New Tires Advice Needed

[xman]

Well it's time for new tires. It will be my winter project.  This is the first time so I'm doing the homework. My plan is, purchase tires, pull the tires off the bike and have them mounted at a dealer or tire shop, service the rear end. I have Metzler now. The frount has started cupping and thinning in the chicken patch. The rear tire is better but neither will do another year. So any advice and help is greatly appreciated.

What tires do you like? and why?

Where to purchase them? On the internet or dealler?

Should I pull the drive shaft out? Is there anything to it, other than inspect the condition of the U joint?

Thanks Tom

[Momz]

I've had the same wear problem with my Metzler 880s. I had to replace them before I got 7500 miles on them. To their credit, they do grip very well.

I replaced the Metzlers with the new AVON COBRAS and they seem to be the best tire sets that I've used since 2003.

Correct air pressure is probably the most important factor in tire life. Don't rely on just one pressure gauge.
I recommend that you use three different gauges; you will find that there is a wide variance in accuracy.

Remember pressure gauges are cheap compared to a set of tires.

[Farther]

I have used Metzler for the last couple of tire changes and like them except for wear, but next time I think I will try the Shinkos SE890s.  http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=72

[Tropic traveler]

I've had good luck with Avons & Metzlers. 

[Hoser]

They are all serviceable,
The Avons handle well, seep air over time, and are expensive.
Bridgestones last well, are probly the least expensive.
Dunlop E3 tires last the longest, some do not like their handling in curves.
Metzlers handle well but probly have the shortest life.
I have used all of these or I would not comment on them.
The above are all Radial tires.
I now use a bias ply Dunlop american elite on the rear and a Dunlop D404 bias on front.
They are reasonably priced and are very durable, I had my first set   for 20,000 miles.
Here is a pic taken of them after I replaced them.

[john]

 " Dunlop E3 tires last the longest "
keep air pressure 45-50 lbs ... i get 20,000 plus miles
ride like you have a brain in your head ...
yes ... pull the shaft .. service the the final drive at each
tire change ...

[BF]

Tires are like oil.  There are as many opinions on here as there are brands.  

I'm not all that experienced myself and so far, I have only experienced a set of Metzlers and my current Dunlop Elite 3's.  

The Elite's seem like I'm going to get way over 10,000 on this set....if not a whole lot more.  The cost was great too.  I got mine mounted, out the door, front AND rear for less than 300 at my local Honda dealer.  That was a couple years ago and I hear that they're going for around 325 for a set mounted now.  But that's still a heck of a deal IMHO.  

I wouldn't go back to the Metzlers if you gave me set.  Didn't like they way the rear tire handled at all.....and the rear didn't last 6000 miles.  I don't think the front would've gone much further either.  They were almost new when I bought the bike.  

The only "issue" that some might complain about with the Elite 3's is that they're kinda noisy on fresh, newer asphalt when you lean it over in turns.  I've heard them do that before, but it doesn't bother me at all.  I never heard them on older pavement at all.

So far, I'm really pleased with my Elite 3's.  

[Farther]

ride like you have a brain in your head ...

Where's the fun in that?  

[old2soon]

Have you given any thought to a car tire on the rear wheel?? Lot of thoughts available on that particular subject. I myself have over 8000 miles on my General Ultimah H P 205-60-16 speed rated H. I have the Metz 880 up front. Like the combination i'm running with. $99.00 on the General delivered to my La casa. Figured i'd throw that in there as you did not shoot it down out of hand. Let us know please what you finally decide to go with. RIDE SAFE.

[Shotgun]

I've been using Avons (first the Venom, now the Cobra) ever since my OEM Dunlop wore out at 9000 miles.  I really like them.  They get reasonably good mileage (16000 on the rear and I ride 2 up 80% of the time) and they handle like a sport bike.  I've had no issues with them.

[biguglyman]

The only "issue" that some might complain about with the Elite 3's is that they're kinda noisy on fresh, newer asphalt when you lean it over in turns

I've noticed the same thing.  The Metzlers on my old GoldWing were also a little noisy in turns.  If they (E-3's) last like he says, I can live with a little noise.

