Tire Wear

[F6Dave]

I'll admit I've been enjoying the plentiful power my F6B offers, but I was hoping for better tire wear.  I'd read reports that the OEM Bridgestone rear could last over 15K miles on a 1800 Goldwing, so I was a little disappointed to see the rear nearly worn out at 9,300 miles.  I already have a replacement set of the OEM tires, but I might try something else after I wear those out.  I'd be interested in the experiences of other 1800 riders with different brands.  At least the single sided swingarm makes the change a lot easier than on my Valkyries!

[R J]

Go Darkside.

[Bighead]

Don't own an 1800 but my experience with rear tires says you are on the mark. the best I ever got was on my 2010 street Glide with factory tires I got about 15k but the set to follow about 12k and it was the same tire at the same pressure on my 97 valk I am doing good to get  9k and I heare some claim 20k plus but that is hard for me to believe unless half are done with the reaon a jack and not touching the ground.

[F6Dave]

Maybe I shouldn't complain.  I had a set of Bridgestone tires on my Valk Tourer and only got about 8500 miles out of them.  In fact, in 44 years of riding the only tires that ever gave me over 10K miles were the Avons (both Venom and Cobra) on my Valkyries.  Maybe I'll try Avons on the F6B after I wear out the second set of Bridgestones.

Those guys who claim to get 15-20K miles out of a rear tire on a Wing must be very easy on the throttle.

[eric in md]

i put on a bridgestone 709 on the front really like it run 41 lbs.. dunlop run flat wintersport 3d 195/55/16 on rear 25 to 30 k on them

[F6Dave]

Last weekend I replaced the F6B's rear tire.  It had a bit over 9500 miles on it, and probably could have been pushed a bit over 10K.  I really like the OEM Bridgestone.  It handles great and doesn't get noisy as it ages.  I don't regret running another one.

The single sided swingarm makes changing wheel on the F6B so easy.  It takes only a few minutes to remove or install.  HOWEVER, that stiff 60 series tire is much harder to get off and on the rim than the 70 series on my old Valk.  Even with the Harbor Freight tire machine it took over 2 hours.

Next time, I think I'll take a different approach.  I've read that you can get used GL1800 rear rims for $100 or less, since so many of the bikes are converted to trikes.  I plan on finding one before the next tire change, and having a tire mounted (either by me or a shop) so the swap will be faster and easier.  This also gives me the chance to try a car tire if I want.

[Bamaburt62]

I've got 4500 on rear of new Valk and looks like I may only get another couple thousand.  No burn outs just aggressive riding I guess.  The vtx would only get about 5 to 6 grand and be worn out.  The dealer said the shaft drive bikes are bad on rear tires and I believe him.  My HD gets up to 15000 before it needs replacing.

[R J]

I've got 4500 on rear of new Valk and looks like I may only get another couple thousand.  No burn outs just aggressive riding I guess.  The vtx would only get about 5 to 6 grand and be worn out.  The dealer said the shaft drive bikes are bad on rear tires and I believe him.  My HD gets up to 15000 before it needs replacing.

Bamaburt, your HD doesn't have enough torque to make  the rear tire try to spin, that is why you get better mileage with the HD.

To prove my point, get a Valk rider that will work with ya.

Line it up in a straight line and drop the clutch and really twist the wick.

Walk back and look for a Black rubber line.

Now try it with the HD, it is very hard to find that mark.    That black mark on the pavement is tire rubber that was torn off.

Rest my case.

[hubcapsc]

I've got 4500 on rear of new Valk and looks like I may only get another couple thousand. 

I got 2200 miles on my OEM rear tire...



I checked the pressure regularly, never let it get below 40 without
airing it up... Honda recommends 42... maybe this seems like a case
of a defective tire?... plus... it was a 190, stock OEM is a 180... all the
Valkyries on the showroom floor at Sloan's have 180s... the sticker on
my Valkyrie's frame specifies a 180... I guess all of y'all have 180s?

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

2200 sucks.

