| Author | Message | ||
     Verdad |
Happy New Year Y'all - I hope the weather hasn't been too harsh on anyone. I'm looking for some input on why my rear tires are wearing out so damn fast (Pirelli Diablo's on my 08 XT). The rear tire has less than 5,000 miles on it and it looks like this:   Coincidentally, my previous rear tire (same make/model) had exactly the same thing happen to it. FWIW, I treat my Uly with kid gloves, never smoke the tires, stay on pavement, and rarely do above 80 (yep, *Boring*). So its not like I'm having the fun that it looks like would cause this. Has anyone seen this before? I've looked at my rear fender and I don't see anything that's sticking out that would cause this. A while back I was messing with the pre-load adjuster, so I thought maybe it was too low and the tire is rubbing on the fender, but I didn't know if this was possible. I apologize for more tire-talk, but I'm hating having to tell my wife I need *another* tire so soon.... Thanks very much. Russ | ||
| Froggy |
Which Pirelli Diablo model are you running? The Corsa III, Rosso, and similar sportbike models are typically only good for a few thousand due to the super soft compounds. The Strada should get you further, 8k miles seems like a safe ballpark mileage based what I see others get out of them. What pressure do you run your tires at? Also, while speed is a factor, acceleration and braking will eat a tire faster than cruising, especially if you ride it hard. | ||
| Buewulf |
5000 is about what I have gotten on the last three rear tires. I have my first dual-compound on the bike now and hope to do better. | ||
| Verdad |
They're the Stradas. I typically keep it at 38psi. I've never locked up the brakes and accelerate pretty conservatively. I'm not sure if they're dual compound or not. I assume they aren't. What I don't understand is why the degradation is only a foot-long strip (as opposed to all the way around) and exactly the same pattern as before. My factory rear tire lasted 14,000mi. 'Course, that was before I learned bike tires don't last nearly as long as car/truck tires.... | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Maybe over inflated? Are you running 36psi, or more? | ||
| Griffmeister |
Stradas? Haven't they been out of production for like three years now? Those were originally stock on the XT's. The current replacement are the Angel's. I've only made it to 8K on the Angel ST rear tire, but even that's been replaced with the Angel GT. The GT is supposed to have a more durable compound for mileage. Of course a lot of people swear by the PR3's, don't know if anyone's tried both for comparison. | ||
| Jessemc |
It very well might be "normal" wear you're seeing for a V-twin. Did you get significantly better tire mileage on another bike riding the same roads at the same pace? I believe that the abrasiveness of the road surface has a big impact on mileage and it's one of the biggest variables we can't account for when comparing tire mileage online. On mine, the original Dunlop 616 looked like that at less than 3500 miles. I got 2700 out of Conti Motions and about 4000 out of Shinko 009's. | ||
| Teeps |
Jessemc Posted on Saturday, January 11, 2014 - On mine, the original Dunlop 616 looked like that at less than 3500 miles. I got 2700 out of Conti Motions and about 4000 out of Shinko 009's. My experience with the following tires: DD616 5800 mi. 2 sets of Bridgestone BT 020 about 5000 mi. each. Conti Motion 3300 mi. Shinko 009 9000 mi. | ||
| Trevd |
My Pirelli Angel looked exactly the same in the fall the evening before I was taking off on a weekend ride - It delayed me the next morning while I quickly got a new tire put on. I was shocked because it seemed like I had just changed the tire. I don't keep good track of mileage, but I'm sure it was less than 5000 miles. I ride the crap out of the bike though... The new tire is a Bridgestone BT021 (I think), so we'll see how that one lasts. Trevor | ||
| Verdad |
Geeze, I just can't get over the fact that we get such low mileage from our tires (compared to autos). I'm putting on over 200 miles per week, so guess I'll just factor in getting a new tire every few months. I picked these up off of Amazon, so they very well could have been out of production for a while. Suppose I really need to pay attention to ensuring I buy dual-compound from now on. Thanks Everyone for your input. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I've always run Dunlop tires on my 2006 Uly and the only time I didn't get 10,000 miles on a tire was when I ran a staple in it at a angle which I was unable to plug. That tire had about 8000 miles when I finally gave up on trying to plug and I changed it out. I liked the D616's but the dealer didn't have any in stock so I switched to the Roadsmarts last time. So far, I'm happy with them and see if I get the wear that my other Dunlops have given me. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I had a dunlop D220 look just like your picture on my M2. Using the PR2's now and really like them. | ||
| Ourdee |
Russ, I did the same thing on Stradas. With the exception that I could push them to 10,000 miles. If you downshift to slow down it will accelerate the wear. I did 95% of my stopping with the front tire knowing that I would have more of it left at tire changing time. Most times when turning I would pull in the clutch, shift from 5th to 2nd keeping the clutch in while using the brakes to slow down. I'd let the clutch out as I accelerated through the corner. My reasons were that; 1. no skidding the rear tire, 2. no loading the belt over the idler pulley, and 3. better control of where the weight was on the wheels. | ||
| Griffmeister |
"Geeze, I just can't get over the fact that we get such low mileage from our tires (compared to autos)." And that's exactly what the owners of some cruisers are doing, putting car tires on that is. Very risky at best. Luckily no one here even considers it. | ||
| Uly_man |
"Geeze, I just can't get over the fact that we get such low mileage from our tires (compared to autos)". That is because car rubber has about 40% more depth of tread to start with and, for a single tire of a 1200 cc car, maybe 4 times the road to tire contact area and of course 4 wheels. I never had a bike that would do more than 5,000 miles on rubber but the Uly always does 50% more. This looks like over inflation. 38 psi should be fine but if you do not have one buy a good quality digital pressure gauge as on a bike even 2 psi can have an effect on handling and tire wear. You are going to need new rubber and I would fit a set of PR2 or PR3s. They ARE duel compound and are superb on the Uly for road work. You will still not get car miles on them though. | ||
