What tires do you ride on...

[mark@umt.com]

Hey all,

Love the tech board since I got my new/used Valk in December....couldn`t wait to get it on the road and wanted to read up on everything Valk that I could....love this site guyz!

I`m currently riding on Avon Cobra R tires front and rear and find that I`m not getting good mileage on them....at all!  I have 6,000 miles (or 10,000 kms in Canada) and already have cupping on the rear tire.  This is the first set I`ve put on, but the previous tires were Avon Venom R`s and did the same thing.  Am I over inflating or riding too heavy....as both my wife and I are on a North American tour and are fully geared up....now to my question.

What tires is everyone else riding on and what kind of mileage are you getting....and I`m sure this question was asked in the past...if so, if you could direct me to that link, that would be greatly appreciated! 

Mark

[hubcapsc]

I only get 6 or 7 K on a rear tire... some people get much more... around 42psi is a common
inflation rate, that's what I shoot for. I'm not a hot shot, I attribute the big difference in
mileage to the different kinds of roads people ride on... some people use 4wd truck
tires  and get much better mileage...



-Mike

[mark@umt.com]

Yeah...I guess I should mention as well...I`m not wanting to go to the Darkside either....I like my twisty`s....as far as you can go on a Valk with highway pegs....and feel a little leary when the corner hits that tire wall....

I also aim to have my tires at 40psi....would that be a good range for most....

[PhredValk]

Dunlop E3s, came with the bike (and I'm riding them to Toronto starting tomorrow). I find the front has a minor wobble at low speeds. I ride to work any day I can, so lots of city and long afternoon rides on secondary hiways. Will probably go to a car tire when the rear is done, and a Metzler rear tire on the front. I don't do a lot of twisties, and am mostly looking for high milage.
Fred.

[CISE]

Last summer I was riding on Dunlops E3s front and back - took a little ride from Atlanta to visit family in Montreal, Ottawa and London (side trip to Quebec City of course).

4800 miles in 2 weeks - no problems with the tires - front at 33PSI, read at 36PSI - bike was fully loaded and I am a tad chunky - porcine in fact.

Have just switched to Darkside (Falken E3) and commute from Atlanta to Charlotte each week - I average 800 miles a week and so far the tire handles weel at highway speed and some back roads (42 PSI) in rear.

I am not a sport rider - I tend to travel highways and secondaries - but have hit a few minor twisties (just to get a feel of the CT), ridden in heavy rain, on dirt roads and through loose gravel and so far so good.

All in all - for my riding (long distance) I prefer CT - for short or mountain riding I would stay with MC tires - but I would not do 40 PSI on MC tires.

(Just my humble Opinion --- please feel free to ignore it - I am married and used to it  )

[BF]

Oh boy......a tire thread.  Should be as good as an oil thread.  


Just joking...........

Dunlop E3's........42 front, 45 rear (when I check   ).  About 6000 on them now.....still look good, like I might be able to get 10,000 or more out of them.  More solo to and from work riding than 2 up weekend riding (75% - 25%)....we're not small people.....although we're working on that.      

Ride mostly all winter long, more than in the summer.....too dang hot and humid for me.   

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Hey Mark , before switching to the Darkside , I have Avons front and rear ....... I would run 38 up front for the summer because it will heat up yp 40 lbs easy here in Texas and 42 lbs in the rear year round solo or two up .... now since I went Darkside two yrs. ago on my 55 series Michlein I'll run 32 lbs solo and 35 lbs riding two up ... my 2 cents I'll NEVER use a M/C rear tire again I like it and my wifey's back like it 

[joefromperry]

My son and I are each on our third set of Dunlop E3's, he with his Goldwing and I with my Interstate. We love the wet/rain handling and see no reasons to switch. We get anywhere from 8 to 12 thousand miles on the tires, maybe a little less with a lot of camper-pulling.

[Tropic traveler]

HMMM. I love the handling of the Cobras & I have not had the bad mileage from them that you have had. Wife's Valk has over 10K on her Avons & they both look like they could go at least 6K more.
Maybe it is local road conditions & riding style. Kim is pretty gentle on her Valk & our roads are pretty good around here.

[redflash]

I used to run Dunflops E3, but don't like them at all, got 15-17K on the rears. Started running the Avon Cobra and get around 13K but enjoy the grip and ride of the Avon's.

[ridgeman06]

I use Dunlop E3's also. I had them on my gl1800 when I sold it. Excellent tires in my opinion. It is all I will buy now. My Valkyrie had Avons on it when I bought it. I put 10000 more miles on them. They were fine tires, but noisy in the corners.

[Spirited-6]

I am running Metz. 880`s on a 98 Tourer. At this time 9,300 miles on them. Run 40 front, 41 rear. They show very little wear. Looks like I can get another 9,000 on front, 5,000 on rear. 