[98valk]

E3 on rear and conti-go rear tire on the front, really like the combo for handling.

[paps350]

My last tire change was a rear Avon Venom which was replaced with an Avon Cobra. I havn't had them long enough to comment on wear but it rides nice. The best price I found was Jake Wilson on the internet.
I paid 161.99 for a rear after I found a 10.00 coupon on the internet. It included free shipping and I recieved it in about a week. I removed it and took it to a dealer and had it mounted and dyna beads installed for 45.00 serviced rear, and installed.

[fudgie]

I've only had Metzler and loved them. Been very reliable to me. 22k on the front 14k ish on the rear. CT on the rear and Metz on the front.

Avons, I think Cobra has a new design for better wear/ traction. It does not have the grove in the center. GiG got one put on at Sturgis.

[thunderbass53]

I just replaced Bridgestones with Avon Cobras. Not many miles on them yet, but if you ride twisties at all...this is your tire. Our 740+ lb Valk is now a champion ballroom dancer...smooth, graceful, follows my every thought...LOVES the twisties.
I found MY tires....

[DarkMeister]

I have the Dunlops. My front has 8K miles on it and is almost toast.
Pretty weird, considering I check my pressure religiously each year. 
So yeah - probably my bad. The front tire is cupping or whatever; still lots of tread. Most noticable in *left* turns; much smoother when leaning/turning to the right.

[Kylenav]

Just ordered a new Avon Cobra for the front. Best price I found was from Rocky Mountain ATV for $154.99 free shipping.  Replacing my dunflop E3 after 10K or so.  Ran it at 41 PSI and it wore even and never gave me any issues.  Avon is cheaper and I've had good luck with them in the past.  We shall see I suppose.

Also used Ride On for the last 7-8K miles.  Made a very noticeable difference in smoothness.  I'll be putting new stuff in as soon as it's on the bike.

[rodeo1]

i have rode a zillion miles over the past 40 years and i still like dunlops. the elite 3's have really been good tires, but like oil is a real matter of opinion.

to address what i consider even more important, dealer or internet ? i tried going the internet route because one of the aftermarket internet companies would save me a bunch of cash and they deliverd free. o.k. cool ! i ordered them and told my honda dealer what i had done, he said that was fine, but he hoped i had no warrantee issues.

well ! guess what ?  the tire was out of round, the internet guy said i had to deal with the mfg. i called them, they wanted to see the tire, i had to pay shipping and let my ride sit while they were determining if it was a warrantee issue or not, 15 days later i was up and running with a new warrantee replacement, and by the way i had to pay twice for mount and balance.

my honda guy said, "too bad, i would have exchanged the tire for free including mount and balance" and had me up and running the same day.

so ! is there a moral to the story ??? duhhh !

[CASABROKER]

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/

probably the best prices you'll find

[Kylenav]

Same tire on that site is $172.92.

[xman]

Old..... don't think I'm ready to go over to your side yet. If I was doing super slab maybe.

Rodeo.... good point about the dealer being responsible. I will get a dealer price for the tires and mounting. I will pull the wheels. A friend had his MC tires mounted in a car tire shop. They do MC tires all the time. They did a good job. I'm going to talk to them.

Thank you guys for all the info. I think I will get the Avon Cobra.  Any one know the sizes for the frount and rear?  Are they the same as the original tires?

Tom

[Earl in Pensacola]

XMAN--  go back a couple of "strings" to Clamp upgrade and read my comment with regard to Avon Cobras. 

[rodeo1]

Old..... don't think I'm ready to go over to your side yet. If I was doing super slab maybe.

Rodeo.... good point about the dealer being responsible. I will get a dealer price for the tires and mounting. I will pull the wheels. A friend had his MC tires mounted in a car tire shop. They do MC tires all the time. They did a good job. I'm going to talk to them.

Thank you guys for all the info. I think I will get the Avon Cobra.  Any one know the sizes for the frount and rear?  Are they the same as the original tires?

Tom

just a thought, i get a substantial discount from honda just because i am a CMA member, they also give a discount to goldwingers, tell your dealer yo are a vrcc member, he might give you a good discount, can't take away your birthday for trying. always let them know what jake wilson will deliver it free for. i only pay about $20.00 a tire more than jake wilson charges at honda.

