| Author | Message | ||
     Jphish |
After using up a rear Distanzia at a bit over 4K miles (I dont run tires past the wear bars - woosie I know) did some calculations. A set costs around $325 incl tax, add another $100 or so for mounting and balance and we're at $425 = about 10 cents per mile. Just bought a set of 16/235 Goodyear Fortura kevlar (silent armor technology - as opposed to trilogy of technology) Paid about $700 OTD, mounted & balanced, for all 4 (NOT 2) tires... with free air. They last about 70K miles - or about 14 times as long. You can probably see where I'm headed on this. But YIKES! Tire prices for M/C seem a bit out of proportion to size, mileage & cost. Are we gettin 'diddled' here in some kind of manufacturer conspiracy ? Just ordered a set of PR2s - hopefully that will put me in a better frame of mind on the subject. | ||
| Froggy |
Hmm.... Lets compare 2 types of tires that have absolutely nothing in common and bitch about differences between them. One is a super soft compound built for high performance and is subject to loads and stresses that will never be seen on a non motorcycle tire. The other is a hard compound run of the mill tire, which will not be stressed in the same way as a motorcycle tire, has half the speed rating, and is manufactured at a ratio of 1000 tires for every single motorcycle tire ever made. Only one getting the shaft is the person paying $100 for mount and balance. | ||
| Snakebreak |
I agree with both of you if that is possible. The tires on my VTX do not need to be so special and they are not. The VTX is dragging metal long before any kind of rubber would be a problem, but they still don't last more than 6K. (I think this is a ripoff.) On my sportbike I want to stick to the ground. The Uyl is interesting in that when you ride long distance most of the time you don't need a great tire, but it is as good as a sportbike in the turns so you need good rubber. My next tires are going to be conti road attacks since they seem like no compromise get her done tire. We will see, the beauty is we get to try and try again with our motorcycle tires. | ||
| Hangetsu |
On the tire topic - I will be having to replace my Scorps at my 5K service (thought they would last a bit longer than that). I've been hearing a lot of good stuff about the PR2's and am considering these as a replacement, but my dealer, who is a big Metzler fan is recommending the Roadtec Z6 Interact. Anyone out there have any experience with these? One way or another, if I want a tire that's going to last more than 5K, I'm going to have to give up a degree of off-road potential potential, so I might as well explore as many possibilities as possible. | ||
| Ulykan |
I'm closing in on 4500 miles on my Stradas and still have lots of tread left. My only concern is that today my dealer pointed out some small cracks in between the tread. These tires are original in July 08 so they shouldn't be cracking already. Should they? Anyway I calculate I can get another 3K out of them unless the cracking gets worse. | ||
| Nutsosane |
I have been using the Bridgestone BT020's for the last 4k or so miles. I don't know how well they wear because I have had to replace the front and rear due to nails. The grip is sufficient to remove any chicken strip on the rear and the front blues and bubbles after a particularly spirited ride. Great in the rain too. I do know the rear costs me $130 and the front $105. I pay $5 per wheel for mount and balance. At those prices I am quite pleased. NUTS | ||
| Tginnh |
To Froggy's point - I think the biggest difference in cost is the economy of scale factor. Having said that, it doesn't make it any less painful on the wallet. Maybe if you think of it in terms of an amusement park ride, the 10cents/mile equation will seem like a bargain! I'm paying 25/tire to mount and balance at Manchester HD Buell. Am I being had? Nuts - at 5/wheel you know someone, right? | ||
| Nutsosane |
We have a local shop that specializes in tires and parts. He sells it all at 20% over cost. I bring him the wheels and in about 10 minutes I'm back out the door. He does a terrific job and hasn't torn into a wheel yet. It's nice to stand beside the mechanic and watch him NOT screw up your wheels. We have a local group of riders who keep him in business with lots of tire changes. If you bring the HD shop the bike and they dismount/change/remount I'd say $25 is fair, especially if there aren't any other alternatives. I'd pay more $$ for a HD/Buell shop to do it over a mega-retailer who may not know which way the Buell axles remove. NUTS | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The price for tire changes is a bit steep. My beloved dealer charges WAY too much for tire swaps, so I don't use them any more. Buddies with No-Mars are the shiznit. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I would be amazed if a HD shop would do the work on the bike for $25. Not many shops of any kind would ON the bike. I have a local independent (mostly works on HD's) that will mount/balance for $15, which I thought was a steal until NUTS said $5! I prefer to take the wheels on/off anyway, since you know it was done right, and you can check out the condition of brakes and bearings while you are at it. It's pretty damn easy on these bikes, since you don't even have to mess with chain adjustment. | ||
| Thetable |
I just mounted a set up little less than 1000 miles ago. I find them absolutely brilliant in the dry, but when it comes to standing water, they are the absolute worst tire I have ever run.
