tires?

I have a 2011 touring with about 5000 and my tires seem to be developing a flat strip in the middle. Is this a sign I need to replace them? How many miles should I get out of a pair? I going on a 1000 to 2000 mile trip should I replace the tires? What tires should I get?

What pressure is everyone running.

Thanks

There is a treat wear indicator (TWC) located near the center of your tread pattern. You can find it by looking on the sidewall of your tires for the notation TWI. Then look across the tread for a raised nub inside the tread valley. If you can run your finger across the tread without touching the raised nub, you've still got some tire left. My guess is at 5000 miles you're overdue for a rear tire change and maybe 3/4 through your front tire life. I run the pressure recommended in the manual.

wsrvr said:

There is a treat wear indicator (TWC) located near the center of your tread pattern. You can find it by looking on the sidewall of your tires for the notation TWI. Then look across the tread for a raised nub inside the tread valley. If you can run your finger across the tread without touching the raised nub, you've still got some tire left. My guess is at 5000 miles you're overdue for a rear tire change and maybe 3/4 through your front tire life. I run the pressure recommended in the manual.

Click to expand...

+1. Squaring off the Metzlers (or Avons) occurs about 4000 miles and becomes pronounced about 5000 and gets down to the carcass at 6000. The sides on the other hand still have the mold nubbies even if you live near twisty bits of tarmac. Get used to it, big bike + soft rubber = frequent tire replacement.

Go dark side and you can extend the time between rear tire changes by about 3 years.

For whatever reason these bikes were made for the darkside, I went through 3 Metzlers in 17,000 miles until yesterday. I ordered a BFG G-Force 225/55ZR16 (Nolton runs one too) from Tire-rack for $135 on Friday and it arrived Monday. Wednesday had it installed for $30 loose and am trying really hard to find fault in the choice. On my second tank of gas since then and can't seem to knock it yet. Running 32psi after bumping it up in 2lb increments from 28 and it keeps getting better with each increase.

Touring bikes take a narrower size of course, but that has to be even better for handling.
Bias Ply VW tires were very common on bikes many years ago ... what was old is new again!

The comments are still the best part ... I get nods and head shakes both. So far the negativity comes from HD riders on narrow tires with maybe 50hp. Those guys have been running the same tire for so long they are weather checked on the sides. LOL

We were about to start a trip to Niagara Falls a couple years ago with what I thought was a good Metzler, Decided to ride to work for a week with the bike fully loaded and lo-and-behold the cord was showing. You DON'T want to go looking for a tire while on a trip.

tires..tires

I run Metzlers and are on my 3rd set..9500 on first set and 10,400 on my second set and over 5000 on my current set.I replace mine yearly so that I dont have to be concerned about tire failure during my touring season.I find it comforting to know that when I decide to ride, my tires are not going to be an issue.An extra day in the motel,air freight on a tire and finding a dealer on the road is never fun and quite expensive compared to $600-$650 replacement for a set each year..I continually read that guys here on the web are lucky to get 5000-6000 on a tire..not sure where they ride or the roads they travel.The hotter the weather and the tires seem to "melt off the carcuss"...I live here in washington and cooler riders and cooler air prevails!!I believe Avons are better in the heat than Metzlers..No car tires for me..I prefer the side wall arround corners..if riding straight roads and interstates,then perhaps a car tire would be better..but motorcycle tires are designed for the wrap arround body and I prefer that..and I respect your right to choose your preference!

Anyone running elite 3s?

I can't see pulling a trailer with anything but darkside ... get a heavy, high power bike on the damp pavement pulling a load and my feet would never leave the ground. A contact patch the size of a quarter vs a dollar bill ... no contest.

I have about 10,000 on a set of Metzlers and they're ready to be changed. I had Avons before the Metz and got about 8000 out of them.

I think your mileage has a lot to do with the roads you ride, your speed, and the temperature. The less I ride in the summer here, the more miles I can get out of a set of tires. I tend to run a pound or two above the suggested pressures.

I will most likely replace the Metzlers with another set of Avons. For me its much more about feel and handling than mileage. The Avons performed much better than the Metz for me. If I was worried about tire costs I would not have purchased an 800 lb touring bike that makes over 140 ft lbs of torque.

From all the reports I've read it seems there is a difference in mileage between the two brands depending on whether your on an R3T or a Standard model. Most get better mileage from Avons in the Standard sizes but from what I've read and experienced, the Metz get better mileage in the R3T size.

If you're concerned about an upcoming trip, I'd say replace them. I had a similar experience with the Avons. Taking a short 2000 mile trip I thought I had plenty of tread left. By the time I got home, they were toast. They seem to wear very fast at the end. Better to change them 1000 miles too soon than 100 miles too late. Also gives you one less thing to be concerned about on your trip.

As to the darkside suggestions. Its like religion, you're either a believer or your not. Personally I'm not.

I got over 6000 on my metz's and no real danger of heavy tread wear.......guess Im an old geezer on my scoot

mutt