[dipstick]

The Avon is the best tire vor the Valk IMHO. Also a car rear is not only for super slab riding, I find that riding in the NC and TN mountain twisties that a car rear holds the grip WAY better in and out of a turn than does an MC tire. But that is only if you like to attack the turns, and in so doing I will spin my MC rear out of a turn and not be able to enter the turn as fast comortably. WHere as my Goodyear assurance triple tread holds the ground and wont break loose out of a turn and provide 25,000 miles of riding. But it is not for everyone and you still have to lube the splines and replace the o-rings every 10,000 miles.

Good luck

[98valk]

i don't quite understand this o-ring thing. is that something you are doing just because someone here on the forum said to do it ??????????

exactly. the o-ring religion to go along with the seafoam religion along with the classic "its just cheap insurance" religion. I'm sure the cheap insurance crowd change all of the light bulbs in their residence every  6 months, cause its cheap insurnace for if one burns out in the middle of the night.
this is all over the internet message boards, not only here.

[thunderbass53]

XMAN,
Get the Cobras in the original sizes for front and rear....

[hueco]

I am running Dunlop E3 on the front and rear right now. It is like riding a galloping horse. I had both balanced on install. Then pulled and had balanced again. The front is really bad on jumping before it gets warmed up. Ran Metz before. No galloping problem with them. No more Dunnys for me. Have had some kind of problem with them every time.

[Kylenav]

My E3 up front was like that until I installed the ride-on.  I swear by it.  It's a bit pricey, about $75 for both front and back, but man does it make a HUGE difference.  Easy to install it and as a bonus to balancing even my E3 it is also a sealant.  There is plenty of info about it on this site, even someone puncturing his tire with a screwdrive to see if it really would seal a hole up.  Just a thought to get rid of the galloping until it's time for new shoes 

[old2soon]

Old..... don't think I'm ready to go over to your side yet. If I was doing super slab maybe.

Rodeo.... good point about the dealer being responsible. I will get a dealer price for the tires and mounting. I will pull the wheels. A friend had his MC tires mounted in a car tire shop. They do MC tires all the time. They did a good job. I'm going to talk to them.

Thank you guys for all the info. I think I will get the Avon Cobra.  Any one know the sizes for the frount and rear?  Are they the same as the original tires?

Tom

XMAN-look around on the board and find some pics of Smokinjoe on his Valkyries. You'll see how far he is leaned over AND sacrificing chrome-on a car tire. A K A-the darkside. Not trying to force you into anything. But i do rather well in the twistys myself-considering my advanced age. RIDE SAFE.

[xman]

Old, Dipstick
Yep, but Joe is the man!!! We all can only hope to be half as good as him. I've seen that vidio with the cam under the bike aimed at the CT. The transition onto the side and back looks a bit shakey. Maybe it's looks worse than it is. My rideing is country roads with a lot of twisties, where ever I can find them. With the metzer's I have now the front tire looks like it will be done before the rear. About 6000 miles on them. Maybe I could get another 2K. They will be shot if I can get in some rides this fall.

Earl, you had my worried until I found your post. I will see if I can get anywhere near the millage you get. I to have had the out of round tire. Mine were the tire not seated on the rim. I get it to go away with deflating, soaping the tire and over inflating it.  I corrects itself overtime. Maybe I have been luckey.


Thunder Bass sold me, he said this about cobra's  "Our 740+ lb Valk is now a champion ballroom dancer...smooth, graceful, follows my every thought...LOVES the twisties. I found MY tires". Thunder, you could sell snowballs to eskimos.

Thanks All
Tom

[donaldcc]

XMAN,
Get the Cobras in the original sizes for front and rear....

I like them a lot.  Have 12k on front and 10,000 on back and they still have lots of tread.

[Dragon-6]

I swore by E3s, and still do because I put 21k on them before hitting the TWI, but put the 880s on because the dealer near The Tail of the Dragon had them at a great price while I was down there.  Really like the 880s in the mountains! 

[amungus]

I have the AVON venom tires on my interstate. Love them!!!! Quiet,with great grip and ride. Dealer put them on wasn't cheap but heh my life is riding on them.

