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[tommyo]

Just wondering if anyone out there uses something besides the OEM tires after they wear.

[CLKKELLEY]

DO A SEARCH!!

Dunlop Elite 3

Metzeler 880

Avon

etc. etc. etc.!!

USE THOSE SEARCH OPTIONS, NEWBIES!!!

[UltraPolecat]

Hey tommyo,

That is a lengthy subject and everyone has an opinion.  Do a search but be prepared to read a lot and learn a little.  I use the Dunlops and like them a lot, others like a few others.  I don't think there is a wrong answer.

And we all were newbies once, be NOT ashamed and WELCOME!!! 8-)

[Ceej]

I have run Dunlops and Metzlers and Avons on other bikes. Dunlops good all around, Metzlers and Avons better handlers on the twisties, because of softer compound - thus wear much quicker. Dunlop tends to be the best in the rain I'd say, but that is subjective - as is all of this info. That is my point, none of the three blows the rest away on these "cruiser" bikes. On a canyon carving Hayabusa - different story, but thats not what were talkin about. Got a bud runnin Kenda's now - half the price of Dunlops and so far so good. My main point is there all pretty good, yet you will read reviews by joe rider swearing by one over the other. Remember, if he came off Metzlers and tried Avons and they were WAAAYYY better - remember the Metzlers were worn - the Avons new - as is the case in many of these Joe Rider reviews - not a fair comparison. Just get a good deal on your choice (including balancing) - break them in safely - then enjoy !

[JR]

Hey ceej, What would be the correct proceedure to break them in safely? [smiley=nixweiss.gif] Never heard that one before. Thanks and God Bless!

                                                                        JR [smiley=banana.gif]

[Ceej]

Rule of thumb is a couple hundred easy dry pavement miles, get in some good curves just be easy doin it. Believe it or not your tires come with a coating of lubricant applied at the factory to aid in breaking them from the mold. It takes a few miles and some heat to scrub the surface layer with the lubricants off and get to the good stuff!! Also, you need to get used to the tires behavior, if you had been running old evenly worn tires, they may have been real sticky on the dry stuff, whereas your new deep tread tires will be sticky but have a lil flex due to those deep treads, not much granted but slight. Also, when your new tires are mounted, shops often use a liquid lubricant to get them on the rim. It takes, again, a hundred miles or so and heat to get rid of that moisture. Pick up your bike with fresh rubber and hit it and you could slip the rim within the tire, you could break the bead and lose the air or worse.

Just a few things, nit pickin details I know, but having been thru Navy Sub Nuclear Engineering School, I had ATD drilled into my head over and over and over and over - ATD - Attention To Details. - Pride Runs Deep - Huge Nuclear fleet - great saftey record - could happen in the civiallian world too - Nuclear Power is green - damn the torpedos - damn the enviromentalists - build the reactors and screw mideast oil.

[JCZ]

Hey ceej, What would be the correct proceedure to break them in safely? [smiley=nixweiss.gif] Never heard that one before. Thanks and God Bless!

            JR [smiley=banana.gif]

JR, I think he's talking about when you get tires changed at a dealership.......they always say "break them in safely.......they have a coating on them that makes them a little slippery."   If you've ever dumped the cluth on a bike with a new back tire.....you know how easy it is to get that tire to break loose.  The same as turning a corner and twisting the throttle to the stop at the same time......you'll feel that back end slide over......I do!

[harleyteam]

someone needs some of this [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif] [smiley=drink.gif]

[grc]

JR, I think he's talking about when you get tires changed at a dealership.......they always say "break them in safely.......they have a coating on them that makes them a little slippery."

[Garznhogs]

Rule of thumb is a couple hundred easy dry pavement miles, get in some good curves just be easy doin it. Believe it or not your tires come with a coating of lubricant applied at the factory to aid in breaking them from the mold. It takes a few miles and some heat to scrub the surface layer with the lubricants off and get to the good stuff!! Also, you need to get used to the tires behavior, if you had been running old evenly worn tires, they may have been real sticky on the dry stuff, whereas your new deep tread tires will be sticky but have a lil flex due to those deep treads, not much granted but slight. Also, when your new tires are mounted, shops often use a liquid lubricant to get them on the rim. It takes, again, a hundred miles or so and heat to get rid of that moisture. Pick up your bike with fresh rubber and hit it and you could slip the rim within the tire, you could break the bead and lose the air or worse.

Just a few things, nit pickin details I know, but having been thru Navy Sub Nuclear Engineering School, I had ATD drilled into my head over and over and over and over - ATD - Attention To Details. - Pride Runs Deep - Huge Nuclear fleet - great saftey record - could happen in the civiallian world too - Nuclear Power is green - damn the torpedos - damn the enviromentalists - build the reactors and [highlight]screw mideast oil[/highlight].

Good info, ceej... thanks!  And I second the oil comment.

[Screamin]

You don't even have to twist the throttle much.