Strange handling

[Z71]

I have close to 5000 miles on my original tires and they are getting quite squared off as I live in Florida and ride mostly on straight roads.  Today I noticed that the bike felt weird - it was like I was running on car tires, not motorcycle tires. I know some have complained about the OEM tire bad handling, and I think I am experiencing just that.  These tires are really crappy it seems with some miles on them.   What did you get out of the OEM tires?  My bike is an '09 model.

[jsa]

I hit the wear bars on the rear at 3500 miles and the front was badly cupped.  The ride was crappy and it handled like an old pickup.

[Spanky]

PR3's, PR2's, Angels, whatever you pick will be a huge improvement. You will wish you replaced the original rocks much earlier, especially when you go around the one curve in Florida.   

[ZG]

I have close to 5000 miles on my original tires

 
 

My bike is an '09 model.

 
 
Dude, you really need to ride more.

[Z71]

 
 
 
 
Dude, you really need to ride more.

I have three other bikes which I ride more than this one. 

[twowheeladdict]

I had no issues with the oem tires, but I mostly ride curvy roads so they wore out fairly evenly.  I have the PR3s on their now and it feels like every new tire feels.

[curly]

I have close to 5000 miles on my original tires and they are getting quite squared off as I live in Florida and ride mostly on straight roads.  Today I noticed that the bike felt weird - it was like I was running on car tires, not motorcycle tires. I know some have complained about the OEM tire bad handling, and I think I am experiencing just that.  These tires are really crappy it seems with some miles on them.    What did you get out of the OEM tires?  My bike is an '09 model.

Actually, the oem tires are crappy from the get-go.

[VirginiaJim]

Correct, and if the OP is getting carppy handling then it's time for them to go before they do ill towards him.  Riders get anywhere from 3k miles to 8k+ miles.  Mine went 8k+ and I never experienced the handling go bad but others experience varies.

[connie14boy]

A pair of PR 3's completely reforms the bike into a proper S/Tourer that will play well with the FJR's and ST 1300's you encounter. Just be sure to put a 190/55 on the rear instead of the std. size 190/50. The original 021 Bridgestones were the worst tires I have ever had, spooky and dangerous to the point I was going to sell the bike until I read the posts here and tried the Michelins- thanks, guys.

[Tarheelbob]

You've already figured out the problem. Wonky handling on the OEM Brickstones became unbearable for me on my '09 at 3500 miles. I replaced the treacherous rubber donuts from hell with Pirelli Angel ST's and never looked back. Quit worrying about how many miles you can get out of them, you're ruining the enjoyment of this great bike. You'll kick yourself for not doing it earlier once you feel the difference.

[Z71]

Correct, and if the OP is getting carppy handling then it's time for them to go before they do ill towards him.  Riders get anywhere from 3k miles to 8k+ miles.  Mine went 8k+ and I never experienced the handling go bad but others experience varies.

I am sure that it would handle a lot better if the tires were worn evenly.  Being squared off however, makes it much worse, especially in turns.  Yes, there are few curves here and there in Florida.   And everybody makes right and left turns at intersections. 

[VirginiaJim]

You've probably washed your bike too many times as well.  That's never good for it.

[Makz58]

The OEMs for me were the worst tire I have had the displeasure of riding on in 40 years of riding....the front cupped badly and the rear squared off before I knew it. I had them slip on me three times during normal non aggresive cornering scared the beejesus out of me....tires gone now new PR 3s what a difference. Should have changed then out before picking up the bike.

[marku8a]

Quit worrying about how many miles you can get out of them, you're ruining the enjoyment of this great bike. You'll kick yourself for not doing it earlier once you feel the difference.

Agreed! I made the same mistake and lived with the stones for 3500 miles. I put on PR2s a few weeks ago with a 190/55 rear. Wow! What a difference!!

Mark

[katata1100]

Actually, the oem tires are crappy from the get-go.

I wouldn't say that they were that bad-I thought they were ok for the first 1000 miles, that was the length of my ride home from the dealer.
Ok, maybe the first 500!
The rear squared out early, making handling feel like a school bus. The front tire went bald on the sides at around 4000 miles. I was on the last trip with these tires, thinking I'd get new PR3's when I got back. As worried as I was with the front looking like it was carved out of stone, saw steel belts showing out of the rear!
I am by no definition an aggressive rider, but PR3's on this bike made it feel like a different ride.
The oem Bridgestones have one purpose- help the bike roll out of the dealership.

[maxtog]

I am at about 5500 miles on the OEM tires.  There is no question the handling is getting worse and worse, but there seems to be a lot of life left in them still.  I was trying/hoping to coordinate the tire replacement with the next service interval at 7500 miles.  Should be interesting to see if they will make it.  PR3 is my plan.

[texrider]

I've not tried the PR's or Angels yet, but highly recommend the Dunlop Sportmax Q2's as a replacement. Agree with using a 190/55 rear.
My next pair of tires may go on sooner than later, now that it appears I need to solder in some new TPS batteries. I'll be trying a set of Korean made Full Bore tires, that sort of resemble Shinko's, but have a very thick carcass.

[maxtog]

Agree with using a 190/55 rear.

As much as I have heard that advice, I simply can't take it, because it would raise the bike.  I need every mm I can get    

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.0

[texrider]

As much as I have heard that advice, I simply can't take it, because it would raise the bike.  I need every mm I can get    

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=260.0

Perhaps you could tolerate using the 180/55-17 and get the benefit of the profile, without so much height increase?

[Tim]

I would imagine the stock tires would be fine for the flat lands. I live at the edge of the Cascades and can be on twisty roads in about 10 minutes. I ran the Stones for 3200 miles and put PR 2’s (PR3’s not invented yet) on the 09.  The PR2’s made the C14 feel like a new bike. The PR2’s built confidence on the bike from the first day I owned them and I did not have to fight them. I made it to 15K with the 2’s and at the end they handled about as well as a stock stone. Next set was the 3’s. The rear 3 didn’t wear as well as a 2. The front 3 is wearing very well. Today for me if I put new rubber on my 14 the combo would be stock sizes with a PR3 up front and a PR2 on the rear.