[Tx Bohemian]

As was stated here: tires are like oil, everybody has their own opinion which is the best.

Personally I have a Dunlop on the front that came with the bike and is probably a bit more than half worn.
On the rear I have a 200 Metz mainly cause it was $150 at the Honda dealer and I think it looks bada$$.  It has about 500 miles on it since installed and looks new (imagine that).
I run 35psi in both and am happy with it as it suits my type of riding.

I recommend that you use three different gauges; you will find that there is a wide variance in accuracy.

Remember pressure gauges are cheap compared to a set of tires.

This is good information but I have a question: If you use three gauges and have a variance, whether large or small, which gauge do you believe?

[Gryphon]

This is good information but I have a question: If you use three gauges and have a variance, whether large or small, which gauge do you believe?

None of them.  Take an average of the pressures if they are somewhat close.  If one pressure is considerably at variance to the other two, I would suspect that it needs to be replaced.  Just an opinion and not a binding bit of advice.

[The Anvil]

This is good information but I have a question: If you use three gauges and have a variance, whether large or small, which gauge do you believe?

Here's what I do: I have a calibrated dial gauge (aircraft quality but they're beau coup bucks and not strictly necessary, the calibrated part is important) that never leaves my workspace. Dial gauges (even high quality, liquid filled ones) do not like shock and vibration so it stays there. I check my stick gauges against it regularly. In the past five years or so I've only had to throw out one stick gauge because it wasn't reading accurately anymore.

I don't have much experience with Valkyrie tires other than what's on my bike but I have Avon Cobras and the handling is superb. They've got 8000 miles on them now and the front is worn evenly across the entire surface while the rear has a small flat spot that doesn't seem to affect handling (or I've become used to it). I see no problem getting another 4000 miles at least out of the rear and I ride pretty aggressively in corners. I also very rarely have to add air (once a month at the most) so I'm going to have to disagree with the idea that they "seep air", at least not all of them do.  

[hubcapsc]

This is good information but I have a question: If you use three gauges and have a variance, whether large or small, which gauge do you believe?

None of them.  Take an average of the pressures if they are somewhat close.  If one pressure is considerably at variance to the other two, I would suspect that it needs to be replaced.  Just an opinion and not a binding bit of advice.

I have a $45 dial gauge from NAPA... I got the guy to let me try three or four of them, they all
agreed, so I got one.

I also have a stick gauge, a nice one that is probably as old as me, it was my father's. It also agrees with my
dial gauge, and I tested it against Frank Smoak's digital gauge once, it matched.

I wouldn't imagine that three of those two-inch-long stick gauges they sell by the cash register at
AutoZone would agree with one another, but any three "good" gauges ought to match up well enough
to use on our motorcycles...

-Mike

[fudgie]

I wouldn't imagine that three of those two-inch-long stick gauges they sell by the cash register at
AutoZone would agree with one another, but any three "good" gauges ought to match up well enough
to use on our motorcycles...

-Mike

I had one. I added air to my CT cause it looked low. Fully loaded bike. When I found the gauge and checked the pressure, it blew it apart. Couldnt find all the pcs.

[Ricky-D]

A new front tire will always make the bike feel better and definitely improves handling.

The reason the improvement is so blatantly noticeable is that the old tire becomes such a poor performer over an extended period of time, so poor, so slowly, in fact that that we don't realize how poor the handling has become.

Put the new front tire on and WOW, what an improvement. "I'm never going back to that other tire brand" is often the remark. What is really the case, is meaning: "I'm never going back to that old worn out tire".

Sure!  Who would want to put on an old worn out tire.

A change to the rear tire is much less noticeable, although a new rear tire will positively affect the handling, just not as much as a new front tire.

***

[hubcapsc]

I wouldn't imagine that three of those two-inch-long stick gauges they sell by the cash register at
AutoZone would agree with one another, but any three "good" gauges ought to match up well enough
to use on our motorcycles...

-Mike

I had one. I added air to my CT cause it looked low. Fully loaded bike. When I found the gauge and checked the pressure, it blew it apart. Couldnt find all the pcs.

Dang... I hope you were wearing eye protection 

-Mike