My personal take on Bridgestone/Avon/Metzler/CTs

[Momz]

Having more than one Valkyries, I feel somewhat qualified to rate the tires that were purchased, used, and replaced on these beasts.

My I/S had a new set Bridgestones on it when I bought the bike in 2003, and hated those tires. They "growled" in corners, slipped in hard corners and generally felt spooky. I rode to IZIII and hoped to be able to replace them with a set of Avon Venoms. My rear tire was so shot that it had about 12" to 3/4" of cord showing in the center of the rear tire.

The vendor did not have enough tires to supply demand, so I had to mount a used "take-off" tire just to get home.

The next week I had a shop mount a set of Avon Venoms and as I left the shop the heavens opened up with some of the worst rain I'd ever seen. I was scared that these new tires would be slippery, but they got me home and they felt great.

I really liked the Venoms except I had a blow out at 85mph in the middle of a pack of other Valks on the way to Paducah KY. Scary moments but I got to the side of the road. Slyk Willy was able to put five string patches into it and I used all his CO2 cartridges to get the bike to the next exit. I called for a tow truck to get the bike to the IZIV hotel. The local Honda dealer said that if the tire was not flat, then just ride it to his store where they replaced it for $180.00 complete.

That rear tire lasted 9400 miles. I tried another Venom set and at 9500 the the rear was toast. So I tried the Darkside for the I/S; it has good points and bad point too. The I/S still has the Venom front and a CT on the rear.

On my Rat Rod I put on a set of Metzlers. Great grip but the front was worn out at about 10K. OK, thats weird! So I got a new set of Avon Cobras, they may not be as sticky as the Metz's but at 15K they looked new! Really!

Two weeks ago today I got a flat due to a puncture. It took more than a week to get a new rear Cobra installed, but it is now my favorite tire.

Any tire is suseptible to pucture, but weird tire wear or excessive wear is just not acceptable. The contact patch of those tires is all that keeps us off the pavement.

[Thrud]

I'm sure your lamentations are common across many bike forums--no matter the manufacturer or model.  MC tires are just not built to last.  Sure, sure, I've heard that many more compounds and belt structures, especially in the sidewalls, comprise an MC than a CT.  They are engineered to handle the stresses on the sidewalls that the less costly CT are not meant to handle.  But why does the center tread on an MC have such a limited lifetime?  Why should I have to shell out $400 for a set every 8 - 10K miles?  This smacks of conspiracy! 

That's why I'm getting ready to try my first CT.  I'm planning to mount a Yokohama AVID ENVigor V-rated 205/60/16 on my 2000 Interstate.  It's got a nice directional tread pattern and rounded edges.  Rated for 60K miles.  Online price, only $103 with shipping!  We'll see how my combination of a Avon Venom on the front and this tire play together. 

Steve (Flat6)

[Momz]

Trud

A car tire made sense on my I/S; especially while fully loaded and riding two-up. My wife now has my old GoldWing 1100 or she'll ride one of two Valkyries. So the CT is going to come off and both tires will be replaced by Cobras.

Had the Avon Cobras been readily available and/or tested, I'd have passed on the CT. Yes the CT was cheaper (by about $180.00) but a MC tire is easier at those "clumsey" low speed manuvers that Valks are famous for (especially the I/S). And it is even worse if you are short legged and you use 65 series CT.

[BF]

I'm confused (not hard to do  ).....but which is your favorite?  The Cobra or the Venom?

Any experience with the Elite 3's?

[Ricky-D]

Most, if not all car tires have steel belts in the tread.

Not all motorcycle tires have steel belts.  Do you know which have steel belts and which don't? Do you know what kind of belts are in your tire?

It's easier to have a blowout from a non steel belted tire when compared to a steel belted tire.

So when trying to compare tires it is important to know what is what between the different tires.

The same goes for the sidewall construction in which case the facts are harder to obtain regarding motorcycle tires especially in light of the ease to obtain information on car tires. Do you know how many sidewall plies your tire is composed of?

