Thought I'd start this one of on the new seperated threads.

Something I've been thingking about in relation to general tyre wear on the softails with the 200 tyre and the wear we get on them.

I've noticed on my fxst that the tyre is wearing in the centre 30-40mm (bike on 8500ks) but the rest of the tyre is still in very good condition (maybe should start going in circles) I am aware of the correct pressure etc. seems a shame that the tyre could be stuffed with 75% not worn out.

Are other tyres (other than Dunlop) better or even wearing?

Are riding habits contributing?

Bob

I kinda knew that this would happen. It even happens to sport bikes that don't get thrashed on a track or in the hills. Just need to find a few roundabouts and do some laps, to get our moneys worth.

Just take it to local Melbourne dealer and get free tyre I had my first service done 1700km and had my back wheel chromed was there for over a week when I went to pick it up they lost my tyre and had to put a new one on . Also wanted a pully cover $100 fitted not pulley fully polished and chromed $270. But they stuffed that up aswell and pollished it and chromed it but could only charge me $100 I win again.Worked out to be a very good service

Hi Crasher,

What's your next choice of tyre?

Bob

Hi crasher,
Where did you get the Lindel pads?
I'll be looking for a tyre that may be a bit harder in the centre and softer on the edges. If there is such an animal, seems there not much choice in 200 rears.
Bob

At least this is one thing I'm going to save money on with this bike

 

Coming from riding sports bikes and lucky if I got 4000 k's out set.

shit double post

RT,

You seriously get 25,000 out of a rear tyre? 

I have got just about 9,000 on the original Dunlop and it's rooted. I've always had Michys on my road bikes. Might give the Commander a try. How dya reckon they'd go running solo, mostly straight, in the heat and fast?

WG

DAMN! 160 x17 is standard, but was looking to go 170 or 180. From what I've read its a piece a on the bobtail rsends. Yeah, my highway speed is a bit up from that....and I like my tyres hard -32/40 psi - maybe that's why only the centre groove is worn out.

wg

I got abot 17000 out of my duece rear but only about 8000 on the front. I tend to push the front end from the days I use to ride Jap Rockets.
My 2000 Heritage got near 30000km on front and rear.
Hope the new one gets similar millage.
My VF1000R I use to run needed front and Rear every 4000km that was a dear bike to run, but boy was it fun. Tires use to have tread in the middle but bald on all sides.

from my gsxr1100 era i used to runa bias rubber style tyre which was hard compound on centre and very soft and plyable on edges, was great for cornering both wet / dry, and centre never used to flaten out, or rut, been 8 years since i rode so not sure if they still make them the brand was metzy's front was always soft... if that dropped..= gawner and yeah 3 x fronts to one back trye not bad ratio..

stay hard

Hi Crasher,

Methinks that the tyre pressure should be a litle less than spec due to tyre heating up and pos increase in pressure, partic in summer.

I bought a cheap compressor and a reasonable pressure guage, I don't think the servo ones are very reliable and the thingy is a pain to fit in the rear tyre valve.

Bt

You should check your tyres when there cold not hot.
Unless Ya bike has been sitting in the sun all day I don't think ambient air temp would have much to do with it.
The tyre carcas heats up when you ride the bike so checking before you have ridden any where is the ideal thing.
Compressors are dirt cheap now days so buy one and a good air gauge and U can check each week. I know that a low pressure tyre can wear out as fast as a over inflated tyre.

When I rode a VF1000R I use to get 4000Km out of the front and rear tyre.
Learnt to check all the time for optimal performance.
Front tyre had full depth tread in centre and bald ethier side. Back was bald centre and minimum tread sides with the extrem edges very feathered.
The guy I use to buy my tyres from keep samples of my tyres to show what tyre wear was all about.
He use to do a lot of frames and race bike set up.
Back when I had deep pockets and could live forever.

As the saying use to go

Ride Hard
Die Young
and have a good looking corpse.

My saying use to be
When in Doubt
Power out.

And from a racer.

The tyre warmers for my 125GP are set at 70c, after about 20 minutes the valve stems are very warm to touch and pressure has increased by 3psi, thats the important bit. A number is just that, you are looking for consistancy. A rider like Crasher for example may have a magic number that is 2 or 3 different to mine because I only cruise on public roads but we should both get a 3psi increase at the end of our favorite bit of road.

If you get more than 3, pump em up. Less than 3 let em down.

Buy a decent gauge, bit over the top but my race gauge only measures 20-40 psi and cost $150

Find a servo that has the - clip the hose on and do the settings on the big box thing then compare with your gauge for referance. Check presures monthly at the minimum.

Hope you don't mind me exampling ya Crasher but if you do, with correct presures, measure exturnal valve stem temp of 70+ take up racing before ya have kids and shit to suck up ya $$$.

Deadly

lil_bitch's mum here

I own a 2007 Softail custom, on the original HD dunlop i got 11500k's, next tyre was a dunlop (not HD, not sure what it was) i got 14100, next tyre was another dunlop, i got 13100 and managed to just scrape home on the weekend with wire hanging out of it for the last 300k's
just got a new dunlop on today

Here's a pic of my front tyre after the Northcliffe run.

Had a few interesting moments on Sun when we left Northcliffe and it started raining, RH side of tyre is as bald as a badger, I'm told it's camber induced wear, done 14000ks though.

Getting new one this Sat

Bt

Gents

Before buying new tyres read my thread in general discussion about dual compound tyres from Dunlop.

What do you think, is it just a gimmick or is it worth considering?

Gday Wozza,

Had the dealer mechanic look at all aspects of the thing and the only conclusion is my riding habbit/style, I tend to ride to the extreme left of the lane most times, here in WA a lot of roads have a fair bit of camber on them which causes one to counter steer to keep bike tracking straight. Now I am riding more to the right or centre of the lane. On a flat road I can let go of bars and the thing goes gunbarrel straight. I am getting a fork brace as well to stop any possible twist.

I will keep an eye on the new tyre and see if the prob persists.

Bt

The front tyre on me old FXD ended up looking a lot like that. I put it down to the camber of the highways around here.