Tyre Wear

[TonyB]

I did a track day at Ruapuna with my FZR1000 on Saturday, it went pretty well, all things considered. I finally have a reasonable set up and I was able to corner pretty well. But I’ve noticed something that makes me think the setup can be improved further, and I’m wondering if someone could give me some advice. Below you’ll see some photos. The first two are of the right hand side of the front and rear tyres, I’ve drawn a line showing where the tyre is wearing to (note I mean wearing, not scrubbing). The rear is wearing nearly to the edge* and the front is miles from the edge. It seems to me that the wear on the tyres should be more even- has any one got any thoughts on this?
This has me thinking that I need to raise the rear, as when I accidentally had the rear shock set too firm and the forks too soft the wear on the tyres was more even. Maybe the front aspect ratio is too high?
* Yes I know I should be wearing right up to the edge, but this bike has been badly set up for two years and I’ve learnt some bad habits as a result!

[White trash]

Hi Tony.

Because of the amount of "curl" to the front tyre versus the rear, the front shouldn't wear to as near the edge on most sports bikes.

Looking at your rear tyre, I'd say you may want to lift your pressure slightly.

[Artifice]

the rear tyre always wears a lot faster than the front... i can see you've been using something to cut the traks back into the rear tyre. also it looks like you have been really thrashing it. so its no wonder the profiles of the two tyres are now probably different. just my 2c.
p.s. i cant seem to get within an 1/2 inch of the edge on my rear.

[riffer]

Tony - my 87 FZR has an almost identical wear profile to yours.

I used to worry about a chicken strip a mile wide on my front, but having seen other fizzers I reckon its just a fizzer thing.

[Blackbird]

White Trash is onto it - nothing much to worry about I'd say. The other thing that makes a big difference is wheel alignment. I certainly wouldn't trust your local tyre dealer and the marks on most bikes aren't accurate enough either. I built my own laser alignment rig and have attached the article if it's of any interest to you. Spot on every time now.

Geoff

[scroter]

i concur rear tyre pressure looks a little low from the way its tearing up on the edges. also you dont say whether your gettin the pegs down or not. if you are then maybe sticking a spacer on top of the spring might work. not to sure about that tho.

[scroter]

the rear tyre always wears a lot faster than the front... i can see you've been using something to cut the traks back into the rear tyre. also it looks like you have been really thrashing it. so its no wonder the profiles of the two tyres are now probably different. just my 2c.
p.s. i cant seem to get within an 1/2 inch of the edge on my rear.

i dont get to the edge on the road either maybe 1/2 a centimetre away. on the track tho easy as to use the whole tyre. still room on the front one tho.

[TonyB]

Thanks to all who have replied so far. I will have another look at the tyre pressures and see what they're like. It was sticking well once warmed up, (sliding when cold) so I didn't want to mess with it. I haven't cut any grooves in the rear. Blackbird- loved the wheel alignment rig, I might look into that one. Scoter- no I wasn't getting the pegs down, but it can't have been far off (I think my toes have proximity sonar or something!) I wasn't hanging off either cause I've been pretty crook lately (spent the previous Thurs to Mon in hospital) so I knew I wouldn't have the energy to do it all day, plus Ruapuna is pretty technical- it's all I can do to get around it, hanging off would just be something else to worry about!
Celtic- I guess if it looks normal I've got nothing to worry about.....but what if I can make it go faster.....
I need to do something about the front anchors too- heaps of lever effort required. I read somewhere that putting braided lines on won't actually reduce the lever effort required. Is this BS or not?

[dangerous]

Tony: are those the dunlop 208's if so the rear is proberly a bit to soft a tyre.
The two bikes I rode out there in the w/e both ended up ith the same amount of wear (rear off the edge, and frount stopping bout were yours are) and I was touching the pegs and hanging of as much as I could, and was still woundering if I was going to get around some of the corners (dont ya hate the 1st right in the infield?)
I'd be worried if the frount was getting further around as ya dont wana role that off the edge.

[JohnBoy]

i agree with the above and the only thing i can add is that i get massive tyre wear when i do track days aswell but one thing my mate said to me was that when you change your lean angle (like from left to right) or when you get back onto your seat after dropping your knee is to make sure that you do this change easily and softly.
other than that if you got some cash ( like $1000 - $2000) have a whisper to the NZ ohilns distrubter up in Hawera near New Plymouth. apparently he is the mutts nuts in suspension.

[LB]

other than that if you got some cash ( like $1000 - $2000) have a whisper to the NZ ohilns distrubter up in Hawera near New Plymouth. apparently he is the mutts nuts in suspension.

.
.
Robert Taylor from Hawera Motorcycles - a really nice bloke.
.
.

[TonyB]

Tony: are those the dunlop 208's if so the rear is proberly a bit to soft a tyre.
At the risk of starting a huge debate about tyres I went off mixing tyre types after having a bad run with a D220 rear D208 front, then I read a rant written by a guy who works for Bridgestone. The basic message in this rant was 'don't mix tyres', what he said made sense to me. I can dig it up and post it here if anyones interested. Hopefully the D208's will last for a year
(dont ya hate the 1st right in the infield?) At the speeds I was (not) going it didn't really matter, plus I watched the lines Stroud/Bernard etc were taking at the NZGP, and they run the next left tight to the inside- makes it all heaps easier. The one I don't like is the bloody left hand kink at the end of the pit straight, right where I'd rather be braking Not too keen on turn 3 (Pot Hole corner?) as I can't get the image out of my head of a top spec 996 getting rolled, bowled and ---holed there many moons ago. Stupid I know as he was probably going 3 times my meagre speed, but that little voice in my head saying 'slow down!' can be very convincing sometimes!
if you got some cash
HA! I have a wife, a 2 year old girl, a 1 year old boy, a dog, 2 cats and a 1930's weatherboard house....oh, and worst of all- a 15 year old motorcicle

[riffer]

HA! I have a wife, a 2 year old girl, a 1 year old boy, a dog, 2 cats and a 1930's weatherboard house....oh, and worst of all- a 15 year old motorcicle

Know the feeling. Try a wife, an ex-wife, a 6 year old girl, 2 4-year old boys, 1 bump in the tummy, 3 cats, a fish, a 1909 house and a 17 year old motorcycle....

[TonyB]

Know the feeling. Try a wife, an ex-wife, a 6 year old girl, 2 4-year old boys, 1 bump in the tummy, 3 cats, a fish, a 1909 house and a 17 year old motorcycle....

I feel your pain......

[dangerous]

At the risk of starting a huge debate about tyres I went off mixing tyre types after having a bad run with a D220 rear D208 front, then I read a rant written by a guy who works for Bridgestone. The basic message in this rant was 'don't mix tyres', what he said made sense to me. I can dig it up and post it here if anyones interested.

Yeah go on start something here an post it
208 frount and 220 rear is what I'm running on the Storm, no problems what so ever and I'm hoping to get 10,k out of them.
Well 10,km is what I would get out of having Metzler Mez3 frount Mez4 rear on the 1100 Guzzi if the Dunlops dont work out then I'll go back to them.
IMO I wouldent mix brands but mixing compounds of the same brand isent a problem.