[Jim G]

Nice here today also. I balanced the tires on my pit wagon. I ran out of proper wheel weights so I used some 380 +P hollow points I had lying around. I still need to duck tape to spec. Anyone know what the best pressure is for these tires, cold?

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😎

Duckman . . . duct tape . . . hmmm. The traditional racer way to balance tires to spec!

Jim G

 

[Duckman]

It’s faster.

 

[Baxter]

I had a rainy day in the Smokies yesterday, still got out on the Foothills Parkway and had some fun. These tires have about 7000 miles on them, and had no issues. Cornering, braking, felt quite normal. I was riding slightly more cautiously than in the dry, but that was just me, nothing to do with being limited by the tires.

 

[SCNinja400]

I had a rainy day in the Smokies yesterday, still got out on the Foothills Parkway and had some fun. These tires have about 7000 miles on them, and had no issues. Cornering, braking, felt quite normal. I was riding slightly more cautiously than in the dry, but that was just me, nothing to do with being limited by the tires.

That is very impressive. I'm hoping to get that mileage out of the Road 5's. Did you get caught in the rain on Sunday riding towards Townsend? I hope it stays dry for the Dragon ride with Tracy.

 

[Duckman]

I had a rainy day in the Smokies yesterday, still got out on the Foothills Parkway and had some fun. These tires have about 7000 miles on them, and had no issues. Cornering, braking, felt quite normal. I was riding slightly more cautiously than in the dry, but that was just me, nothing to do with being limited by the tires.

View attachment 23510

That’s good to hear but I will say in my experience you are also riding roads that I’ve always thought had the best grip wet or dry of anywhere I’ve ever ridden. Not to take anything away from the tires.

 

[Baxter]

That is very impressive. I'm hoping to get that mileage out of the Road 5's. Did you get caught in the rain on Sunday riding towards Townsend? I hope it stays dry for the Dragon ride with Tracy.

I have little sign of wear on the front, and the rear is squaring off just enough to become noticable on these kind of curved roads. I'm likely going to be able to just replace the rear only and get more use from the front.

The Road series has been great for me. My Ninja 650R got about 12,000 miles each on a set of Road 2 and also on Road 4. But it was mostly highway w/o many sharp curves, or even braking. I suspect that living in the flatlands helps tire longevity.

 

[Baxter]

I've just pushed these tires past 8k miles. I had a slab day returning home from visiting @Tracy and the Smoky Mountains. It rained about half the day, including a stronger downpour as I navigated Indianapolis. The tires felt great at highway speeds despite the rain. Even while still in the mountains.

I did, however, avoid standing water. I'll let someone else test for hydroplaning resistance.

 

[Baxter]

That is very impressive. I'm hoping to get that mileage out of the Road 5's. Did you get caught in the rain on Sunday riding towards Townsend? I hope it stays dry for the Dragon ride with Tracy.

Just sprinkles on the way to Townsend. The rain came later that night.

But I could see that there were some storms in the area. Just not on my route that day.

 

[Bikenut]

I've just pushed these tires past 8k miles. I had a slab day returning home from visiting @Tracy and the Smoky Mountains. It rained about half the day, including a stronger downpour as I navigated Indianapolis. The tires felt great at highway speeds despite the rain. Even while still in the mountains.

I did, however, avoid standing water. I'll let someone else test for hydroplaning resistance.

I'm going to have to try those Metzlers. I'm getting tired (no pun intended) of buying the stock Dunlops every 3000 miles for the rear and 6000 miles for the front. Would love to find tires that have more grip than the Dunlops AND last longer.

 

[Baxter]

I'm going to have to try those Metzlers. I'm getting tired (no pun intended) of buying the stock Dunlops every 3000 miles for the rear and 6000 miles for the front. Would love to find tires that have more grip than the Dunlops AND last longer.

They're sport-touring tires. That's what is making a difference. Maybe it's a case of getting what ya pay for, because they do cost more.

The stock tires are ok for stock, but they're not really that advanced. I think the stock tires would be ok for mild street riding. You'd probably also notice an improvement with other sport-touring tires like Michelin's Road 6 which was recently introduced. I've been a fan of the Road series. But I might be turning into a Metzler fanboy over these.

I got a bit over 11K miles from the stock tires. The rear was very squared off when I switched. I was noticing the transition in curves very distinctly toward the end. Your 3K on the rear is interesting. I wonder how it is that we're riding differently, or perhaps you have a lower tolerance for wear on a tire? Do you do track days?

