New tires = new bike

[Paul-from-VA]

I always hate seeing my tires need replacement, the cost, the stress of trying to decide which one....I've done this well over 100 times, but it's always the same. I always want something that will last longer, improve feedback, make the bike "perfect" and give me something more for my hard earned dollars. Well at 6,300 miles...it's done again. Dunlop Roadsmart this time. The first ride changed my opinion of the bike totally. I was starting to think I should be looking for something different, the bike seemed to require so much effort to keep down in a corner, the last ride on the Parkway was way too much work. Now, happiness is restored, I love my bike again; amazing what a difference changing from worn out Metzeler Z6's to new Roadsmart's will make. I'm not saying the Metzeler was a bad tire...or the Dunlop is the nuts, pretty tough to remember what the Metzeler felt like over 6,000 miles ago, only the last ride sticks in your memory. Guess it's time to start the cycle again

[deilenberger]

I always find new tires a wonderful experience.. if only it lasted longer. The last 3,000 miles of any rear tire (and I tend to change early - before the wear bars are reached) are agony. Last rear I took a belt-sander to the tire with the engine running bike in gear on centerstand.. rounded it off again. Made a big difference in turn-in (no longer a feeling of going over the hump with it.) I may do that sooner on the tires and see if I can keep the rear round. It was great having a round profile in West Virginia, but my daily commute has 3 right turns in it, 2 left turns and a traffic circle. Other than that - it's straight, straight, straight.

[ShinySideUp]

This is why, like Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football, I have my hopes up again on my recent tire change. I HOPE the dual-compound Bridgestone BT-021 ($115 at American Motorcycle Tire) will prolong that sweet spot feeling of a rounded tire, without the higher cost of the Michelin version. We will see and I'll report back, of course.

Don, I think you have the makings of a brand new class of farkle: a belt sander accessory. It could be run with a 12V motor and a worm gear could haul it back and forth over your tire while you're driving with a cam designed to make the whole apparatus follow the curve of your tire. You could sell custom cams for each brand and model of tire, and, of course, titanium cams for the racers. And chrome cams for the HD crowd. Your company motto: "Don't change it... sand it!"

And I'm actually curious enough to want to try your idea sometime, but I'll likely feel the need to brace the bike on the center stand VERY well and wear a good respirator. Didja come away from the job looking like a chimney sweep? Or did you just quit because you were all tired out?

[eisen]

I found the following article in a UK magazine:



Since i have practically melted my Conti road attacks after numerous (mini) track sessions and some pretty hard road riding, i was looking for a good "winter" tire. The conti's were fantastic - always inspired confidence and felt great, but i like change and you have just confirmed what i was thinking about the Dunlops.
They won't arrive in Israel for another 3 months, but then again neither will the rain!

NOTE: The tires above were tested on a 2008 Honda CBF600 naked (213kg, 76bhp, 120/70front, 160/60rear & kept @ 36/42psi)

[deilenberger]

This is why, like Charlie Brown and Lucy with the football, I have my hopes up again on my recent tire change. I HOPE the dual-compound Bridgestone BT-021 ($115 at American Motorcycle Tire) will prolong that sweet spot feeling of a rounded tire, without the higher cost of the Michelin version. We will see and I'll report back, of course.

Don, I think you have the makings of a brand new class of farkle: a belt sander accessory. It could be run with a 12V motor and a worm gear could haul it back and forth over your tire while you're driving with a cam designed to make the whole apparatus follow the curve of your tire. You could sell custom cams for each brand and model of tire, and, of course, titanium cams for the racers. And chrome cams for the HD crowd. Your company motto: "Don't change it... sand it!"

And I'm actually curious enough to want to try your idea sometime, but I'll likely feel the need to brace the bike on the center stand VERY well and wear a good respirator. Didja come away from the job looking like a chimney sweep? Or did you just quit because you were all tired out?

I like it..

I did wear a dust mask (no small stuff was generated, what came off looked like fine rubber sawdust.) The trick was holding the sander so it tended to pull the bike onto the centerstand, not bounce if off. That meant holding it directly on the lower rear of the tire. And being very gentle with it. If I pushed too hard - the force of the rotating wheel pulled it up and away from the wheel.

It isn't something I'd recommend anyone do - I just reported how I did it.. (liability disclaimer!)

I was looking at my rear tire this AM (and realized I have about 7k miles on it, and I just replaced it a few months ago..).. it's fairly squared off, so I might go at it with the belt sander.

[CharlieO]

I have 8,800 miles on my Bridgestone BT-021tires and the front tire looks a bit light on tread, has a flat spot, and shows some cupping. The rear tire has a flat spot but does not show any cupping. I was running 38 PSI front and 40 PSI rear but when the flat spotting appeared I went to 36 PSI and 38 PSI but I really don't think this made any difference. It looks like I may squeeze 10,000 miles out of the rear tire but the front is questionable. When I first got the tires I wondered about the front tire...just did not like the tread depth as it seemed light. I'll monitor the tires and see what happens but meanwhile I will continue to run 36F and 38R in the tires.
I looked again at Southwest Moto comparing the Dunlop Roadsmart and the Bridgestone BT-021 The price breakdown is as follows:
Dunlop Roadsmart Front (120/70-XR17 USD) 114.95
Rear (180/55-ZR17 USD) 141.95

Bridgestone BT-021 Front (120/70-XR17 USD) 103.95
Rear (180/55-ZR17 USD) 128.95
If anyone has any wear info on the Dunlops please let me know. I'll keep everyone advised on the mileage I get out of the Bridgestone BT-021 tires.

Charlie "O"

[ShinySideUp]

Interesting that the above reviewer of BT-021 noticed its plushness. After riding about 200 miles on my new rear BT-021, I too noticed that, but thought it just might have been that I was comparing it to the worn-down Road Attack. For me, I prefer it over a very stiff (what they call a "sporty" tire) because for 5 days a week I ride the streets of San Francisco which consist not so much of pavement as a random mix of patches, iron plates, and potholes. So cushy is good.

I was glad to read they felt the tires to be sticky enough in the corners. If the tester ground down the center stand before he noticed any slipping in the tires, I'm sure I'll be OK on the twisties.

Now I'll see if my mileage improves. 10K miles out of the rear would be fine with me. I got that much out of the first Road Attack in the front, so the two together may be a good match.

Personally I'd rather they made rubber roads and concrete tires. (Some days it's just not worth chewing through my restraints!)