Rear tire blues..

[Duffy]

It was pointed out to me yesterday that I was riding on a slick back tire. 

It seems I get worse mileage with each tire. Is it the tire or what?

In 2009, I replaced my Avon Cobra with 12,900 miles on it.
In 2010, I replaced my Avon Cobra with 10,300 miles, and now
I need another rear tire at 9,400 miles in. What gives?

I pretty much ride the same roads at about the same speeds. I haven't noticed any alignment problem (if that is possible on one tire?) I do try and keep the air pressure steady. I am not great at that, but I have gotten better rather than worse, if anything.

And, of course the left side is more worn than the right, but that is another subject. 

What could it be?

Here is Thumper a week ago, taking me down a dirt road:


I probably only have 5 miles of dirt roads on the tire in question.

[..]

Hate to say it Duffy but here in the SE we eat up tires.

The flatlanders will talk about 20,000 miles on a rear tire. They should send us their tires so we can wear the edges off. (Joke guys, keep your knickers on).

You could go ........................................................................................... Darkside  

If you ride once a week you have to check your air pressure every time.

You could try fitting these angled tire stems. I use them on the ST and it slows down air loss

http://kurveygirl.com/shop/index.php?cPath=27&osCsid=1f341f4d102ab171ccc739c551494269

[Stanley Steamer]

I run Avons only on the rear......I think the most miles I ever got out of one is 9,200 miles.......and around 6,500 on a Metz......I use Metz's on the front and get around 12,000 on them.....never tried a front Avon after hearing of all the trouble Britman had out of some he had on the front......

[GOOSE]

Brittmann....Which one of those valve stems do you use??

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I heard it rumored some of you guys ride a little hard down there. I'll bet there's some unusual wear on your pegs too.

[Steve K (IA)]

Those of us running Dunlop E3's get close to, or beyond 20,000 out of a rear tire.  Holds real well in the rain too.  And the E3's seem to hold air better than Avons.  Mine do.

[PAVALKER]

Curious what air pressure you are running on your rear tire?   I do know when they start going, they seem to go pretty darn quick.  I thought I had some meat left on my rear tire and stopped to get the bike inspected while out on a lil ride.... I had cords showing and obviously didn't get an inspection, but made it home safely to change the tire.

[Tropic traveler]

Funny, 13,000 miles on the Avon Cobra on the back of Kim's Valkyrie. Still looks like it will go quite a bit more.  


I've never been able to get more than 11K with Avons on the rear of my Valk. Always a flat, haven't worn one out yet. Knock on wood, the 11K is what I have on the present Cobra. So far no flats!
17-18K on the front Avons.  

But no mountains around here.  

[Stanley Steamer]

I heard it rumored some of you guys ride a little hard down there. I'll bet there's some unusual wear on your pegs too.

Pegs are a terrible thing to waste.....for us rose sniffers!.....

[..]

Brittmann....Which one of those valve stems do you use??

Airete on my ST1300. As to size??? No idea. They've been on for 6 years.

[Tundra]

When I ran MC tires I would get between 10k-12k. The 12k was on the Avon, the BARELY 10k was on the Bridgstone BattleAxe. The Bridgstone was the best tire I ever rode on my Valk. Your milage is not surprising to me, why does it vary with the same tire?

[dipstick]

The bottom line is if you ride in the mountainous ares of the SE yer gonna eat tires. This is why I went to the Dark side. 20,000 miles on a Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread and it still has life left and it has always stuck like glue in every facet of riding, and I drag pegs all the time.

[Jess Tolbirt]

when you first got your bike it probably intimidated you a little bit and you rode it real conservatively...then on the second tire you felt a little more comfortable on it and rode a little harder with out knowingly doing so,, do see where this is going? 

[..]

when you first got your bike it probably intimidated you a little bit and you rode it real conservatively...then on the second tire you felt a little more comfortable on it and rode a little harder with out knowingly doing so,, do see where this is going? 

+1

[Duffy]

when you first got your bike it probably intimidated you a little bit and you rode it real conservatively...then on the second tire you felt a little more comfortable on it and rode a little harder with out knowingly doing so,, do see where this is going?  

Jess, that is the best answer I can think of, but I am not sure it is true. When I got this Valk it was my second one,
My first Valk (aka Bad Mojo):


so I was certainly less intimidated than the first time I rode a Valk. You may be right though, I can't think of another logical reason for the trend unless the Avons are getting softer.  

Oh well, the good news is I talked the wife into a new tire for Christmas!  



Happy Holidays everyone.
Current tire eater:

[..]

Years ago I stopped at the Exxon gas station in Tellico Plains. I had plenty of tread on my front Avon.

After a VERY spirited ride across the Cherohala the right side of the tire had worn to the wear bars. Tire was shot after less than 4,000 miles.

This followed on my tire change day from hell. Had to have 4 Avons fronts fitted to find one that didn't make the front of my ex Valkyrie bounce like a teenage kangaroo on meth.

Never bought another Avon after that.

[BigAl]

Hell Duffy I would not complain if I got 8000 0n a rear tire.

I have gotten as little as 4500 on a Bridgestone.

5000 on a Metzler.

You are doing pretty good actually.

It's all in the throttle hand.

Not your tire pressure, but keeping air in them helps.

Just my two cents.

Smokin Joe gets about 10,000 out of his brand of cartires on the twisties.

So that won't help much either.

[Jess from VA]

FWIW, my Metzlers are wearing out sooner than ever too (each tire gets less miles), I keep my pressures up and checked weekly.  However, a few tires ago, I ran them too damn long before changing.

[BigAl]

It has to be a conspiracy on long wearing tires.

I think and I am taking a chance letting this out.

The Earth's magnetic field is becoming weaker and this in turn is making your motorcycles go faster and your tires

are ergo not lasting as long as they used too.

Either that or the same company that makes the prophylactics for China has somehow gotten involved in tire manufacture

world wide.

Nah that can't be it.

[Jess Tolbirt]

when you first got your bike it probably intimidated you a little bit and you rode it real conservatively...then on the second tire you felt a little more comfortable on it and rode a little harder with out knowingly doing so,, do see where this is going?  

Jess, that is the best answer I can think of, but I am not sure it is true. When I got this Valk it was my second one,
My first Valk (aka Bad Mojo):




Oh well, the good news is I talked the wife into a new tire for Christmas!  



Happy Holidays everyone.

that is one fine looking lady in that picture!!

the fat one aint bad either!!

[thumper]

It's gravity and the fact that the earth sucks and is robbing you of tire wear.

Ten thousand is about the most I've ever been able to squeeze out on and Avon rear.

I just consider tire cost as much cheaper than a psychiatrist and it just don't seem to hurt so bad.

[Bronson]

Maybe it's not the tires that are getting softer...
Bronson

[..]

After some spirited days riding my rear Shinko Raven on the ST was down to the wear bars at just over 6,000 miles. 

[BigAl]

6000 on a Sport Touring Machine.

Not bad.

Most I ever got on a ZRX1200R Kawi.

Was 3000, front and rear.