What is good tire life?

2924 Views 30 Replies 14 Participants Last post by newday777, Nov 20, 2010

johnmac

Discussion Starter · Jun 27, 2005

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So, what kind of miles do you wingers get out of a pair of tires? In the early '80s I had a '78 GL1000 and I could get about 8000 miles out of a Goodyear Eagle on the back and about 12000 miles out of the front. (I don't remember for sure what it was). When I talked to other riders, they would often say they got 5000 miles and less. This would have been on GL1100s. (at that time).
Now I have an '85 1200A with new Dunlops. What would be an average?

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exavid

· #2 · Jun 27, 2005

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John,

I just put a pair of Dunlop EIIIs on my 1500. I don't know how long they will last, guess we'll both find out as time goes on!

dj norm

· #3 · Jun 27, 2005

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hi i have a 1200 ltd 1985 and i get about 20 000 km out of a rear and about 40 000 from a front tire i use 491 dunlop... Do not use to smouth of a rubber like metzeler or michelin good tracktion but the bike is to heavy for that, dunlop is good ratio .. Salut....

sixt5

· #4 · Jun 27, 2005

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My 1988 GL 1500 got around 12,000 on afront OEM Dunlop tires. The rear was alway a few more miles than the front.

I tried a set of Michelin Tires once and got a few more miles but not enough to off set the difference in cost increase.

I just recently had a new set of Dunlop Elite 3's mounted my '94 1500 SE. I generally am pretty easy on tires by alway checking pressure before riding.

An extra pound or two of air pressure will give better mileage on a set of tires but you will sacrifice ride comfort.

rcmatt007

· #5 · Jun 27, 2005

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as we say all the time in medicine... it depends.... it depends on how you ride. Lots of fast starts and fast stops and you will wear them out faster.... going 75 mph on an oklahoma turnpike versus 55 mph on an oregon freeway will make a difference as well. two up may actually help rear milage because the added weight/traction (if you wife is slim like mine), but may work against you welll... I won't go there. Having a sidecar always wore out tires faster for me especially with tow-in set like the manufacture suggested. Had a cheng-sing once -- well pay less, get less.

Todays tires certainly are better than the ones available when I bought my '78.

twisty

· #6 · Jun 27, 2005

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johnmac wrote:

So, what kind of miles do you wingers get out of a pair of tires? In the early '80s I had a '78 GL1000 and I could get about 8000 miles out of a Goodyear Eagle on the back and about 12000 miles out of the front. (I don't remember for sure what it was). When I talked to other riders, they would often say they got 5000 miles and less. This would have been on GL1100s. (at that time).
Now I have an '85 1200A with new Dunlops. What would be an average?

johnmac, obviously that depends on how you ride, type of roads & how you brake.

I'm a very hard rider & regularly travel at high speeds (90+ mph) I am also a hard front brake user. In most cases the front on my Honda will go around 4K-5K & the rear probably about the same to slightly more.

Now on my Harley cruiser with the Metzler 880's I'm good for about 7-8K front & 5-6K rear.

I have a friend with a 1200 GL that is a very conservative rider & he usually gets over 10K per end but he tends to wear the centers flat so the cornering gets kind of squirrelly towards the end of the cycle.

Twisty

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Jack Joyce

· #7 · Jun 27, 2005

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Jeez, I must ride like a nun. I commute daily on my 1500 with Metzelers 880s front and back and get about 20,000 miles on each one. I had Dunlop Elites on it before and got 24,000, but I didn't like the way they behaved.

Jack

G

· #8 · Jun 27, 2005

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Jack Joyce wrote:

1500 with Metzelers 880s front and back and get about 20,000 miles on each one. I had Dunlop Elites on it before and got 24,000, but I didn't like the way they behaved.

Hey Jack Joyce :waving: You better tell exavid that. :weightlifter:

:skipping::18red::skipping:

johnmac

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 28, 2005

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Jack, How did the bike behave with the Dunlops? Mine seems to want to wobble a bit if I straighten up from a turn quickly. Seems really bad if I run thru a little puddle. This is with some easy riding, as I expect it to happen. I may need to check the steering head nut. I notice a quick balance correction at very slow speed will make the tire "grind" aganst the pavement. I thought this may be trying to making the forks twist a bit.

Patch

· #10 · Jun 28, 2005

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I am looking at the Dunlop 491 EII's for the front and rear on my 84 GL1200A. Any reason why I should be looking at another tire choice? I am very fond of White Letter tires and want White Letters for my bike if available.

sixt5

· #11 · Jun 28, 2005

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Chris,

The Elite 2 is not being manufactured any longer. They have been replaced by the new Elite 3.

The elite 3 has a completely different tread style and is suppose to get better mileage they say. I just haven't been able to figure out who they is yet.

I couldn't find any Elite 2 left in my area. If you've found a set and that's what you want you had better jump on them.

I just had a set of Elite 3 installed on my '94 1500 SE and like them very much.

Jack Joyce

· #12 · Jun 28, 2005

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My Dunlop E IIIs felt really squirrely on scarified pavement (prepped for repaving or with rain grooves) and on steel-grate bridges. My 880s track much straighter in both places, less unsure. I think it has to do with the sipes. Dunlops have a pair of grooves right down the center, while the Metzelers have only diagonal grooves. I think that is what accounts for he difference on the irregular surfaces.

