The tyre thread

[Edbear]

Probably a repost, but still...

I just checked my tyres, thought I should since the bike has just been serviced ready for the Summer hols, (which for me started today, YAY!!!!).

I've clocked up just over 6k since I started my new job in August and have now racked up just over the 12k. In other words I've done almost as many k's in the last five months as in the previous 18!

However, the OEM tyres, branded "Grand High Speed", (!), are showing very little signs of wear! They have barely worn the frilly bits off!

Now I hear of 'Busa's wearing out a rear in 3,000km and sports bike riders saying that 8k is good mileage, so how do cruisers stack up generally?

I'm expecting that by 25k the tyres should have some wear on them...

[AD345]

Good question. I'm new to cruisers myself and its something I'd like to hear about.

Of course it gonna depend on how you ride and the type of tyre. Coming from sports bikes 20 years ago I was think about 10,000 - 12,000k would be good. With no or little wear after 12,000k I'd be wondering why I'm not sacrificing rubber for grip (or be arriving 2 hours after everyone else had gone home).

I was reading on some American forums about guys who do in excess of 1000 per week, week in week out.
They talk about "darksiding"......

which is putting car tyres on the rear

[AllanB]

Sweet Jesus on a cross - that's amazing kms. I'd have a quick look at them as they may be those dodgey ones from China made from steel and painted matt black.

[MotoKuzzi]

Michelin pilot rd front 2-3mm tread left. Michelin macadam rear, tread just gone on a narrow band in the centre, sides still 3mm plus. 22000km and still going.

[Edbear]

Well I don't hang about, meaning I ride to enjoy it and get where I'm going. I don't pay much attention to economy and we're often two-up. I like to feel the acceleration and hear the bark of the V-twin. I've worn the footboard warning knobs down some, too. (Although my wife doesn't like the sound so I try to avoid that when she's on back...)

They seem to grip okay for a cruiser, (no concerns around the Coro for example), not good on white paint or warning bumps in the wet. I doubt the C50T has the power to break traction very easily so wheelspin has never been an issue...

They just seem to be doing well for my bike and my riding.

[AD345]

Sounds like you've got some good rubber then.

[Hailwood]

Got a set fitted on the softail just over 5500kms ago. Latest warrant shows that they have worn 0.5mm so lots of kms left yet...and they are great tyres as well handling wise...

[Hitcher]

Mrs H got 35,000km off a set of Michelin Commanders on her Marauder 850.

[MotoKuzzi]

35k tops the list i think.

[Hitcher]

Those Commanders transformed the handling of the Marauder. Way better than the crap OEM Dunlops.

[Edbear]

Those Commanders transformed the handling of the Marauder. Way better than the crap OEM Dunlops.

But do they come with white-walls?

[Hitcher]

But do they come with white-walls?

Bwuahahahahahaha!

[P38]

Ed

I not long replaced the original IRC white walls on my C50t with the same.

I got 20,000kms out of this first set and enjoyed every minute riding on them.

Was also looking at the Metzler 880's as well but seeing the IRC's did me good first time round I stuck with them.

[Edbear]

Ed

I not long replaced the original IRC white walls on my C50t with the same.

I got 20,000kms out of this first set and enjoyed every minute riding on them.

Was also looking at the Metzler 880's as well but seeing the IRC's did me good first time round I stuck with them.

Yeah, I'm not having issues with them and the bike does suit the white-walls. Where did you get them from and how much? Of course I probably have a little bit of time yet...

[pritch]

But do they come with white-walls?

Love It!

I've read a lot of the tyre threads on KB and I read all the magazine articles I come across and I'm familiar with most of what are normally considered attributes in a tyre. That though, was a first.

When you get the new tyres we will need pics