savings other than what I save by not paying for installation twice per year.
By purchasing tires at less than $200 per set, you have to determine your mileage per year. If your the kind of rider that only puts less than 8k miles, then your good to go. If your racking up the miles at more than twice that number, than why not go with a premium wear set. Is a numbers game...
Oh.. And I'm not generally one to defend Skraps opinions!
Thanks for the pat on the back, I think......
Look. RV hit the nail on the head. It is a numbers game. Yes, the Shinko's are dirt cheap. But they don't last. When someone says "I have lots of tread left", I doubt very seriously that they have actually gone in there and actually measured the remaining tread depth. Just looking and saying 'Yup, I've got plenty' is a recipe for problems down the road. MC tires wear much faster than you think they should. But that wear is incremental and you never notice it since you ALWAYS see remaining tread on the tire and think "I've got enough".... right up until you go for a few hundred mile ride and you suddenly are down to the cords... "How did that happen???? I had plenty of tread when I left the house this morning!!!!!"
The only way to KNOW what you have left is to measure the remaining tread depth. If you don't have a tread depth gauge, use a penny. If you can see any penny above Mr. Lincoln's head, you are below 2/32" tread and the tire is legally worn out. The tire should be replaced immediately, even though there is 'technically' tread remaining.
I pile on 10-20k miles a year on my bike. The one and only set of Shinko tires that I ran lasted UNDER 7000 miles (as in, they were worn to 2/32" remaining tread depth). That meant, I had to put TWO sets of tires on the bike in ONE year. Not only that, but I had to pay for installation and disposal and taxes twice. Just something to bear in mind, when you think you're getting a 'great deal' on the tires...