Tire decisions

Coyote Chris

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Joined
Aug 25, 2011
Messages
3,689
Location
Spokane
Bike
10 Red NT 14 FJR, 17 XT
Last touring season, my FJR with 36k on it suffered road debris damage to the almost new Michelin Road 6 GT tire. Luckily, a nearby dealer in S. idaho had a new Road 6 in stock so I had them put that on.
So before the rally this year, I was checking the front tire which has 4K on it and pleanty of wear left but it also has some cupping/feathering so that if I put on the cruise and take my hands off the bars, the bars shimmy between 40-45 mph. Not as bad as it has in the past but its there and noticable if you take your hands off the bars. I have a new road 6 gt coming (I dont think the prices will come down) so the question is...do i put it on before the 2500 mile rally trip or after? At 77, I dont see me touring a whole lot on this bike in my years of riding left. I am tempted to just put on the new tire now, but my adopted son is going to get all my bikes so It would be nice to leave him with a bike with more tred (he has 2 bikes now and is trying to become a WSP motor unit. ) If I do decide to keep this tire on for the rally, should I over inflate it to keep the wear in the hard rubber area?
tire feathering cupping.jpg
 
Last touring season, my FJR with 36k on it suffered road debris damage to the almost new Michelin Road 6 GT tire. Luckily, a nearby dealer in S. idaho had a new Road 6 in stock so I had them put that on.
So before the rally this year, I was checking the front tire which has 4K on it and pleanty of wear left but it also has some cupping/feathering so that if I put on the cruise and take my hands off the bars, the bars shimmy between 40-45 mph. Not as bad as it has in the past but its there and noticable if you take your hands off the bars. I have a new road 6 gt coming (I dont think the prices will come down) so the question is...do i put it on before the 2500 mile rally trip or after? At 77, I dont see me touring a whole lot on this bike in my years of riding left. I am tempted to just put on the new tire now, but my adopted son is going to get all my bikes so It would be nice to leave him with a bike with more tred (he has 2 bikes now and is trying to become a WSP motor unit. ) If I do decide to keep this tire on for the rally, should I over inflate it to keep the wear in the hard rubber area?


View attachment 23772
I'm 77 also and find myself feeling the same way. My tires are getting "close", but I still have some riding left before I change them. Some tires just cup easier than others. Also, you may want to get the front tire off the ground and give the tire a good giggle giving a rough check on the wheel bearings, and yank the tubes a bit to give a rough check of the tightness of the steering head bearings. I would just inflate to the maximum listed on the TIRE and ride the tire to the rally. Over inflating is never a good idea in my opinion.

Now if the tire is giving an irritating ride (vibration), I'd change it out. 2,500 miles is a long time to ride irritated;)
 
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