Rear tire (tyre) help

garyb69

garyb69

Active Member
Here are a couple of pics of the rear tire on my 04 Ridgeback, it seems to have worn badly on the right hand side and hardly at all in the middle and on the left. My local bike shop says it is due to the camber of the road (remember we ride on the left over here) but i am not so sure. I have done about 2000 miles on it since i have owned it and it was nothing like that when i bought it, it was wearing evenly on both sides and didn't seem like it was that old. I have been running it at 40psi and it's an Avon Cobra. If any of you could shed any light on this or have come across this before, any help would be much appreciated. rear tire 1.jpg

rear tire 2.jpg

I am sure Franco can enlarge them for you if i ask him nicely :up:
 
Mr. Wright

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
Supporting Member
I changed one out on a Vrod, like that last month. The way the cam adjustment is on the Harley, it align the tire. We double checked it and it was straight. I think it happens more from riding habits, or the way you sit on the bike. You probably don't notice it because your comfortable sitting that way. Put you billfold in your other pocket and see if that helps.:) Just my 2 cents worth.:zz2cents:
 
garyb69

garyb69

Active Member
Mr. Wright said:
I changed one out on a Vrod, like that last month. The way the cam adjustment is on the Harley, it align the tire. We double checked it and it was straight. I think it happens more from riding habits, or the way you sit on the bike. You probably don't notice it because your comfortable sitting that way. Put you billfold in your other pocket and see if that helps.:) Just my 2 cents worth.:zz2cents:
Click to expand...
That actually make a lot of sense thinking about it, i turned my spike filter upwards about 1000 miles ago and my leg was hitting it so i adjusted my riding position to suit and i recon it has worn this way since then. Good call Cheers
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
You should come over here to the States, your tire will wear on the other side:whoop::lol: We have the same problem over here, its road chamber for runoff, but ours is on the left side.
 
Jersey Big Mike

Jersey Big Mike

100K mile club
I had several AVON's do that severely here in the states (other side of course).
I do not notice this nearly as much now that I have gone to using Metzlers.
 
Mr. Wright

Mr. Wright

Knows some things
Supporting Member
I'm trying out a new tire I found, (just because I have to be different). My Metzler only lasted about 4000 miles, so I'm trying a Michelin Commander. It's suppose to have a harder compound in the center. Anybody else try these yet? I'll let you 'all know how it worked for me in the next few thousand miles or so.
 
BBChopper

BBChopper

Supports 2 Disabled Vets
Troop Supporter
Maybe we can make a swap deal with ya all on the wrong side of the road half way worn? Get twice the miles!!!!:roll: Wankers runin on the left side of the road really???? Maybe you should get rid of the metric system...:roll:
 
francoblay1

francoblay1

The Spaniard
Sorry I am late to the party :D been riding all weekend (almost) :D

Not an expert on tires but..... I don´t believe it´s about riding position... I would think its about alignment.... :confused:

:cheers:
 
H-fred biker

H-fred biker

Active Member
Had the same on my 2005 Ridgeback, but here it was down under regulation on the left side and as new on the right.
We ride on the right side.
It´s not alignment, it´s how the road is slightly bending to the side and You without notice it compensate that by leaning in oposit direction.
Probably You not notis it after about 6 K miles.
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
BBChopper said:
Maybe we can make a swap deal with ya all on the wrong side of the road half way worn? Get twice the miles!!!!:roll: Wankers runin on the left side of the road really???? Maybe you should get rid of the metric system...:roll:
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That would cost too much to ship, we could just take the back wheel off and change the hubs from side to side and run the tire backwards to wear the other side. On a serious note, why couldn't you do this? The tire is directional for disapating water, but I don't ride in the rain.:whoop::lol:
 
francoblay1

francoblay1

The Spaniard
H-fred biker said:
Had the same on my 2005 Ridgeback, but here it was down under regulation on the left side and as new on the right.
We ride on the right side.
It´s not alignment, it´s how the road is slightly bending to the side and You without notice it compensate that by leaning in oposit direction.
Probably You not notis it after about 6 K miles.
Click to expand...
I guess it does make sense.... but.... I am riding mostly on rural roads (those are the ones with most slop so the water washes out) and my tires are still even.... interesting subject for sure. Here in the Forum we have a couple tire specialists... I would like them to chime in.

:cheers:
 
ksmike

ksmike

Active Member
Shannon,

Let us know how the Commander tire works and fits, I used the Dunlop 240/40 18 and it worked ok , but didnt fill the edges of the rim, so it looked funny on the wheel.
 
garyb69

garyb69

Active Member
KaptinAmerika said:
Wear that severe on one side is alignment not road angle
Click to expand...
My first thought was maybe it was something along those lines Curtis. It was my local bike shop who said it was the road angle, although they fitted the tire for the previous owner only last year and i am guessing it has done no more than 3000 miles maximum. I have also noticed since that although my front wheel has a balancing weight on, the rear wheel doesn't? Is there an easy way for me to check the alignment first as i have a new tire going on next week and don't wan't to be replacing it after another 3000 miles if i can help it.

Gary
 
Coolbreezin

Coolbreezin

Active Member
Ive had my bike 50,000 miles now and every back tire Ive had wore on the left. People said road crown, wallets, sitting position, so on. Ive had my frame checked by Tampa BDM and I spoke to Phil at Daytec on how to ck my frame for twists. My frame is fine, it has to be the alignment as Curtis said.
So the question now is can an engine / tranny / wheel alignment be done at home with basic equipment?
 

Attachments

BWG56

BWG56

Guru


This sumbitch is worn out anyway, when you put a new tire on and you see it start to wear a little on the left, loosen the axle nut, tweek the left axle screw about a 1-1/2 turns and tighten axle nut. Watch tire and adjust more if needed, by the way this procedure helps with the Metzler clearance issue also. This is not rocket science, this is a tire that does 85% of the braking and 100% of the acceleration on it. Drive it like an old lady then you might get 8-10K on it.:whoop::lol:

I've had my front tire wear same way same side, I still say road crown and I even feel the road pull me at times.
 
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S

Sven

Well-Known Member
I'm no tire expert so it's jmo from here.

Gary = Rides the left side and look at the feathering at that side.
Cool = Rides the right side of the road and look at the feathering on the opposite side.

Say one of them neglects the pressure, the other stays on top of it = Equal wear still.
Say the one has his frame checked the other does not but the one is straight = Still Even.
Say the one alignment is off who needs a laser and the other is not = Equal still.
Say the one reach around for the billfold and the other sitting upright = Even money.
Say the one variable that keeps coming up is water runoff, add 2 directions = Kind of makes sense, where I wouldn't believe it with my own eyes, but both directions and the change over of the feathering?

I'll take, pitch me a road is pitch me an axis is where I live for $200, Alex.
 
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