How do your tyres wear

[Martin Barrett]

My stock BT020s were replaced at 5,800(miles) for front and 7,600 for the rear thought probably could have squeezed a bit more out the rear.

 

I know that there are several factors that determine tyre wear. Most of my mileage is done on my daily commute to work. Starts of across town for a couple of miles. Then ten down the motorway once off the motorway have one roundabout and I'm at work.

 

To start with not pushing at first, then if traffic is light once on the motorway I suppose minimal wear only overcoming rolling and wind resistance with the rear taking the load across the centre of the tread pattern. On leaving the motorway up the off slip braking down hard on the "shellgrip" to the traffic light controlled roundabout. Maximun wear on the front centre. Get a green light tight, turn drifting out to pass cars, as the 1st exit is a tight turn on to dual carriageway. as it opens nail it. Short length of dual carriageway before breaking hard down for one round about, right turn in to 40mph single track road and work is within spitting distance. The ride to and from, and the money make it worth going. No longer a vocation just a job.

 

On my FJ I used to get 7,000 front and 5,000 rear, the XJ similar ratio and distances might have been a bit more but I can't remember. Did fit sticky rubber once, didn't last long.

 

So is the V11 gentler in the way it lays down the power? Am I just wearing the front out braking on the "Shellgrip"? Or is it I do too much commuting and not enough other riding?

 

Obviously the Heros will wear the edges out first.

 

So how do your tyres wear, what millage do you get?

[callison]

7500 - 7800 typically. That's across two sport Guzzi's with about 85,000 miles total.

[Orson]

The original BT020s made it to 7000 miles but, were probably a bit overdue for changing. I then mounted Pirelli Diablos and the rear only reached 4800 miles. I think the front made it to about 7000 miles.

[Steve G.]

The BT57s lasted 10,000kms rear and 15,000kms front. Now with the BT020s, it was 15,000kms rear, and at 29,000kms, the front has feathering on the sides, but is clearly lasting longer than original rubber.

Unlike Mr. Iron Man, Brian Robson, I generally don't do alot of riding during our rainy winter, therefore I don't witness first hand the BT 020's indiference to cold wet occasions, and will continue to use these, unless a great deal comes along.

Ciao, Steve G.

[strider]

The BT020 OEM tyres made it to 13,000 km rear and 18,000 km front. I'm now running a Pirelli Dragon on the rear and after 8,000 km it's wearing nicely. I hope to get over 13,000 km out of it.

 

I replaced the front with a BT012. I like it. It handles well wet or dry and sticks like shit to a blanket. No significant wear on it yet after 3,000 km.

 

My commute to work is a 65 km round trip, mostly highway with light traffic. I only take the Guzzi once a week and ride the Land Barge (ST1100) every other day.

 

Weekends and holidays are a different matter. I avoid towns and cities as much as possible and prefer back roads.

 

1,000 km days are fun!

 

Cheers

[Guzzirider]

BT020s rear 4000 front 6000.

 

The front in particular turns crappy towards the end of its life when it gets cupped, but otherwise no complaints.

 

Guy

[tikkanen]

I have covered close to 10.000 kms/6.000 miles on the OEM BT 020 and there's still plenty of wear left. My riding habits are like Martin's.

 

Nonetheless I'll change to Pirelli Diablos now for the start of the season (one season=one pair of tyres) as it seems that these tyres are the ones that everybody is recommending.

 

Søren

[Baldini]

Not sure if it's relevant to you Martin cos my riding's very different. Don't commute, hardly ever go on motorways, mostly just ride for fun, & only in the rain if I get caught out. 3,300 miles on original BT020's by which time front handling was alarming. Just about get 3,000 miles on Diablos, good even wear across tread front & back, pos get another couple hundred miles on front but I like to change as a pair.

 

Is your front wearing on centreline? It's most likely down to the braking. Shellgrip is real grippy stuff = wear. Usually fronts wear sides more than centre, & most always last longer than a rear.

 

KB

[Martin Barrett]

Not sure if it's relevant to you Martin cos my riding's very different

 

Yes it is. I was currious because the front wore well before the rear. hadn't experianced this before.

 

It seems my suspcions are correct. its my daily grind up and down the motorway saves the rear but hitting the off ramp at speed and braking down hard on the shellgrip, with all that weight transfer, takes it out the front.

 

I commute on her to justify the expense of my mid life crisis, it would be cheeper to take our second car. But at least I'm using her. It's difficult otherwise to make the time for a jolly with family comitments. Debs refers to her as "the mistress"

[kenm]

I don't know how you all get so many miles from a set of tires. I've never gotten more than 3500 miles on any tire on any bike I've owned. On the V11Sport, my tire history has been:

 

tire | front (miles) | rear (miles)

-----------------------------------------------------------

oem Pirelli Dragon | 1800 | 2400

Bridgestone BT010 | 2200 | 2600

Bridgestone BT020 | 2400 | 2700

Dunlop D205 | 3000 | 3000

 

I really like the feel of the D205s on the V11 as compared to the other tires and get the most (but not great) mileage from them. I do sport riding exclusively and do wear the tires to the edge. The edges normally wear before the center.

 

Regards,

 

-ken

[stormsedge]

3500 on the OEM, believe they were Bridgestones...rear had pronounced flat streak down middle, so changed both largely due to them being +/-3 years old...have about 3000 on Michelin Road Pilots with little sign of wear. k

[antonio carroccio]

I want badly go back to the Diablo!!!!

I am riding now on Metzeler M1 sport. Not that great tire for the V11.

Before this I have had the Diablo and I want to go back to them.

Damn what a good tire was that!

[Guest Steeltoe]

I have about 3500 miles on my metzeler sportec M1's, and they look like there's plenty left. Maybe about half worn. They are great tires for the twisties. In fact,

a few weeks ago I lost traction on a sandy curve, went practically sideways, temporarily lost control and went into a wobble, then they regained traction and I recovered, thank god, without crashing. I love these tires.

[Guest ratchethack]

I'm right witcha, Steeltoe. Metz M-1's are SUPERB mountain tires. Predictable, controllable slides in the dry, wet, soft, slippery - it doesn't matter, just keep on the power & ride thru it! I've been getting 5-6K/4-5K, F/R - which ain't bad for a tire with this much grip.

[Guest Nogbad]

The original BT57s on my V11 have now done 6000 miles. The front looks almost unworn but the rear has a bit of a flat in the middle from my long motorway commute. I guess I'll need to change the rear at 8000 miles as it will be too square by then. It's already feeling a bit "off" in the bends. They seem to grip ok.

 

I am light on tyres for some reason, maybe I just ride like a girl........

 

The main question is, should I go for BT020, or Diablo. Diablos worked well on my previous Suzuki V twin. I always change the tyres as a pair if swapping types.