Tire questions -I know, I know! Also, somewhat long...

[Walküre]

I've done several searches, and have some "partial" answers, but, although hate to bog up the forum, would like some opinions, in one place...

I've always been in the position to replace tires "evenly" - that is, both front and rear at the same time. With my daughter starting college in August, just can't swing it, this time. Here's the scenario:

2000 Standard, maybe 1000 miles on new Bridgestone Exedra's - PO bought them, not me. I like Dunlop E-3's, personally. The rear was run low, so has a little cupping, but all my riding right now is straight-line, back and forth to work. The front is great, but I picked up a little tiny sliver of sheet metal - like it was cut off an AC vent, or something. VERY slow leak, so I pulled it out, STILL very slow. I plugged it with a Stop & Go, and there's NO leak at all. I check the pressure, and plug, religiously. I know the risk, but I'm a big-boy. And, I ride 25 miles each way, and wouldn't take a long trip on these tires. But, my philosophy is that even if the plug fails, it will slowly leak down, not blow out instantly. Been there, done that! Numerous times over the years on bikes. So I don't want to start a discussion on how bad/good that decision is, please...

I can afford ONE tire, at this time. With our short season, riding until maybe November, will probably be NEXT season, before I can afford another one. Here's my dilemna:

1.  If I buy a Bridgestone to replace the front, then I'm "stuck" with Bridgestone, until I can afford to buy two tires.

2.  I'm not happy with the Bridgestone's. I have never used different brands on the same road bike, is that an OK situation? NO twisties at all, just straight-line back and forth to work.

3.  I'm open to other recommendations, on tires, for the Valk. Tell me what you ride on, and why.

Solutions:

1.  Ride on the plug, until next season, which I'm NOT worried about doing - the worse that can happen is it not last through this year. Then replace both tires, beginning of next season.

2.  Buy a new front, of a brand OTHER than Bridgestone, and ride, baby, ride. Replace rear next year, with new brand.

3.  Bite the bullet, buy another Bridgestone, and live with it...

4.  Park the bike ---- NOT an option!!!

5.  ???? I'm open to any and all suggestions, here, folks!

Thanks in advance!!

Roger

[Willow]

Trust the plug.  If it worries you, pull the tire and have it patched from the inside.

If you do replace the tire replace it with the brand of your choice.  Mixing brands is not a problem.

[Jabba]

I concur with Willow.  But it might make you die a firey death.  (Joke)

Or... you could Buy a front E3, and go Darkside for the rear.  Another firey death.  I know... that was not one of the choices...

Jabba

[Daniel Meyer]

Trust the plug.  If it worries you, pull the tire and have it patched from the inside.

If you do replace the tire replace it with the brand of your choice.  Mixing brands is not a problem.

What he said....

[big turkey]

Around here they call a patch, a Boot, in the tire.

It's a Vulcanized Patch that is held in place with the tire off the rim while it cures, then is placed

back on the rim.

Plugs are good and I have put 4 thousand miles on one with a back tire puncture.

Front tires are a little diffierent, and in this case for piece of mind boot that front tire and

quit worrying about it altogether.

PS, a boot is cheap if you have a bike shop that is reasonable.

If they won't boot the tire at the MC Shop, take it to a tire or service station that will.

This is as safe as it gets on tire repair.

I agree with Willow wholehertedly and this will get you down the road safely as a new tire.

E-3's are good if you ride straight lines, but the way we ride in the mountains Avons are hard to beat.

Hope you enjoy this riding season.

Big Al

[tedj]

Patch it on the inside AND install a tube inside, if you can find one to fit. That's the absolute safest way to ride on a damaged tire.

[RLD]

Mixing brands is fine, just stick to both radials. If you watch, you will see several bikes with mixed brand tires. I have personally mixed several brands as I only replace tires as needed and have never, in 130000 miles replaced both at once. I know you can also mix radial and bias, but I can't remember which must go where. I think Harley is even selling a new bike this way.

[bigdog99]

you can replace both for the cost of 1, kenda back tire in the front $70. hankook in the back (CT) @$80. put them on yourself free.
 

[big turkey]

You can run a Radial on the Back and a Bias on the front, but not the other way around.

you have to buy a radial

 Tube as well and I don't like the feel, so won't do it again.

I do it on my KLR650, Metzler Tourance on the Back and bias ply stock tire on the front.

But I would not do that a
on a Valkyrie.

Big Al

[F6Dave]

My old BMW R100GS came from the factory with a bias front and radial rear -- both Metzelers.  It handles great on and off the pavement.

[Walküre]

you can replace both for the cost of 1, kenda back tire in the front $70. hankook in the back (CT) @$80. put them on yourself free.
 

