buying new front tire

[deadvelvet]

which one of these would be the best for a I/S front with ct       
Metzeler ME880 Marathon 150/80-17
Dunlop D 404 150/80-17
Shinko 230 Tour Master 150/80-17
i have a 404 on now only at 11,000 miles and starting to wear on left side
im thinkinking the metz will be the best bet but i like input
has any one run the Shinko 230?

[PhredValk]

I had E3s on her when I bought her, but the front wobbled...a lot. Replaced it with a D404 130/90-17 bias rear 21K miles ago with Dynabeads when I installed the Falken on back. 40-43PSI and it should last another 5K. Mostly strait hiway and around town.
Fred.

[old2soon]

I had a Metz 880 on the front and got 14454 miles out of it. I now have a Shinko S E 890 up front and i'm liking mine. Others on this board have ongoing issues withe the S E 890 but mine is NOT giving me any grief at all. Falken Ziex 512 in 205-65-16 on the back and i is a happy camper.  Hope this helps you a bit. RIDE SAFE.

[Jess from VA]

The Metzler is the best of those tires, I've probably run 10 ME880 fronts on my two bikes, and I love them, but I can only get 8K good miles, and another 1500 not-so-good miles on them (44psi constant).  Some do better (better roads, more sedate riding).  Car tires on the back.

At $230 apiece from HDL I decided to make a change, and after reading others (whom I trust) experience with a bias rear on the front, I just replaced my front with the Avon Roadrider Bias 130 90 17, reversed on the wheel.  

Immediately took an 850 mi trip (Meet-in-the-Middle), mostly on BRP and in a lot of rain.  The tire took over 200mi to scuff in, and slipped on me pretty good at over 100miles (once), though it was raining (the Metz would never slip after 100 miles), but it is working very well for me after scuff-in.  Strange, it had no nubbies/little tits on the tire when new.  Maybe not quite as solid as the 150 radial in fast-hard corners (and this may be my imagination), but otherwise I cannot tell the difference.   I had expected it to dive/steer into corners/turns faster than a 150 but it does not, to me.

Two to three times the tread depth of ordinary front tires, and hoping for 15K on a front tire for the first time ever, we'll see.   $117.*

I am not advocating you use a rear bias on the front, I am only pointing out my experience so far.

*       http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Product/avon-am26-roadrider-rear-tire/330-5730.aspx?gclid=CPmK8fXQsbICFcHe4Aodu2oAkw

[CASABROKER]

I'm running the shinko 230.  over 5 k with dyna beads for the money cant beat it.  No signs of uneven wear handles great.. Why pay double?  Very light wear I expect at least 13-15 k

[cookiedough]

That Avon bias ply looks like it would be a very good, long lasting tire.

I know others (Hoser one of them) have ran biased ply tires on the front and even the back with hearing very good things about them on how they last much longer than any radial tires on the market.  Price is better as well. 

[deadvelvet]

Thanks I knew I could get some good input on this thanks everyone

[98valk]

search is your friend   

rear tire on front   

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,12541.0.html

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,975.msg13576.html#msg13576

[Hoser]

That Avon bias ply looks like it would be a very good, long lasting tire.

I know others (Hoser one of them) have ran biased ply tires on the front and even the back with hearing very good things about them on how they last much longer than any radial tires on the market.  Price is better as well. 

+1, if the afore mentioned d404 is half worn at 11000 miles, it's gonna do the 21000 miles I get, I'd never complain about that.  Before and after pics included.  Hoser 

[deadvelvet]

But mine is wearing down on left part of tread

[olddog1946]

I am running the same D404 bias ply rear tire that Phred is running and I love it. I have had it in the rain, snow and hail and was solid as a rock. I don't know how many miles I'll get out of it but it will damn sure be better than any regular front tire, and it cost me 98 bucks delivered to my front door, (from JC Whitney of all places).

[CASABROKER]

+1 on the Shinko, can't tell from my last metz.  Save the bucks!!

[PhredValk]

How is it balanced? With the crown of the road and the fact that left turns wear more than right the wear may be normal. I use Dynabeads and have no cupping or uneven wear after 21K miles on my D404 rear.
Fred.

[salty1]

The Metzler is the best IMO of the tires you listed. Are Avons out? I sure like my Cobras. 

[WDAN]

I am also running a D404 White Wall on front and D407 White Wall on rear (both bias) and they are great. With 6500 miles on them, they show little wear.

[forjj]

I am getting ready to buy a new tire as well, any input on Bridgestone?  I can get an E3 for $190 at the local dealer, the Bridgestone is $150.  Just to add to the conversation--I am replacing a Shinko that had tread delamination after about 6k, so I am staying away from the low end tires, but may have to do a little more research on rear tires.

jj

[old2soon]

I am getting ready to buy a new tire as well, any input on Bridgestone?  I can get an E3 for $190 at the local dealer, the Bridgestone is $150.  Just to add to the conversation--I am replacing a Shinko that had tread delamination after about 6k, so I am staying away from the low end tires, but may have to do a little more research on rear tires.

jj

    Which model # Shinko delaminated on you??  I'm running the Shinko S E 890 on the front(D/S rear)and as of my 200 mile ride today i/m showing 10089 miles on it. Mounted with Dyna Beads and still enjoy running it to this pint in time. Matter of fact i was doin the twistys today.  RIDE SAFE.

[forjj]

I am getting ready to buy a new tire as well, any input on Bridgestone?  I can get an E3 for $190 at the local dealer, the Bridgestone is $150.  Just to add to the conversation--I am replacing a Shinko that had tread delamination after about 6k, so I am staying away from the low end tires, but may have to do a little more research on rear tires.

jj

    Which model # Shinko delaminated on you??  I'm running the Shinko S E 890 on the front(D/S rear)and as of my 200 mile ride today i/m showing 10089 miles on it. Mounted with Dyna Beads and still enjoy running it to this pint in time. Matter of fact i was doin the twistys today.  RIDE SAFE.

