uneven front tire wear

[Mike M in ohio]

     I knew I was going to need front rubber soon. But, while giving the tire a closer look (Metzeler) I realized she;s worn more on the left half than the right. In fact, there's an area or two where inner belts are just starting to show, while the right side still has slight tread depth. I know the former owner ran a couple of seasons with a weeping right seal. But I replaced both seals when I bought the bike fourteen months ago. (I've since done aprox 5000 miles since the fix)
     So, my question is: Before I install the new tire, what's the most likely cause for this wear, as I don't want to wear through the new rubber unevenly. And also, I recently went to the Austone Taxi tire on the rear, so I was wondering if any particular MC tires work better in combo with the Austone, as opposed to others. Thanks, as always, to all the Valkyrie experts out there.
                                                           Mike in New York

[hubcapsc]

Here's what these guys think:   http://www.rattlebars.com/tirewear/index.html

[BigM]

most everyone will tell ya thats the way they wear. Rattlebars is a good article on it. Youll also find that more of the flatlanders have more of a even wear in center.

[98valk]

http://www.dunlopmotorcycletires.com/care/faq/

How can I keep my tires from cupping?
Top

You may not be able to entirely avoid cupping. Tire cupping or irregular wear is a somewhat common occurrence on all vehicles. On a four-wheel vehicle, you are advised to rotate your tires periodically to even out wear. Unfortunately, you do not have this luxury with a motorcycle because front and rear tires, unlike those on most four-wheel vehicles, are not interchangeable.

However, there are steps that can be taken to minimize cupping and uneven wear on a motorcycle: Maintain your motorcycle and particularly your front and suspension. Avoid hard braking whenever possible. Braking causes the tire to grab and wear in one direction. When braking is applied to the front tire, the load transfer over-flexes the tire and increases the tendency for cupping and uneven wear. Maintain your tire pressures. Under inflation and overloading of motorcycle tires are significant causes of cupping and uneven wear, particularly in association with hard braking and/or trailer use.

Once a tire begins to show signs of uneven wear, even following these steps may not improve the condition.

Tire companies can, and are, helping to minimize cupping and uneven wear but you, the rider, must do your part. Following the aforementioned guidelines will help avoid uneven wear.