| Yo_barry |
Note my experience w/Pirelli Diablo Strada and Pirelli Diablo tires on my Buell S3T...I've worn out two sets of the Strada, and one set of the not-Strada. Got 7-8k on the Strada's and about 5k on the other. All of the Pirelli tires wore out down the center exposing the belt. All I can guess is that it's a characteristic of the design. I haven't seen that on any other brands. | ||
| Kag |
Shinko Raven have been pretty good on the rear for me. The price is right | ||
| Verdad |
Thanks very much for everyone’s input. Sounds like I’ve got a few contributing causes for my threads showing. Hmm, car tires on a Uly…  Ourdee - That is exactly what I do, and pretty consistently; never thought about it accelerating tire wear. I’ll try your technique, as well as generally not downshifting to slow down. Uly_man - Concur with the digital gauge. I’ll make damn sure I’m at 36 and not higher. I’m shopping for a tire now; feeling much more informed going in (finally). Thanks to Y’all again. | ||
| Reepicheep |
And it's because when a car tire slips, sometimes you don't notice... But when a motorcycle tire slips, sometimes you don't high side. | ||
| Nillaice |
You can put a Car Tire on a Uly. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/406 2/695712.html?1369780002 I added what I did to my bike at the end of that thread | ||
| Uly_man |
"You can put a Car Tire on a Uly". Yes you can and it is fine for 1/4 mile and drag racing stuff for that "big foot print" but NOT on the road IE Bends and the like. Just the idea of putting a "square profile" tire on a road bike makes me feel sick. In fact I can not see how you would be able to ride a bike, on the road, with a car tire unless it was in just a straight line. It is, in the EU, not a legal thing to do anyway but it might be ok in the US. | ||
| Uly_pirate |
Verdad, Normal wear. I got 5,100 on my last rear Pirelli Diablo. I currently have a Michelin Pilot Road 3 on the rear. I have used the PR3s before and usually get closer to 8k out of them. They are slightly more expensive, but I think the miles are worth it (plus less time and money changing tires). Also, the PR3s are as good as the Diablos in the turns. Speaking of which, you have plenty of tread on the sides. Just stay off the straights and you can get another 1,000 miles out of that tire.  | ||
| Nillaice |
Uly man, i'm sorry to have made you feel ill. Verdad, let me know if you have any questions for me. maybe a PM would be best ... | ||
| Ourdee |
Google Darksiding for more info on using car tires on motorcycles. I'd consider it on a bike with a sidecar. Car tires are heavy. | ||
| Uly_man |
Just as an after thought. I once fitted a set of Pirelli tires to the 06 bike. Corsa 3s I think. And yes they were only good for 5k miles to the wear bars. In fact, as I recall, you could see them wearing out week on week. Verdad. I think you will find a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2CT or 3CTs fine and work real well on a Uly for road work. I love them and do not use anything else on any of my bikes now. | ||
| Verdad |
Cool, glad to hear from the testimonials it ain't necessarily my riding habits then... Nillaice - Thanks much, but I think I'd better stay to familiar tires; I'm challenged enough riding with what I know. FWIW, thinking I'll go with the PR3. In 23,000 miles, I've only rode on Stradas; the reviews for the PR3s look promising. And I guess I'll factor in a new tire every few months from now on.'Knowing's half the battle.' Thanks very much, Y'all | ||
| Motorbike |
Verdad, My 08 XT wears tire out like that in 5,000 to 7,000 miles too. I think part of the issue was my riding habits before I replaced my front brake rotor with the EBR Finned Rotor and EBR Hardware. I just hated the front brake pulsing with the old rotor. I think I was using the rear brake harder since I was avoiding the pulsating front brake. Of course, this would tend to grind rubber off the rear. I now have an dual compound Angel GT on the rear and will see how long that lasts now that I have gone back to using the front brake a lot harder, which, by the way works beautifully now. The GT was new when I rode out to Sturgis last summer but is already squaring off with only 1900 miles from that trip down Interstate 90 and back. Lots of great curvy roads in the Black Hills but just a straight shot out and back. Thanks. PS I know what you mean about having to tell the wife you need another new tire already. It usually helps to offer to buy them something for the house. Problem is, new furniture usually costs way more than a bike tire.... (Message edited by motorbike on January 14, 2014) | ||
| Nillaice |
No problem, verdad. I'd wager you'll get both good mileage and handling out of those michelins. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I agree with those saying location is a factor, as well as riding style and weight (I am assuming proper inflation). Here in Western NC, I can't get past 5k miles on any tire. That includes D616 (much less), Pirelli Scorpion, Scorpion Trail, Dunlop RoadSmart2, Michelin PR2 and PR3's. Well, the PR3's are still on the bike, but I don't think they will make it to 6k either. I just think we have a lot of rough/abrasive pavement. I am no stunt rider, but I also do not change my riding style to try and conserve on consumables (brakes, tires). I've just accepted a rear tire every 5k, and a front every 8-10k. The dual compounds help a little in the rear, but not in the front, as I seem to wear out the edges of the front first (about 30deg off center on both sides). Actually, the dual compound can be a little worse in front, since the sides are softer than the center. I am religious about pressure (34 frt/36 rear), only weight 180 lbs, and almost never have a passenger or heavy luggage load. Mostly on twisty roads. Gotta Pay to play. | ||
| Slash6 |
Just replaced a Pilot Road 2 front with a Pilot Road 3 - 16,333 on the PR2 - below the wear indicators but some tread left, only slight cupping. Got 9,346 on the last PR2 rear, got 9,412 on a Shinko Raven. The Michelins feel much better than the Raven as they get worn. |
