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    Time for a new front tire?

    A quick look at my front tire and it looks like it's going bald.
    It seemed to me that I had just gotten new tires not long ago,
    but I looked and the last new front tire I got was in June 2017, and it was about 9,000 miles ago.

    So my Dunlop D404 100/90-19 has 36 months and 9,000 miles.

    Does that sound right?

    My rear tire, by the way, has 16 months and 3,000 miles on it, and it looks pretty good still. (Michelin Commander II 130/90-16)
    "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

    1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




    https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

    #2
    Seems like your front should return a lot more than just 9,000 miles. I would be looking more at 15--18 thousand for the front. Usually I do two rear tires to one front one.
    Larry

    '79 GS 1000E
    '93 Honda ST 1100 SOLD-- now residing in Arizona.
    '18 Triumph Tiger 800 (gone too soon)
    '19 Triumph Tiger 800 Christmas 2018 to me from me.
    '01 BMW R1100RL project purchased from a friend, now for sale.

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      #3
      I just checked on my Triumph and with 9200 miles on it, the rear is getting real close to replacement and the front is showing 2/32". So I won't get the usual mileage on the front but for sure I have to change the rear prior to hitting 10K.
      Larry

      '79 GS 1000E
      '93 Honda ST 1100 SOLD-- now residing in Arizona.
      '18 Triumph Tiger 800 (gone too soon)
      '19 Triumph Tiger 800 Christmas 2018 to me from me.
      '01 BMW R1100RL project purchased from a friend, now for sale.

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        #4
        Originally posted by alke46 View Post
        Seems like your front should return a lot more than just 9,000 miles. I would be looking more at 15--18 thousand for the front. Usually I do two rear tires to one front one.
        I was pretty disappointed with the Dunlop 404 I had on the rear before -- 21 months and 6,350 miles and I could see thru the rubber to the metal!
        "I have come to believe that all life is precious." -- Eastman, TWD6.4

        1999 Triumph Legend 900 TT




        https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693054986_036c0d6951_m.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51693282393_74ae51fbf9_m.jpg https://flic.kr/p/2mKXzTx]

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          #5
          Originally posted by kerrfunk View Post
          A quick look at my front tire and it looks like it's going bald.
          . . . . .
          I said that once, then said, ah, good for rest of season.
          THen was riding on wet pavement and had to hit the brakes - - I went sideways real quick (I'll leave out the details of what all else happend and what all else all most happend, but could have been real bad real easy).
          THen later I looked at the tire again, and said "You big dummy." and got new tires.
          http://webpages.charter.net/ddvrnr/GS850_1100_Emblems.jpg
          Had 850G for 14 years. Now have GK since 2005.
          GK at IndyMotoGP Suzuki Display... ... GK on GSResources Page ... ... Euro Trash Ego Machine .. ..3 mo'cykls.... update 2 mocykl


          https://imgur.com/YTMtgq4

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            #6
            Originally posted by kerrfunk View Post
            A quick look at my front tire and it looks like it's going bald.
            It seemed to me that I had just gotten new tires not long ago,
            but I looked and the last new front tire I got was in June 2017, and it was about 9,000 miles ago.

            So my Dunlop D404 100/90-19 has 36 months and 9,000 miles.

            Does that sound right?

            My rear tire, by the way, has 16 months and 3,000 miles on it, and it looks pretty good still. (Michelin Commander II 130/90-16)
            That’s about what I usually get, 6-7k rear, 9-10k front.
            '20 Ducati Multistrada 1260S, '93 Ducati 750SS, '01 SV650S, '07 DL650, '01 DR-Z400S, '80 GS1000S, '85 RZ350

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              #7
              For a Dunlop 404, that's not too bad.

              In my opinion, the Dunlop 404 is just BARELY better than a Kenda Challenger.

              There are MANY better tires out there, you can at least upgrade to a Shinko.

              If you want to stick with Dunlop, get an E4, but make sure you are sitting down when you see the price.
              It's worth it. Good traction and GREAT mileage.

              .
              sigpic
              mine: 2000 Honda GoldWing GL1500SE and 1980 GS850G'K' "Junior"
              hers: 1982 GS850GL - "Angel" and 1969 Suzuki T250 Scrambler
              #1 son: 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale 1300 and 1982 GS650GL "Rat Bagger"
              #2 son: 1980 GS1000G
              Family Portrait
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              Want a copy of my valve adjust spreadsheet for your 2-valve per cylinder engine? Send me an e-mail request (not a PM)
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                #8
                In my experience, if you're asking yourself if it's time for a new tire, it probably is.
                Expecting the Spanish Inquisition
                1981 GS850G: the Ratzuki
                1981 GS1100E

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                  #9
                  How much of a difference is there between the left and right sides?
                  I have this notion that a front has to last long enough to see this emerging.
                  I have a Conti TKV11 that is at 12000 and still has some life left.
                  97 R1100R
                  Previous
                  80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by Brendan W View Post
                    How much of a difference is there between the left and right sides?
                    I have this notion that a front has to last long enough to see this emerging.
                    I have a Conti TKV11 that is at 12000 and still has some life left.
                    But does it have some life right?
                    '82 GS450T

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                      #11
                      I can never get the mileage that you guys get out of your tires. I am starting to think I just ride like a nut.
                      I got about 8k out of my Sport Demon Front, and I get about 2k out of each rear. This is on a 85 GS 550e with 100/90-16 and 110/90-18 tires. Which is my worst wearing of tires for my bikes. I just ordered, as in this morning, a set of Battlax 45 for this bike just to see how they do compared to the sport demons.
                      The life on the radials, like on the GSF1200s is much better than the bias plys, but maybe that is because the contact patch is probably twice the size. But every few months I seem to be mounting a new tire on something. Come to think of it I better order some more wheels weights.

                      All that wasted rubber is worth it.
                      1981 Suzuki GS250T
                      1982 Yamaha Seca Turbo
                      1985 Suzuki GS550E
                      2004 Suzuki GSF1200S

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                        #12
                        Originally posted by John Park View Post
                        But does it have some life right?
                        Nice one
                        We drive on the right side of the road here which is the left so there is not much left on the right side of the tyre.
                        97 R1100R
                        Previous
                        80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by Brendan W View Post
                          Nice one
                          We drive on the right side of the road here which is the left so there is not much left on the right side of the tyre.
                          My mileage is almost entirely on back roads with equal lefty-righty bend swinging and my front tyres wear evenly.
                          Beforehand, when I was living in the S of England, the fronts always wore the right side twice as fast as the left, simply because of the preponderance of roundabouts.
                          ---- Dave

                          Only a dog knows why a motorcyclist sticks his head out of a car window

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                            #14
                            Originally posted by Grimly View Post
                            My mileage is almost entirely on back roads with equal lefty-righty bend swinging and my front tyres wear evenly.
                            Beforehand, when I was living in the S of England, the fronts always wore the right side twice as fast as the left, simply because of the preponderance of roundabouts.
                            You must be driving down the middle then
                            I don't think it's the amount of left or right but I tend to be a bit faster on right handers of all descriptions.
                            Last edited by Brendan W; 06-22-2020, 07:58 PM.
                            97 R1100R
                            Previous
                            80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

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                              #15
                              are you properly balancing your tires?
                              driving on chipseal?
                              1983 GS 550 LD
                              2009 BMW K1300s

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