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[JCZ]

My front tire is worn on the left side of the tire (from center) much more than it is on the left.

Stopped by the dealership when I got back in town today.  Service Manager acknowledged that he's seen four or five of these in the past six to nine months and they've all been on the left side.  He went on to say that he doesn't know what's causing it but that he's been told two things.......I-5 and Hwy. 99 road work is resulting in a higher crown sloap......and that the Dunlops are being made of a softer compound.

The first excuse is void cause I live off of Hwy. 50 and work in Folsom (Hwy. 50) and very rarely travel the 5 or 99 corrider.  But if that were the case, there's more than four or five riders that live off of those two freeways.  Secondly, if it were a softer compound.....that certainly doesn't tell me why the tire is wearing on the left side of center (like the camber is off, on a four wheeled vehicle).

Anybody saw or heard of this?

[Screamin]

Just an uneducated guess but any chance your leaning left because of a serious cross wind? A lot? And yes, there is supposed to be a crown in the road but it's virtually unperceptable. 

[JCZ]

Yea.....I've already heard that I'm making way to many left hand turns.   No, nothing different about my riding from the past thirty seven years.

Somebody even suggested weight.....but I carry (and always have) all my tools in my right saddle bag.

[altugo]

I saw on another forum a similar thread.The guy commuted to work with his bike everyday taking like 15 left side turn and just one right side.I dont know if it makes sense but with time it may cause the tire wear more on one side.

[SERK3]

I saw on another forum a similar thread.The guy commuted to work with his bike everyday taking like 15 left side turn and just one right side.I dont know if it makes sense but with time it may cause the tire wear more on one side.

Then he should make 15 rights and 1 left going home and trad wear should equal out, he! he! 

[VANAMAL]

http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/tirewear/

[JCZ]

Interesting article, Van.  So in reading this page.....  http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/tirewear/#FRONT LEFT SIDE TIRE WEAR  basically it's telling me that because in a left turn I'm leaned over further and longer than on a right turn.

But if that were the case, wouldn't that theory have applied (and maifested) itself in all previous front tires and in everybody else' front tire?  Why is it all of a sudden? 

I don't have any idea.....nothing that seems logical.....of course it is a motorcycle.

[Screamin]

You sitting a whole lot different since the crash? Lot's of metal in your right side? 

[stekat]

Interesting article, Van.  So in reading this page.....  http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/tirewear/#FRONT LEFT SIDE TIRE WEAR  basically it's telling me that because in a left turn I'm leaned over further and longer than on a right turn.

But if that were the case, wouldn't that theory have applied (and manifested) itself in all previous front tires and in everybody else' front tire?  Why is it all of a sudden? 
I don't have any idea.....nothing that seems logical.....of course it is a motorcycle.

I also found the article interesting and also logical.  To state the obvious, what pressure do you carry?  While the 36psi Harley calls for in the front makes the bike ride comfortably, I've found that I get the best wear and still "stick" at 40 front and 42 rear.

[Dan_Lockwood]

JCZ:

I don't commute that much with my SERK, but my truck tires get a work out.

Based on the layout of the freeway that I drive to work and the exit/on ramps, 90% of my turns are to the right.  I also tend to drive quite fast on them either exiting or getting up to speed getting back onto the freeway.  One might think that all the turns are just reversed on the return route, but with the exit/on ramps some being left on or right on tends to throw the mix to one direction of turn more than the other.

Over the MANY years I've been able to think about things, I remember that when a wee little tike, I tried to learn to snow ski.  During those very early years I could turn to the left, but not to the right.  Even roller skating a lot in my younger days or ice skating, I could slide/skid to the left, but not the right.  Let me mention that I'm right handed.

When practicing with the SERK on 180 U-turns on two lane roads, I always turn to the left.  I can turn to the right, but I don't feel as comfortable doing it.  Without reading the link that was posted, but using my own thought process, I'd say that I tend to carve harder to the left than the right and that may add to my tire wear at some time.

Now with all that crap I just said, you state a good point in that your previous tires on the same route did NOT exhibit the same left tire side wear.

I have the new Avon Cobra tires on my new board track project and they are co-extruded with the hard rubber in the middle and softer rubber on the sides.  This is supposed to give longer highway miles and still grab on the turns, at least that's how I read the text.

I deal with extruders a lot in my area of expertise, my real job, I can see how the process could get out of phase and cause a batch of out of processed tires that could do what you're explaining.

Sorry for the rambling, but I just always thought as a kid it was funny how a right handed person tends to turn left better and the left handed person starts turning better to the right.  After years of practice and being on the National Ski Patrol for many years, I got what I would call very proficient in both directions, so lots of practice does pay off.  Now to start turning more to the right on the bike.

    

[JCZ]

No need for apology.....I appreciate all the thoughts, ideas, suggestions.

However, nothing has changed for me or my bike......except the tire wear.  Still the same freeways as always (all of our on ramps and off ramps are right hand turns....so you'd kind of expect the right side to wear a little more, if it were going to happen), which I do take aggressively.  The titanium in my left jaw, arm, hip and leg has been there for about three and a half years now.....air pressure in the tires is the same as I run all the time.  And, if I were to favor one side over the other (as far as turning goes.....it would definately be to the right.  I'm at a loss.

[miker]

Sure you ain't riding around in circles?   

Miker

[erniezap]

San Jose JC had the same issue:  front tire wear on left side.  We checked out everything up front and didn't find anything wrong.  Put on a new tire and it hasn't done it since 

[JCZ]

Sure you ain't riding around in circles?   

Miker

Well I'd say that's the answer.........but I've gone around in circles all my life.  Nothing new there.

Thanks Ernie.  I picked up a set of tires yesterday off Craig's list.  150 miles on them before he changed wheels so I got the tires at a steal.

[VANAMAL]

maybe it had something to do with you replaceing the twist throttle with a toggle switch