 

[Bikenut]

11,000 miles from the stock Dunlop Sportmax GPR300's? WOW!!! Oddly enough besides the rear squaring off my tires wear out more on the left than the right. Last time around the front had lost most of the tread on the left half of the tire. Guess I push a bit harder turning left.

It's been decades since my last track day.😢 but thank you for jogging a bunch of very pleasant memories! I just tend to ride a bit spiritedly on the street which is why I am searching for something with a bit more grip without going to something that will wear out faster than the Dunlops.

 

[Baxter]

Well, it's getting to be time to say goodby to my Metzeler Sportec M9RR tires. They have about 9,025 miles on them. The rear's profile has a slight resemblance to Herman Munster's head, and I've just noticed the front starting to cup. So I'm not going to be able to do the "one front for every two rears" money saving trick.

For what it's worth, they cornered and held their grip well at the Dragon last month. They also were great in the rain, both mountain curves and at interstate speeds last month as well. But I was starting to notice the flatter profile in corners and curves. My only complaint is not getting 12K miles out of them.

Now I'm gonna have to think. Do it again or try something else. Michelin's Road 6 seems to be in short supply. Maybe try the Road 5 which might be available since the 6 has been introduced. But these have been good to me.

On a related note, I've somehow managed to wear out my front brake pads. This didn't happen when I lived in North Dakota--no need to apply your brakes more than twice in every hundred miles. Another price for moving to a city and traveling to mountains, I guess.

 

[Duckman]

I’ve been guilty of sticking with a tire I really like but I also like trying different tires. It’s fun learning how different they sometimes feel. Not always good or bad but just different.

9000 miles! I’ve never kept a tire that long. Well, maybe a front.

 

[Baxter]

9,728 miles now. I've been noticing a slight squirminess in corners, perhaps because the rear tire is getting squared off, maybe just wear, maybe just in my mind because I'm conscious of the tires' age.

I've already ordered up another set of the same. I'd considered Michelin's Road 5 and 6, but they seem to be in short supply. And I've liked these tires. They really made Ninjette feel confident in the mountains and were amazing in the rain. This will be the first time I've had the same tires on twice.

 

[Tracy]

9,728 miles now. I've been noticing a slight squirminess in corners, perhaps because the rear tire is getting squared off, maybe just wear, maybe just in my mind because I'm conscious of the tires' age.

I've already ordered up another set of the same. I'd considered Michelin's Road 5 and 6, but they seem to be in short supply. And I've liked these tires. They really made Ninjette feel confident in the mountains and were amazing in the rain. This will be the first time I've had the same tires on twice.

If the dang tire prices keep going up I may re-think my loyalty to Michelin

 

[Baxter]

10,239 miles from the pair. Swapped them for new of the same today. This is the first time I've ever had an exact repeat of a tire. I'd considered Michelin Road 5 or 6, but they seem to have long wait lists. They also cost more. The Sportec M9RR did me well, so here I go again!

I'm also trying angled valve stems to make checking & filling air a bit easier. And somehow I wore out my front brake pads. City living and a few visits to mountains seems to have had a hand in that.

Break-in felt easy. They seemed to get over the initial squirminess in about 10 miles. I was no longer feeling anything abnormal by the time 50 miles had passed. Just the joy of fresh tires. I now have a little over 100 miles on them--geez, one day in and I've already used 1% of their expected life?!?

I'll take them out for some conditioning over the next few days. And I'll let the new brake pads bed in as well. Then Ninjette Noire and I will be ready to take on an adventure again.

 

[Baxter]

I should add that the first pair of Sportec's were installed on August 20 last year, these on August 1st--this is the first time I wore a set of tires out in less than one year! Celebrations are in order!

 

[Duckman]

I’m surprised that tires that look that “sporty” lasted that long.

Angled valve stems are the cat’s pajamas.

 

[Baxter]

I’m surprised that tires that look that “sporty” lasted that long.

Angled valve stems are the cat’s pajamas.

I'm a little obsessive about air pressure, which helps longevity. (I also check & fill the spares in our cars twice a year.) The angled stems will make the job just a bit easier.

And both front and rear are dual compound tires. The center is a harder rubber that doesn't wear as much, with the sides being very grippy. And "full silica compound," whatever that means, is supposed to help with grip while reducing overheating and thus prolong longevity.

 

[Baxter]

Now I'm slightly over 5,000 miles on the second set. Just a little bit of flattening on the rear tire. Air pressure stays put, but I did need a little bit on reawakening Ninjette first thing in the spring.

Good to go.

Now, I have time to consider whether to replace with a third set or switch it up?