[CB1]

Avon Cobra, front and rear. around 7k on them with no issues to report. I like the way they "grip".
A lot quieter then the Avon Venom-Rs that were on the bike before.

[Ricky-D]

Load ratings vary widely when comparing car tires to motorcycle tires.

Air pressure in tires seem to be a personal thing with riders but adjusting the pressure to gain a more steady and/or comfortable riding motorcycle should still be within the range recommended by Honda and also the tire manufacturer.

Inconsistencies in the manufacture of the tire carcass can cause a wobble or bounce in the tire when riding. Experimenting with tire pressure can minimize the annoyance. Every tire has a "sweet spot" when considering pressure.

***

[Dag]

I have promised myself that I will never participate in a tire discussion. I have learned from experience ... But I must make one small comment.

There are many different factors that are essential if the tire fits you and your bike. Driving style, whether it is twisty road or most straights, the quality of surface, temperature, etc.
My recommendation is to use a tire that you feel is good for you. Do not listen to all the good advice here. 
I see that some swear by a type of tires that I consider to be dangerous (for me, for my driving style, for the roads I ride)
It is your choice.

[john]

dunlops E3s ...   
keep between 45 50 lbs air pressure in'em     
i got 17,000  miles out of the last set ...     
  could'a got 20,000 ...
its your bread ... do what you like     

[mark@umt.com]

Hey all,

Thanks for all the advice...I greatly appreciate all the insight! 

And just out of curiosity Dag...what tires to you run on...

Thanks again and safe riding all! 

Mark

[Dag]

And just out of curiosity Dag...what tires to you run on...

Mark

My choice is Bridgestone Battlax BT020 200/60R16 rear and Bridgestone Exedra front.

[hueco]

Metzlers and Dunlops. I just replaced the rear Metzler  with a little over 12,000 miles on it with an Dunlop E3. About 12,000 miles is the most I get out of a rear tire. No matter what brand.

[Mildew]

http://www.revzilla.com/product_images/0002/8869/Kenda_K671_Cruiser_ST_Tires_Rear_zoom.jpg
http://www.discounttirezone.com/assets/images/productimages/firestone/FH_GT.jpg
firestone on the rear and kenda on the front. I think my tires will outlast my foot pegs and shoes.

[MP]

Is the Kenda a radial or a bias tire?  I cannot seem to find where it says.
TIA.

MP

[Cattman]

Valk IS with Avon Cobra's 43# front 46# rear(48# if wife and trailer are included).  12k out of the last rear. 18k out of the front. Higher consistent pressure= longer tire life.

[bg]

Avon Cobra on my 00 I/S.
normally get around 15-16K out of the rear.

[Master Blaster]

Been doing it a long time, and can tell you that the Valk is prone to cup the rear tire unless you keep the pressure up no matter what brand of tire.  Avon is my tire of choice in a M/C tire for the Valk and I keep the front no less than 42 and rear no less than 45.  Pays to check pressures at least weekly.  Some Valk rims tend to be a little porous, and will loose air very slowly.  Also once a wear pattern is set into the tire, it usually will continue even if you do raise the pressure.  Now Car tires are another breed, and I have put a lot of miles on a Michilen Hydroedge that has tremendous grip wet or dry, straight or twisty.   On my ZX14 I run 42 front and rear, and it handles crappy with less, same with my Concours 14.  Now those two can get your blood pumping, esp the ZX.

[Robert]

Avon Cobra, front and rear

[fuzzy2bucks]

Run on Avon Venom.  Tire rubber feels a little soft. Grips the road well, even do a gravel road on them daily.  To find out how much labor will be on your new tires, go to the
Motorcycle Superstore and they have Labor Rates at many shops in many cities.

[N8171S]

I have 17,000 on a Bridgestone and it has only gone from 10/32 to 7/32 and I tow a trailer some of the time with 2 kayaks.  It is a 205/60/16 potenza G009.

[Mildew]

Is the Kenda a radial or a bias tire?  I cannot seem to find where it says.
TIA.

MP

It's a bias tire

[Hoser]

Dunlop D404 bias on front, BS g850 on rear,, so far, so good.  Hoser

[dipstick]

My 99 had Dunlops on it when I bought it and I thought they were ok until I wore them in 8,000 miles. I switched to Avon Venom R's and liked them much better for my riding style, Then the next go around I went to the Avon Cobra front with a Goodyear assurance triple tread dard side rear which now has 10,000 miles on it with not hardly any signs of wear. In my riding the dark side tire will out perform a bike tire on a Valk riding hard on the twisties or ANY other road or condition in my experience. But as stated above you have to go with what YOU are comfortable with.