What's the current favorite car tire make/model?

[Molasses]

Hey all,

I've been needing to pull the rear wheel, slather moly all over the place and put in new O-rings all this riding season.  Finally found motivation to do it because I started hearing a "click click click" every time I was slowing to a stop.  Yup, it needed new rear wheel bearings.  Got that portion of the work done this AM.  While the rear wheel is off, it's obvious the Goodyear TripleTread Assurance I've had on there for the last 43,000 miles looks like it's getting down to its' last gasp.  The place I went to to buy and have this one mounted didn't have any in stock.  And their current manager was NOT enthusiastic about them mounting a tire on a bike wheel.  Okay, if that's the way he wants to be. 

So, I'm just looking for a quick answer to this question:

Before I go calling all over town, is there any other tire that's the current darling of the Dark Side crowd that I should be asking for instead or as an alternate in case nobody else has a direct replacement in stock?

[R J]

I get my Good Year Triple Treads at Sears.........

They seem to always have them in stock.

[Gryphon Rider]

I'm liking the General Tire Altimax HP 205/60-16 that I put on 3 weeks ago.

[Jess from VA]

When I did my homework a few years ago the number one and number two tires in use were the two mentioned above:

1. Goodyear Assurance Triple Tred (lasts longer)

2.  General Altimax HP (more bike-like than any other)

Honorable mention to Michelin Hydroedge.

Here's where I got my 3d GATT: (you won't find it cheaper, even with the $15 shipping)(arrived in 2-3 days)

http://www.treadepot.com/tire/399067508.html


I don't know if I'll get 40K on one, figured 35K..... but lets say 40K.

$95 for tire delivered, divided by 40K miles = $.002375 per mile..... that's a good deal.

[X Ring]

Did you go back with stock bearings or did you upgrade to the Double Row Bearing Mod?  Afa which tire, if you are happy with the GATT get another one. 

Marty

[old2soon]

Got a little over 7 G on my general ultimax h p 205-60-16. I can see no reason to ever go back to a M/C specific tire again. Good luck with your quest. Hope you come up with something soon. Ya don't want to miss to much ridin weather. Git er done and RIDE SAFE.

[fudgie]

Hankook K-106.  Only in a 55 series. Rumor is they do not make them anymore. 3rd summer (24k)on mine and no wear. It'll probaly be on still by 2020. I may try the Ventus. Definitly staying with Hankook.

[Dragon-6]

Jess, good looking site for the tire.  Did you mount your own tire?  Sorry, didn't mean to hyjack the thread.

[Jess from VA]

    Sorry, didn't mean to hyjack the thread.

Jess, good looking site for the tire.

I can't take credit, some other good member posted it 7-10 days ago, and I used it to buy the tire.

Did you mount your own tire?

No, I prefer to watch someone who knows what they are doing with my expensive (and pitted) Valk wheels.... using a machine, and doing it in minutes.  If there is any significant balance issue (never with the Goodyear), my guy moves the tire around the rim, remounting/inflating and hunting for a sweeter balance, instead of just loading up weights on the rim.  He knows what he is doing. 

I am allowed to help sometimes.  LOL

My existing Goodyears are both going strong (at 28 & 8K).... this one I just bought is to hang on the wall and look at.................................. until one of the others eventually wears out.   With two bikes (same tires on both), I keep one new front and rear on hand at all times .   

(At 80 bucks per, I should have got 2...... it is a great tire.)

[dwreefs]

         Just put on a Bridgestone potenza G019 . It was 205/60-16 v  rated  . Has a very thick sidewall and looks good . Only have about 60 miles on it but so far i like it

[Westsider]

         Just put on a Bridgestone potenza G019 . It was 205/60-16 v  rated  . Has a very thick sidewall and looks good . Only have about 60 miles on it but so far i like it

I'm going to give the ct another try..wasnt sure about it the first time ..Ordering this one also and will give it a more time/ miles this go around.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+G+019+Grid

[Vinylguy]

Just used the link to purchase the triple tread. Having new bearings installed in a couple weeks so seems a good time to mount the CT. M99 standard has had a CT before and the right side nut cage
is removed. should i remove the left side also for the 205-60-16?
I had a flat 3000 miles ago and had to put a Dunlop D-251 on to finish my Colorado trip. Like the ride and handling but it already has a nice wear bar going.

[PhredValk]

I installed a Falken Ziex ZE-512 205/65R-16 95H B 7K miles ago and love it. Problem is, I understand it's been discontinued, and I don't know what the replacement is like (and with luck I won't find out for a few years).


Fred.

[X Ring]

Just used the link to purchase the triple tread. Having new bearings installed in a couple weeks so seems a good time to mount the CT. M99 standard has had a CT before and the right side nut cage
is removed. should i remove the left side also for the 205-60-16?
I had a flat 3000 miles ago and had to put a Dunlop D-251 on to finish my Colorado trip. Like the ride and handling but it already has a nice wear bar going.

Yes both nut cages need to be removed.  When you have the bearings replaced are you performing the Double Row Wheel Bearing Mod?

Marty

[X Ring]

I installed a Falken Ziex ZE-512 205/65R-16 95H B 7K miles ago and love it. Problem is, I understand it's been discontinued, and I don't know what the replacement is like (and with luck I won't find out for a few years).


Fred.

I got told a couple of years ago that it had been discontinued also but it is still on their website and I put one on my I/S a couple of months ago.  I ended up getting mine from Discount Tire.  Don't know if they ship to Canada.

Marty

[Bruce J.]

