Time for tires

I have 12,000 miles on the front tire (original tire) and about 4000 on the rear (got whatever I could get the fastest when it blew out last year) so I'm thinking about getting a whole new pair and keeping the old ones for emergencies. I've seen some talk on the forum about Pirelli's and I've used Avon tires in the past on a different scooter. I'm just looking for input from those who have a preferred tire brand or perhaps changing the size up or down just a tad for a smother ride.

Please give me some links in your responses.

Thank you all in advance.

Been looking through tire posts and found motorcycle superstore.

I'm thinking I'm going to get a Michelin Power Pure for the rear. 150/70-13
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/32/404/45422/ITEM/Michelin-Pilot-Power-Pure-SC-Rear-Tire.aspx?WT.ac=Cart_Item

and a Pirelli Diablo for the front. 120/80-14
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/5/32/404/5806/ITEM/Pirelli-Diablo-Performance-Front-Scooter-Tire.aspx?WT.ac=Cart_Item

Does anyone know if changing to a slightly taller/shorter or Wider/thinner would make any performance difference? The sizes I listed are the existing sizes and typically I will get the same thing unless I know of someone who will tell me "if you change to xxx you'll get better...." so I'm just interested in opinions.

I would stay with the same size as the originals as recommended by Honda, but a different brand with more grip and longer mileage. Alot of riders like the Pirelli's or Metzler's. Ride Safe.

I changed from nearly new Avon to new Metzeler Feel Frees. There was a huge difference. The Metzelers are very smooth, even at 80mph. They grip well on rain slick roads too. I am completely satisfied with them.

I am half way through my 2nd set of Diablo's and I like them a lot. I am thinking about the Michellin pilot, dual compound tire as the next rear tire.
I got 11K on the Diablo's first set and by the looks of the second set, it will be about the same.

First look at Honda recommended tires on sticker, Bridgestone or IRC. standard sizes period. On SilverWing IRC seemed better for me. In past 15 or so years I have had 4 Bridgestone scooter tire failures.

Tackle Box Techs in almost all cases can not out guess Honda. Do own tire work! Ride On is working as balancing method for me. In my riding time, 57 years I have used up 250-400 bike/scooter tires.

Diablo have worked for me on ReFlex---have fresh set on my new Burgman 400---Burgman some problems, turn in, wet handling/bridge steel mesh----guess what? they are not on makers recommended list! Burgman and SilverWing use same size tires---in Bridgestone Burgman is different part # and probably different compound due to handling chacteristics of the machines. Object is to keep the bike upright!

I ride 20-50,000 a year, so get to experience lots of tire changes. Stick with Honda's recommended for the machine to handle the way it was designed. remember scooters are handling compromise no need to make them worse.

Would you say stick with Bridgestone's on the Silverwing John?. The Metzeler feel free on the rear is giving me better mileage than the Bridgestone and no problems with handling wet, or dry. My front tyre is down to 3mm so, i was going to try a feelfree next time, but i have had nearly 10,000mls out of it as i did with the last Bridgestone.

I agree with John on the tyre issue.

Honda tested the machine on Bridgestones and IRC's and they decided they were the best overall tyre.

That said, experimentation is good for the soul. Good luck!

Me - I'm sticking with B/Stones as they are easier to acquire!

I ended up ordering Diablo's front and rear last night. They're due in Friday.

I have 12k on the front tire that is the original tire, an IRC brand.
The rear tire got about 8000 miles before it blew out. I ordered "a tire" for my bike from the local Honda dealership and it came in as a Dunlop. It only has 4000 miles on it and not at all worn out but I'm replacing it and keeping both tires as spares for the future in case of emergency.

I only started this thread to get ideas, not to start an argument.

I don't know about availability of IRC in UK. US no problem at Dennis Kirk and I understand some SilverWings may have come thru with IRC as OEM.

Based on first running mixed Bridestone and IRC and later matched IRC, I found I liked IRC better. Really any difference? Maybe only in the head, but as I said in past I have had Bridgestone failures in past on Helix and ReFlex....and don't want to go thru that again.

