tires what's the best??

[bozzy]

I've had no luck with Dunlops or Avons and can't get any kind of mileage out of them before they deform. I only got about 5K out of the Dunlop Elite 3 before it got a about a 3-4 inch wide raised belt though the middle of the rear tire. ( same thing happened to the Avon Venom I had on the back) I've tried the dark side and I'm not comfortable going that way anymore . So what's the best tires out there for my 2001 IS??

[KSDragonRider]

you have tried what i feel are the 3 best options. 

Dark side is where i went and stayed.  If i had not gone this way, I would have gone Shinkos.

I have a shinko front, and already i have 5+k on it, with out a single issue, and still looks to be at least 3/4 tread.  I know others dont like the "cheap" tires.  Well, you cant hide money, as one of the shinko haters would say.

There are alot more tire options out there than a person realizes, but you have to make sure you get something that is rated for the weight you are hauling.  These big bikes really kill some tires. 

Hoser is also able to get a dunlop bias tire and has been getting 20k+ out of a rear.  He rides a tourer, one up, gentle, but logs a ton of miles.  Send him a message and see what and where those come from. 

[PAVALKER]

Best is a subjective term when you speak of tires.  First, what do you consider best... handling or wear?   For handling, I prefer Metzler ME880's but they don't last long (soft compound), for wear I'd say Dunlop Elite 3, but they are a hard compound and don't handle all that great.  For an in between I'd say Avon Cobra (no longer make the Venoms in our size I believe).   

I do have a spare set of rims and mounted a set of Shinko tires on them.... I like the tread pattern and feel with my hand on the tires.  No experience yet on the bike with those tires, but as with all the others I have heard good and bad.  Everyone has different perspective and opinions, but then they might all have different tire pressures and riding conditions as well..... 

[SANDMAN5]

"Best" is for each person to figger out for him/her and nobody else. Lots
of opinions and even a few facts are available on this subject. I've been
Darkside for over 50,000 miles. Tried Avon, Metz, and E3 fronts. NEVER
another E3!!! Avon was ok, but I prefer Metz 880 on the front. Sticks better
on a wet road than the E3 on a dry road. Not exactly the King when it comes
to miles per tire, but it's my favorite. Whatever tires you choose, find out
what psi others are using, set yours how you like it and keep an eye on it.
It helps!

[old2soon]

No more E-3s for me. Up front I've had the E-3 a Metz 880 and a Shinko S E 890 and now a Dunlop D-404 bias rear tire in proper rotation on the front. The Metz and the Shinko were both 14000 ish on mileage. Been D/S rear for awhile and don't see myself going back anytime soon. IF I WAS NOT D/S I would put a Shinko S E 890 on the rear. My E-3s scalloped out rather quickly in my estimation. The E-3s came on the Phatt Ghurl when I bought her. The E-3s were scary in the rain.  RIDE SAFE.

[Gryphon Rider]

Bozzy, what tire pressures have you been running?

[sandy]

Bozzy, what tire pressures have you been running?

Often our tire experience is due to tire pressure and how diligently we keep them up. You mentioned a Venom tire. They haven't been made in a few years. I'm on my 2nd set of Cobras. My favorite choice. The current rear has 23K on it and it's still not down to the wear bars. Got a compressor at home and keep them at 42F and 46R.

[0leman]

Bozzy, I feel that the types of roads you ride on plays a big part in tire life.  For instance, Hoser in Kansas can get nearly 20K out of D404F tires.  I am lucky to get 10K out of them.  I run about the same tire pressure and am not a real aggressive rider.  The road surfaces around here are "chip Coated" ever so often, mainly to help traction during the winter.  That really wears out the tires.

I do like the D404 as it wore evenly, no cupping.   

[old2soon]

Bozzy, I feel that the types of roads you ride on plays a big part in tire life.  For instance, Hoser in Kansas can get nearly 20K out of D404F tires.  I am lucky to get 10K out of them.  I run about the same tire pressure and am not a real aggressive rider.  The road surfaces around here are "chip Coated" ever so often, mainly to help traction during the winter.  That really wears out the tires.

I do like the D404 as it wore evenly, no cupping.   

     They are doing some diamond cut surfacing around here for traction. I can feel my tires wearing out faster when I go over the ground surface.  RIDE SAFE.

[Gryphon Rider]

They are doing some diamond cut surfacing around here for traction. I can feel my tires wearing out faster when I go over the ground surface.  RIDE SAFE.

