Why you don't want cheap tyres

[discotex]

I've had my bike for 4 months now and have been procrastinating about upgrading the tyres from the budget ones it came with. I've well and truly got the message now. Don't wait another day if you can afford to get decent tyres!

...

I'm riding down the southern motorway with a mate to lunch yesterday and started to notice some vibration at the front of the bike whenever I get below 90km/h.

After 500m and the vibration worsening I figure something other than a thrown balance weight is up so slow down to 50km/h as we hit the Onehunga off ramp. The slower I went the worse it got until it felt like the pads were catching on the rotor or I had a big lump in my tyre.

Well we stopped and had a good look at it and sure enough there was a big bump. Rode like a nana to where we were having lunch (1km up the road) and by the time we came out the bump had grown to the size in the photos. No way in hell was I riding that back to the city so my baby was left at a cage tyre dealer who was happy to keep an eye on it.

How lucky am I it didn't rupture at 100+ on the motorway in the lunch rush!

Kerry had time to go pick the bike up and fit me a new one by the time I finished work. Awesome stuff. Now I just gotta wait for the rear to arrive and I'll be rid of shit tyres forever.

Big ups to Motohaus for saving the day and Advantage Tyres for watching out for my bike.

..Matt

[Hitcher]

What sort of new bike is fitted with "budget" tyres?

[onearmedbandit]

What sort of new bike is fitted with "budget" tyres?

a 1993 'new' bike.

[pritch]

a 1993 'new' bike.

Ahh that must be the "new speak" that George Orwell was rabbiting on about...

[avgas]

What sort of new bike is fitted with "budget" tyres?

fxr150, rg150, rgv150, lilfans....
tyres comprised mainly of carbon.
ride riding on chalk

[sunhuntin]

i will add the new gn250s to that list as well.

man, lucky feel! friend of mine had something similar happen on her push bike. hole in the tyre, and the tube came out. made a hell of a noise when it went.

what happened to the tyre? wonder if the manufacturer is aware of that fault?

[discotex]

what happened to the tyre? wonder if the manufacturer is aware of that fault?

The tyre is probably in the bin at Motohaus by now. I'd only done 2500km on that tyre and it looked new when I got the bike and it had heaps of tread left.

If it's still at Motohaus when I go to get my new rear fitted I might grab the serial number and email the manufacturer to let them know.

..Matt

[sunhuntin]

sounds like a plan. they need to be made aware so they can make a recall if needed. im glad it didnt blow out on you at speed, otherwise this would likely be a biker down thread.

[crashe]

I've had my bike for 4 months now and have been procrastinating about upgrading the tyres from the budget ones it came with. I've well and truly got the message now. Don't wait another day if you can afford to get decent tyres!

...

I'm riding down the southern motorway with a mate to lunch yesterday and started to notice some vibration at the front of the bike whenever I get below 90km/h.

After 500m and the vibration worsening I figure something other than a thrown balance weight is up so slow down to 50km/h as we hit the Onehunga off ramp. The slower I went the worse it got until it felt like the pads were catching on the rotor or I had a big lump in my tyre.

Well we stopped and had a good look at it and sure enough there was a big bump. Rode like a nana to where we were having lunch (1km up the road) and by the time we came out the bump had grown to the size in the photos. No way in hell was I riding that back to the city so my baby was left at a cage tyre dealer who was happy to keep an eye on it.

How lucky am I it didn't rupture at 100+ on the motorway in the lunch rush!

Kerry had time to go pick the bike up and fit me a new one by the time I finished work. Awesome stuff. Now I just gotta wait for the rear to arrive and I'll be rid of shit tyres forever.

Big ups to Motohaus for saving the day and Advantage Tyres for watching out for my bike.

..Matt

Hi Matt,
Nice to meet you...... and yep you were damned lucky with that tyre.... good on you for spotting it when you did.

Kerry had only just got off the plane from being at the Isle of Man..... when we sent him out to pick your bike up.

PS: The tyre is out the front of the building in the pile of the other old and worn out tyres. We put it out there last night before closing up.

[Disco Dan]

PS: The tyre is out the front of the building in the pile of the other old and worn out tyres. We put it out there last night before closing up.

He's back? Will pop in tomorrow to grab some oil....

[Disco Dan]

Yep and blardy tired......... and slightly sunburnt.
Dont forget that other thing either............. !!!!!!!!!!
You could have got the oil anytime this week... there is PLENTY in stock...

Thats going to have to wait till the end of the week...

My own "stock" would not allow it until tomorrow anyway...

Why arnt we doing this in a PM?

[Donor]

Woot Kerry!

Top bloke that man...

(No, not grovelling, already got my bloody good deal on tires thankyewverymuch! )

[crashe]

Woot Kerry!

Top bloke that man...

(No, not grovelling, already got my bloody good deal on tires thankyewverymuch! )

Kwaka12R was also helping out, after he had finished his own work........ so if Kerry wasnt back, he would have changed the tyre as well.
Lots helped this past week at Motohaus when Trevor (Kerry's acting manager) had his bike accident on that ATNR into the forest.

[McJim]

Back to the tyre at hand. Could it be that the tyre was old despite being unworn and that some 'delamination' had occurred resulting in the unsafe (and unsightly) bulge once the tyre warmed up to operating temperature?

I know jack shit (he's a neighbour of mine) so I'd be grateful for one of the knowledgeable site members to give us a hint about tyre life (in terms of years despite low mileage for example) at what point is it prudent to take a tyre and flipitinnabin despite the fact there's still tread on it - 2 years, 3?

[Biff]

McJim - my 2c:

Tyres deteriorate in quality at different rates, depending on their composition (cost?). When I've bought cheap Chinese tyres in the past I found they tended to harden up after the second year (if I hadn't already binned them because of shit handling/grip).

On the other hand I once owned a ZZR1100 with a Bridgestone (BT010?) I rarely used, and the tyre on that bike lasted at least 5 years until I sold the bike. The tyre didn't appear to loose any of it's original handling qualities during that time.