Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: roadie on December 04, 2011, 10:51:10 AM
-
Can someone explain to me the rippling affect along the center line of my rear tire? I'm wearing PR3, and there appears, along the center threads (guess about 2.5" wide), a rippling of evenly spaced "bumps" all the way around. Is this what I sometimes see referred to as "cupping?"
-
That does sound like cupping, I only have about 1000 miles on my PR3 and it still looks new.
Don't hear many complaints about these tires cupping. How many miles on your PR3?
-
Odd that you'd get a "cupping" wear pattern on the rear tire. I would usually get this on a front tire but my PR3's are wearing what I'd call normal. Can you post a pic of what you're referring to?
-
That does sound like cupping, I only have about 1000 miles on my PR3 and it still looks new.
Don't hear many complaints about these tires cupping. How many miles on your PR3?
about 11,000 miles. I'll go snap a pic.
-
I will be very happy if I get 11,000 miles out of mine. Still want to see the cupping on yours.
-
Pics:
(http://www.zggtr.org/MGalleryItem.php?id=149)
(http://www.zggtr.org/MGalleryItem.php?id=150)
(http://www.zggtr.org/MGalleryItem.php?id=151)
-
11,000 miles, or 1,100 miles? I can't believe you would have that much tread left after 11,000 miles!
As for cupping, it is most noticeable on either side of the rain grooves, typically midway between the center of the tire and the edge (30 to 60 degrees off of center). Cupping is when the trailing edge of one block of rubber is noticeably higher than the leading edge of the next rubber block, at least that's my understanding of it.
It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm not sure what you have going on there. Doesn't look like any cupping I've ever seen. Do you feel any vibrations at speed?
-
Belt separation? Don't look like cupping.
The tread looks deep for 11,000 miles.
-
11,000 miles, or 1,100 miles? I can't believe you would have that much tread left after 11,000 miles!
As for cupping, it is most noticeable on either side of the rain grooves, typically midway between the center of the tire and the edge (30 to 60 degrees off of center). Cupping is when the trailing edge of one block of rubber is noticeably higher than the leading edge of the next rubber block, at least that's my understanding of it.
It's hard to tell from the pictures, but I'm not sure what you have going on there. Doesn't look like any cupping I've ever seen. Do you feel any vibrations at speed?
definitely 11,000, mostly straight line commuting...nuttin fancy. no vibration, feels just fine. dunno...
-
definitely 11,000, mostly straight line commuting...nuttin fancy. no vibration, feels just fine. dunno...
There must be something wrong with your bike's throttle linkage. I can't imagine that much thread on a rear tire after 11,000 miles! :o
-
11k miles? :o
-
11k miles? :o
Put um on at about 4k, at 14600 now.
-
Not really cupping, more like scalloping caused by the tire's tread. Totally normal and there is no way to avoid that I know of other than eliminating the tread cuts (a smooth or 'slick' tire). Cupping is a random pattern, not tied into the tread pattern.
Some people take a rasp or a Surfoam to the tire to knock down those bumps; it is a little risky 'cause you have to have the bike running and in gear on the centerstand while you grind away at the rear tire. :o Another way to take down those high spots is to use a tire balancer to mount the tire (and wheel), and then a hand grinder to both grind and spin the tire. Sort of like a poor man's lathe.
By the way, girlie- men use the file in first gear while <real> men try fourth or fifth. :o :o The truly tough folks get someone else to ride the bike while they hang off the luggage rack and whittle away....
Usually the wear pattern you seem to have (tread block feathering is what it really is) does not cause any difficulty and is not even something you can feel when riding.
Brian
Can someone explain to me the rippling affect along the center line of my rear tire? I'm wearing PR3, and there appears, along the center threads (guess about 2.5" wide), a rippling of evenly spaced "bumps" all the way around. Is this what I sometimes see referred to as "cupping?"
-
Not really cupping, more like scalloping caused by the tire's tread. Totally normal and there is no way to avoid that I know of other than eliminating the tread cuts (a smooth or 'slick' tire). Cupping is a random pattern, not tied into the tread pattern.
Some people take a rasp or a Surfoam to the tire to knock down those bumps; it is a little risky 'cause you have to have the bike running and in gear on the centerstand while you grind away at the rear tire. :o Another way to take down those high spots is to use a tire balancer to mount the tire (and wheel), and then a hand grinder to both grind and spin the tire. Sort of like a poor man's lathe.
By the way, girlie- men use the file in first gear while <real> men try fourth or fifth. :o :o The truly tough folks get someone else to ride the bike while they hang off the luggage rack and whittle away....
Usually the wear pattern you seem to have (tread block feathering is what it really is) does not cause any difficulty and is not even something you can feel when riding.
Brian
SCALLOPING! I forgot about Scalloping... :o
As for the cure, all those methods BDF suggested sound like work. Just put the front tire against a solid object, rev the engine really high, dump the clutch in low gear, and wait for a cloud of smoke. Then stop and check the tire to see if it's round again. ;) If not, repeat. :)
-
haha, too much...thx all...so won't be testing out my tire changing skills just yet.
-
Lean left or right once in a while. You'll actually wear down the sides and the center will then have a raised ridge. 11,000 miles out of a tire with soft sides is nuts. Might as well mount a car tire back there. :)
-
Can we do that?
-
After 13,000-15,000 they start to look like a car tire.
-
Lean left or right once in a while. You'll actually wear down the sides and the center will then have a raised ridge. 11,000 miles out of a tire with soft sides is nuts. Might as well mount a car tire back there. :)
its the bane of straight line riding to work down 66 every day :-)...when we do all finally meet at a rally, I'll be bringing up the rear, no doubt.
