Tires - What am I doing right?

[Pale Rider 07]

So I'm in the hunt again for a new set of tires. I pulled out the paperwork from my last order to see where I had gotten them from. I saw that I had written the mileage on the paperwork when I made my last change. The original stock OEM's that came on the bike gave me almost 13K miles. My 2nd set were PR2's. I have roughly 20K on them and they are now just looking worn (center tread pattern gone).

I live in central Florida and commute about 300 miles a week. I try to get 3 or 4 good LD rides in a year, plus the usual weekend treks. Every time I read about tires here, guys are getting 10-14K on average for good tires. So why am I getting so many more miles out of a set. I don't often hit triple digits when riding and you have to go looking for curves in this part of the state. So is it an easier riding style, typically warmer roads or just a fluke for this one set? Just curious as to what others think. I would love to keep getting these kind of miles out of my tires.

 

[A41Billy]

I got just 6250 out of my last set of PR2s. I think it must have to do with riding style. I tend to ride on the aggressive side. The harder you accelerate and brake will greatly affect the amount of wear. We have nothing but curvy mountain roads here as well.

 

[TwilightZone]

>"I live in central Florida and commute about 300 miles a week"

Is the pavement smooth in Florida? Max elevation is 380 feet in Florida not alot of uphill and downhill.

Other than that, it sounds like you have less twist on the throttle and less pressure on the brakes.

 

[John d]

Are you sure your odo works normally?

 

[ULEWZ]

If your bikes name is Ilean, you will get far fewer miles out of a tire. I got 5,000 miles before my tires were close to done, and I was very happy with that. I ride with the guys from work almost every Thursday and we do medium and high speed sweepers in the heat. Not good for tire life, but way fun. If your bikes name is Nolean, it will get much better tire mileage.

 

[Bugnatr]

I live in central Florida

That pretty much sums it up.

 

[YummYam]

So I'm in the hunt again for a new set of tires. I pulled out the paperwork from my last order to see where I had gotten them from. I saw that I had written the mileage on the paperwork when I made my last change. The original stock OEM's that came on the bike gave me almost 13K miles. My 2nd set were PR2's. I have roughly 20K on them and they are now just looking worn (center tread pattern gone).

I live in central Florida and commute about 300 miles a week. I try to get 3 or 4 good LD rides in a year, plus the usual weekend treks. Every time I read about tires here, guys are getting 10-14K on average for good tires. So why am I getting so many more miles out of a set. I don't often hit triple digits when riding and you have to go looking for curves in this part of the state. So is it an easier riding style, typically warmer roads or just a fluke for this one set? Just curious as to what others think. I would love to keep getting these kind of miles out of my tires.

We should meet up sometime and try to remedy the problem.

 

[garyahouse]

My PR2 went around 13-14k before I traded it in. It still had a little tread left in the middle, maybe 1/16 to 1/8 inch. My back tire will run nearly 40k at the rate I'm going, but that's a different story. Hope that provides some help. I live about 70 miles west of you.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[roger dodger]

Maybe your tire gauge runs low, so you are really running 45+ psi. High milers tend to accelerate and brake gently (think limo driver) and over inflate the tires. Smooth and straight roads helps too.

 

[Pale Rider 07]

Wow, got dropped in the pointless threads forum. That hurts. However, I appreciate the replies. Unless I head up to the Dragon, not much pressure gets put on that rubber I guess. Probably a little truth to the "limo" driver argument also. Oh well, not complaining, just wondering. Now...where did I put Ms. Daisy?

 

[64Y80]

It's riding style. I live in Michigan where to land is flat and the roads are straight and I've got 10,000 mile on my oem's. I'll change them this year only cuz I've got some cupping on the front and am starting to get some dry rot cracking goin on.

 

[FJR Bill]

I live in central Florida

That pretty much sums it up.

That doesn't sum it up. I too live in Central Florida and I'm happy if I get 10,000 miles on my PR2's. The front OEM tire was shot at 5000 miles, can't remember its manufacturer. The replacement Diablo front got me about 6000 miles. PR2's are an improvement but I'm getting about 50% compared to the OP. It's all about proper tire inflation, gross weight, and riding style. You pay a price for more aggessive riding. But the bike is made for those that enjoy performance.

As an aside, Central Florida actually has some excellent remote, twisty, high speed roads. Can't tell you how many riders I've shown this too that were amazed. Bill

 

[RadioHowie]

As an aside, Central Florida actually has some excellent remote, twisty, high speed roads. Can't tell you how many riders I've shown this too that were amazed. Bill

:huh: Huh? :huh:

Granted, I only moved here back in 1958 so I may not have had enough time to ride much around Central Florida, but the only roads I know about that are remote and twisty are either around lakes in residential areas or have 25mph limits (or both), and the only high speed roads I'm familiar with have the words "Interstate" on the signs.