There has been a lot more money spent on development of car tires  when compared to motorcycle tires, so it seems to me a car tire is of a higher echelon when safety concerns are discussed.

So when I read so many comments regarding motorcycle tires and car tires,, all that is really true and reliable is the personal experience as reported by the user.

All the other comments are simply conjecture especially in view of the fact that no one substantiates their claims but simply  says "this or that", as if it is, indeed factual. 

I have a car tire on the rear of my Valkyrie.

***

[Momz]

BF

I prefer the Avon Cobras

[Loopie]

Loved the Venoms. Not thrilled with the Cobras. Got a lot more miles out of the Venoms. I'm switching over to EIIIs now to see if I like them. Back one seems REALLY noisy.

Loopie

[BF]

Never really researched the Avons before, but I went to their web site and didn't see any Venoms in our sizes.....just the Cobras.  Did they replace the Venoms with the Cobras for our Valks?

What pressures do you guys put in the Cobras?

[Loopie]

Yes the Cobras replaced the Venoms. I was running 36, but the back tire wore really funny last two tires, so I'm going with 38-40.

Loopie

[BF]

I was wondering about the pressure in the Cobras because I think I've read here before about most using a lower pressure than what I run (and I think most run) in my E3's.....42f/45r. 

If the Cobras arn't getting the milage out of them as some have said, would running higher pressures be the cure?

The Cobras have my interest.  Since the price of the E3's has jumped up alot, I might consider a set of Cobras next. 

[Loopie]

I got 12,000 out of the rear Cobra, but I believe that if I had increased it to at least 40, I would have got quite a bit more out of it.

Loopie

[Alien]

I just finished with my fourth set of Dunlops and now I have a set of Cobras.  I like the Cobras, but I liked the Dunlops too.  One problem with the last set of Dunlops-  The bike developed a minor headshake the day that they were installed, which lasted the life of the tires.  It was only noticeable from about 15mph to stopped and even then only if I took my hands off the bars.  The bike never did that with the old tires (also dunlops) and doesn't do it with the new Avons.  I replaced the steering head bearings, rebuilt the forks and replaced the shock bushings all to no avail.  As soon as I put the Avons on, the shake was gone and has not returned.

[Ricky-D]

That's because the problem was always the tire.

I feel most problems that you had, and the same, other riders have are because of the crappy tires coming from top tier motorcycle tire manufacturers.

There are too many reports like yours that point to the poorly constructed tires we are forced to use on our bikes, resulting is serious safety issues.

I'm talking about the top tier tires like Avon, Dunlop and all the rest of the prohibitively expensive motorcycle tires.

***

[Alien]

One thing that I noticed about the new Cobras is that the rear tire is marked "Made in England", while the front is marked "Made in China".  That was a little off-putting.

[hueco]

Well, Momz. What about the Dunlop E3. Are they so bad you don't even bother to run them? No opinion on them? Since you are "some what qualified". Inquiring minds want to know.

[Momz]

hueco

I have no experience with Dunlop E3s because I've never bought them. Having never purchased a set, it would be impossible to comment on them. Dunlops were installed on all Valkyries when they left the factory.
But they had a notorious reputation of delamination. Dealers quickley found a market for aftermarket brands (Avon. Metzler, and Bridgestone).

I first went with the Avon Venoms on the recommendatiom of other Valk owners and  I was impressed with the traction and smoothness over the Bridgestones that my bike came with. Although I did experience a rear blow out, Avon did rememburse me for that tire. With satisfactory grip/feel and good customer service, I bought another set of Venoms. The Venoms just did not wear long enough, but the Cobras seem to last like a rear tire should (12K minimum).

I've used Metzlers for years on various other motorcycles, and they have always given great grip, but they would be worn out after one season. A Metzler rep. that I spoke with at BIKE WEEK convinced me to try the ME 880s on my Valkyrie. And they had a special promotion; buy a rear tire and get the front for free! But when the front cups and wears out prematurely,....I'd have to say that is not a tire I'd trust very long.  

