Front tires, again.

[pago cruiser]

Ok, this is nuts.

1st - Stock tire on bike when I purchased it.  2000 miles on bike.  The tire lasted 4000 miles.
2nd - Replaced with a stocker; ALWAYS at 40 psi.  Made it to 3800 miles, with maybe a couple hundred left before changing for a trip..
3rd -  Michelin 120/70-R19; ALWAYS at 40 psi.  Currently at 4800 miles, will prolly get another 500. Call it 5300 miles.

I ride relatively hard; this is my road-trip bike.  Mostly 1000+ mile work trips on fast mountain roads, sometimes... faster than surrounding traffic...  But... really?

There has got to be a better solution.  I ride my 1500 just as hard (with maybe 10-15% less HP/Tq) , and I get 10,000+ on my Dunlop E3, 150/80 R17.   

Unless and until I can figure out how to mount a Legacy Valk front wheel on the 2014 Valk (they are close in diameter... hmmm  ), guess I am next going to try a Michelin Commander II in the Radial 120/70-R19.

Anybody else found ...a different way?? 


 

[Jess from VA]

I can't speak to the 1800 Valk. (we seem to have the same riding style, medium to hard, and fast)

But I tried a front Michelin radial Commander II in a 140/75/17 (instead of a 150/80) on an Interstate and I had to nurse it to barely 7K.

It was a great handling tire in all weather/conditions, and it came with no release agent that I could discover (at all), and was never slick for that first 100+ (or any) miles, and I really liked it.  But I didn't like only 6500 good miles, and 500 OK miles.  The write-ups on that tire are all very good (and especially for better mileage).  I think maybe that the carcass of the undersized 140/75 was just not up to the task of the heavy 1500 (and my cranking and banking).

I only get 9K from my usual favorite ME880 radial 150 fronts, and don't care that they cost more than the Michelin, I just want more miles so I went back to it.

(I'll never run E3s)

I emailed Michelin and asked them if they had any plans to make the Commander II's in a 150/80/17 (because I would try it again) and they replied that they don't make them in 150/80/17.  NO Sh!T Sherlock.  

JFYI

[Hef]

I have a 2000 standard with 134K miles on her. Run Bridgestones on front and rear. Usally get 12-15K on fronts. 8-9K on rears.

[bscrive]

I have @15000kms (9000mi) on my Avon Cobra front tire and it is still going strong.  I will probably get another 6000kms on it.

Mitch, do your roads have heavy grit sandpaper glued to them???  Must be something with the road compound. Mike (Hubcapsc) seems to have the same issues that you do.

[ledany]

35-36 psi front wheel (2,5 bar), 42 psi rear (2,9 bar) as always.

I changed my Pirelli Scorpion Trail II last summer after 8,700 mls (14 000 km) and though they looked fine, in fact they were not.

I don't really care about the price and the mileage (but I'm not interested in race/sport tires, obviously), all I want is confidence and reliabllity on wet roads. Exeunt the OEM Dunlop, des vraies merdes dangereuses. 

[Robert]

35-36 psi front wheel (2,5 bar), 42 psi rear (2,9 bar) as always.

I changed my Pirelli Scorpion Trail II last summer after 8,700 mls (14 000 km) and though they looked fine, in fact they were not.

I don't really care about the price and the mileage (but I'm not interested in race/sport tires, obviously), all I want is confidence and reliabllity on wet roads. Exeunt the OEM Dunlop, des vraies merdes dangereuses. 

How many miles did you get from the Michelin? I think I remember you trying them the Pilot road 4?

[Crabballs]

I am at 12,000 miles on the original front tire and pissing and moaning that it is getting near time to change it.  I am looking for a better set of tires that will last longer.  That said, the back shows very little wear.  Strange, I thought the back is supposed to wear out much faster than the rear.

[ledany]

@Robert : I think the wear of the Michelin and the Pirelli is about the same. I had to change the Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail after 8,000 mls.

The good thing is that the new Indians have 19" front wheel too, so let's hope the front tire offer will grow   

[PAVALKER]

Avon Cobra in the 120 flavor.  I have about 8k on it and its still looking great.   I do have a CT on the rear tho.

[allhans4]

Try the MICHELIN COMMANDER 2 130/60B-19 61H.

It's a bias ply, yeah.  But you won't be sorry.  4000 miles so far and about 30% worn.

Superior in every way to stock tire.

[dans2014]

Michelins are the best ride and grip. Not as much mileage but after 3 or 4  years you should change them anyway because of age and hardness

[pago cruiser]

Good answers - thanks for the comments.  Quite a variety, but with the exception of the bias tire, not much new.
I did check out the new Indian 19" - its a 130/60-19, as opposed to the Michelin 120/70-19.  Looks to be about 0.5" shorter and 0.4" wider.

Had to order a tire (I commute 500 miles/week), so went with the Michelin Commander II Radial.

The bias front sounds interesting; I switched to  Commander II Bias on my ST1100 - went from about 6000 to 10,000 miles, with handling not much different.

I have read several sites discussing the mix of tires - the accepted norm is bias front, radial rear; never the other way around.

Has anyone worn out a Commander II Bias?

[Crabballs]

All this talk about tires.  Just wondering, does anyone change their own tires or do they take the bike/wheels to the dealer?

[pago cruiser]

I pull my wheels and take them to our local Indie shop. They charge me $30.  Our local Honda shop charges $50. Takes about 5 minutes from the time I hand it to the guy to the time he hands it back. Then another couple minutes to balance it. 
When I retire... I'm gonna get a tire changer.  These things are like a cash cow...

[dans2014]

Unless you want to cuss and scratch your wheels, take it to a reputable dealer. I do remove them myself but let the dealer mount and dismount them. Rideon tire sealant takes care of the balance problem

[barney fife]

I went with a Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra front and rear.  Still looking good after 8,000 miles.  Went to 39 PSI in the front.  Been great, plan to buy another set when the time comes.