Did you have to get a new tire on the Dam ride?

[hubcapsc]

2200 sucks.

Did you have to get a new tire on the Dam ride?

Yep. I got a nice tire while-you-wait at Slone's Honda shop in Murfreesboro. I'm
on the phone now with American Honda... "There's a lot of variables as to why
a tire might wear out prematurely, Mr. Marshall"...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

What was their answer to why you did not get a stock size tire on your bike new? (180?)  Could it have been something left over at the dealer, or what?  That's pretty curious.  Admittedly, most original tires on new bikes are not the best available.

"There's a lot of variables as to why a tire might wear out prematurely, Mr. Marshall"

When I asked Michelin why they didn't make their Commander II tires in Valk sizes, their answer was that we don't make those tires in Valk sizes.  Thanks a lot, that was helpful (I'm hearing an echo in here).

[brew1brew]

On my first set of tires I got 10k out of the front and 12k out of the back.

[Westernbiker]

I'll admit I've been enjoying the plentiful power my F6B offers, but I was hoping for better tire wear.  I'd read reports that the OEM Bridgestone rear could last over 15K miles on a 1800 Goldwing, so I was a little disappointed to see the rear nearly worn out at 9,300 miles.  I already have a replacement set of the OEM tires, but I might try something else after I wear those out.  I'd be interested in the experiences of other 1800 riders with different brands.  At least the single sided swingarm makes the change a lot easier than on my Valkyries!

Dave, do you ride two up often? This I find will wear rear tires quick. I got just over 11000 on the rear of my F6B. My Valk I would get around 9000 but a lot of two up riding. I do not use the rear brake very much, in a panic stop I will use it. I think all the torque and the weight of these big machines tend to do a job on tires also. I think you are on track with the tire wear, around 10000 should do it for the rear on these bikes.

[hubcapsc]

What was their answer to why you did not get a stock size tire on your bike new? (180?)

I called Honda, they did some checking, and got back with me.

The bike arrived at the dealer who sold it to me with a flat tire. He
installed the tire that I wore out in 2200 miles...

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

A bit of (not entirely) convoluted logic might say they failed to provide you with the correct tire on a brand new bike (at nearly full price), so they should do so now.  This is stretching things of course, but 2200 miles on the tire they did give you would make me feel better about asking for a correct tire in replacement. (Though this argument might not be so good if the tire you got was exactly the same make/model/size, except a 190 vs 180)

Of course this is none of my business.  Just thinking out loud.

[hubcapsc]

I had not called the seller-dealer yet, this thread reminded me to.

He sez he will re-imburse me, just need to send him the receipt from
the Murfreesboro shop.

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Well, alrighty then. 

The 2200mi tire is no doubt gone, but it might have been interesting to have looked at the build date/code.  Maybe it was old (seems doubtful, but...).

Just put a new Mich. Commander II (140) on my IS front yesterday and 120 miles today, and I really like that tire.  No slippy-slidey, right from new. Now they are on both bikes.  Now I have to trade bikes again, and see how far the first one goes. 

The ME880 steel that came off was shot, at 7200 miles.   

[Bighead]

I had not called the seller-dealer yet, this thread reminded me to.

He sez he will re-imburse me, just need to send him the receipt from
the Murfreesboro shop.

-Mike

That changes EVERYTHING  it was like getting 2200 miles for free

[hungryeye]

As to tire wear on Valkyrie vs HD, HD uses hard rubber tires that work well on bikes with low power and slow handling. Modern good handling powerful bikes require sticky tires with softer rubber which wear much faster. I'm no tire engineer but I do stay at Holiday Inn Express a lot... 

[Bighead]

As to tire wear on Valkyrie vs HD, HD uses hard rubber tires that work well on bikes with low power and slow handling. Modern good handling powerful bikes require sticky tires with softer rubber which wear much faster. I'm no tire engineer but I do stay at Holiday Inn Express a lot... 

Exact same tire and pressure 6-7k difference between my Valk (less) than HD (more).