You know it's bad when you can see a cloud of fine black rubber particles in your mirrors! 

[KSDragonRider]

Bozzy, I feel that the types of roads you ride on plays a big part in tire life.  For instance, Hoser in Kansas can get nearly 20K out of D404F tires.  I am lucky to get 10K out of them.  I run about the same tire pressure and am not a real aggressive rider.  The road surfaces around here are "chip Coated" ever so often, mainly to help traction during the winter.  That really wears out the tires.

I do like the D404 as it wore evenly, no cupping.   

     They are doing some diamond cut surfacing around here for traction. I can feel my tires wearing out faster when I go over the ground surface.  RIDE SAFE.

we have chip and seal in front of the house for 5 miles in any direction, 75% of the 2 lane here is chip and seal. And now all of our concrete slabs have the lines cut with the traffic flow.  So all our roads just grind tires off. We buy 60k tires for the van, lucky to get 30k out of them.  Tire manufacture will not warranty tire if ever on chip and seal. so every year something here gets tires, truck, van, bike something.

I got 10k out of my last ds a falkin 512, and 5k out of the e3 before that and i felt like that E3 was going to kill me at 80 on the slab. It did that raised belt through the center and was horrible 2 up dry. Rain felt like death at every corner on it to me.  The DS was the only way for us, 2 up, lots of crap roads, pulling a trailer on longer trips, and hot weather. But i understand others dont like it, or got a tire that they did not like the feel of and wrote off the whole deal.

[Bocephus]

Try a set of Dunlop E3 Radials not bias. My first set 5000 miles and can't tell they have been on the  road. Love them no cupping. 41psi in front and 45 in rear. 

[Len]

I run Avon Cobras with a 200 rear tire. 42 psi front and rear, currently have over 7000 miles on this set without any abnormal wear. They handle well in wet and dry weather and grip well in the twisties too.

I have Bridgstone Excedras on my wifes bike, but it is much lighter than the Valk, but they handle well on that bike and seem to be a softer compound than the Cobras.

[Daddie O]

I'm really liking the Bridgestone Excedras so far, but I can't speak to the longevity of them as I haven't had them for long enough yet.

[salty1]

Try Avon Cobras, I have them on both of my Valks and are definitely superior to E3s. Venoms were flawed! FWIW

[john]

        " I've had no luck with Dunlops or Avons and can't get any kind of mileage out of them before they deform "                    

      air pressure is where its at ...   
low tire air pressure ... low tire mileage          

" Often our tire experience is due to tire pressure and how diligently we keep them up "           

[98valk]

running E3 on rear and a rear Conti-go on the front. so far they have surpassed the mileage I got with the metzlers. should easliy see 20k from both.

see my post and pics of the conti-go
http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,12541.40.html

[PhredValk]

I run Darkside on the rear and a D404 rear bias up front. Just put the new one on the other day for my 6K mile trip East. Had 23K miles on it, and would have gone longer, but not enough for this trip. Lots of Harleys and Shadows use the D404 bias tires and most that I've talked to like them. In some sizes you can even get white walls!
Fred.

[Maldog]

wow im sure no expert on any thing,all i know is the guys here suggested  Avon Cobras I purchased a set at Jake Wilson and got a great price there and fast delivery, and my Valk IS handles  like a sport bike now,much better handling than the stock what ever the f they were ,lol. they are wearing well nun 42psi in the front and 44 in back,hope this helps but every one has  there own likes as far as tires,hope this helps.

[R J]

I'd suggest black round ones with lots of tread.

The devil made me do it.   

[Gryphon Rider]

It looks like Bozzy is a One Post Wonder.

[Mildew]

I just can't go with what's recommended because I'd spend more time changing tires and less time riding. I ride roughly 120 miles a day then normally go somewhere a the weekends. For me it's a car tire on the back. (a good sticky one) and some kind of bias ply on the front known to last a while. I've had good luck with the Metz radial and terrible terrible luck with the venom. I'm currently running The Dunlop d404 front and getting excellent wear. Rode in the 4"rain storm with it.

[fantsybikr]

Tires are like oil, everyone uses the best..the brands change with each post..more or less 

[bozzy]

Thanks for all your input guys, especially the one that suggested the those new ones called Round and Black!
But seriously, I tried to be very dilligent about the tire pressure, I was running them at 42 front and back. Most of the roads I run on are black top. I'll do a bit more research and then pick a tire.
Thanks Bozzy