More Awesome Tires

[Blackbird]

What mileage did you get from the Road 5's? I've been running the Metzeler M7RR on the R1 for a few years now, which have generally been great and last well for a sports tyre. But the rear tyre I fitted at Christmas has not felt the same as the previous ones and seems more skaty somehow, so I may try something different.

I didn't get the full life from the first rear as it had to be replaced when it punctured. The second one didn't reach end of life because I sold the GSX-S1000! From memory, the front was still in reasonable condition at around 8000 km. Living on the Coromandel Peninsula and not using my bikes for commuting definitely has an impact on tyre wear. The rears stand up well (punctures excluded ) but the fronts of any brand start to go wedge-shaped from about 6000 km onwards. I guess this is due in part to continual countersteering. My mental acceptable yardstick for a set of sport touring tyres has been somewhere around 10000 km. Unfortunately, the front on my set of T31's was stuffed at 8500 km, although the rear would have probably lasted to 10000 km. Tyre life is enormously influenced by suspension, total weight, the conditions you ride in, how you ride and what you use the bike for. Really hard to make comparisons between riders and machines. The only thing I'll add is that after I upgraded the suspension on my Honda Blackbird, I got close to an extra 2000 km out of a set of tyres.

[george formby]

I didn't get the full life from the first rear as it had to be replaced when it punctured. The second one didn't reach end of life because I sold the GSX-S1000! From memory, the front was still in reasonable condition at around 8000 km. Living on the Coromandel Peninsula and not using my bikes for commuting definitely has an impact on tyre wear. The rears stand up well (punctures excluded ) but the fronts of any brand start to go wedge-shaped from about 6000 km onwards. I guess this is due in part to continual countersteering. My mental acceptable yardstick for a set of sport touring tyres has been somewhere around 10000 km. Unfortunately, the front on my set of T31's was stuffed at 8500 km, although the rear would have probably lasted to 10000 km. Tyre life is enormously influenced by suspension, total weight, the conditions you ride in, how you ride and what you use the bike for. Really hard to make comparisons between riders and machines. The only thing I'll add is that after I upgraded the suspension on my Honda Blackbird, I got close to an extra 2000 km out of a set of tyres.

I used to V my front tyres really badly riding similarly twisty roads to what you have in the Coromandel.

Turned out it was caused by my riding, I would still be releasing the front brake as I turned in. Never happened since I stopped braking so deep into a corner. (Never had a whoopsie, my riding style has just changed over time.)

"

Bridgestone were the guilty party in my experience too. The OE Bridgestone 020 (IIRC) tyres were tossed after the first wet ride.

The Bridgestone OE tyres on the Hornet were so dire that if it was raining the day you were due to take delivery of the bike, the owners groups recommended that you leave the bike at the shop. It was wiser to wait for better weather. "

It always rains when I get new tyres, every single time.

[Blackbird]

I used to V my front tyres really badly riding similarly twisty roads to what you have in the Coromandel.

Turned out it was caused by my riding, I would still be releasing the front brake as I turned in. Never happened since I stopped braking so deep into a corner. (Never had a whoopsie, my riding style has just changed over time.)

"

It always rains when I get new tyres, every single time.

That's an interesting outcome! That's unlikely to be the cause in my case as I rarely use the brakes for bends, mainly a combination of throttle and gearbox to chase the vanishing point. I am aware that I countersteer quite aggressively when "making progress" though and have always assumed that was the major contributor. Small price to pay for the pleasure of riding twisty roads, eh?

[george formby]

That's an interesting outcome! That's unlikely to be the cause in my case as I rarely use the brakes for bends, mainly a combination of throttle and gearbox to chase the vanishing point. I am aware that I countersteer quite aggressively when "making progress" though and have always assumed that was the major contributor. Small price to pay for the pleasure of riding twisty roads, eh?

Pretty sure that I have never considered tyre wear while riding. Use them while they're fresh, I say.

[F5 Dave]

I used to V my front tyres really badly riding similarly twisty roads to what you have in the Coromandel.
. . .

"

It always rains when I get new tyres, every single time.

Maybe you could hire yourself out in far north during drought season. Heck, get them to buy you a new set of tyres up there.

