? about tires for a 9000 mile trip

[Stubby]

Chris thanks it's still early in the process. Just doing a lot of fact finding at this point and this site is being a big help.

Dave

[Scaffolder]

Don't worry Jay, he only gets that kind of mileage 'cause his bike is not green. Green bikes eat tires much faster; you have to pay for that coolness factor somehow.

 

I have gotten over 16K out of multiple sets of PR2's. Maybe it is the cooler temps around here- Scaffolder is in northern New England as I remember, and rides all year; I am in southern New England and also ride all year. Once the temps are below, say 55F, I think tire wear really falls down pretty low. And it does seem that those who get really short mileage out of tires live in much warmer climates; even the summers here are not that hot on average compared with the south- central and southwest US for example. Otherwise I have no idea what cause the same tire to change so much regarding wear from bike to bike and person to person. ??

Brian

Agree  100%! I just rode home from work this morning at 12:30 am from New Haven Ct. to Wells Me. 210 miles. Temps were all over the place. From 28 deg.-49 deg.  I don't think the tires get eaten up like crazy at these temps.

[B.D.F.]

Sometimes, sometimes not. Stop acting like that was not part of a clever idea on my part: the IBA has had CC 50's and CC 50's 'The hard way' for years. I merely added a new style ride: a CC 100 with a hospital overnight and stress test (which must be done in heated riding boots according to the CC 100 W.S.T. rules). There you have it- the whole thing was planned. And by the way, my ambulance ride attendant (E.M.T. I think they are really called) was an apprentice trainee- girl who had me as her last 'test body' before getting officially certified. So I like to think I helped the people of central PA gain a new member of a useful medical service.... even though she did run out of the ambulance screaming into the night at the end of the ride....

Brian

Without going to the hospital?

[gPink]

... even though she did run out of the ambulance screaming into the night at the end of the ride....

Brian

Did you introduce her to Mr. Elkhoof?

[katata1100]

I have around 12,000 miles on my PR3's. Almost all of that was long distance touring. Front still looks good, the rear tire is squared, still a little life left but I'll be replacing it soon. I'm curious to see what the Pr4's are like.
I think 9,000 miles on PR3's is very doable. If you hit rain, you'll really love the PR3's.

[garfield1974]

I have around 12,000 miles on my PR3's. Almost all of that was long distance touring. Front still looks good, the rear tire is squared, still a little life left but I'll be replacing it soon. I'm curious to see what the Pr4's are like.
I think 9,000 miles on PR3's is very doable. If you hit rain, you'll really love the PR3's.

 

Mine went to garbage after 6000

[VirginiaJim]

If you stop letting your cat ride the bike, you may get better mileage out of them.

[PH14]

I got 8200 miles out of the stock Bridgestone front tire and 10,000 out of the rear. That was a lot of highway miles and twisty mountain riding. Correct air pressure is your friend. I did a little less on my Angels. I'm on PR3s at the moment.

On a long trip, you can get decent mileage out of a tire as long as you have the proper air pressure. Oh, and be sure use synthetic oil and keep your bright lights on during the day.

[B.D.F.]

No but I did tell a short version of 'The Cat Joke (TM)' on the ride.

The ambulance driver DID see Mr. Elkhoof while he was getting my top box and electronic gear off the bike (bless his heart!). He came back and said he got everything that seemed removable but he didn't want to handle that 'animal thing' next to the aux. fuel tank.

Brian

Did you introduce her to Mr. Elkhoof?

[stevewfl]

MY riding habits have not allowed me to even get to close to 9000 miles on a tire. Maybe if i stayed on the freeway at 50 MPH with panniers empty putting my weight on the front as much as possible would allow me to get close 

[Stubby]

Thanks for all the insight now to sift through it this winter. A little snow here today 

[PH14]

Thanks for all the insight now to sift through it this winter. A little snow here today 

Snow? Well in that case, put a car snow tire on. 

[garfield1974]

MY riding habits have not allowed me to even get to close to 9000 miles on a tire. Maybe if i stayed on the freeway at 50 MPH with panniers empty putting my weight on the front as much as possible would allow me to get close 

Thank You. At least I know that I 'm not the only one 

BTW Did not get that joke about the cat ? 

Guess there is a quite number of senior citizens on this forum that's why such huge mileages.   

[PH14]

Thank You. At least I know that I 'm not the only one 

BTW Did not get that joke about the cat ? 

Guess there is a quite number of senior citizens on this forum that's why such huge mileages.   

You don't have to ride like a senior citizen to get good tire mileage. The biggest thing I have seen from others who got low mileage is under-inflation. All my tires have been worn to the edge with no chicken strips. True, hard acceleration will wear a rear tire quicker, but on a long highway trip, that won't be a factor, even with backroads. SO on a 9,000 mile trip, a tire will most likely give more mileage than other types of riding.

[tweeter55]

Radial or Bias-ply snow tire? Just gotta tuck that tidbit of information away for future reference.

[stevewfl]

You don't have to ride like a senior citizen to get good tire mileage. The biggest thing I have seen from others who got low mileage is under-inflation. All my tires have been worn to the edge with no chicken strips. True, hard acceleration will wear a rear tire quicker, but on a long highway trip, that won't be a factor, even with backroads. SO on a 9,000 mile trip, a tire will most likely give more mileage than other types of riding.

I'm all over my tire pressure because I care about turning (39-42 PSI on C14, 34-36 on sportbikes, track 24-26). 

But on my X-country super slab rides I've never been able to squeeze 9K.  Please tell me the secret, what air pressure gives up the mad mileage for you?   

[PH14]

I'm all over my tire pressure because I care about turning (39-42 PSI on C14, 34-36 on sportbikes, track 24-26). 

But on my X-country super slab rides I've never been able to squeeze 9K.  Please tell me the secret, what air pressure gives up the mad mileage for you?   

42 does it for me on the C14. I didn't get 10,000 miles out of my Angels but did out of my stock Stones, I hated every mile of the Bridgestones but I got 10,000 out of the rear. On my RC51 I varied the pressure more just as you do. The C14 is a heavy bike though so I stick to the recommended pressure. As long as you aren't stopping and starting, there should be very little wear. Getting into a twisty road helps distribute the wear to the sides more. 

[wally_games]

 

He must trailer the bike a lot, LOL.

[NuckaMan]

I'm scratching my head how some of you are getting anything north of 6000 out of the rear and I'm light, and pack light too. I don't do full-throttle clutch-drop starts or do burnouts. About the only thing I do is run a pretty good clip on the highways when traffic/LEO allow, and like to push it in twisty roads. I'm seeing belts around the 7K mark in the rear on PR2.

Mich PR2 are my favorite touring tire ever!!!! Sadly, I hear its being discontinued to make room for PR4's which are due soon, if not already.

[PH14]

I'm scratching my head how some of you are getting anything north of 6000 out of the rear and I'm light, and pack light too. I don't do full-throttle clutch-drop starts or do burnouts. About the only thing I do is run a pretty good clip on the highways when traffic/LEO allow, and like to push it in twisty roads. I'm seeing belts around the 7K mark in the rear on PR2.

Mich PR2 are my favorite touring tire ever!!!! Sadly, I hear its being discontinued to make room for PR4's which are due soon, if not already.

I still wouldn't complain about 7,000 miles on this bike. Of course I would never want to see belts on any tire on any vehicle.