Why am I getting such long tire life?

[jim oneill]

One year ago today I replaced my original Bridgestones on my 08 with Dunlop Roadsmarts. I have 8700 miles on them and am not even close to the wear bars. I estimate i,ll get at least another 5k miles out of these tires. Why am I getting such good tire life? I regularly read here of folks only getting 6 to 8k miles on their tires. I will admit I don,t usually ride extra hard ( fast starts, hard cornering, hard braking etc) but don,t baby the bike either.

Why am I getting such "extended wear" ???

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Because, Sir, you have a 'beautiful mind'.

I once had a Catholic priest for a riding buddy, Father Tom, he got more tire mileage than anyone I ever rode with. Yet, some riders just 'tear through' tires (I, personally, am not very good in the tire mileage department).

I've come to believe that tire milege is alot 'between the ears'.

 

[GalaxyBlue]

One year ago today I replaced my original Bridgestones on my 08 with Dunlop Roadsmarts. I have 8700 miles on them and am not even close to the wear bars. I estimate i,ll get at least another 5k miles out of these tires. Why am I getting such good tire life? I regularly read here of folks only getting 6 to 8k miles on their tires. I will admit I don,t usually ride extra hard ( fast starts, hard cornering, hard braking etc) but don,t baby the bike either.
Why am I getting such "extended wear" ???

heh... Don't count on that. The RoadSmarts burn down FAST as they wear out... At least they did for me.

 

[Oatesy]

Hi Jim,

I can't speak for your particular tyres, but it may just have something to do with how long they were sitting on a shelf before being fitted.

Tyres tend to harden with age, which reduces wear, but also grip.

I once spoke to a guy running a fleet of limo's who said he always made sure his tyres were allowed to 'cure' in his garage for 12 months before using them on his fleet. He was convinced that it increased the mileage he could expect from them by almost 50%.

Different tyres also vary in depth of tread, as well as the original 'hardness' of their compound.

Other factors that impact on tyre wear are the smoothness of the road surface, and the running temperature. The latter depending on things like the length of ride, and the ambient temperature.

Mick.

 

[Rondo777]

My roadsmarts were looking great at 8k miles too but were shot before 10k. It seemed like they were gonna last forever but then practically overnight they just wore out.

 

[UHOH]

Why am I getting such "extended wear" ???

subject of some continuing low level discussion among us types in the 6K region ...

One thought is that peeps in the NE and Midwest get higher mileage than the west, 'cause

the roads are coarser asphalt out here, temps get higher and maybe speeds nudge higher.

I've not ridden back there so theory holds water, right? No evidence = win!!

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Why am I getting such "extended wear" ???

subject of some continuing low level discussion among us types in the 6K region ...

One thought is that peeps in the NE and Midwest get higher mileage than the west, 'cause

the roads are coarser asphalt out here, temps get higher and maybe speeds nudge higher.

I've not ridden back there so theory holds water, right? No evidence = win!!

I think there may be some merit to that suggestion...

I think a 'short trip' usage life will deliver noticeably longer tire life than the 'long distance' use generally experienced Out West.

The tires don't get as hot for as long and just have a, generally, easier life.

 

[Heber Guy]

I wish I got 6K.

But then again I live in Arkansas and we do tend to burn up tires.

 

[worldbound4now]

Good roads, easy controlled brake use, solo unloaded riding, and gradual throttle roll on (without whacking it) will all extend tire life.

 

[Fred W]

How much weight do you normally ride with? Sure, our bikes all weigh the same at a little over 600 lbs, but if you are a lighter guy and ride mostly 1-up with nothing in the bags vs a couple of ... ahem, bigger people riding fully loaded can actually double the weight on those tires.

Plus all the other stuff above.

FWIW, Roadsmaht rears have been lasting me 6-7k mi. of mixed use (1-up and fully loaded) in New England.

 

[RossKean]

How much weight do you normally ride with? Sure, our bikes all weigh the same at a little over 600 lbs, but if you are a lighter guy and ride mostly 1-up with nothing in the bags vs a couple of ... ahem, bigger people riding fully loaded can actually double the weight on those tires.
Plus all the other stuff above.

FWIW, Roadsmaht rears have been lasting me 6-7k mi. of mixed use (1-up and fully loaded) in New England.

I recently bought a used 2007 that came with new Dunlop Roadsmarts. I do not ride agressively, weigh around 220, ride 1-up all the time, and maintain 42 psi in the rear (40 in the front). After just over 3000 miles, I'm thinking these are about ready to be replaced; especially the rear - down to wear bars in spots. Any idea why the mileage has been so poor? While I don't expect to get the kind of miles I used to get on a cruiser, this is a bit ridiculous. Wonder whether Dunlop had a run of Roadsmarts where they substituted licorice bubblegum for rubber.

Ross