[george formby]

Maybe you could hire yourself out in far north during drought season. Heck, get them to buy you a new set of tyres up there.

Ha, it is a bit like the truck driving rain god from the Hitchhikers Guide...

Funnily enough, it's been raining here all day, I am in the Far North, kinda.

[F5 Dave]

Rob McKenna, I'd forgotten about him.

[pritch]

It always rains when I get new tyres, every single time.

That's OK, if I buy a new bike I expect biblical downpours for a week. I haven't always been disappointed. Such is life.

[Swoop]

Never had to use a motorcycle specific oil in any of my motorcycles since 1979...... Some times a product turns up that is cheaper and does the job better brands perport to do. That is reality.

btw : "purport".


Yup, just like I said, the "cheapness" will attract lots of kiwis and reveiws will follow. Some might indicate the product is shit. Another item may elicit "this is way better than the regular and dearer stuff", so either way feedback will happen. Getting a product into the marketplace is straightforward nowadays, but getting customers to purchase...

[SaferRides]

That's an interesting outcome! That's unlikely to be the cause in my case as I rarely use the brakes for bends, mainly a combination of throttle and gearbox to chase the vanishing point. I am aware that I countersteer quite aggressively when "making progress" though and have always assumed that was the major contributor. Small price to pay for the pleasure of riding twisty roads, eh?

The RH shoulder usually flattens off on the R1 after about 10 - 12,000 km. I'm not sure why it's just one side, perhaps it's road camber or because I tend to go harder in RH corners. The M7RR front is single compound, so it's not that.

I don't consciously counter steer the R1 much, although I certainly did on the previous bike and the front wore evenly.

I have thought that it might be pressure as I run the front 2 psi low, but somehow I doubt it.

[Owl]

The Bridgestone OE tyres on the Hornet were so dire that if it was raining the day you were due to take delivery of the bike, the owners groups recommended that you leave the bike at the shop. It was wiser to wait for better weather.

Wouldn't that apply to just about any new tyre?

For about the last 12 years I've cleaned every new tyre I've fitted with Brakeleen. Only new tyre that's let go in all that time was the rear on my 1290 the day I picked it up from the dealer. Dry conditions and about a km from the shop (50kph zone) the rear decided to come around to meet the front. I could've kicked myself for not doing what I knew worked.

Oh and tyres were Dunlop Sportsmart 2's

[Bonez]

Wouldn't that apply to just about any new tyre?

One would think so. I just go for a wee toodle up the nearest gravel road after giving them a stuff with 100 grit emery paper. I think Bear in an article in an early '80s Aussie Two Wheels magizine suggested it.

[Laava]

There is nothing hard about scrubbing in new tyres and although they tend to be a bit slippy in the wet, if you are struggling with it then maybe motorcycling is not for you.

[Beekeeper]

The RH shoulder usually flattens off on the R1 after about 10 - 12,000 km. I'm not sure why it's just one side, perhaps it's road camber or because I tend to go harder in RH corners. The M7RR front is single compound, so it's not that.

I don't consciously counter steer the R1 much, although I certainly did on the previous bike and the front wore evenly.

I have thought that it might be pressure as I run the front 2 psi low, but somehow I doubt it.

The RH side predominantly wears more due to camber, dont believe me go check your local shops tire dumpster. Regarding trail braking- same thing its the camber that causes uneven wear. My bike has an IMU that tell me lean angle and even though I think I favour the right the data says degree of lean identical both sides. Since the IMU reads 0 degrees as a line perpendicular to the ground it disregards road camber which in NZ is typically 3 to 5% on seal roads.

[Beekeeper]

There is nothing hard about scrubbing in new tyres and although they tend to be a bit slippy in the wet, if you are struggling with it then maybe motorcycling is not for you.

People put on new tires at the track and within 2 laps are full tit. The days of super slippery new tires are gone (at least with the major manufacturers) I usually ask the shop to drop a few psi and make sure I ride very carefully for the first couple of k's then mash the throttle and brakes a bit in a straight line to get them hot then work steadily into the corners.

Dont do this (why is it always a gixxer?)