I replaced my OE's with A41's and I too ride a lot 2up and 95pct highway. They are a good tire. You could go to a pure road tire like a Pirelli Angel ST for example. But, other than your riding style, wear really depends on your local roads. Ours are mainly chip and seal and tear up tires.
Tire recommendation based on my riding
I know as sling about tires is like oil especially since this type of bike can be used so many different ways. I'm hoping explaining my narrow use will lead to a consensus.
2022 650 XT. I ride just roads, always the speed limit and almost always 2up. I'm at 6800 miles and the rear tire is squared off quite well already.
Is there a generally accepted best tire for just touring to stave off the inevitable squaring from tame speeds and few curves with 2up weight for as long as possible? I'd like to get plenty more miles out of a set of tires than just about 8k that I can get from these stock A41's if I ride them til death. I'm not at the wear bars yet but it's definitely squared and handles not as good as when they were still round.
2022 650 XT. I ride just roads, always the speed limit and almost always 2up. I'm at 6800 miles and the rear tire is squared off quite well already.
Is there a generally accepted best tire for just touring to stave off the inevitable squaring from tame speeds and few curves with 2up weight for as long as possible? I'd like to get plenty more miles out of a set of tires than just about 8k that I can get from these stock A41's if I ride them til death. I'm not at the wear bars yet but it's definitely squared and handles not as good as when they were still round.
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? what kind of roads, primary highway? rough pavement? gravel? heavy traffic ? twisties?I ride just roads
there are lots of kinds of road surfaces that would demand different types of tires
2up, pavement, speed limit, you may want to consider the Darkside
I routinely get 20k out of an Anakee 3. Current tire is at 19k and has probably 2k before it's toast, still handles well.
Lifespan seemed about the same with mixed 2-up riding at a combined ~300 pounds.
Lifespan seemed about the same with mixed 2-up riding at a combined ~300 pounds.
I ride Anakee 3's too, but if you never go off the pavement you may want to consider a pure touring street tire like the Michelin Road 6
Country back roads in central/northern north carolina. 55mph slight curves pretty much the whole time. Nothing that requires a lot of lean unless I was intentionally taking turns above speed limit which is a bad idea because we have lots of dirt, sand and gravel from all the tractors pulling on and off the farms along all these roads? what kind of roads, primary highway? rough pavement? gravel? heavy traffic ? twisties?
there are lots of kinds of road surfaces that would demand different types of tires
2up, pavement, speed limit, you may want to consider the Darkside
Take others tire mileage with a grain of salt.
I've never gotten the kind of mileage some claim. 10k on a rear tire seems ridiculous to me. Typically I get about half that before the wear bars show.
I think that road surface, temp and how you ride determine tire life not what brand or how much you spend
I've never gotten the kind of mileage some claim. 10k on a rear tire seems ridiculous to me. Typically I get about half that before the wear bars show.
I think that road surface, temp and how you ride determine tire life not what brand or how much you spend
I have a Michelin PR5 on a GSX1300R rear with 9k mi. Longest lasting I've ever had. Recommend.
Wear bars? Oh, you mean that white stuff that begins to show through the rubber when it's time to replace
Wear bars? Oh, you mean that white stuff that begins to show through the rubber when it's time to replace
I went Darkside on my roadking. Never wore the first one out and never broke it loose even in rain. But... they are hard to handle at first and the dealer will hate you? what kind of roads, primary highway? rough pavement? gravel? heavy traffic ? twisties?
there are lots of kinds of road surfaces that would demand different types of tires
2up, pavement, speed limit, you may want to consider the Darkside
.Road 5/Road 6 expensive but they last well and when you factor in the cost of having tires change they come out as good value for me.
I have run Bridgestone T30 for years with excellent luck on mileage. Sadly the T30/T31/Evo is mostly gone and you would have to search to find one. My next tire on is a Dunlop Roadsmart III. In the top end is the Michelin RP and the Pirelli Scorpion or Angel GT.
Not sure if this will help or not but I love my Angel GT's. Full disclosure, this is my first set of them and I don't ride two-up ever so I can't comment on the lifespan. I've ridden them in heavy rain on the interstate, dry on the Tail of the Dragon and about everything in between. I'm thinking I will continue with them for as long as they make them.
I have used Metzeler Tourance, Michelin Road 4 and Michelin Anakee 3. They all gave me at least 16,000 km up to 20,000 km with the Anakee 3. Just installed Metzeler Next 2, will see how they perform...
Solo rider, 185 lbs, Ontario paved roads on a VStrom 1000 with side cases.
Solo rider, 185 lbs, Ontario paved roads on a VStrom 1000 with side cases.
I like the Bridgestone T30 but have only gotten 6,000 miles on each rear, maybe 9,000-10,000 on front.I have run Bridgestone T30 for years with excellent luck on mileage. Sadly the T30/T31/Evo is mostly gone and you would have to search to find one. My next tire on is a Dunlop Roadsmart III. In the top end is the Michelin RP and the Pirelli Scorpion or Angel GT.
I'll chime in with another vote for the Michelins. I have Road 5s on my Strom. Great on the slab, handle well in the curves, and good in the wet. I've ridden forest roads with mine and had no trouble. The 6 is supposed to be even better.
I just purchased the Bridgestone BW501/502 to replace the stock TW101/152. I ride pavement and odd gravel if road under repair, always solo rider. Was hoping to see some mention of these tires on this thread.
I always end up going back to the good ole Battlewings BW501/502. I think I've gone through at least four sets, maybe four rears and three fronts. A good solid tire, imho.I just purchased the Bridgestone BW501/502 to replace the stock TW101/152. I ride pavement and odd gravel if road under repair, always solo rider. Was hoping to see some mention of these tires on this thread.
Thanks for the reply and positive commentI always end up going back to the good ole Battlewings BW501/502. I think I've gone through at least four sets, maybe four rears and three fronts. A good solid tire, imho.
View attachment 316129
G'day from the land down under. Here we go again with another tyre discussion. Tyres wear in the middle coz that's the most used bit. Try living in my neighbourhood mate. Around here it's a 3 hour ride to find a road with more than one corner every 20 miles! Heat and speed are the natural enemy of any tyre. I use Metzler tourance tyres even though I have a considerable amount of dirt roads in my adventures. They do the job I need and wear according to how they are treated. I often see travellers passing through my area riding on tarmac on knobbies (in case they might need them) The reality is that V stroms aren't really a trailbike, and knobbies just make more noise and wear out faster. They might look tough, but they wont transform your strom into dakar bike. I find that pressures play a big part in wear. Too soft and you generate heat. Too tight and you lose contact patch. 30 psi on dirt. 40 psi on tarmac. Dont worry so much about how long they last. Their job is to keep your arse upright. Tyres that wear out faster are usually offering more grip too. I don't bounce back up as easy these days as I used to several decades ago haha. Happy trailsI know as sling about tires is like oil especially since this type of bike can be used so many different ways. I'm hoping explaining my narrow use will lead to a consensus.
2022 650 XT. I ride just roads, always the speed limit and almost always 2up. I'm at 6800 miles and the rear tire is squared off quite well already.
Is there a generally accepted best tire for just touring to stave off the inevitable squaring from tame speeds and few curves with 2up weight for as long as possible? I'd like to get plenty more miles out of a set of tires than just about 8k that I can get from these stock A41's if I ride them til death. I'm not at the wear bars yet but it's definitely squared and handles not as good as when they were still round.
I love my Michelin road 6's. I'm only using them around town and a few camping trips mostly paved. But I plan to get something for the Washington BDR trips that I want to try later this summer. 🤔
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