No they shouldn't be, but they could have been exposed to prolonged direct sunlight, ozone, or high temps. (Or they could have been sitting in a Pirelli warehouse for an extended period of time before they found your bike. The cost locally for tire mounting last time I called around was what made me learn to mount my own. The lowest price I found within 30 miles was $30 each off the bike. NFW am I paying that kind of money. | ||
| Dr_greg |
Local dealer in my area sells tires as a loss leader. A set of Distanzias runs less than $200 including tax (a fair bit less, in fact). Pilot Road 2's are a bit more, BTW. Then I mount and balance them myself. But I do feel your pain. --Doc | ||
| Jphish |
The BEST price in the Oly Wa area is $35/axle @ Honda shop. Higher everywhere else. Wish NUTS tire guy would relocate or open a franchise. | ||
| Crusty |
I buy my tires online. I bought two sets of Diablo Stradas (for my XY and my wife's Ss)for just over $500 From Southwest Moto Tire. Mounting and balancing were free, 'cause I've got a NoMar tire changer and balancing stand. It doesn't take too many changes until the NoMar pays for itself. BTW, I do free tire changes for Buells. | ||
| Hangetsu |
For Denver area folks, try Thunderbird M/C. Prices are lower than any on-line source I've found. They charge $50/wheel if you bring in the whole bike and half that for just the wheels. HD Dealer price for replacement Scorp Syncs (install & balance) - $577.79 / Thunderbird M/C - $382.99 I'm looking into a new tire (no off road, unfortunately), the Metzler Roadtec Z6 Interact. HD Dealer price - $684.24 / Thunderbird - 412.04 It's hard to maintain dealer loyalty when faced with a $200.00 savings. | ||
| Itileman |
Mount & balance here is $78.00/axle - MSRP for tires. | ||
| Choyashi |
Stop whining, an "idiot" I work with just paid $2000 to his Harley dealer to change his handle bars and levers! | ||
| Keith_mahoney |
You think motorcycle tires are expensive. You should see the money I spend on soft, quick wearing Schwalbe tires for my mountain bike. I just ordered 3 tire and 4 tubes for $200. They should last a couple months. | ||
| Debueller |
Jphish, If you are interested, you could bring your bike and tires to my house in Ravensdale (about 70 miles from Lacey) and we could replace your tires in my shop. I have a bike lift with a wooden cradle for a Uly, bead breaker, tire irons, static balancer, lead weights, anti seize, all the tools to do the job, and a heated shop with beer fridge. If we both "hump" on the job together, we could do the whole job (including balancing) on both tires in 2-3 hours. (my personal record for a rear tire change and balance on my Uly is just over an hour.....no beer breaks on that one) I mail order my tires and get them delivered to my door for about $230-$250 a set. I ride about 10,000-15,000 miles a year and paying full price for a shop to do the work would make tire costs ridiculous. I also do all the tire changes for my girlfriend's Blast and her tires only last about 3500 miles and she rides about the same amount as me. In the past several years I've done at least 25-30 tire changes, so I'm very comfortable with doing tire changes. PM me if you are interested, and we will exchange ph #'s. Jerry (Message edited by debueller on April 10, 2009) | ||
| Jphish |
Hey Jerry - Thanks for your generous offer. I will bring a side case of assorted brews... and balance that with the other sidecase full of Dynabeads. Still got about 1000mi left on this set of tires - if the weather ever gets better won't take me long to get down to the wear bars. I'll PM you. j | ||
| Chrisrogers3 |
Its a toy thing. You have a toy you have to pay the novelty surcharge lol When I had to replace the tires on my Corvette we are talking upwards of 1200 bucks. So when you think about that its puts things in a bit better of scope. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Yes, but your Vette tires will (should) last longer than 4000 miles. | ||
| Froggy |
Not if I am driving  | ||
| Nutsosane |
NUTS' deal is no longer. My tire guy died Wednesday and now I'll be paying like the rest. just awful news. | ||
| Froggy |
He couldn't afford to buy food because of his cheap services, and died of starvation and was malnourished. Nice going NUTS. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Tire life varies tremendously depending on how you ride. Not just the pace, but your technique. For what it's worth, my front Sync is just about to the wear bars at 12k miles. The rear was in good shape when it was punctured at 7.5k. Syncs can give good wear. I contrast with my track bike's tires. $380 per pair, mount and balance for 'free'. Last about 5 trackdays (or one race day). Mark in Arizona | ||
| Thetable |
RIP Mike. Damn good guy! | ||
| Nutsosane |
Thetable, Mike indeed was a good guy,not just because his prices were crazy low either. I was at his shop once a week over the winter shootin the breeze. Our whole crew is deeply saddened. NUTS | ||
| Jphish |
Sorry NUTS, for you, his family and friends - so much for the franchise idea. "What this country needs is a good $5 tire change" | ||
| Nutsosane |
At our Moto-breakfast it was widely agreed that I should entertain the idea of buying the business and continuing the legacy. Only problem being I don't trust myself to work on my wheels much less a paying customers. I would like to buy his tire machine though. NUTS |
