A tire question.. *GASP!!!

[trbig]

Most people know my favorite tire for the back of these bikes was the Dunlop Elite 3. They have a dual compound where the center of the tread is firmer rubber and the sides "stickier" for cornering. When I first started using them, I would get 14-16k miles out of a rear tire, even riding like an idiot. Then I was getting 10 or 11k, thinking I was causing that, but then I started getting @ 8k... then finally this last one, I only have @ 5k on it and it looks to have maybe 1k left. This tire has really only had long highway miles on it and not any hard launches or stops. In this timeframe, that tire has gone from $105, to over $150. Anyone else having any similar experiences with this tire?


* PLEASE don't start chiming in about what your favorite tire is and why your brand is better than everyone else's. That's not the purpose of this thread. I've found another rear tire that has been suiting me well, so not asking for your input on that. I just had a question about these Elite 3's. Thanks.

[Redshirt]

I only have about 3k on my E3's (front and rear) and no appreciable wear at this point. I ride the gambit of aggressive to mellow cruising.
Just a thought, have you maintained your optimum tire pressure consistently?

[trbig]

Yeah, not daily, but always before any kind of trip or anything besides just the running around town.

[ViperRon]

Lets look at the variables that can change wear. Your driving, the quality of the tire, the pressure in the tires, enviroment, and the road surface you ride on all add up to increase wear. You say that your driving is not suspect and that the air pressure is good so either the quality of the tires have changed or you are ridding on roads that the surface has changed.

If you are now riding on any new interstate highways or bridges with concrete expecially grooved pavement it will grind the tread right off the tires. Typically bridges have an effect because of just this, and a good indicator is any place where you start hearing the tires sing or feel the road pulling you.

One other issue is tire treatment or enviroment mainly chemical. Have you started using anything new to clean or coat the tires. Certian chemicals change the compsition of rubber and that can make it wear quicker.

[mack]

compounds

My sister in law has worked at goodyear for twenty eight years or so. I complained to her about poor tire wear on my dodge. She asked me if they were the same tires that came with the truck when I bought it. I said of course as the truck was only a couple years old. She said that tires delivered to manufacturers have softer compounds than usual so that random independant testing will have close to vehicle handling and braking performance as advertised. Bike tires are no different. Perhaps your getting show room tires with the softer coumponds, over the standard after market production runs. She's getting her knee's replaced now or I'd ask her if there is a way to tell by reading the tire.

[trbig]

The roads ridden have all been what they normally are ridden on, and I order my tires from Motorcycle Superstore online and install them myself.. so they don't sit on a showroom floor, and I never put any kind of Armorall or such on the tires.

I'm thinking the compounds have gotten softer in the center, but just wanted to see if others have been experiencing the same. Maybe they were lasting too long and not getting enough return sales fast enough? 15k miles may be several years worth of riding for a lot of people. That's about a half season for me. I suspect that's what happened to the windshield wipers in the past. When I was younger, wiper blades used to last for years, but now you're lucky to get a single season out of them.

An Avon Venom on the rear used to get EASILY 10-11k miles, but those got to where they were only lasting 6-7k also. Like most things these days, companies only care about money, and getting a good quality product out there is secondary to that.

[BA80]

The E3 I put on the rear of mine last spring just before the Banned rally is still holding up. I'm not sure exactly how many miles but I'm guessing in the area of 8K and it appears to have about 40% left. It's aready outlasted the Shinko I had before x4.

[crazy steve]

Possible alignment issue?

While I'll agree that manufacturers all too often cheapen a good product trying to find that 'balance' between how crappy they can make it without driving off customers and make the most money, that seems like a pretty big drop....

[WSL91]

Sounds like the manufacturer has changed the compound in the tire, likely to make it more competitive $$. Rubber and oil prices continue to go up and they are the main ingredients in the tire.

[BA80]

Possible alignment issue?

While I'll agree that manufacturers all too often cheapen a good product trying to find that 'balance' between how crappy they can make it without driving off customers and make the most money, that seems like a pretty big drop....

Steve has a point there Tod if your talking about the XJ. The frame IS bent on it right?

[trbig]

I'm experiencing this drop on both the bikes, but they've both been wrecked. That's one of my reasons for asking, though I do check and look for unusual wear or cupping, and there isn't any, front or back. Also, I started noticing the drop in tire life before the bikes were wrecked.

As for trying to keep the tire competitively priced, they've outdistanced everyone else jumping up over 50% in price, then seeming to make a good thing bad in the process. I'd pay the extra cost if the quality was the same, I just don't see that. They want 50% more money for 50% less tire life.

[crazy steve]

Tod, the only other thing I can think of would be if the roads in your area have been repaved. I know from my local experience that a repave done with oil/gravel ('macadam' surface) is hell on tire wear. Even new asphalt has a bit more abrasive surface compared to older paving, so you might be looking at a combination of factors...

[motoman]

What you've stated Tod seems to be the case for the mileage/wear factor as opposed to several years ago mileage/wear that I have gotten......with several different manufacturers tires. Average bout 1/3 less than previous years and I know both my scoots(XS11/ST1100) haven't magicly gotten more power and if anything my riding style has mellowed substansually with age and going down at speed a few years ago pretty much removed any 'no fear' that was left. Most manufactures, having a 'claimed' dual compond tire if anything has given me DECREASED loggivity compared to a few years ago. I have to agree, the tire quality seems to have fallen into bout the same catagory as the fuel quality, IMO.

[ddragon63]

Same subject different applicatin here... I've always put michelin pilot power ct2's on my sport bikes since michelin came up with them. They are a dual compound sport bike tire. As I do a lot of freeway riding I always liked the fact of the harder compound I'm the center. I use to get 4 or 5k miles out of a set of them, now I'm lucky to get 2 or 3. I have a feeling the quality of product has gone down to deal with the inflation of cost of everything theses days. I would guess to stay competitive they have cut some corners to lower the cost of manufacturing to keep price down and still maintain their profit. Just my thought

[Elevener]

I would just like to know HTF you get that miliage out of a rear? A front yes but I dont get near that on any bike or tire.