Best tires for R3T

[ZoneIII]

Thanks again, everyone. I just wanted to get clarification about Bridgestone's comment. I agree that the fact that they haven't tested them on the R3T doesn't mean they aren't good tires for the bike.

I thought I had checked the 888s and found tires the same as the OE Metzlers. I guess I didn't check that and just assumed that they had them. Thanks for that information.

I have decided to mount and balance my own tires. Actually, I do virtually all work on everything I own except I do have my car and truck tires balanced by a tire dealer, of course. My next decision is whether to statically balance them or go with beads. I've read the positive comments about beads but I'm still hesitant to go that route. On the other hand, using them would eliminate the need for a good static balancer. An extra advantage of doing it myself is that I'm going to polish the wheels while I have them off. The porosity of them now collects crap. I'll polish them up with with Mother's Mag and Aluminum Polish and they'll be much easier to clean in the future. (BTW, MGaAP is great stuff! I use it on all kinds of stuff. It made my mat-finished .357 magnum look absolutely beautiful. It's just a polishing compound, of course, but I've found it to be an exceptionally good one for many things, especially bringing mat finished metal up to a mirror shine.)

I almost wish my tires needed replacement right now so I don't have to do it in the middle of riding season next year but they do have wear left and at the price of tires for this bike, I want to get as much (safe) wear out of them as possible.

Thanks again, everyone. You've been a big help.

 

[Joesmoe]

And just a gentle reminder if anyone needs it (others, please roll your eyes and otherwise ignore):

This thread was about the Rocket III Touring -- which has 16" wheels -- and the tire discussion is different than those who have experience to report on the Roadster with their 17" wheels.

 

[WyldCFH]

I currently have a Roadster so my opinion of tires for a T mean nothing... but, on every bike i have ever ridden on the road, you can't beat Michelin Commander II's. Were they to ever add the right sizes to fit an R3R, i would switch at the first opportunity.

 

[ZoneIII]

OldNorthState (and anyone else here who is using Excedra Max V tires): Well, I have to put my R3T up for the winter and I probably have a couple thousand more mile on them so I won't be changing them until next spring or early summer so I have some time to consider things.

I'm curious about how you feel about your Excedra Max V tires after having them for a while. Also, does anyone know specifically what the problem was with the original Bridgestone tires that R3Ts came with from the factory? I think I posted a response from Bridgestone that I got where they mentioned a problem but they didn't say what it was. (Sorry if someone described the problem somewhere in this thread.) Did the tires come apart due the R3T's torque? If not, what was the problem. I ask because when Bridgestone says they can't recommend their Excedra Max V rated tires, it makes me hesitant to buy them. I probably will but, having some time now, I thought I'd try to get a little more information about this. Also, does anyone know what the difference is between the original tires adn the V rated tires?

I purchased my 2014 R3T new in 2015, and the stock Metz's were the absolute worst handling and wearing cruiser tires I've ever experienced. Being pragmatic as hell, I suffered through 'em for 9 thousand miles - literally running the bike gently to help 'em last, and to keep from getting hurt or killed in a curve - before switching over to the Exedra Max w/the V speed rating. I am NOT EXAGGERATING to say that it was a 100% improvement.... the bike just lays over in the corners now w/out having to literally wrestle the thing down through counterstearing. The Metz's unnerved me - particularly on right hand curves (tighter radius?... I couldn't figure it out), which I found weird - in even modest-to-moderate curves... and I wasn't trying to "hot dog" the bike. I literally had to put fair pressure on the handlebars to force it down and through curves.... the bike would wallow through and then want to stand itself up, horribly, in every one. Put on the Exedra Max's, and literally had to then watch out so as not to try to over-confidently play "sport bike" in the curves w/the big machine (effortless handling, now, comparitively) .... THERE WAS THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE, even compared to when the Metz's were new. I will unlikely ever give Metzeler another chance... THEY'RE THAT BAD. In fact, Triumph should be warned that the Metz's, at least on the R3T, ARE DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS, handling-wise, in my experience.... even when those tires are still virtually new. They will also cause Triumph to lose some sales of new R3T's, as the potential customer will not likely assume that it's the tires that make the Touring handle poorly/alarmingly in some situations on the demo ride.
Assuming I get decent mileage out of 'em (another complaint w/Metz) and don't get any other surprises, I'll be sticking w/the Exedra Max's (with V rating: I suspect they have a stiffer sidewall, for one thing) from here on. Excellent riding/handling tire for the R3T... it literally transformed mine into a real pleasure to ride. (BTW, this wasn't some "newbie" issue with me... I've been riding/cruising/touring since '69, old bikes, old tires, bad tires, almost "no tires" at times (LOL), new bikes, tires, whatever. Even survived a helmet-and-bone crushing full ejection from a Harley in '71 - avoid that one if you can.)

 

[cusso ken]

On my R3T my rear Avon Cobra has 18700Klms on it and I reckon I will change it at 20000Klms but it will still have legal thread I just want to relube the splines and may as well put on a new tyre , my Exedra Max(bias) front has 16000klms and due to our road camber and prolific roundabouts will need changing(worn more on RHS) when I change the rear tyre I will go Avon Cobra front and back next time,

 

[IMFASTTOO]

The original Metzlers are fine most of the time, but as sensitive as the rear brake is, you have to be really careful in the wet. I am going to try Avon Cobras next, got nothing to lose I reckon.

I run the stock METZ rear on the modded bike as itgives the best traction at the strip and works great on the street

 

[Frosty Rider]

I have found om low speed to the lock turns if you kick your engine speed up slightly, slipping the clutch, along with slight application of the rear brake, the big beast is not bad in low speed maneuvering. I also run the Max V-rated radials.

