Tires..... Or at least tire wear

[Leathel]

I haven't had the bike long and am only just starting to clock up longer rides now, The front was worn to an ...well octagon type shape, with that cornering seamed a little unpredictable... with the bike having a dropping feeling in stages... I started looking at front tires last week, then over the weekend I traveled some nice back roads and now the rear is like it too, I took it quite easy compared to what I would have on my older Shadow...... but it has torn up the sides on the tires a bit.

I have Bridgestone  701/702 tires, Were like new with the bike but 6 years old....so I thought they might be hard... but seamed OK as 150 odd miles was in Rain yesterday and it gripped OK








Is that normal? are other tires better??

CT is not an option here as it has to be a bike tire to get a warrant of fitness





Edited to save confusion

Updated pics to show the center is normal, sides are the flat areas







The common thought is more pressure as the tire heating could be the cause from not enough pressure (was tested today and it had 36, front 38 still so the rear has dropped 4psi)

[hubcapsc]

I'd try some Avons or some Metzlers. Run about 42 in the
back and 40 in the front. I get lousy mileage, but I
don't ever get that wear pattern you have...

-Mike

[The emperor has no clothes]

It is weird how the left side is more squared off. I haven't seen that on any of the different tires I've used. I wonder if it has anything to do with riding on the left side of the road ? Over here our front tires wear the the left side more than the right. Does your right front wear faster ?

[MarkT]

CT is not an option here as it has to be a bike tire to get a warrant of fitness

Too bad on that - Austone tires were originally from Down Under. Austrailia One tires, now linked up with Cooper tires and made in China.  Still a great tire.

I second that on the Avon Cobras.  Best bike tire for me, in the back, and I've worn out several copies of all back tires that fit the Valk.  200/60-16 or 180/70-16 if you don't want the wider tire.

[Ricky-D]

I haven't had the bike long and am only just starting to clock up longer rides now, The front was worn to an ...well octagon type shape, with that cornering seamed a little unpredictable... with the bike having a dropping feeling in stages... I started looking at front tires last week, then over the weekend I traveled some nice back roads and now the rear is like it too, I took it quite easy compared to what I would have on my older Shadow...... but it has torn up the sides on the tires a bit.

I don't understand what your concern is about. Your tire looks fine. It is just showing the results from riding, your riding style, and the condition of the roads you were riding on. it also is revealing that it's in a good sticky condition, at least to a point where it is gripping the road as you would want a motorcycle tire to do.

I'd be worrying about that tire if it was polished looking and had a shine to the tread, which it doesn't. You concern is misplaced.

***

[Jess from VA]

What about getting a warrant of fitness with a bike tire, then sticking a car tire on?

Course, you'd have to do that for each annual inspection.  (assuming it's annual)

[The emperor has no clothes]

What about getting a warrant of fitness with a bike tire, then sticking a car tire on?

Course, you'd have to do that for each annual inspection.  (assuming it's annual)

Having the only car tire in the entire country of New Zealand might stick out a little. 

[Jess from VA]

Of course with interstate bags (but really the same for a Tourer), the rear tire does not really show all that much, unless someone is really looking. 

I've had very few guys walk up and say.... what the hell is that tire?

I've had to have my bikes inspected annually forever, and never had the inspector even notice (it's not illegal in VA, yet). 

Rode with a bunch of Beemers all day once.  When I pointed out the tire at the end of the day, that was the first they ever noticed it.  Of course, I was a crazy person at that point.

[firemedic309]

I have Cobras with about 1k on them now. No rain riding yet but I really like the way they handle dry and hot.
. What should I be running for pressure?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Of course with interstate bags (but really the same for a Tourer), the rear tire does not really show all that much, unless someone is really looking. 

I've had very few guys walk up and say.... what the hell is that tire?

I've had to have my bikes inspected annually forever, and never had the inspector even notice (it's not illegal in VA, yet). 