My take in Metzler---bought several replacements in Germany=severe out of balance. Pirelli and Metzler are same company.

Last Continental---rear on Kawasaki 4 cy voyager=ok. 50 years ago we used to think they slipped a lot in rain. SilverWing?

John, never seen IRC advertised in the UK therefore never looked for them.

It's a knotty problem; I had IRCs on mine from new and the rear was replaced with the same a couple of months ago.
When I bought my first X9, Michelin Gold Standards were 'the' tyre for them and they were very good, vastly superior to the Pirellis it came with. However, there was a dodgy batch, prone to delamination, and Michelin replced them all FOC. My rear MGS delaminated suddenly at 60+ MPH on a fairly major road. It was a very loud bang!

My next X9, the 500, had them as standard but the rear was replaced with a Bridgestone Hoop - brilliant tyre!

I bet if one were to go through all the scooter forums the pro-comments on every brand of tyre would be exactly balanced by all the con-comments.

I don't see any argument here, only the expression of opinions based on first-hand experience.

Mine had Hoops from new and the rear lasted ~6000 miles but I was very happy with the grip and handling so I've fitted the same again.

bikerboy wrote:

Mine had Hoops from new and the rear lasted ~6000 miles but I was very happy with the grip and handling so I've fitted the same again.

Wow, 6k on a rear tyre.

Have to ask - how do you do it? I am changing my Hoops every 4k! I don't do motorway riding all mine is rural.

I seem to average 8-8500 out of any rear tyre regardless of the size of the bike or scooter. I'm used to Bridestone Hoops as I've had them on on a few other scooters apart from my Silver Wing, and the 650 Burgman is the only scooter where I've thought they were a bit iffy.

MikeO wrote:

...I don't see any argument here, only the expression of opinions based on first-hand experience.

That's actually one of the reasons I come here as a Burgman 400 owner. Our scooters use the same size tires.

If I read the manufacturer's marketing text, every tire gives the best traction in all conditions, wet or dry, and lasts the longest. I'm surprised they don't include that the tires cure gout and regrow hair as well.

So I place a lot more value on other's opinions based on their personal experience on what tire is better than others.

Chris

I've had the Hoops, Diablo's, and now the Metzler's and I won't go back to the Hoops. I think they may last a bit longer but I'm getting 9,000-10,000 with the Diablo's and not sure yet with the Metzler's. It's just that the Hoops didn't seem as smooth or tracked as well. But this is just my seat of the pants feeling. All 3 above are good tires though.

Of course tyres become worn and need replaced, I remember hearing about tyres 'cupping' on another topic on here, I hadn't a clue what that was about, mine just wear down. I've never had this mythical back pressure you get using various aftermarket screens either.

I'm just intrigued how people are getting in excess of 6k miles on their Hoops. I manage 4k miles. The best I have had is nearly 5,000.

Begs the question what am I doing wrong or at the least different?

Ride it like you stole it !!!!

Doug, just wondering if riding style, two up, weight of rider and gear, or even temperature and road conditions, could account for riders getting different mileage out of their tires. Ride Safe.

robert wrote:

Doug, just wondering if riding style, two up, weight of rider and gear, or even temperature and road conditions, could account for riders getting different mileage out of their tires. Ride Safe.

Probably, I ride solo, suspension on setting 5, 190 Lbs. The roads around where i do the majority of my riding are very hard due to our main battle tanks driving around on them. May be wearing the tyres at a higher rate.

Not a worry really, just curious why I appear to be getting 2k miles less than most folk.

My 6000 miles was right on, if not over the UK legal limit. I do spend a lot of time riding the less used minor roads of North Lancashire and the Yorkshire Dales and as these often have poor surfaces I suspect that this may result in more rapid tyre wear.

bikerboy, you travel the same roads i do. My rides are usually weekdays , but i'm also out at weekends,funnily enough i got lost recently around Leyland, when the main road to Southport was closed off. I seem to get over 10,000mls on a front Bridgestone hoop, and around 6-7000mls on a rear hoop. The rear Metzler iam running on has done 8000mls and still has 3mm of tread on it.

