Tire wear issue

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todd493

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The Pirelli strada I have on the front has a 1.5" raised area all the way around the center of the tire. I'm going to replace it but wondered if this is a slipped belt issue or manufacturing defect?

 
This sounds like the problem I had, but in my case it was running low on air pressure for about 2k miles.

What pressure have you been running at, and have you been keeping an eye on it?

 
This sounds like the problem I had, but in my case it was running low on air pressure for about 2k miles.
What pressure have you been running at, and have you been keeping an eye on it?
Been running 36 psi check it every couple weeks. never seen one do this. had'em cup before but this is like something gathered up all the way around. Time for a Michelin up there I guess

 
Unless you weigh 140 lbs, 36 psi is too low. Try 40 psi, or at least 38 if you can't bring yourself to run 40.

I find it difficult to believe you have a raised area in the center of the tire, all the way around. It would make a lot more sense if the sides were worn, but the center wasn't, giving the appearance of a raised area when it's really a side wear issue.

How many miles on the tire?

What kind of riding to you generally do? (tight twisties, highway miles, combo %?)

 
Good pictures of the tire could help get you better information about the issue.

Uploaded a couple pics here-Tire pics

The raised portion is more pronounced going from right to left facing the tire. If turn either direction turn you can feel the tire kinda flop over the ridge and steerings definitely affected. Tread conditions okay, I just bought this girl a couple weeks back, ridden about 400 miles on her, and it started last Saturday.

 
Looks like the sides are wearing similar to the BT20's I've run in the past. There's nothing 'gathered' at the center, it's just the sides are warn. Might want to consider a set of PR2's next B)

 
From the pics it looks like the tire was about 10 or 15 pounds low on air. The FJR is pretty heavy and needs 38-42 lbs of air to keep the proper contact patch, and the proper tire profile when riding. I run 39 front and 40 rear. That feels the best to me on my FJR. I run 36 front and 37 on the rear of my Busa, but that bike is about 200 lbs lighter.

 
From the pics it looks like the tire was about 10 or 15 pounds low on air. The FJR is pretty heavy and needs 38-42 lbs of air to keep the proper contact patch, and the proper tire profile when riding. I run 39 front and 40 rear. That feels the best to me on my FJR. I run 36 front and 37 on the rear of my Busa, but that bike is about 200 lbs lighter.
Thanks for the information. I appreciate It.

 
Tread conditions okay, I just bought this girl a couple weeks back, ridden about 400 miles on her, and it started last Saturday.
If you check your tire pressure every couple of weeks, and you just got this tire a couple of weeks back..... did you check the tire pressure when you got it mounted, or are you saying you just got the bike a couple of weeks back?

It's fairly classic low tire pressure wear, IMHO. Appears that you've been playing in the downhill twisties with some front brake use. FWIW, I've seen a front tire shagged in a single day of steep 20 mph corners and slightly low tire pressure.

 
Tread conditions okay, I just bought this girl a couple weeks back, ridden about 400 miles on her, and it started last Saturday.
If you check your tire pressure every couple of weeks, and you just got this tire a couple of weeks back..... did you check the tire pressure when you got it mounted, or are you saying you just got the bike a couple of weeks back?

It's fairly classic low tire pressure wear, IMHO. Appears that you've been playing in the downhill twisties with some front brake use. FWIW, I've seen a front tire shagged in a single day of steep 20 mph corners and slightly low tire pressure.
No, what has occurred is a classic case of assumption. I usually run 36/40 psi on my bike. I traded for this one and assumed (kick me now please) that the shop which I'm very fond of, had set this up to be sold and ridden. however, both tire pressures were lower than they should have been (30/37) and therefore I surely did this in a fit of nicer bike stupidity. There are no twisties here in the great corn desert, if your lucky a stretch of road with 4 curves over a couple miles.

As a minimum of excuse I offer that I came off a Harley FLHT to this bike, therefore any handling seemed great and the rose colored glasses have since been retired, the pressure gauge utilized and situation corrected to some degree. Still gonna replace the front . Live and learn.

 
Don't feel too bad. You're not the first, and won't be the last to have this happen.

We had one fellow insist for days that he knew what pressures to run and his poor handling of his used, but new to him FJR, was not related to tire pressure. Eventually he broke down and told us he was running 26F/30R psi. Another day was required before he accepted that his pressures were rather low, and the now worn front tire was a contributing factor to the poor handling.

Sorry about the tire, but now you have a choice on the next rubber.

 
By the appearance of your tires and the size of the "chicken strips" I assume you ride mostly on the freeway or non curvey roads if so that just might have a large affect on your tire wear. You might want to consider a tire with a harder compound.

 
The Strada is a great tire. I'm on my third front one now and get ~8k miles of mixed riding.

Keep the pressures up to 40F 42R and you will like the wear a lot better.

 
One other comment: Your front tire wear does not look that extreme to me. Tires wear faster on the sides than in the center because you must counteract the centrifugal forces that are attempting to slide the bike to the outside of a corner. Many people will only lean the bike "so far" as that is within their comfort zone. This means that you would ride all of your corners at about the same spot on the tire. Using any (front) brakes while cornering will only accentuate the wear pattern.

The left side of the front tire wears faster than the right side (in countries where we drive on the right side of the road).

Here's a link to an interesting discussion on tire wear.

 
Looks like the sides are wearing similar to the BT20's I've run in the past. There's nothing 'gathered' at the center, it's just the sides are warn. Might want to consider a set of PR2's next B)

I have 6500 miles on my PR2's and my front has worn the same way. It is as previously stated, just the wearing of left/right sides of the tire from left/right leaning in turns, otherwise, just normal.

 
For crying out loud! Just put a car tire out front and be done with it!
:p
Coker Tire (4.50 X 17 C.T.):

excelsior-biasply-photod-large.jpg


 
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