Tyre wear

[busy builder]

Was out yesterday over to the west coast, beautiful day around 22 deg.

I checked my tyres before I set off, at 4190 miles my BT021 front had squared off

I've never had a front do that before, the rear is obviously squared off too but I knew that after doing 2000 odd miles on the A9/M74/M6. But rear wear looks okay with possibly another 2000 miles left on it despite the squaring off.

Anyway, not much longer to go before new tyres, I won't change them before the bike goes away in October and envisage only doing perhaps another 500 miles.

certainly won't be 021's again, will be Michelin PR3's.

 

[Rusty]

I have had the PR3's and they are excellent in all aspects of riding .. but just for a change I shall try the Continental Trail Attacks in a few weeks .. always good to have a go with different tyres me thinks !
You wont be disappointed.

 

[sven]

I swapped to BT023's after the horrible BT-021's wore out after 3300 miles and the difference was amazing. Better grip, especially in the wet, and much better handling.

The rear was changed at 7100 miles (3800 miles use) and the front was then worn out at 10,000 mile (6700 miles ue) with the rear on its way out too after being thrashed around northern Spain, so I've just fitted Avon Storm 3D's.

The Avons took a couple of hundred miles to scrub in properly, but grip seems fine and the handling neutral, although slightly slower to turn in than the BT023's. They have a much deeper tread than most tyres, so I'm hoping the life will be improved. The old Storm ST's used to last around 5500 miles on my K1200S and VFR800 which was around 50% longer than most tyres.

 

[Riktus]

BT023's and PR3's are both good tyre options and seem to last similar mileage. The front on the BT023's seems to square off but at reasonable mileage so was acceptable but the PR's are going strong and still have a nice round profile at 6500 miles in. They feel very stable and are good in the wet.

BT021's were crap and Bridgestone knew it - sooner they are off your bike the more happy you will be with the handling!

Rik

 

[steadysteve]

T30

Got a pair of Bridgestone T30 on mine. seem ok up to now, comfier ride than the bt20's it had on before, only done a 1000 miles so can't comment on the mileage they will do, but now showing any signs yet.

 

[aRTy_Hexhead]

PR3's are excellent.

Much more compliant, smoother ride and easier to keep leaning over than the two sets of 023GTs I've had before.

Good mileage too. 4000miles and only a little flattening in the middle after lots of foreign autobahn riding.
.
021s would have been in the bin!!

£235 a pair fitted at Strathearn Tyres, Crieff this year.

 

[R&S]

Conti Trail attacks,

Just coming to the end of just shy of 10,000 miles on a pair of Conti Trail attacks I fitted to my 61' GSA, I have just under 2mm left on the rear, albeit its seriously squared off, I've used them through all weathers and can honestly say that if you want a middle of the road tyre that last miles, and in my opinion road only, then these are for you.

But,...

They have a very stiff carcass ( mrs!) they feel harder to ride on, and don't have anywhere near the feed back that the standard Tourances do, I've also used the EXP's but found they wear out quicker than a stunt riders rear tyre!
The Conti's have been used for a 60 mile daily commute, 2 x touring hoildays and weekend run about, the usual stuff really.

They just do not give me any confidence in the damp or cold conditions, I've had a couple of moments recently on the cold mornings that were probably my own fault, but I'm sure the Tourances would have been fine, this was mainly poor road surface, cold and damp and running late, and to quote a retired Aussie racer, " my ambition outweighed my talent" !

Doing some research the new PR3's seem to be the weapon of choice for 100% tarmac and commuting through the winter, anyone say otherwise???

Cheers,

 

[Deleted account 220427001]

check tyre pressures if its squared off to low in pressure

 

[stanley]

Preferring Angel GTs to the PR3s. Quieter and better grip. Run at slightly lower pressure than recommended.

 

[Gringo-Loco]

I had Tourance on both GS-es I swapped the last GS onto Continental Trail Attak before I traded it.
I was easily getting 7.5K miles on the Metzlers (I'd put two pairs of Metzlers on the first Gs and one pair on the second GS) but the Continental only managed just over half of the mileage.

For sure the Continental's grip was noticeably superior to the Metzler but for my money the increased wear was not worth the marginal improvement.

As to Squaring off a Tyre.... It is not the tyre pressure that causes 'squaring off'. True Squaring off is a factor of use. If you do not lean the bike onto the edges of the tyre then they do not wear and so the centre (Harder compound) will wear leaving the outside (softer compound) un-worn. They are not called Chicken-Strips for nothing.

Low pressure will cause side wear and no centre wear as the harder compound on a bike tyre will wear slower than the outer compound which contacts the road due to the forces acting through the side walls rather than being transmitted to the centre when the tyre is correctly inflated.