Those black rubbery things

**SMOKEU** · 7th January 2011, 15:58

Is it normal for the back tyre on a sports bike to become squared off with normal road use? The rear tyre on my bike was squared off really badly while the front tyre was worn evenly all round.

**onearmedbandit** · 7th January 2011, 16:15

Depends on what you mean by 'normal road use'. Just commuting around town will square off the tyre, as you're riding on the centre of the tyre more often than not. if however you're mostly riding on the open road, hills etc then it's a sign you're not working the tyre to it's full use, either not leaning enough or waiting too long to get back on the power.

**blackdog** · 7th January 2011, 16:21

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

those black rubbery things.

my wifes paua fritters?

**SMOKEU** · 7th January 2011, 16:25

Originally Posted by theblackstig

my wifes paua fritters?

I haven't had the pleasure of tasting them yet.

**Maha** · 7th January 2011, 16:43

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Depends on what you mean by 'normal road use'. Just commuting around town will square off the tyre, as you're riding on the centre of the tyre more often than not. if however you're mostly riding on the open road, hills etc then it's a sign you're not working the tyre to it's full use, either not leaning enough or waiting too long to get back on the power.

.....or, something as simple like low tyre pressure.

**tigertim20** · 7th January 2011, 18:52

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Is it normal for the back tyre on a sports bike to become squared off with normal road use? The rear tyre on my bike was squared off really badly while the front tyre was worn evenly all round.

nothing happens to your tyres for no reason.
rears will usually wear out faster that fronts on the street, because they have the stress from the engine put through them, where the front just sorta rolls.

If you are commuting, or doing a lot of city riding, the tyre will 'pancake' which is just a term to describe where the tyre sqaures off through the middle. having the correct tyre pressures all the time can help reduce pancaking significantly.

other things you can do, apart from the obvious taking it for a solid raping through some tight twisties and getting low regularly to keep it more round, is to look at what type of riding you do, and get tyres accordingly. no point getting the softest compound you can if your riding is 90% commuting. either look into a harder compound, tyre, or a dual compound tyre, which is harder through the middle of the tyre, and softer on the edges, something like a pilot road2 might be a worthwhile investment.

i made the mistake of buying a shinko a few months back, because money was really tight. it was only about 70-100 bucks cheaper than a really good tyre, and guess what, i destroyed that shinko in 2600km.
got pilot roads now, and have done more than double that, and they stil have plenty of life left in them, so tyre choice is important, spend a couple extra bucks, its worth it

**Corse1** · 7th January 2011, 19:19

And if you had a larger capacity bike with more weight to push through the corners your front would be the opposite and look like an arrow with flats on the sides and still radiused nicely in the middle where it does very little work (breaking in a straight line).

But for the rear the same as above. A dual compound tyre is great. My Pilot road 2's are still beautifully radiused alll round the tyre at 6500kms

but it is only used for highway roads.

And as advised above get out and cane it through the hills on the weekend. I hate changing rears if the side tread is still in good nick!!

**SMOKEU** · 7th January 2011, 20:21

I've got Sport Demons on mine and they're quite good on my bike. The front tyre has been on my bike since before I bought it, 13000km later it's down to about 3mm tread.

**FJRider** · 7th January 2011, 20:28

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Is it normal for the back tyre on a sports bike to become squared off with normal road use? The rear tyre on my bike was squared off really badly while the front tyre was worn evenly all round.

Short answer ... YES ...

**Latte** · 7th January 2011, 20:30

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

I've got Sport Demons on mine and they're quite good on my bike. The front tyre has been on my bike since before I bought it, 13000km later it's down to about 3mm tread.

Big bikes are similar wear, you'd be down to 3mm on the rear (on your 3rd, or possibly 4th tire). 2nd or 3rd on the front.

Or maybe thats just me?

**Ocean1** · 7th January 2011, 20:36

Originally Posted by Corse1

And if you had a larger capacity bike with more weight to push through the corners your front would be the opposite and look like an arrow with flats on the sides and still radiused nicely in the middle where it does very little work (breaking in a straight line).

The Buell squares off the rears some and it's not very heavy. It's no so much the torque that does it, you tend to wind them on still tipped well over, it's the engine breaking. Simply shutting the throttle at 4000 rpm is enough to have the rear squirming around.

Originally Posted by Corse1

But for the rear the same as above. A dual compound tyre is great. My Pilot road 2's are still beautifully radiused alll round the tyre at 6500kms

but it is only used for highway roads.

I like PP2s but I got to admit I should run PR2s 'cause they last much longer, they just squirm a bunch more.

**SMOKEU** · 7th January 2011, 20:41

Originally Posted by Ocean1

The Buell squares off the rears some and it's not very heavy. It's no so much the torque that does it, you tend to wind them on still tipped well over, it's the engine breaking. Simply shutting the throttle at 4000 rpm is enough to have the rear squirming around.

I like PP2s but I got to admit I should run PR2s 'cause they last much longer, they just squirm a bunch more.

And there I am doing 12,000RPM downshifts.