[UrbanRage]

Ok, I am going to be getting a new rear tire as soon as I get back from this deployement. I have seen a ton of theads about people getting a new rear tire, but what are you doing with the front? Has anyone replaced it? Dose anyone know how long the fronts usually last? If I am going with a better rear tire, shouldn't I replace the front one also?

Since I can't go into the garage look at my bike could some please post the size of the front. Thanks in advance!

 

[strykenshane]

I spoke to my dealer about the front tire and he advised me the front will last twice as long as the rear or longer and he also felt the front factory tire was as good as anything out there.

 

[11Stryker]

120/70/21

 

[toby]

I spoke to my dealer about the front tire and he advised me the front will last twice as long as the rear or longer and he also felt the front factory tire was as good as anything out there.

How could he say that Bridgestone is as good as any. They are almost the bottom of the pile according to everyone I have spoke to and by my personal experience. Although you do get twice to three times the miles on the front than the rear with any brand. We replaced the front Bridgestone on the V Star at 6,300 miles and it was pretty shot. And I assume it was the original. We just changed the rear tire at 8,100 miles which was a Dunlop that was almost new when we bought the bike with 4,300 miles on it. The bike is sold with Bridgestone brand new. So we got about the same or just a bit more miles off the Dunlop, around 4,000 miles. We went from Bridgestone to Dunlop to Metzler on the Virago increasing the mileage each time, Getting twice the miles with Metzler as Bridgestone.
My Stryker as you know burnt the rear Bridgestone in all of 3,100 miles and I mean burnt it down to now tread at all. However the front tire is showing very little wear at all. I expect to get 3,000 more out of it. Just for one more piece of info the tire guy that changed mine said that it was normal for Bridgestone to wear that fast in fact he had seen them that worn at only 2,500 miles. We got almost 8,000 miles on the rear Metzler on the Virago 2 up fully packed. So I'm thinking solo riding should get closer to 9,000 rear or more and 18,000 front. Don't know yet on the heavier bikes but I would think close to the same. But will let every one know after this coming riding season. There are some facts to throw around, hope that helps. 8)

 

[strykenshane]

Not saying he was right Toby, just repeating what he told me when I was thinking of switching to the Avon on the front

 

[toby]

Not saying he was right Toby, just repeating what he told me when I was thinking of switching to the Avon on the front

Right. I figured that.

 

[Jeremyf073]

Toby and Jesus were old riding buddies if that gives you any idea on how long he's been in the wind....I've read a lot of his posts and he seems to know his ****. I'd trust his advise first before most of the guys here......I just put on a Metz last weekend and I love it. I did get 8100 miles from the stock tire tho, but you could almost see air through it when I changed it......Thats my 100th post!! WooHoo!!! ;D

 

[ratboy]

There's a lot of information out there that cautions against having different brands of tires on the front and rear so be careful with replacing only the front with a different brand. The following quote is from an article by the National Highway and Safety Administration:


"Make sure you get a matching set of front and rear tires. Unlike car tires, you need to make sure that your motorcycle tires are a �matched� set. At a minimum, they should have complementary tread patterns, should both be either radial or bias ply, and ideally be the same make and model."

 

[toby]

There's a lot of information out there that cautions against having different brands of tires on the front and rear so be careful with replacing only the front with a different brand. The following quote is from an article by the National Highway and Safety Administration:


"Make sure you get a matching set of front and rear tires. Unlike car tires, you need to make sure that your motorcycle tires are a �matched� set. At a minimum, they should have complementary tread patterns, should both be either radial or bias ply, and ideally be the same make and model."

Yes I remember one bike I had years ago, (65,000,000,000 years ago) , that I put miss matched brands on and if there were any kinds of ruts/rain grooves in the freeway the front seemed to tracked different than the rear and was really wobbly. There was a noticeable decrease in that when I put matching tires on. I have been researching car tires for the rear and have been talking with the guys at L&M that are doing the custom 950 because they are using a car tire on that one. So they will post some feed back when they get er done and get some riding time to see how she handles.

 

[strykenshane]

cell crappity crap crap, now you guys got me thinking I should put the matching Avon on the front. I haven't noticed any wobbling or tracking issues but I also know when I make this 2,000 mile ride to vegas I'm probably going to find myslef on some uneven paevemt and goat trails here and there

 

[11Stryker]

I put new Avon tire on front when I bought my new PM wheels just so would match rear tire. I noticed alot of wandering on the Black road crack repairs last year. Not sure whether it was mismatched tires or just the patches.

 

[canyon1]

Just me, maybe, but I will trade some wear for a tire with softer compound and better grip. I watched "Ultimate Factories" on TV when they did the show on Ducati. Seems Pirelli designed a special tire for the Multistrad which had a harder rubber compound in the center for better wear and softer compound on the edges for better grip in cornering. Sounds good but so did their pitch for the Multistrad as four bikes in one. Yeah, sportbike, urban commuter, enduro and long distance tourer. All I can see is one big compromise....not good at any but maybe acceptable for all these types of riding. Haven't riden one so I can't really say, but I know my enduro days are over, my sportbike days never were, and long distance for me is maybe a 250 mile day. So I think I'll stay with the Bridgestones when I replace cause they seems to give a good ride and I can corner as hard as I care to lean it over. P.S. I bought an Avon as a replacement for the Continental on my 1972 Hando 450. It had a square profile and hard rubber. Not a good tire. Lot of changes since then. I'm sure they are better now. I got about 10,000 miles out of my Dunlop on the Shovelhead and could gotten more if two roofing nails didn't hasten it's demise.

 

[UrbanRage]

As of now I am looking at purchasing my tires from J&P cycles and using code 302 for additional 15 dollars off, bringing the final cost to 388 to my front door.

Rear Avon AV71, 240/40R18
Front Avon AV72, 120/70/21

Now I just need to find some cermanic brakes for the bike.

 

[toby]

As of now I am looking at purchasing my tires from J&P cycles and using code 302 for additional 15 dollars off, bringing the final cost to 388 to my front door.

Rear Avon AV71, 240/40R18
Front Avon AV72, 120/70/21

Now I just need to find some cermanic brakes for the bike.

Urban, do you mount them yourself or ?

 

[UrbanRage]

I have thought about it but I think that I am going to bring the rims to the dealership and have them do it. That will give me time to paint a couple of things while it has no tires.

 

[ROUGH27]

Does anybody have any idea how fat of a front tire we can put on these? I know it's not a common look but I think it would look mean with the rake and a fat tire on front. I'm not running the front fender either btw. So, really just need to know what the rim itself will hold.

 

[2670]

I just put new Metzeler tires front and rear on my Stryker. I am amazed at how much better this bike feels to me.