Tire Report

[DarkSideR]

Front - Metzler 880 150/80 R17 New to bald center (no sign of tread) 12,300 miles.

Mostly highway and interstate riding @ 38psi. Darkside rear tire.

It's been a good tire, and I have had no issues with it whatsoever.

Now, what to replace it with?  

[MarkT]

Bridgestone BatlAx 130/70-17 rear tire.  I'm getting 23,000 on these.  Has lighter steering feel being narrower. Deeper tread at about 11/32 - helps some in the slop. I balance with Ride-On. Prevents cupping I think.

[DarkSideR]

Bridgestone BatlAx 130/70-17 rear tire.  I'm getting 23,000 on these.  Has lighter steering feel being narrower. Deeper tread at about 11/32 - helps some in the slop. I balance with Ride-On. Prevents cupping I think.

What does the different size do to the speedometer?

[old2soon]

Absofrikkinlutely LOVED how the Metz 880 I had handled. The cost per mile Really sux. I have a Shinko 777 140-80-17 in White Wall on the front now that has YET to scare me and it handles well in extremely HEAVY rain! Find my ride report from Spearfish after I visited R J. I go into corners at speed and the 777 has NEVER given me cause for ANY concern. Austone Taxi Tire on the rear. RIDE SAFE.

[MarkT]

Bridgestone BatlAx 130/70-17 rear tire.  I'm getting 23,000 on these.  Has lighter steering feel being narrower. Deeper tread at about 11/32 - helps some in the slop. I balance with Ride-On. Prevents cupping I think.

What does the different size do to the speedometer?

Oops got the size wrong.  It's actually 130/90-17 which makes it taller. Speedo still reads high.  I suspect the diameter is similar to OEM.  I always assume I'm going slower than indicated but have the Zumo on board for exact speeds. I can check it against the GPS next time I'm out which will be very soon.

I run the same tire in appropriate size on the Wing. I think Seth runs the same tire.

[fudgie]

Ive always gotten 22,000 miles out of a metz front and I ride mostly hiway and country roads.

[..]

Front - Metzler 880 150/80 R17 New to bald center (no sign of tread) 12,300 miles.



Now, what to replace it with? 

If happy with tire why change to something else?

[John Schmidt]

Front - Metzler 880 150/80 R17 New to bald center (no sign of tread) 12,300 miles.



Now, what to replace it with? 

If happy with tire why change to something else?

My thoughts also. I finally replaced my front stock size Metz at 17k, it was a bias ply as well. The last two have been and got good handling and miles with a c/t in back.

[DarkSideR]

Mark - you got me thinking.. The BattleAx is a great tire. I use to run them on my sports bike. Yeah let me know about the speedo.

Britman & John - Though the Metz servered me well I think a front tire should have more life than 12k. This double darkside thing has my cogs turning.

Does this mean the fiery death is double the heat, or double the death?

[..]

Mark - you got me thinking.. The BattleAx is a great tire. I use to run them on my sports bike. Yeah let me know about the speedo.

Britman & John - Though the Metz servered me well I think a front tire should have more life than 12k. This double darkside thing has my cogs turning.

Does this mean the fiery death is double the heat, or double the death?

I'm lucky to get more than 10 out of a front.

Road surfaces, terrain and riding style have more to do with tire life than the compound it's made of.

[Jess from VA]

Mark - you got me thinking.. The BattleAx is a great tire. I use to run them on my sports bike. Yeah let me know about the speedo.

Britman & John - Though the Metz servered me well I think a front tire should have more life than 12k. This double darkside thing has my cogs turning.

Does this mean the fiery death is double the heat, or double the death?

I'm lucky to get more than 10 out of a front.

Road surfaces, terrain and riding style have more to do with tire life than the compound it's made of.

Same here Paul, and 8K for a rear until I went with the Buick tire.

[DarkSideR]

I'm going to go with the DD's  Double Darkside that is.

A rear 130/90 R17 is very, very close in size to the stock 150/80 R17.

The BattleAx seems like a good candidate, but reviews say they are so sticky that you don't get the life out of them, so I'm wondering if I'm at any advantage to go with one. Or would I just end up at the same mileage as a stock front?

Another tire that came up was the Michelin Active Pilot. GW guys stating +20k on their wings. With a smooth center stripe I'm thinking it would be smoother.

Thoughts  Thoughts 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I'm going to go with the DD's  Double Darkside that is.

A rear 130/90 R17 is very, very close in size to the stock 150/80 R17.

The BattleAx seems like a good candidate, but reviews say they are so sticky that you don't get the life out of them, so I'm wondering if I'm at any advantage to go with one. Or would I just end up at the same mileage as a stock front?

Another tire that came up was the Michelin Active Pilot. GW guys stating +20k on their wings. With a smooth center stripe I'm thinking it would be smoother.

Thoughts  Thoughts 

I'm running the Michein Pilot Activ. But in the 150/70. I only got 17k on my first. But that's a lot more than any other fronts I've used. Usually 10-12k on all brands. I like the Michelin just fine. 

[DarkSideR]

Okay I just ordered up a Rear Michelin Pilot Active 130/90 R17 for $132.00 (to replace the front tire).

That's way less expensive than the Metzler 880 it will be replacing that I paid $208 for.

So If the Michelin gets more than 13k I will be ahead of the curve.. that is unless I first die in a double fiery death.  

[Jess from VA]

I may try that one.