Took me a bit to figure out what you said - Hankook only had car tires...oh, THAT'S what CT is!!! 

so, now I've been looking into it. Need to learn a bit more about it, before I make the jump, but I'm not opposed to it at all. Which is contrary to me, as I am pretty much a "purist" on vehicles, as a rule. I'm restoring to plumb-stock, a 1951 Ford F2 3/4 ton pickup, in EVERY way, except color and rear end gearing. Flathead motor, original 4 speed with granny, stock interior, etc. Any Ford freaks can see the progress by clicking the link here:  My '51 Ford

Are those recommendations good tires, or good, cheap tires, or cheap tires? I mean, I can do the work myself - always have - and I can afford a little more than just a front tire, just can't quite swing two new Dunlops, at $350+ or so...but $250 is do-able...still the same recommendations?

And Big Al - is the bias front/radial rear, because the radial can take whatever the bias can dish out, and not vice-versa?

R

[Jabba]

I don't know MANY guys running the Kenda rear on the front... but go to the Tech board and entertain yourself for hours reading about that.  BigDogg99 has it and likes it.  I have seen it, and it looks OK to me... 

Tires are sort of like dogs... the BEST breed in the WORLD in the one YOU own. 

Me... I have a Falken rear, Metz 880 front on my Standard, and a Altimax HP rear, and a E3 on the front on my IS.  I don't like the E3 much.  I intellectually don' tlike the Falken, but it SEEMS to handle just fine.  When I replace the Falken on the std, I am gonna go with a stickier, 205/55 series tire.  Both of mine are 205/60 now and you can't get into they hyper sticky, low tread wear tire in a 60 series.  You HAVE to go 55 as far as I can tell.  That's A LOT of miles down the road for me though.  Years at least.  Since I am now splitting miles.

You got a lot of options man.  Most of them won't get you hurt.

Jabba
 

[Hef]

What is it about the Bridgestones that you don't like? I run them on my 2000 Standard and get great wear and traction. Just curious.

[Walküre]

Hef - nothing in particular - just had some years back, that I couldn't get or keep balanced, and thus they wore out WAY too quickly. The place that put them on replaced the first rear, totally unheard of, at 3000 miles because they were shot, and they thought it might have been their fault, but replaced them both way too early. May have been bad tires, bad balance, both, but left a bad taste in my mouth. Since at this point, I'm going to attempt to ride the life ou of these two, it might change my opinion. I usually try to keep an open mind, no matter what...

I'll hop over to the tech section, more research...

R

[bigdog99]

i will answer about the tires from what i know,
the hankook rear was a suggestion form a friend who put a CT on his VTX. i thought the tread pattern was awsome and didnt really like the stripe down the middle with the rest. i put it on after reading from the darkside about it. it told me everything i should expext and were they right. i currently have @9500 miles on the tire and it will last a lot longer. the E3's never got me 6000. the kenda on the front was due to someone on this board, cant rememberr and dont want to dis anyone, however, i had 2 miles on it when we went to whiskey run. did i tell you i had a great time there! oh yea the tires, i could tell imediately the handling was improved. i run about 39 psi and may lower it, but this tire can get me 15,000 at least. cheap tires, i dont think so, i will say its probably why honda didnt tell me about it. i have no need to go there for at least another 78,000 miles to maybe get more wheel bearings. 
my thoughts only, not as much a purist, but i do love to ride!

[Walküre]

Big Dog - thanks! Which Hankook are you using? I've seen several, that people are using. As I said, I'm a purist, but that's my truck - I read about the "differences" with the CT, and for the riding I do, almost always highway, very few twisties (Indiana, remember? a 2 foot rise stretched over 3 miles is called a steep grade!), so I seem like the perfect candidate for the CT. My days of sewing leather patches on the knees of my jeans are long over. Been there, done that! Nothing worse than dragging a knee every time you made a turn, and hitting a stone! Ask my doctors over the years...

Anyway, thanks, and info on the Hankook would be appreciated. I did see which Kenda to use....

BTW, I did call my local shop - E-3's all the way...BIG bucks!! Nope, ain't going there.

Now, I have to make a decision on the Dyna Beads...suggestions????

 

RC

[bigdog99]

i used the k106
http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/Store_Detail.cfm?ID=186697&InfoID=4278&ShowLarge=True&SnipID=4835

where in indiana are you? ridin buddy!
sorry, thats the 215 i actually used the 205, couldnt find the 205 55 16 on the list  hmmmm!

[Walküre]

I'm In a little town named Oxford, Home of Dan Patch. About 80 miles from you, straight south.

I found the 205, but every place that carries it, they're out of stock...too many Valk's??
'RC

[Jabba]

they will order you one.

i use the dyna beads.  seems fine to me.  some claim hokum though.

there are some decent roads in in.  just not up north where you guys are.  they are all south...

jabba