Check your tires!

[bikerkash]

The Metzeler Z-6 is very difficult tire to judge wear by looking at. You really need to go by mileage and experience with them. Metzeler never made any provision for a wear bar. Who knows why they would not have done this.? I have used many sets of the Z-6 because of their performance not for mileage. They are usually gone by 6500 miles sometimes a little more and sometimes a little less. I have recently put on the new Metzeler Z-8 tires and have found them to be outstanding, better than the Z-6, for handling and ride quality. Wear and rain performance are yet to be determined. I ride solo and never run the COLD PSI more than 36/38. Increasing tire pressure reduces the foot print which equals traction. I inspect my tires for damage after every ride and check air pressure the following day when the tires are cold. Another item that provides peace of mind is adding a TPMS they are not that expensive. It's great to glance at the TPMS monitor when riding and know where your tire pressure is. I have also found with much less than 36 PSI in the front handling/steering will start to feel a little heavy.

 

[bikerkash]

I believe it's a good idea to do a physical tire inspection everytime you get back as your cleaning your bike. Check air pressure the following day, after they are cooled down. I ride solo and always run 36F & 38R. I get decent tire wear for my riding style, app. 6500 rear, and always have great traction. The most important things tires do for you is Grip The Road. Wear is secondary. If your not running heavy loads, over inflation will tend to wear the center out a little sooner and cost you some grip. I also find a TPMS mounted in your site gives a very good piece of mind, an over heated tire stands the risk of blowing out. Tires do run the risk of over heating to the point of failure if the pressure goes too low and the load to is too great.

 

[SkooterG]

I believe it's a good idea to do a physical tire inspection everytime you get back as your cleaning your bike. Check air pressure the following day, after they are cooled down. I ride solo and always run 36F & 38R. I get decent tire wear for my riding style, app. 6500 rear, and always have great traction. The most important things tires do for you is Grip The Road. Wear is secondary. If your not running heavy loads, over inflation will tend to wear the center out a little sooner and cost you some grip. I also find a TPMS mounted in your site gives a very good piece of mind, an over heated tire stands the risk of blowing out. Tires do run the risk of over heating to the point of failure if the pressure goes too low and the load to is too great.

You clean your bike after every ride? :rofl:

As for tire pressure, I agree that theoretically increased, or over-inflated tires will have a smaller contact patch with the road and not handle as well, but every time I have run my front at recommended pressure (36-37psi) it feels 'sloppy' to me and does not give me confidence at increased lean angles. I run mine 41-42 front, and 42-44 rear and have found those pressures good for me. And with the current Conti Motion tires I am running even at those higher pressures, I have no problem scraping pegs even with my stiffer custom suspension. YMMV.

 

[networkguy]

I believe it's a good idea to do a physical tire inspection everytime you get back as your cleaning your bike. Check air pressure the following day, after they are cooled down. I ride solo and always run 36F & 38R. I get decent tire wear for my riding style, app. 6500 rear, and always have great traction. The most important things tires do for you is Grip The Road. Wear is secondary. If your not running heavy loads, over inflation will tend to wear the center out a little sooner and cost you some grip. I also find a TPMS mounted in your site gives a very good piece of mind, an over heated tire stands the risk of blowing out. Tires do run the risk of over heating to the point of failure if the pressure goes too low and the load to is too great.

You clean your bike after every ride? :rofl:

As for tire pressure, I agree that theoretically increased, or over-inflated tires will have a smaller contact patch with the road and not handle as well, but every time I have run my front at recommended pressure (36-37psi) it feels 'sloppy' to me and does not give me confidence at increased lean angles. I run mine 41-42 front, and 42-44 rear and have found those pressures good for me. And with the current Conti Motion tires I am running even at those higher pressures, I have no problem scraping pegs even with my stiffer custom suspension. YMMV.

So, I read this, then saw your avitar comment "Purveyor of Crooked Facts"

:blink:

 

[FJRMGM]

I guess I just got a very good set of Bridgestone BT-023's cause I only have to add air to them about once a month and I ride it all the time.

They just don't lose air..

 

[NEPA Jim]

I know this is an old thread but I just had my rear Z8 do the same thing. Having no wear bars or indicators really sucks! I am a nut with checking pressure and looking at my tires but I went in my 40 mile commute and it went from the premature flat spot to cords exposed real fast......that is not a good situation tooling down the interstate! Also I only managed 5000 miles to the cord. Not real impressed givin I did better than that on my mitch. Pilots and changed them just before the wear bar...... Hec, could have been another 1000 to the cord.

 

[art miller]

I don't know what type riding you low mileage riders do or how much you weigh or how much baggage you carry. I am not a fast into the turns rider and I do not ride two-up. Most of my miles are road trips of 1500-3000 miles. I load my side bags to approx. 25lbs gross/bag and a small tail duffle bag. I weigh 150lbs. My tires of choice are Michelin PR2's on which I average 15000 miles to the wear line. I maintain 40psi front and 42psi rear. Is it riding style and weight that is hampering your tire life?

 

[NEPA Jim]

I'm 225 lbs and I have had PR2's last closer to 7k. I don't do a lot f road trips, mostly comuting on B roads but some of them are a tar and chip surface and we have a lot of crown on the roads around here......not sure if that is the reason for the lower life. I doubt I have a total of 35 pounds loaded on the bike and I normally see 40 to 43 mpg if that tells you about my throttle use......of course that does not speak to corner entry down shifting. However, I am now an over fifty conservative sport rider verses my past ride it like you stole it days. My real worry was the lack f warning on the end of tire life. And I religiously check my pressure and run 42 in the rear tire as well.

 

[Old Guy]

I'm not a daily rider, but I try to get out at least once a week. I check my tires before every ride.

Just a note, but even a temperature change can affect your pressure. In the spring in my part of the country, the temps can swing 30 or 40 degrees in a couple of days. That will affect tire pressures.

Likewise, elevation will affect pressures. If you're on tour and you change your elevation dramatically, it's not a bad idea to check the tires.

 

[mcatrophy]

I'm not a daily rider, but I try to get out at least once a week. I check my tires before every ride.
Just a note, but even a temperature change can affect your pressure. In the spring in my part of the country, the temps can swing 30 or 40 degrees in a couple of days. That will affect tire pressures.

Likewise, elevation will affect pressures. If you're on tour and you change your elevation dramatically, it's not a bad idea to check the tires.

But never deflate a warm tyre. The increase in pressure stops the tyre from heating up further.

 

[Bogus]

A side note here since this thread has sort of resurrected...In the Cycle World comparo with the BMW the FJR and the Triumph, the testers mentioned that the FJR needed constant pressure on the bars to maintain a line through a curve. Hmmm, me thinks that they didn't have the proper tire pressure, or those Brigestones are REALLY ****** tires!

 

[Old Guy]

A side note here since this thread has sort of resurrected...In the Cycle World comparo with the BMW the FJR and the Triumph, the testers mentioned that the FJR needed constant pressure on the bars to maintain a line through a curve. Hmmm, me thinks that they didn't have the proper tire pressure, or those Brigestones are REALLY ****** tires!

I noticed the same thing at recommended pressures. When I replaced the OEMs with BT023GTs, that feeling went away. And I'm still using recommended pressures.

 

[wild1]

LOL. Did the first ride around the block on my "new" fjr. Bike has not been fully rebuilt yet. This was the first ride to make sure it would still ride and shift ok. Felt pretty sloppy and figured it was just tire pressure. Put it back on the lift and checked them. Front was 17 and rear was 21 psi. Fixed that and next ride should feel better.