Wolf wrote on 03/26/09 at 03:26:05:Just because the bike is only 8 years old, your tires could be older. The tire code will let you know when they were built. Also, any tire needs exercise (flex) otherwise they will harden over time. I used to sell tires commercially. I recommend you invest in new tires, your safety first.
Wolf
The tires were made in the 50th week of 2000, so they are eight year old. (The DOT code impressed into the sidewall of the tire has the week and year of manufacture...look at the last four digits. In this case those digits are 5000. Pre-2000 tires had one digit for the year.) I understand about the need for the tire to flex to bring the preservative chemicals to the surface. While these don't seem to have sun damage, there is more to tire life and reliability than just that.
The Pirelli MT 66 Route tires seem to be a good choice. My needs are
in this order wet traction, cold traction, and stability. I don't need a long-life tire as much as I need grip and stability. Is there a better tire choice for my needs?
I'll experiment with the seat angle. Mort, pls let us know if the pegs make a difference. Thanks for all the good ideas, and keep them coming.