Tarsnakes don't like cold tires; especially not in cold, wet or really hot weather.
It feels scary, but it's not unsafe; the tire only slips a couple of inches. They won't put you down if you don't overreact.

That being said, yes. The trail wings get worse as they wear.
I'm on my second set of battlewings, and they fare much better; you may want to consider them as your next tire.

Does Bridgestone make a pressure recommendation? The inflation pressure on the tire sidewall isn't a recommendation...it is the required minimum pressure to carry the maximum load (listed on the sidewall) for that tire.

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2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

Hey Guys,
Just wanna post 1 more time to tell my results..It always bugged me when someone asks for help and never reports back for anyone who may be following the thread.
Okay..mid 80's today..lowered pressures to 33f and 36r..picked up 2 pounds per tire hot..checked with guage immediatly following ride.

Ride was smoother as expected..no problems with turn in or tracking in the corners...the small tar snakes that I could hear taunting me,(small sticky joke there), I didn't even notice they were there...The big fat snakes made the bike squirm slightly but the tire never broke traction so no pucker factor.

The negatives aside from the tire wearing too quickly would be a slight drop in gas milage and I could really tell the bike wasn't rolling as freely due to more tire on the road and more friction.

I think a new pair of shoes on the old girl would possibly finish off the squirm.

PTRider..I may be wrong but all the info I have found is the pressure on the sidewall is the max you should use fully loaded..not the mim. The tire comp's claim that is the highest cold pressure you can run including the few psi gained while the tire heats up. Oh well..for me I definately need a lower pressure than the sidewall states. I was using what was on the Bridgestone's sidewall and I know several people on this site due as well..sorry about the confusion that Bridgestone had recommended pressures.
Thanks again guys and happy riding.

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09 Orange Wee

You'll be happier with the rear at 38 lbs. 36 is a bit too low.
actually, the sticker on my 08 says to use 40 (one up), but the manual says 36, so I averaged it and have always been happy with that.

My Michelin rear says, "Max load 716 lbs. at 42 psi cold." It doesn't say that you can't run higher cold pressure, although we know there has to be a limit. What it is saying is that for a 716 lb. load, you need no less than 42 psi. Of course, we know the strom can't carry that weight, anyway.

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2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

Cupped tires can feel strange in themselves. Add tar snakes which also feel strange and you may just have double strange. Get some new tires is what I would do first.

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2007 DL650 ABS / 2009 DR650 / 2009 DR200

Yes, all tires will do it when the tar gets warmed up from the sun and starts getting soft. But what I find more scary is when the tar snakes are in corners and its raining. Those things get really slick!

Today I had a moment of pucker when the car in front of my decided to go from accelerating to max braking suddenly out of the blue and we were on a road with fresh tar snakes. Thank goodness I was leaving a proper interval between me and that car. Noticed the dealer plates on it after the episode. Guess the driver wanted to see how well the antilock brakes worked.

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Doug in Kentucky (Semper Fi)
Live in the moment, for only the moment is real.
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2007 Wee-Strom
2009 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive
2001 Honda Helix (Sold)
1980 Honda Express (my toy!)

Thanks for the report buckford. I would not have guessed that a few pounds difference in the tires would have such an influence. This is useful information for me, since many Montana roads have some very nasty tar snakes.

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When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion.
- C. P. Snow

Today I drove on the same road with 2 different bikes, my Wee and my friends' Heritage. The road is full of tar snakes. With both bikes, although "completely" different, I experienced the SAME "squirrelly" feeling. Based on that, I don't think a change of tires would make much (if any) difference. Slow down, and practice your counter steering!

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Murray

I love my wee Wee,
And my wee Wee loves me!



2010 DL650SEA