First I tried an Avon Roadrider bias rear 130 on the front, and that was not a good handling tire (mostly slippery).

Next, I tried a Michelin Commander II front radial 140/65 (closest they have).  That is a great handling tire, but they only last 7K miles (give or take).  IF these came in OE size for valk, I think they would be great, and last longer.

So I returned to the OE size Metzler 880 150 radial front (that I only get 9K out of, if I'm lucky) which is always a great tire.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Okay I just ordered up a Rear Michelin Pilot Active 130/90 R17 for $132.00 (to replace the front tire).

That's way less expensive than the Metzler 880 it will be replacing that I paid $208 for.

So If the Michelin gets more than 13k I will be ahead of the curve.. that is unless I first die in a double fiery death.  

You going to run it backwards ?

[DarkSideR]

Okay I just ordered up a Rear Michelin Pilot Active 130/90 R17 for $132.00 (to replace the front tire).

That's way less expensive than the Metzler 880 it will be replacing that I paid $208 for.

So If the Michelin gets more than 13k I will be ahead of the curve.. that is unless I first die in a double fiery death.  

You going to run it backwards ?

That is still being debated. I understand the logic, but am questioning it's necessity. The "free shipping" will be give me a week to mull it over.

[MarkT]

Checked the speedo error today, on the 130/90-17 BT-45 Batlax, with the Zumo 665.  Garmin says speeds are accurate to .1mph. 44 indicated is 40 actual.  65 indicated is 60 actual. The BT-45 has 11/32 tread depth new and delivered 23k miles to me here in CO. That's running to a little bit past the wear bars, not to cords showing, and 38# pressure, tire balanced with ride-on.  I imagine the speedo error of the Michelin in the same size is probably the same.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Okay I just ordered up a Rear Michelin Pilot Active 130/90 R17 for $132.00 (to replace the front tire).

That's way less expensive than the Metzler 880 it will be replacing that I paid $208 for.

So If the Michelin gets more than 13k I will be ahead of the curve.. that is unless I first die in a double fiery death.  

You going to run it backwards ?

That is still being debated. I understand the logic, but am questioning it's necessity. The "free shipping" will be give me a week to mull it over.

I ran my first one backwards. And it was fine. My second I put on regular rotation by error. But was too lazy to remount it. We don't get much rain here, but the few times I've had it on wet roads was no problem. The only difference I can tell is its a little noisier on braking with the regular rotation.

[DarkSideR]

Thanks for checking Mark.

[DarkSideR]

Just some data:
Stock Size             D/S Size
150/80 R17             130/90 R17
4.72                      4.61                 Sidewall Height
5.91                      5.12                 Section Width
26.45                    26.21                Diameter
83.09                    82.35                Circumference
762.53                  769.41               Revs/Mile
65mph                  64.42mph           Speedometer Reading

[MarkT]

Thx for digging up the measurements.  On the speed - your indicated speed should be higher on the smaller D/S tire.

[DarkSideR]

I had the new Michelin Active Pilot mounted yesterday and took it for a short ride. I'm happy.

I read some reviews on the Michelin and found Wing'rs using this tire up front and reports of +20k out of them  Yeah!

[indybobm]

Just curious, if the Michelin Pilot Active is available in both 130/90/17 and 150/70/17, why go with the 130/90/17?

[DarkSideR]

Just curious, if the Michelin Pilot Active is available in both 130/90/17 and 150/70/17, why go with the 130/90/17?

I went with the 130/90 because the diameter of the tire is closest to the stock diameter.

[thewoodman]

Has anyone here used and/or can recommend the Austone 6-ply radial taxi tire. Grumpy told me a few weeks ago that he has 23-24,000 miles on his and it rides great. And a Front tire recommendation would be appreciated as well.

Thanx

[Gideon]

I'm going to go with the DD's  Double Darkside that is.

A rear 130/90 R17 is very, very close in size to the stock 150/80 R17.

The BattleAx seems like a good candidate, but reviews say they are so sticky that you don't get the life out of them, so I'm wondering if I'm at any advantage to go with one. Or would I just end up at the same mileage as a stock front?

Another tire that came up was the Michelin Active Pilot. GW guys stating +20k on their wings. With a smooth center stripe I'm thinking it would be smoother.

Thoughts  Thoughts 

For a front tire I use a Dunlop D404 130/90 B17 Rear Tire with reverse rotation.
I have over 19,000 miles on this tire and it still looks good.
It's a great ride and inexpensive.
NOTE I keep the air pressure at 41 lb.

[MarkT]

Has anyone here used and/or can recommend the Austone 6-ply radial taxi tire. Grumpy told me a few weeks ago that he has 23-24,000 miles on his and it rides great. And a Front tire recommendation would be appreciated as well.

Thanx

Use the search function.  Both your questions have been beat to death. You must be new here.  P.S. It's often referred to as the "ATT".  Searching for "any words" option, for "austone ATT" I get 39 PAGES of results.  And I recommend & use the ATT myself on one of my four Valkyries.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Has anyone here used and/or can recommend the Austone 6-ply radial taxi tire. Grumpy told me a few weeks ago that he has 23-24,000 miles on his and it rides great. And a Front tire recommendation would be appreciated as well.

Thanx

You won't go wrong listening to Grumpy. I haven't tried the Austone yet, but many like it. As far as a front tire. I am using a Michelin pilot Activ rear.