Rode with a bunch of Beemers all day once.  When I pointed out the tire at the end of the day, that was the first they ever noticed it.  Of course, I was a crazy person at that point.

You are probably right. But I always notice the tire of the MC I am following.

[Harryc]

Hey Leathel. What tire pressure are you running? Squared off tread pattern is normal depending on how and where you ride. The important thing is handling, tire pressure, and paying attention to the wear bars. I run Cobras, and that seems to be the recommended regular MC tire for Valks. I like them. I keep them at 42psi front and 44psi rear...and I check that pressure every ride. I only have 6k on a new set so far, but there are so many twisties and curves in this area that I get few opportunities to ride in a straight line, and so far no center tread strip is evident.

[Leathel]

It is weird how the left side is more squared off. I haven't seen that on any of the different tires I've used. I wonder if it has anything to do with riding on the left side of the road ? Over here our front tires wear the the left side more than the right. Does your right front wear faster ?

I cleaned the dust of one side and not the other... They don't look as uneven in person (my red lines are not accurate either)

Front looks almost even but both sides are flatish like the rear

[Leathel]

CT is not an option here as it has to be a bike tire to get a warrant of fitness

Too bad on that - Austone tires were originally from Down Under. Austrailia One tires, now linked up with Cooper tires and made in China.  Still a great tire.

I second that on the Avon Cobras.  Best bike tire for me, in the back, and I've worn out several copies of all back tires that fit the Valk.  200/60-16 or 180/70-16 if you don't want the wider tire.

What was the height like on the 200/60 compared to std sizes? I don't want to loose any height as scraping pegs at 80mph isn't my idea of fun (I dont normally push it hard but I had a car that was being a PITA)

[Leathel]

What about getting a warrant of fitness with a bike tire, then sticking a car tire on?

Course, you'd have to do that for each annual inspection.  (assuming it's annual)

Every 6 months for pre 2000 models..... To many cops ride and would know at a glance what I was running...

[Leathel]

Hey Leathel. What tire pressure are you running? Squared off tread pattern is normal depending on how and where you ride. The important thing is handling, tire pressure, and paying attention to the wear bars. I run Cobras, and that seems to be the recommended regular MC tire for Valks. I like them. I keep them at 42psi front and 44psi rear...and I check that pressure every ride. I only have 6k on a new set so far, but there are so many twisties and curves in this area that I get few opportunities to ride in a straight line, and so far no center tread strip is evident.

Running 38/40 PSI and they were checked a week ago, will check when I get access to the bike (workshop is packed ATM)

I priced some Cobra's up last week and they gave me sharp price.....but nil stock of the front tire and not expected for 6 weeks :/

The center of these are pretty good still, more wear on the sides, I will bump the pressure up and see how that goes  (I was riding 2 up, but my son is pretty light weight)....I want them to last a bit longer than these are, at this rate the sides will be toast in 3000 miles 

[The emperor has no clothes]

It is weird how the left side is more squared off. I haven't seen that on any of the different tires I've used. I wonder if it has anything to do with riding on the left side of the road ? Over here our front tires wear the the left side more than the right. Does your right front wear faster ?

I cleaned the dust of one side and not the other... They don't look as uneven in person (my red lines are not accurate either)

Front look almost even but both sides flatish like the rear

In that case, I'd say you have normal wear. A little more air pressure might help a little.

[Jess from VA]

Higher pressure would help. But once a tire is cupped, higher pressure won't fix it.

Run them harder in the future.  Up to but no higher than the max psi printed on the sidewalls. 

Always checked and aired up cold, it makes no difference if pressure exceeds max psi when hot (by a few pounds), that has already been taken into account.

[gordonv]

What about getting a warrant of fitness with a bike tire, then sticking a car tire on?

Course, you'd have to do that for each annual inspection.  (assuming it's annual)

Every 6 months for pre 2000 models..... To many cops ride and would know at a glance what I was running...

Does your regulations say, must be MC tire, or does it say something equal to, DOT approved for the vehicle?

