Replacement Tires?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
I'm not sure where that idea started, but its a fallacy. The MAX pressure rating molded into the side of a tire is just that, the MAXIMUM continous operations pressure level for that particular tire and it has zip, zero, nada to do with the tire pressures that should be used in it for your particular bike. The factory sets the tire pressures for your bike during testing with a particular tire (OEM tire) and prints that in the owners manual.
A different brand or type of tire might get better overall wear and or performance at a completely different pressure level. But you have to determine that on your own. Fortunatly its usually in the same general neck of the woods as the OEM tire. But not always and even a couple of psi difference can make a big difference in how it handles.
There is also the road surface to consider. If the roads in your area are predominantly made of something like concrete and you like to ride hard into turns. Don't expect the tires to last anywhere near as long as the same bike, tire, and riding style combination will in an area where the roads are generally made of asphault.
Concrete or cement is like snadpaper by comparison and it will eat ANY kind or brand of tire much faster than the same brand on another bike that's ridden in an area where they don't use as much or cover over the concrete. Jack up the air temprature and start riding like a kid on a crotch rocket looking for a ticket and you can forget about the tires lasting very long at all.
A different brand or type of tire might get better overall wear and or performance at a completely different pressure level. But you have to determine that on your own. Fortunatly its usually in the same general neck of the woods as the OEM tire. But not always and even a couple of psi difference can make a big difference in how it handles.
There is also the road surface to consider. If the roads in your area are predominantly made of something like concrete and you like to ride hard into turns. Don't expect the tires to last anywhere near as long as the same bike, tire, and riding style combination will in an area where the roads are generally made of asphault.
Concrete or cement is like snadpaper by comparison and it will eat ANY kind or brand of tire much faster than the same brand on another bike that's ridden in an area where they don't use as much or cover over the concrete. Jack up the air temprature and start riding like a kid on a crotch rocket looking for a ticket and you can forget about the tires lasting very long at all.
A different brand or type of tire might get better overall wear and or performance at a completely different pressure level. But you have to determine that on your own. Fortunatly its usually in the same general neck of the woods as the OEM tire. But not always and even a couple of psi difference can make a big difference in how it handles.
That was my whole point,,on the 210 880 Metz the tire pressure that was listed in my owners manual was NOT the correct pressure for THAT PARTICULAR tire. Besides, I never said I should of been running the MAX pressure, I just stated what it was,,and that I was obviously running a low pressure at 40PSI. Given that the max was 48PSI on the sidewall, 44-46 single up would of been a good choce in hindsight. And 46-48PSI two up. For the Metz 880 I'm still running on the front..it is listed at 42 PSI MAX..I run 40PSI and the tire looks new.
Last edited by Soft06; Nov 21, 2008 at 06:32 PM.
May our Moderator Rest in Peace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 11,386
Likes: 35
From: Rochester, NY
That was my whole point,,on the 210 880 Metz the tire pressure that was listed in my owners manual was NOT the correct pressure for THAT PARTICULAR tire. Besides, I never said I should of been running the MAX pressure, I just stated what it was,,and that I was obviously running a low pressure at 40PSI. Given that the max was 48PSI on the sidewall, 44-46 single up would of been a good choce in hindsight. And 46-48PSI two up. For the Metz 880 I'm still running on the front..it is listed at 42 PSI MAX..I run 40PSI and the tire looks new.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 5,257
Likes: 6
From: Leander Texas
I run metzler on the front and dunlop on the rear. I get 15000 on the front and 10000 in the rear. The metzler rear only got 4700. Still handles curves with it did with the metzler rear unless the street is wet.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,915
Likes: 4,667
From: West Texas Sandhills
I got between 12,000 and 13,000 on the two OEM Dunlops I ran on the rear tire. I am now on my 3rd Avon rear tire and averaged about 12,000 between the first 2. I ran 36-38 psi with the Dunlops and around 46 psi with the Avons. I disagree about running mixed brands, since I use Avon Venom X's on the back tire amd Dunlop Elite 3 on the front. I have been running this combination for a couple of years and plan on using this combo in the future.