The Hoops may have been designed for the Silverwing, but new tire technology has come out after. I'm thinking about Metzlers.

Think about this---tires may have advanced, but SilverWing has not. I still say stick with what Honda tested/recommends. My NT700V Honda came to US market late in its production run----I think Bridgestone BT20 approved tire---worked fine in my case...replaced fr and rear with same, meantime people were trying newer bike didn't work any better.

New Bridgestone scooter specific tyre due out in our size later in the year.

Waspie wrote:

bikerboy wrote:

Mine had Hoops from new and the rear lasted ~6000 miles but I was very happy with the grip and handling so I've fitted the same again.

Wow, 6k on a rear tyre.

Have to ask - how do you do it? I am changing my Hoops every 4k! I don't do motorway riding all mine is rural.

Wow! I use nothing but Hoops on my Majesty and Silverwing. I get 12-13k rear 16-18k front on Majesty. On the silverwing I have 13K on front and 8k on the rear now after just finishing a cross country run, all interstate at speed, in 90-100+ temps and there is thousands of mile left on both tires. I keep tires inflated to suggested maximum levels in hot weather and i-2 lbs over in cooler weather. I got caught in flash flood conditions in western Colorado and the Hoops never slipped, even a tad, climbing a 11k ft summit or on the decline with significant twisties.

I liked the profile of the Hoop I had on the X9; it seemed to have less of a shoulder than other makes. That may have been my imagination but it boosted my confidence greatly at the time.

My tires came in on Friday and now I have to find a shop nearby to install them for me. I was very impressed with the ordering to receiving time with Motorcycle Superstore. Ordered them on Tuesday night and they arrived on Friday afternoon. I'm hoping they'll be good ones.

I helped build Goodyear tires for about 11 years. At the time they had a research group that studied other companies tires. I remember they bought 40 tires from Michelin from 4 different plants in different countries. We were blown away by the fact that, after taking the tires all apart, the weight of components from all the tires only varied a few grams. We couldn’t get two pieces of tread coming out of the same machine that close.
The other thing we were aware of was that vehicle companies made deals with tire companies to supply them with original equipment tires.
The companies wanted good tires, and got them, but most of the decisions
were made from sales meetings that had more to deal with “deals” than whats the best tire.
Tires have advanced a lot. I, personally, will go with the experiences that users on this board have had. As one writer mentioned, the riding style, road conditions, and weight will affect performance and life. Different tires have various strong points.
It would be great if, when reporting on a tire, you could include what factors your tires are subjected to. It is great that people are taking the time to share information. I think a good set of tires should be one of a persons most important decisions for safety and comfort.

I can't remember where I got the advice, but whomever it was that was recommending Pirelli Diablo's THANK YOU! I changed the front tire about 3 weeks ago and it handled well, but boy I noticed a HUGE difference when I changed the back tire. I'll be getting those again in the future, I don't care WHAT John Grinsel says about factory tested tires.

Johnnygone wrote:

I think a good set of tires should be one of a persons most important decisions for safety and comfort.

!00% agree. +1

I think most bike / car manufacturers choice of tyre is dependant on performance (for some of the above that would be a minor consideration) and cost - designed by accountants not engineers!

Swapped the Hoops for Metzeler Feel Free Wintecs (on both Silverwing and Burgman) and very pleased with them.

Cheers,

What is a tyre?

hotwings wrote:

What is a tyre?

A 'tyre' my dear colonial chum is a correctly spelt tire!

Simple really.

Waspie and I never tire of correcting poor spelling practices of Mssrs Webster through to F*&k'n Wagnells.
We are tired of scuffing out out tyres on bluestone roads.
We also wear socks.... Oh S^#t!!! now I'm sounding like Meldrew!.

HUMOUR us!

Waspie wrote:

hotwings wrote:

What is a tyre?

A 'tyre' my dear colonial chum is a correctly spelt tire!

Simple really.

Maybe in 1649! Ye olde tyre cometh in rubber noweth!! No moreth woodeneth!!