[Leathel]

What about getting a warrant of fitness with a bike tire, then sticking a car tire on?

Course, you'd have to do that for each annual inspection.  (assuming it's annual)

Every 6 months for pre 2000 models..... To many cops ride and would know at a glance what I was running...

Does your regulations say, must be MC tire, or does it say something equal to, DOT approved for the vehicle?

Must be MC tire, A few I know that used to run a CT have had to replace them with a MC tire, Used to not be mentioned in the rules so was OK.

[sandy]

Run Avon Cobras and keep them at 42F and 46R. They won't cup and will last longer. I sold a 98 tourer with 155K and ran several sets of Avons. The new 97 has them as well. Won't use any other tire on a Valk.

[Paladin528]

That looks just like the Avon Cobra I removed last season adn is considered normal wear.  It also indicates that you do not spend enough time in the twisties (me neither).
Generally speaking a commuter will wear flat in the centre like yours.  Because of the tread design of many tires you will get the rough on the outsides.  Every tire on every bike I have owned has worn like this and it is apparently normal.

[Leathel]

That looks just like the Avon Cobra I removed last season adn is considered normal wear.  It also indicates that you do not spend enough time in the twisties (me neither).
Generally speaking a commuter will wear flat in the centre like yours.  Because of the tread design of many tires you will get the rough on the outsides.  Every tire on every bike I have owned has worn like this and it is apparently normal.

Its the twisty roads that are wearing this tire, the middle of the sides have less tread than the top, but its hard to show in the pic's.

I think it must be the lower pressure (although still above OEM spec) and the tire getting hotter on the corners and most used area wearing (but normally its not worn flat like that for me) I have had a tire flatten on the sides in the past on the 1100 but I was really pushing that and it got cooked, Hot day and pushing it on a softer tire (Pirelli night dragon) and that tire got glossy black and started to de-laminate with spots the tread lifted....but it was near worn out when it did it.

The middle is not as flat as the red line shows, Usually on my 1100 Shadow my tires when worn have a round profile with even wear for all but right over to near the chicken strips as I don't travel strait roads much.... the center has no issue

 this is my normal wear on the 1100



But that is a Bias tire and these are the first Radials I have had on a bike

[Jess from VA]

Understand, when you refer to OE spec (manual) on tire pressure:  1) that was only spec for the original tires that came on the bike new (and those are rarely top quality tires; the OE Valk D204s(?) Dunlops that came on the new Valk was a mediocre tire at best) (and should not be read as controlling for top quality tires you add later) and 2) lawyers and salesmen probably have as much input on manual recommended air pressure as engineers.  A softer tire (when new) feels very smooth to ride on and makes happy new customers, and some may think lower pressure stops better.  They do not care if your tires only last 5K at that lower pressure (and get cupped), they are more concerned that you love the bike the way it rides out of the showroom new.

On a number of different motorcycles, when I got my first top quality tires, I started with PSI halfway between the manual recommended PSI and the MAX PSI printed on the sidewall.  Over the years, with Michelins, Metzlers, and Avons, I run my tires a couple pounds under max psi on the sidewall (and ignore the manual psi entirely).  And I run my car tires at 40psi (max psi on sidewall is 42).  I've rarely had anything but nice even wear on all these tires.  And great handling, and braking in all weather.

As far as safety goes, underinflated tires heat way up and are more likely to fail or deform than any tire run near max psi on the sidewall.

I feel the same way with tires I run on my cars and truck.  Yes, bikes and cars with harder tires have a harder ride.  It's worth it to get best performance and longevity.

[sdv003]

I use similar Bridgestones and mine are wearing very similarly to yours.  With about 10K on them, I'm definitely getting the flat center.  Most of the miles are on the slabs (it's the commuter vehicle) so I guess thats to be expected.  I run 42R and 40F, typically.  I think you're experiencing normal wear.

[dconstruct55]

Mark T,
with the 200 - 16 Avon on the back, do you have to lose the nut cage?