-
its the bane of straight line riding to work down 66 every day :-)...when we do all finally meet at a rally, I'll be bringing up the rear, no doubt.
You can buy the first round of frosty beverages at the meet since you rarely have to buy tires. ;D
I can't believe you have 11,000 on that tire! I am doing great if I can get 5,000 and I am elated if I get 6,000.
-
Tire is wore out at 11,000 miles whether it has tread or not (its hard and brittle).
I like when I've seen people state "had a million miles on these tires and swapped to brand XXX and they handle so much better".
Of course, soft fresh rubber :D
-
You can buy the first round of frosty beverages at the meet since you rarely have to buy tires. ;D
I can't believe you have 11,000 on that tire! I am doing great if I can get 5,000 and I am elated if I get 6,000.
LOL, done.
-
That tire doesn't look like 11,000 at all!
I've got mine off, taking to the shop today for a new rear--6500 and it's worn to **** just left of center......
-
That tire doesn't look like 11,000 at all!
I've got mine off, taking to the shop today for a new rear--6500 and it's worn to **** just left of center......
somebody lock this thread...you guys are starting to make me feel like a lil ole lady Sunday driver. :-) its been on there since maybe um... March I think. Whenever that was I told ya'll I caught a nail in DC in my brand new PR3...had this one mounted 3 hours later.
-
somebody lock this thread...you guys are starting to make me feel like a lil ole lady Sunday driver. :-) its been on there since maybe um... March I think. Whenever that was I told ya'll I caught a nail in DC in my brand new PR3...had this one mounted 3 hours later.
Not to worry. You have extra "tire money" to buy other farkles.
Wear that tire mileage like a badge of honor, but just don't get caught in front of any of the rest of us when you're out on the road. You might get blown over by the wind as we all fly by you! ;D J/K!
I do notice that your "chicken strips" still have rubber flash from when they were molded. And don't worry about "brittle". It ain't happening unless they've been on for several years.
-
Not to worry. You have extra "tire money" to buy other farkles.
Wear that tire mileage like a badge of honor, but just don't get caught in front of any of the rest of us when you're out on the road. You might get blown over by the wind as we all fly by you! ;D J/K!
I do notice that your "chicken strips" still have rubber flash from when they were molded. And don't worry about "brittle". It ain't happening unless they've been on for several years.
Roger WILCO...Like I said, back of the pack :-)..guess I should shift to a cruiser...NOT!
-
I can stay over 80mph all day long. Hit over 100mph for a few towns and still get between 15000~17000 on the trusty PR2s and PR3s. Everyone else must be doing burnouts and stoppies.
-
I'll have a set in a month or two. I hope to get that high mileage myself.
-
I can stay over 80mph all day long. Hit over 100mph for a few towns and still get between 15000~17000 on the trusty PR2s and PR3s. Everyone else must be doing burnouts and stoppies.
Again. Try that leaned over and see how it works out for you.
-
You can buy the first round of frosty beverages at the meet since you rarely have to buy tires. ;D
I can't believe you have 11,000 on that tire! I am doing great if I can get 5,000 and I am elated if I get 6,000.
Hell I would be happy to get beyond 4k. I haven't had a set last longer than that. I am at 9700 miles on the bike and it is wearing its third set of tires. They are beat up too...
-
Sorry but I can't see what you are experiencing but if you have alternating high and low spots on the CENTER of the tread (which is unusual) it's probably a function of riding on the same roads and under similar conditions for the life of the tire.
Easily fixed by changing the compression/ rebound in the shock slightly. And try to get into the twisties occasionally.
Fretka
-
I don't hit the back roads as much as most of you. I commute 200 miles per day + or - ,and only have about 20 min each way on twisties, but they are nice ones.
-
My PR2s have a similar condition. My last set did the same thing. I have about 10,000 miles on the current set and just a little bit less tread than you have. 90% of those 10K miles was highway at 70 to 80mph. I just look at it as a natural wear pattern for this tire when a large part of my riding is highway.
-
Pilot Powers 2, on mine, average is 3500 on rear and 5000 on front, I didn't buy a 1400 to ride it like a 250!
-
Pilot Powers 2, on mine, average is 3500 on rear and 5000 on front, I didn't buy a 1400 to ride it like a 250!
You won't outride the pilot road3's on the Connie. The weight/height/rail of the bike will hamper you before the softness/hardness of the tire.
I used pilot powers I had leftover in the garage on my Connie and ate 'em up fast too.
-
THX Steve, not really many curves here in Louisiana, I use the sides of tires at Deals Gap or on many sweet roads around Arkansas/Missouri when we go on trips.
-
THX Steve, not really many curves here in Louisiana, I use the sides of tires at Deals Gap or on many sweet roads around Arkansas/Missouri when we go on trips.
All the more reason for you to go with a longer lasting (but still more than capable) tire like a PR2/PR3 or Angel. Unless you really need the extra traction that Pilot Powers provide.
-
I have 15000 miles on my 2010,and am my 4th set of tires. OEM lasted 3000 miles, put on 2 set of angels that lasted about 6000 each. I loved the Angels but not happy with how long they lasted. Put on a set of PR2, hope to get alot more wear with them. So far I love the PR2s.
cheers
Paul
-
Understand this about tires, I know some complain about the little mileage they get, but then you can buy a harder compound tire, but then you sacrifice grip especially in the wet, I don't mind getting 3500 out of a rear as LONG as I know that the rubber is between me and the road and keep it that way without worrying "is this gonna hold me on this curve" which then takes the whole concentration out of the whole ride and worry takes over....