| Author | Message | ||
     Chadr81 |
I'm taking a last minute trip to St. Louis to see an old friend from the Marine Corps. I'm looking at putting about 1200 miles on total. I'm at the verge of putting a new back tire on, and really want to wait until I get back to put a new one on... I don't want to get a table top on my new tire right away. I've got a couple pictures enclosed of what it looks like right now. Do you think I can make it down there and back safely, or should I just bite the bullet and spoon a new one on before I leave on Monday morning?   | ||
| Buellerandy |
change it! | ||
| Buellerandy |
Unless you plan on riding there on one side of the tire and coming back on the other! | ||
| Bodeansx1 |
as much rain and winds their. better safe then sorry, get a new one | ||
| Chadr81 |
Who knows, the wind might work with me for that one Andy. I know deep down inside I want to change it, but I feel like I'm just throwing $200 out the window on a new tire. Good news is I found a good deal on a new front and rear Pilot Power on Ebay for $260... shipped. | ||
| Chadr81 |
Hey Andy, what would it cost to have that new one put on that you've got there? | ||
| M1combat |
I would line up a time/tire with a shop local to where you're going and change it there. Ask if you can use a jack of just about any type and bring an allen, a 3/8" drive ratchet, a 3-6" extension and the right size spark plug socket (13/16"?). Pull the tire off in the parking lot (support the kick stand if it's on pavement  ) and have them swap it. That way you don't put 1200 highway miles on a brand new tire , and it looks to me like I'd be ok with 600 out of that one. That said... pictures don't always do justice to tread so you do what you think is safe . | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Looking at those photos as long as you run the highway only (no fun stuff) and run full tire pressure you might make it. I have certainly seen worse. You need to decide as it is your hide. | ||
| Mtch |
look on the sidewall for a 'TWI' marking (Tread Wear Indicator). in some of the grooves there will be a small raised section. once those are level with the surface of the tire it needs replacing. its looks like they can be seen in the second photo. as long as you aren't doing any crazy stuff it might be ok. i would look at getting it changed while visiting your buddy if its no hassle | ||
| Oldog |
the TWI's are clearly visible in the second pic, and the tire is not worn out. if that is a Dunloup I have seen that before an the tire will be fine to wearout provided you are not planning a track day or the like. I have seen several dunloups exibit a flaw where the different tread compounds meet and the vulcanizing bond is not too good looks like little razor cuts. In the end its your skin. | ||
| Etennuly |
How many miles do you usually get out of these tires? Then subtract how many miles you have on them. On my Uly I'd be looking a another 1500 to 2000 miles with the wear bars that far into the tread. That is how I see it. | ||
| Buellrider11960 |
your life is worth more than a tire | ||
| Chadr81 |
I ended up pulling the trigger on a new tire. Pulled the rear off when I got home this morning from work, and had them put the new one on. I'll feel better on the way down and back knowing that I won't run out of tread. I was going to take M1Combat's advice and change it down there, so I called a couple of the Buell dealers in that area. One of the dealers didn't even know what a Michelin Pilot Power was.... the other one I called only carried Pirellis, and I really didn't feel like running a Corsa III on the back and Pilot Power on the front. Thanks all for the advice. Chad | ||
| Midknyte |
No, No, and No. The tire is ok. I freaked out over the same thing last year. Those are just road cuts (your tire has spun and you just don't know it). Do you get a little bit or slippage in the rear when you take an aggressive turn? Reduce your rear compression damping a quarter to half turn.  | ||
| Beachbuell |
If you have ANY doubts at all, you might want to change a tire. Its not worth the risk IMO. | ||
| M1combat |
1/4 to a half turn? Mine would pack in and run wide if I did that... Try 1/8 turn increments. | ||
| Midknyte |
I'm only 145 lbs. It's what worked for me... | ||
| Josh_ |
Drop me a line when you get to St Louis. Josh |