On my old Gold Wing 1100, the Dunlop Elites were my tire of choice for grip and longevity. Dunlop no longer manufactures the Elites, so my 1100 uses their D404/402s.

[Tropic traveler]

I guess I'm not the norm here concerning tire wear. Kim has 16,000 miles on BOTH the front & rear Avon Cobras & they look to be good for quite a bit more. That is on her '98 Tourer.
I routinely get 16-17K out of front Avons, both Venoms & Cobras. Nails have prevented me from finding out how long a rear lasts on my '97. I do have 12K on the current rear Cobra still looking very good.
I guess the roads here in Florida are easier on motorsickle tars.  ??? 

[JaysGone]

Ive found in my experience rider weight has alot of bearing on how long a bike tire lasts.
As the tire manufactuers have a captive audience they have not made many major changes in the last 30 years or so.
Yes from belted nylon to raidals but thats about it on crusier tires.
I run CTs myself on both bikes as I commute daily.

I was averaging 7500-9K per rear.
Regardless of whos tire.
And they all stunk in the Florida rains.
But if I were to switch back tomorrow.
Id try the new Michelines.
They claim 20K plus has been done.

[BF]

Ive found in my experience rider weight has alot of bearing on how long a bike tire lasts.
As the tire manufactuers have a captive audience they have not made many major changes in the last 30 years or so.
Yes from belted nylon to raidals but thats about it on crusier tires.
I run CTs myself on both bikes as I commute daily.

I was averaging 7500-9K per rear.
Regardless of whos tire.
And they all stunk in the Florida rains.
But if I were to switch back tomorrow.
Id try the new Michelines.
They claim 20K plus has been done.

I didn't know Micheline made tires in our sizes.   

[JaysGone]

Truthfully neighter do I .
I was thinking RoadStar.
Even on a Valkyrie board its not a natural thing for me to think Valk 1st.

Sorry

I forgot as Im running a light truck tire on my Valk that this has unusual size tires.
Its not natural for me to think 180.
160-80 is where Ive been for the last 16 years
My bad.............I do deserve a spanking with a wet noodle for that one for sure.

Is this a doable size??

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/534-986

[Hoser]

That tire should fit just fine.  That is the size I use on the rear New on left,20k worn out on right.. Hoser

 

[O-B-1]

Never really researched the Avons before, but I went to their web site and didn't see any Venoms in our sizes.....just the Cobras.  Did they replace the Venoms with the Cobras for our Valks?

What pressures do you guys put in the Cobras?

F6C 1500 Valkyrie,Tour,Interstate (1997 - 2003)
Front Tyre
Cobra
Pressure front: 2.8 bar (40psi)
Front size: 150/80R17 72H
Rear Tyre
Cobra
Pressure rear: 2.8 bar (40psi)
Rear size: 180/70R16 77H

That from the Avon Website....

[Momz]

O-B-1

I run 42 psi in front and 48 psi rear.
The Cobras are a harder rubber compound than the older Venoms, but the pressure recommondations still apply.

Running lower tire pressures will result in you buying tires sooner due to increased heat and wear caused by the tire sidewall flexing (these are radials).

At many M/C rallies tire manufacturers will check tire pressures, and will show you the wear patterns that are caused by improper inflation.

Also check your pressures on cold tires with a gauge of known accuracy.

[thunderbass53]

I put my first set of Cobras on last September before a 2800 mile trip, and I love them. I've got 9000 on them now, and will replace them next month before our 3800 mile road trip...just because I want new tires on that long of a trip. In fact, these Cobras with 9000 on them look GREAT, and I suspect 15-18000 wouldn't be stretching them too far.
It will just be precaution and peace of mind that I'll replace them.
(Also replacing the shocks with 440 HD's, and the front springs with Progessives as well....)