tire lifespan
#21
05-18-2009, 04:48 PM
Sponsor
Tires are what connect you to the road. As far as I am concerned, they are the most most important safety feature on a bike besides brakes. Stock tires work "fine", yes, but once you try something stickier you will ask yourself how you ever rode on those other tires. My estimates for pressure are appoximations and yes the pressure on the side of the tire is Max pressure. A lot of people complain about poor mileage. If so, up your pressure. as simple as that. If your only concern is mileage stick with a harder tire as it will usually last a bit longer. I like to feel stuck to the road as well. Coming from a sport bike background really made me aware of this.
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#22
05-18-2009, 05:01 PM
Road Warrior
My FB has quite a bit more steam than it did when stock and I use it pretty liberally. Pounded the bike to its limits during a week on the Dragon at Deal's Gap... several dozen runs over the course of 4 riding weekdays. The stock 427's performed amazingly well both wet and dry. There are no unused sides of either the front or back tires, the bike is raised and the ends of both footpegs are completely ground thru and off. Couldn't ask for more from the tires, unless I raise it another inch, which I intend to do.
Oh, BTW just coming up on 10,000 miles and the rear is just about ready for a change.
Oh, BTW just coming up on 10,000 miles and the rear is just about ready for a change.
#23
05-18-2009, 05:23 PM
#24
05-18-2009, 06:11 PM
Pugs, I don't see anywhere in this thread just what your tread depth is. It might not be a bad idea to measure it for yourself before dropping 300 clams on a new set of meats. Does your rear tire look excessively worn? If it was my dealer I wouldn't be at all surprised if they tried to sell me a set of tires that I didn't need!
Also you say most of your riding is on country roads. The road surface will play a big factor in tire wear. Out here in the NW the back roads are mostly smooth blacktop (relatively easy on tires), but when I lived in Texas they were a much rougher surface, almost like an exposed aggregate (much harder on tires).
There's no substitute for having good rubber, but don't let the stealer sell you something you don't really need!
just my 2c
Also you say most of your riding is on country roads. The road surface will play a big factor in tire wear. Out here in the NW the back roads are mostly smooth blacktop (relatively easy on tires), but when I lived in Texas they were a much rougher surface, almost like an exposed aggregate (much harder on tires).
There's no substitute for having good rubber, but don't let the stealer sell you something you don't really need!
just my 2c
#25
05-18-2009, 06:20 PM
Club Member
I didn't know much about them since it was my first time and the mechanic at the gas station told me to buy the Magnum Edible Glow in the Dark Sheepskin Resorvoir Tip French Tickler with Spermacide Action Fluid. Cost me a pretty penny and after all that the bitch I was with refused to let me have my way so I ended up dry humping the sofa with it on and it ripped on one of the cushion seams. Money down the damn drain.
#26
05-18-2009, 07:11 PM
I wish I would have heard this advice when I was still a teenager and made a trip to the gas station restroom to buy my first rubber.
I didn't know much about them since it was my first time and the mechanic at the gas station told me to buy the Magnum Edible Glow in the Dark Sheepskin Resorvoir Tip French Tickler with Spermacide Action Fluid. Cost me a pretty penny and after all that the bitch I was with refused to let me have my way so I ended up dry humping the sofa with it on and it ripped on one of the cushion seams. Money down the damn drain.
I didn't know much about them since it was my first time and the mechanic at the gas station told me to buy the Magnum Edible Glow in the Dark Sheepskin Resorvoir Tip French Tickler with Spermacide Action Fluid. Cost me a pretty penny and after all that the bitch I was with refused to let me have my way so I ended up dry humping the sofa with it on and it ripped on one of the cushion seams. Money down the damn drain.
#27
05-18-2009, 08:31 PM
Road Warrior
#28
05-18-2009, 08:35 PM
Club Member
#29
05-18-2009, 09:30 PM
Road Warrior
I run my metzelers at 30 front and 36 rear... For the 1st 1K on them I had them at sidewall pressure(42 rear 40 front)... Sure I might get a touch more life on them by over inflating, however the ride quality and way they stick like glue around corners convinced me to run at H-D recommended pressure. Way better to run at the bikes recommended pressure and not the sidewalls. If you read the stock dunlop sidewall, it has max pressure at 41 which is about same as metzler sidewall. Note recommended pressure is for a 170 lb rider riding solo... bump it up a couple psi if you are over 200+ otherwise your weight will wear the tires more quickly. Also it is recommended to run the rear with 3psi more when 2up. Get a good accurate air gauge. H-D sells a nice one complete with a tire wear indicator.
#30
05-18-2009, 10:10 PM
Elite HDF Member
Okay, here's my tire at 5K miles:
.070 tread depth.
that's crap right there. I don't do burnouts, although I do have fun with the throttle, just like the rest of us.
I run at the HD service manual recommended pressures, haven't touched the rear to adjust anything and I'm only gonna get about 7 maybe 8K?
.070 tread depth.
that's crap right there. I don't do burnouts, although I do have fun with the throttle, just like the rest of us.
I run at the HD service manual recommended pressures, haven't touched the rear to adjust anything and I'm only gonna get about 7 maybe 8K?