It was a Shinko F747.  I had a post about this a few weeks ago, here is a link if you want the whole story.  Long story short, I had sudden road noise, severe wobble at low speeds, and not a very fun ride home.  I bought the bike with the shinko on it...
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,48139.0.html

[old2soon]

Yeah the 747s had"issues". Not safe at any speed. I've pushed this one a couple times up around 130 M P H indicated. This tire handles as good as the Metz 880 it replaced. As of this moment i would not hesitate to replace it(when needed)with another S E 890 Journey. Thanks fer gittin back to me. RIDE SAFE.

[Brian]

I too wil be in the market for new front tire here in the very near future. The E3 is on the wear bars on the left side right now. The E3 on the rear still has a lot of tread. Is it a good idea to mix bias and radial and why when installing the rear tire on the front do you have it mounted reverse? Doesn't that affect the way the water is pushed out the channels causing hydroplaning?

I typically like to stay on the safe side when it comes to bike tires. I don't mean to start a fire storm of comments here. Just asking since there has been a lot on this subject here.

Thanks,

[salty1]

Brian I wouldn't mix them. Sidewall flex is different and it will impair the handling qualities of the bike. My 2 cents.

[Fritz The Cat]

I had a Metz 880 on the front and got 14454 miles out of it. I now have a Shinko S E 890 up front and i'm liking mine. Others on this board have ongoing issues withe the S E 890 but mine is NOT giving me any grief at all. Falken Ziex 512 in 205-65-16 on the back and i is a happy camper.  Hope this helps you a bit. RIDE SAFE.

I've got the same setup and my Shinko isn't living up to expectations. May have to replace it. 

[PhredValk]

In an earlier thread, it was determined that Michelin says that a radial rear and bias front tire will work on a motorcycle, but not the other way round.

I had the D404 130/90-17 bias rear mounted up front in the normal direction, as I'm more concerned about water shedding in the rain then I am in delamination from braking pressure (Falken Ziex 205/65-16 CT on the rear).

I ride for hours on weekends, and being close to the mountains I am frequently caught in rain, hail, sleet etc. This combo has served me well in two days of light to hard rain north of Lake Superior riding from Winnipeg to Sault Ste Marie. I have 21K miles on them now, and may change the front tire next summer. It will be another D404 rear bias.
Fred.

[Brian]

In an earlier thread, it was determined that Michelin says that a radial rear and bias front tire will work on a motorcycle, but not the other way round.

I had the D404 130/90-17 bias rear mounted up front in the normal direction, as I'm more concerned about water shedding in the rain then I am in delamination from braking pressure (Falken Ziex 205/65-16 CT on the rear).

I ride for hours on weekends, and being close to the mountains I am frequently caught in rain, hail, sleet etc. This combo has served me well in two days of light to hard rain north of Lake Superior riding from Winnipeg to Sault Ste Marie. I have 21K miles on them now, and may change the front tire next summer. It will be another D404 rear bias.
Fred.

Thanks Fred.
I am having a hard time wrapping my head around a rear tire on the front mounted the same as if it were on the rear and having it delaminate turning in the factory engineered direction of travel. Has delamination happened to anyone out there on this site and willing to share their experience and tire brand as well as was it a bias or radial?

[JaysGone]

That Avon bias ply looks like it would be a very good, long lasting tire.

I know others (Hoser one of them) have ran biased ply tires on the front and even the back with hearing very good things about them on how they last much longer than any radial tires on the market.  Price is better as well. 

+1, if the afore mentioned d404 is half worn at 11000 miles, it's gonna do the 21000 miles I get, I'd never complain about that.  Before and after pics included.  Hoser 

Dude can I make you a small loan??
If that was your old front tire you sure dont believe in new rubber.......................or looking at wear bars.
Another day and the cord would be showing on that 404.
I havent had a 404 front go more then 10K before replacing it.
They are crap tires to begin with.
I guess I should send you my take off tires.
Very suprised that you of all folks push the rubber to its end and beyound.
Yes as a friend of sorts Im am being mean aint I???

[Hoser]

Don't know what your seeing, but I replaced the tire when the wear bars showed up, just as I always do. I have about 30000 miles on this brand tires in the last year and a half.  I'm about halfway through the second set.  Call me when you change tires, sounds like your wasting good rubber.   ???  Hoser    BTW I have in 40 years of riding had maybe five flats in I'd guess about half a million miles.....  

[JaysGone]

The old front tire in the picture looks like my 404s do in 8K or so.
Left side totaly shot.
Im sure you would use what Ive taken off.
Let me shoot a pic of the last 404 I used on the R*.
Ive never had a front on anything last more then 10K here in Florida.
They 404s start to show wear at about 4K left front.
I use 404s when for what ever reason I cant order something in advance.
They are all my local shop carries, with the price of new tires so high now.
If I had replaced the rear on the Valk with the same 200-60 Metz.
I would have been in the $250 range.
Too rich for me on a bike.

The 1st pics a 404 taken off the R* at about 6K.
The 2nd pics a Kenda Challenger rear on the front with about 10K slight cupping left side due to low psi.
My alignments good.
I just run with a pretty low psi of about 32-34 to soften up my ride.
I guess I could run a higher psi.
I just dont care for the ride as much.
So I dont get great mileage out of fronts.

[Hoser]

Yours look like mine at 21000 but at 8000?  I'd guess we have very different riding styles.    Hoser