I can't really quantify the rest of the difference, but the 880s just feel sportier. I'm very fond of them. That being said, to each his own.

Jack

Tonys96

· #13 · Jun 28, 2005

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Jack Joyce wrote:

...but the 880s just feel sportier. I'm very fond of them. That being said, to each his own.

Jack

I have to agree with you on both these points.

I recently had to go from Metzlers back to Dunlops (Nail, trip, only tire available, 17k miles on Metzlers).

We were on the furthest distanceout on our ride, visiting a rally in North Hampton, Iowa (Davis Rally, very nice rally, go if you're in the area, Labor Day weekend), getting ready for the ride home, flat rear tire, nail, crap. Anyway went to the vendor area and the Dunlop people were there, very friendly people, put a new set of Dunlops on very quickly and we were able to finish our ride.

Riding the same roads home that we'd ridden earlier in the day I noted that it took more effort to initiate turn in as well as more bar pressure to maintain the cornering attitude. So much so that I commented to my riding buddy on the radio.

I've put about 10k trouble free miles on the Dunlops since then, not quite as confidence inspiring as the Metzlers on bridge decks or wet roads. Wear seems good so far.

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exavid

· #14 · Jun 28, 2005

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Redwing. wrote:

Jack Joyce wrote:

1500 with Metzelers 880s front and back and get about 20,000 miles on each one. I had Dunlop Elites on it before and got 24,000, but I didn't like the way they behaved.

Click to expand...

Hey Jack Joyce :waving: You better tell exavid that. :weightlifter:

Hey, I got Elite IIIs, he's talking about IIs. I notice he's using Metzelers not Bridgestones.

G

· #15 · Jun 28, 2005

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Jack Joyce wrote:

My Dunlop E IIIs felt really squirrely on scarified pavement.

Hey Jack Joyce :stumped: Will you try and explain that to exavid the "Senior Guru" He seems to think that your talking about Elite "2" :doh:

:walker::18red::walker:

G

· #16 · Jun 28, 2005

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csanders67217 wrote:

I am looking at the Dunlop 491 EII's for the front and rear on my 84 GL1200A. Any reason why I should be looking at another tire choice?

Hey csanders67217 :waving:Welcome to the forum. :clapper:I dont think the 491 E11's are still available. :stumped: The best m/cycle tyre on the market is Bridgestone. :clapper:

:weightlifter::18red::weightlifter:

exavid

· #17 · Jun 28, 2005

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Redwing. wrote:

Jack Joyce wrote:

My Dunlop E IIIs felt really squirrely on scarified pavement.

Click to expand...

Hey Jack Joyce :stumped: Will you try and explain that to exavid the "Senior Guru" He seems to think that your talking about Elite "2" :doh:

Sorry, this poor old befuddled geezer got Chris' and Jack Joyce's posts confused. However in defence of EIIIs I've now ridden 800 miles on mine, rain and shine, and am happy with them. Around these parts we have many draw bridges, railroad tracks (they especially like to put tracks in the middle of curves in the road) and a lot of grooved and rutted pavement. I haven't had anything but satisfaction with the new Dunlops so far.

G

· #18 · Jun 28, 2005

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exavid wrote:

However in defence of EIIIs I've now ridden 800 miles on mine, rain and shine, and am happy with them.

Hey exavid :leprechaun: I dont know where you get the time to put 800 miles on those tyres, :stumped: because your never off this forum. :clapper:Have you no work to go to. :stumped:I know your 62 but you should still be working untill your at least 75. :weightlifter:

Im 80 in August but i work hard every day for my neighbour. :clapper:

:leprechaun::18red::leprechaun:

exavid

· #19 · Jun 28, 2005

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Redwing. wrote:

exavid wrote:

However in defence of EIIIs I've now ridden 800 miles on mine, rain and shine, and am happy with them.

Click to expand...

Hey exavid :leprechaun: I dont know where you get the time to put 800 miles on those tyres, :stumped: because your never off this forum. :clapper:Have you no work to go to. :stumped:I know your 62 but you should still be working untill your at least 75. :weightlifter:
Im 80 in August but i work hard every day for my neighbour. :clapper:

Yep you're right, I'm typing this on my wireless keyboard attached to my handlbars. I don't work but this week I managed to mow my 3/4 acre with a push mower, haul my daughter's household goods from her apartment to my shop for temporary storeage, replace the alternator on my truck, overhaul a neighbor's furnace, and pour a couple yards of concrete for another neighbor. Oh yeah, managed to ride my Wing too! I think you're right, I'm going to have to go back to work to get some rest.

G

· #20 · Jun 28, 2005

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exavid wrote:

Yep you're right, I'm typing this on my wireless keyboard attached to my handlbars. I don't work but this week I managed to mow my 3/4 acre with a push mower, haul my daughter's household goods from her apartment to my shop for temporary storeage, replace the alternator on my truck, overhaul a neighbor's furnace, and pour a couple yards of concrete for another neighbor. Oh yeah, managed to ride my Wing too! I think you're right, I'm going to have to go back to work to get some rest.

Ok ! Ok ! Ok ! I believe you where thousands wouldn't. :stumped:

:baffled::18red::baffled:

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