My 1st was the Goodyear Triple Tred, got 30K on it before a nail went thru the bead. I wanted to get something a little less sluggish in handling so I tried the Falken ZIEX ZE912 even tho it is an asymmetric design. It was more nimble, but it lasted only 17K. Last year, when I was deciding an a third one, I looked at the Goodyear TT, and the General Altimax as they seem to be the favorites. I also looked at others trying to find a compromise between handling and price. Wet weather performance is the most important attribute to me; hydroplaning on a two wheeled vehicle is not something that I wish to experience. Looking at Tirerack, I found the Yokohama Avid Envigor which got very good test ratings. A deciding factor was that it is the only one of the three that is made in the US. I now have about 10K on it. It handles very well and is wearing well, I think that it's going to be a winner.

[cutter]

I'm on my 2nd Yokohama Avid Envigor. The first one I got 24000 out of it. Wore out the center more than the outer area due to running 45 psi, tire takes 50psi. The second one I'm running 35 and is looking good. I'll be staying with this one and FYI, I've been using dyna beads (F/R) and have had no issues.

[wild6]

Went to Costco 2 years ago and picked up a Bridgestone Potenza G019 ($95) and slapped it on.  

It now has 27k miles on it and look like it'll go at least another 10k (running 34psi).

Previous tire was a GT Altimax that lasted about 28k (running 40psi).

[Westsider]

thats what im trying to wrap my head around
7k and this e3 is about toast....

[Dag]

This tire are very popular on GW an Valkyries in Norway.
It will be my next

Vredestein Sportrac3

[Jess from VA]

Interesting.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?topic=20308.0

This may be one of those 'summer sport' tires that aren't so grippy in cold weather.

http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-9009-vredestein-sportrac-3-tires.aspx
V1386    205/60R16    92    V              300 A A    $165

[Farther]

The UTQG is 300AA.  That does look like a winner.  

[Dag]

Interesting.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php?topic=20308.0

This may be one of those 'summer sport' tires that aren't so grippy in cold weather.

http://www.tiresbyweb.com/p-9009-vredestein-sportrac-3-tires.aspx
V1386    205/60R16    92    V              300 A A    $165

Yes, It was Relax that posted it on the Norwegian forum.
I know two other Valkyrie riders that have this tire now, and they are very pleased with it.
I will be the next

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I'm diggin' the Fuzion ZRi it's rated 320 has directional thread pattern and sticks like baby s**t on a white blanket. I ran the Cooper Zeon 2XS that's rated 280 for many years I went through 7 or 8 of them getting between 9,000 to 11,000 miles out of them. I'm fine with getting 10,000 miles out of a good " sticky " tire as I'm very hard on tires and need a front around 10,000 miles as well.I was trashin' out Avon rears around 6,000 to 7,000 miles and with the Dunflops I was lucky to see 5,000 miles on the rear running the car tire I can change them both and do final drive maintence and have new tires all around.Cooper Zeon below has 10,400 miles on it I should have changed it at 9,000 miles and my bikes never leave the garage without me checking the psi...42 Front...35 Rear



This Fuzion has better than 11,000 miles on it.

[John U.]

Went to Costco 2 years ago and picked up a Bridgestone Potenza G019 ($95) and slapped it on.  

It now has 27k miles on it and look like it'll go at least another 10k (running 34psi).

Previous tire was a GT Altimax that lasted about 28k (running 40psi).

Wild6, two questions: was the Altimax an H or V rated tire? Is the Potenza G019 noisier?
Thanks

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

I'm liking the General Tire Altimax HP 205/60-16 that I put on 3 weeks ago.

That's my choice too. I wore out 2 GY TT, got about 22,000 out of  each. Then I went back to an Avon rear for 8,000 miles or so.

Now I'm on my 2'nd Altimax. The first one was V rated and was killed by road debris with only 4000 miles on it. The 2'nd is S rated and is not completely broken in yet.

I've liked these Altimax HP's better than any tire I've tried so far. They may not be quite as sticky as the first year of a GY TT is. (Seemed to me the TT loses some grip as they age/wear) But they seem to hold the road better than the Avon did and push me around less than the TT's did. The S rated only cost me $85 too.

[Molasses]

I got to thinking today and realized that I hadn't ever gotten back to folks on here after asking my question.

Called Sears.  The local one didn't have my Triple Tread in stock.  Their computer showed a location clear on the other side of town had 'em, but by that time of day, it'd mean fighting early rush hour traffic over the 40 miles to get there.

Couple more local calls didn't give me any joy.

Went with my final option.  I still had the E3 that came off to go dark side in the first place.  Only had about 1.5k on it and I'd been starting to wonder if dry rot would ruin it before it got used up anyhow.  Called a local bike mechanic and once I gave the right answers to his questions about whether I had the wheel off the bike and tire in hand, he said to bring 'em and he'd install and balance while I waited and not charge extra for putting up with me being around while he worked.

Left the next day on a 4-day, 2K ride around Lake Superior, down into lower peninsula MI and partway down one side, across and up the other, then back into the UP and meandered along the lakeshores there and WI to get home.  Dipped my toes in Lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan.  Darned bike tire felt squirrelly and was 'way loud cornering compared to the car tire, although it was getting better on both issues by the time I got home.

I've had one of those Harbor Freight tire changing rigs sitting in the box in the back of the garage for some years, along with the M/C attachment.  Now I've got motivation to get it unpacked and set up and I'll have time to order the car tire I want in advance of the next change (which will come plenty soon with that mayfly E3 back on there....).

Thanks again for all the suggestions.  Looks like I have some decisions to make based on them.