One of the most difficult life-changing decisions a motorcyclist has to make repeats itself once every three-to-six thousand miles. No, it's not whether a new bike is in the works or whether he/she should continue riding. It's "what kind of tires should I buy?" For me, that time is now. And, man, is it a tougher decision than I thought it was going to be!

And not only is it difficult to decide on which tire to get, there's something else that happens when it's time to change tires. The emotion is a strange heartache that was similar to graduating college; it's time to move on and leave the familiarity of what I've come to know behind. I mean, these tires have given me a lot of good times. They've stuck with me through thick and thin (I'm referring to the actual depth of the tire tread with that pun). They've helped me to avoid more than my fair share of near misses and violent downpours. However, it is certainly against my best interest to hang on to them as they get smoother and smoother. They're starting to become so bald that Michael Jordan's got more hair than I've got tread. So, it's with no great regret that I say goodbye to my faithful rubber friends and proceed forward into the future in search of new tires and new riding experiences.

So, what tire? Sure, I could buy the same Metzelers that have treated me so well up until this point that came with the bike. I trust them. I know they're handling characteristics. They've worn well (heck, I've nearly gotten 5,000 miles out of them). In addition, the price isn't too bad on the tires which I like to think adds an extra layer of insulated protection by making my wallet that much thicker should (god forbid) I ever lay down. Maybe I'm being a little unrealistic but whatever makes me feel better, right?

Although going with the same tire would be familiar, there's something oh, so tempting about trying to find that diamond in the rough. You know what I'm talking about: that Miracle Tire (insert blessed "OHHHHH!" sound here) which blends performance with longevity at an exceptional price; tires so good that they're released in limited quantities and only sent to stores where you need to know a secret password to get past the front door. In reality, I know these tires don't actually exist, but, man, it would be so cool if they did.

The issue breaks down to what kind of tires with which I should be thinking about replacing mine. Tires that handle like warm bubble-gum are awesome to be sure, but just like a couple pieces of Dubble Bubble the enjoyment is all too fleeting before I'll find myself back at the store again needing to buy more. On the other hand, tires made from concrete-like rubber that have the longevity of Strom Thurmond are easy on the wallet, but much like Thurmond, don't necessarily handle the situations presented to them with the greatest aplomb.

It looks like sticking with the Metzelers will be my best approach. A quick search of the Internet led me to www.discountmotorcycletire.com. I've purchased a couple helmets from their logically-named sister-site www.discountmotorcyclehelmet.com in the past. Good prices and good service mark these two sites. Let me emphasize the good prices, too. GOOD PRICES!!! Okay. Got it?

Looking through their inventory, I see that they carry all of the big brands: Avon (who also sell makeup, I think), Bridgestone, Cheng Shin (also the name of my favorite sushi chef), Continental, Dunlop, Maxxis, Metzeler, Michelin, and Pirelli. That's a lot of brands that I'm completely unfamiliar with (minus Metzeler, of course), and searching around on the Internet doesn't really reveal a whole lot of information about any of them.

I have Dunlops on my car, but they burn through like they're made of toilet paper so I'm not too fond of putting that brand on my bike. I'm familiar with the names of all the other brands (except for Avon, Cheng Shin, and Maxxis) but I have no concept of their handling quality. Also, the prices vary drastically as do the different makes within each brand. So, this is where I beseech you, gentle readers, to send me your recommendations. In fact, I'd like to collect any suggestions you have about general maintenance options for your bikes - what kind of oil do you like to use? Where do you go to get your work done? Do you go to the dealer or have you found other places that can perform quality motorcycle maintenance? What kind of tires do you choose? Where do you get them? In my next column, I'll collect all of the ideas and compile them into a handy little user's guide. Drop me an email at owner@irxproductions.com.

For all I lament about the "pain" of changing my aging tires, I must admit that I enjoy the process of carefully picking my next two contact points with the road. Searching through the different options and actually being "forced" to shop for new toys because the old ones are worn out gives me the perfect excuse to down some hard-earned cash into my favorite hobby. Arguably, these two small pieces of rubber are the pivotal points of the entire riding experience. They're responsible for the rider's safety and the rider's enjoyment.

What a difference a tire makes.