Tired of tires yet? Here's more....

What tire does the latest Suzuki intruder run...ime sure its a 240 but dont know the make or compound
 
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We've beaten the tire thing relentlessly...but here's more.

I'm right at 50k miles on my 2009 R3T. I've gone through a couple sets of Metzler 880s, and a couple Dunlop Elite 3s. I have a Michelin Commander II on the rear just because the shop had it in stock and I was replacing an E3 with a nail in it at only 3k miles.

So, with the front E3 cupping at over 10k miles, I started shopping for a new set. I read through all of the tire threads (or is it treads?) to see what's working for my fellow R3T riders.

I'd pretty much narrowed it down to Avon Cobras, Dunlop Elite 4s, Bridgestone Exedras or even the Shinko Tour Master. I won't go into the sizing availability issues...but I settled on the Exedra Max. In the San Diego area, it's about $500 for the tires, install and balance. And there's almost no way of getting around that unless you buy them online and install them yourself. And I won't.

The tire shops have countered the online prices by adding a premium if you bring in your own tires. For example: I used to buy the E3s online for $275 a set delivered. I'd then have them installed and balanced locally for $65. Then it went to $75. Today, that same shop charges $115 plus tax plus a disposal fee.

There's a 15% discount if I buy the tires from the shop. And many are doing that now. Basically, they're gonna get your money one way or the other.

I found a local guy who installs and balances tires for $100 out the door. He also offered me online (eBay) prices for the Exedras. I ended up paying a total of $465 for the two tires, installation, balance and tax.

Not entirely pleased, but that's just the cost of riding, I suppose. And it's only a once in 10k mile event, so there's that....

OK, rant over. Ride safe, everyone.
Good to see you are still around,:)
 
Just removed an Excedra Max V-Rated
front tire from my 2009 Touring, 15,000 miles and just to the wear bars. I only got 6,500 miles out of the Metz front and it hit the cords!
That's good mileage for a tire. I'm wondering how far the 170 rear I mounted up front will get me. So far I've about 6000 miles and it still looks new.
 
Just removed an Excedra Max V-Rated
front tire from my 2009 Touring, 15,000 miles and just to the wear bars. I only got 6,500 miles out of the Metz front and it hit the cords!

Judging by your photo here, I'd say my ExMax V-rated wear-rate mirrors yours pretty closely... I have 13,000+ miles on mine, and it's still serviceable for another thousand or maybe a tad more, I'd estimate. I think the bumpy/lumpy/noisy effect I'm getting right now from mine is coming mostly from the rear tire (installed same time as front). I've kept the ExMax V's aired to 41 psi rear and 38 front, fairly consistently. (I don't like the ride with much more than 38 in the front).

What pressure have you been running?, Marty?
 
Judging by your photo here, I'd say my ExMax V-rated wear-rate mirrors yours pretty closely... I have 13,000+ miles on mine, and it's still serviceable for another thousand or maybe a tad more, I'd estimate. I think the bumpy/lumpy/noisy effect I'm getting right now from mine is coming mostly from the rear tire (installed same time as front). I've kept the ExMax V's aired to 41 psi rear and 38 front, fairly consistently. (I don't like the ride with much more than 38 in the front).

What pressure have you been running?, Marty?
40 in the front and 42 in the rear for the whole 15,000 miles.
 
Good to see you are still around,:)
You, too! We've seen some real characters here.

Riding out to Yuma for the weekend. My recently-installed front tire has the slightest vibration at 60+ MPH. Just enough to bother me. Will put 400 miles on it in the next couple days and see if I want to rebalance it then.

Either way, I'm taking my big, fat girl for a 2-day 400-mile spin...
 
You, too! We've seen some real characters here.

Riding out to Yuma for the weekend. My recently-installed front tire has the slightest vibration at 60+ MPH. Just enough to bother me. Will put 400 miles on it in the next couple days and see if I want to rebalance it then.

Either way, I'm taking my big, fat girl for a 2-day 400-mile spin...
 
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