However, if you're talking about roads up in the Ocala National Forest, yeah, there are some twisty roads up there...packed to the gunnels with tourists.

So I'm genuinely curious what remote, twisty, high-speed roads you're referring to.

 

[AIRHEAD#124]

FLAT FLAT SMOOTH ROADS :dribble: GLAD I,M ON THE LEFT COAST; NATIVE CALIFORIAN :yahoo: GUESS I SHOULDN'T CRY ABOUT ONLY GETTING 5-6000MI ON TIRES (ME880'S) TOO MANY HILLS & DALES

 

[FJR Bill]

As an aside, Central Florida actually has some excellent remote, twisty, high speed roads. Can't tell you how many riders I've shown this too that were amazed. Bill

:huh: Huh? :huh:

Granted, I only moved here back in 1958 so I may not have had enough time to ride much around Central Florida, but the only roads I know about that are remote and twisty are either around lakes in residential areas or have 25mph limits (or both), and the only high speed roads I'm familiar with have the words "Interstate" on the signs.

However, if you're talking about roads up in the Ocala National Forest, yeah, there are some twisty roads up there...packed to the gunnels with tourists.

So I'm genuinely curious what remote, twisty, high-speed roads you're referring to.

Dear Mr. Radio Howie in the Hills,

You are so sadly mistaken. Out of the Tampa area we typically ride about 300 miles every Sunday. Good ride leaders, like me tie in twisty no crowded roads so that at least 50% of the ride you can go as fast as your skills allow. We know where the cops patrol and moderate in those areas. My play ground is from Arcadia to St. Augustine. I'm not gonna post my secrets on any forum, but roads around Arcadia, Frostproof, Brooksville, Ozello, Agricola, Polk City, Land O' Lakes, Floral City, Haines City, Lake Wales, Starke, Gainesville, Dade City, San Antonio, Avon Park to name a few that come to mind. Some of the secondary roads like 182nd Ave thru the Ocala National Forest and several others do not have excessive traffic and if so is it's easy for the FJR to pass them on the first opening. I suggest that you really don't know what Florida has to offer. All it takes is getting a detailed map like Delorme and do some ride planning. Oh I almost forgot Howie in the Hills has some awesome roads around it. You are not the first long term Florida resident I've known that has no idea what's out there. Bill

 

[SkooterG]

Dear Mr. Radio Howie in the Hills,

You are so sadly mistaken.

Snippage......

You are not the first long term FJRForum member I've known that has no idea about ANYTHING WHATSOEVER!

Common occurrence around here.

 

[wheatonFJR]

As an aside, Central Florida actually has some excellent remote, twisty, high speed roads. Can't tell you how many riders I've shown this too that were amazed. Bill

:huh: Huh? :huh:

Dear Mr. Radio Howie in the Hills,

You are so sadly mistaken...

...I suggest that you really don't know what Florida has to offer. All it takes is getting a detailed map like Delorme and do some ride planning. Oh I almost forgot Howie in the Hills has some awesome roads around it. You are not the first long term Florida resident I've known that has no idea what's out there. Bill

Awesome post.

Some people post so much, they forget that there's riding to do. <kick in the balls smiley>

:lol:

 

[RadioHowie]

Some people post so much, they forget that there's riding to do. <kick in the balls smiley>

:lol:

Thank You, Mister 10,669 posts!

 

[JamesK]

So I'm in the hunt again for a new set of tires. I pulled out the paperwork from my last order to see where I had gotten them from. I saw that I had written the mileage on the paperwork when I made my last change. The original stock OEM's that came on the bike gave me almost 13K miles. My 2nd set were PR2's. I have roughly 20K on them and they are now just looking worn (center tread pattern gone).

I live in central Florida and commute about 300 miles a week. I try to get 3 or 4 good LD rides in a year, plus the usual weekend treks. Every time I read about tires here, guys are getting 10-14K on average for good tires. So why am I getting so many more miles out of a set. I don't often hit triple digits when riding and you have to go looking for curves in this part of the state. So is it an easier riding style, typically warmer roads or just a fluke for this one set? Just curious as to what others think. I would love to keep getting these kind of miles out of my tires.

Pale Rider 7, it's definitely your riding style, I couldn't imagine getting anything like that kind of mileage not even South damn Floriduh. I had the misfortune of being exiled in Coral Springs, FL for 3 years (must have been something really terrible I'd done in a past life or something). So I'd was forced to make a morning run up to Orlando quite regularly on weekends to meet up with the folks from Central Florida Cycle Riders List Group ([email protected]). They have some good riders in that group and these guys know just about every decent road in C FL, I know the choices are very limited, but at least it better than nothing if you don't have the 3 days to spare to shoot up to GA/NC, around 850miles each way just to get to ride some real roads <_< .

Join one of the rides where Jim, Pat or Cris (has an FJR too) is on and you'll see what I mean.