Ah Grasshopper, you have discovered "stretching the bike" for to slow speed manoeuvres, elevated CONSTANT throttle, clutch right in the friction zone, and little back brake and you can drive that bike at a literal crawl or turn with the steering almost locked right over and you will have total control, if the bike feels like it is going to tip, you can let out a little more clutch and it will pull itself back upright again. my neighbour couldn't figure out how i could do U-turns in the middle of the street with my R3 Touring, or my GL1500, i finally taught him this and he has been using it all the time now to amaze his friends with his new found slow speed prowess.

As for tires, I have been using the Michelin Commander II's on my Virago (yea i know different class of bike) but point is, in torrential downpours, riding through water filled wheel ruts at relatively high speed, i have never once had a slip. riding a few roads in the area where i'm hanging corners with some speed and forcing the foot peg up and dragging the saddle bag around the corners, never a slip, they would grab all the way in any condition, they let you ride with confidence. Unfortunately i tried to get some for the R3T and they make the rear, but not the front.

The Metz on the R3T were just nasty, you never knew when it was going to slide on you, the only thing you could count on was that it would pull right if it was going to slide under power. I have since gone with the AVON Cobra on the R3T, but instead of the 70 height, i went with 65 for the higher load rating and they have been really good in rain, sun, and cold, i haven't had any slips at all.

 

[OldNorthState]

OldNorthState (and anyone else here who is using Excedra Max V tires): Well, I have to put my R3T up for the winter and I probably have a couple thousand more mile on them so I won't be changing them until next spring or early summer so I have some time to consider things.

I'm curious about how you feel about your Excedra Max V tires after having them for a while. Also, does anyone know specifically what the problem was with the original Bridgestone tires that R3Ts came with from the factory? I think I posted a response from Bridgestone that I got where they mentioned a problem but they didn't say what it was. (Sorry if someone described the problem somewhere in this thread.) Did the tires come apart due the R3T's torque? If not, what was the problem. I ask because when Bridgestone says they can't recommend their Excedra Max V rated tires, it makes me hesitant to buy them. I probably will but, having some time now, I thought I'd try to get a little more information about this. Also, does anyone know what the difference is between the original tires adn the V rated tires?

I've got about 6,000 miles on the Exedra Max's, now, and tread on both is still very good (difficult to assess casually, so I'll be conservative and say "very good"). On front, I note some very very slight uneven wear just off centerline (say maybe 1/2 inch or so off of centerline), though it's but barely noticeable unless tire is in strong sunlight/light angles. I run 38psi front (compared to factory recommended 36psi for Metz front; I read of some folks running as much as 40 psi/front), and suspect that the bike's inherent weight, weight distribution and geometry is responsible, as the OE Metz did the same thing but in an exponential way (by this same time in its life, at roughly 6k, it was already easily seen as "mommicked-up" to beat the band, and handled very poorly). My Ex. Max's are still handling nicely (of course, by comparison to the OE Metz's, potato-filled leather tubes would have possibly handled better), and I suspect the just-now perceptible wear patterns will continue, of course, but in a gentler, still-useable/still safe way, while I'm also guessing (by seat of the pants extrapolation, largely based upon personal experience) they will do so for a few more miles than the OE Metz's.

As for the original Exedra's (non-Max) apparent failure in some cases (of what I suspect might have been via extreme abuse, but I have no way of knowing, nor will anyone ever know), I believe I read that the issue was a shifting and/or shredding of the plys/belts, due of course to the extreme torque of R3's... and my guess is that B'stone is in a CYA legal position regarding ANY tire they make that would fit whatever model of R3, including the T. Personally, I don't run my R3T in such a fashion, or do burnouts to impress the kiddies, so I'm not likely to tear belts/plies away from one-another internally, anyway. HOWEVER, DO NOT take my reporting of my own experiences with the Ex Max's as some sort of "recommendation"... you'll have to make the judgement call, yourself, on whatever you choose, based upon common sense and riding style, etc. That's my own CYA, just out of my own sense of common decency! Let us all know of your ultimate choice... we'll be waiting to hear!

 

[ksquared]

Haven't noticed a lot of love for the Avon Cobras on the R3T in this thread, so I thought I'd chime in with my $0.02 on this.

I am a complete convert to the Avon Cobras on my Touring. I will never forget the first time I switched over from the Metz 880's to the Cobras. I felt like Valentino Rossi! Immediately I picked up several degrees of highly stable and controllable lean angle. The ride was seriously improved; it felt like the tires had become an active partner of the suspension; harshness decreased and stability increased - and markedly so.

As for "skittishness" in the rain; I haven't noticed this. Down here in Fla. we've been known to have some pretty significant rain pop up and my Cobras have handled this rain with aplomb. Of course, I recognize the power differential between my Touring and a standard R3, so this might not translate over very well.

I have 6K on my current set and they're not showing much, if any, wear. Should be good for at least 10K.

I run 40/40 cold.

All things considered - I think the Cobras are the absolute BEST tires you can run on the Touring.

 

[OldNorthState]

Haven't noticed a lot of love for the Avon Cobras on the R3T in this thread, so I thought I'd chime in with my $0.02 on this.

I am a complete convert to the Avon Cobras on my Touring. I will never forget the first time I switched over from the Metz 880's to the Cobras. I felt like Valentino Rossi! Immediately I picked up several degrees of highly stable and controllable lean angle. The ride was seriously improved; it felt like the tires had become an active partner of the suspension; harshness decreased and stability increased - and markedly so.

As for "skittishness" in the rain; I haven't noticed this. Down here in Fla. we've been known to have some pretty significant rain pop up and my Cobras have handled this rain with aplomb. Of course, I recognize the power differential between my Touring and a standard R3, so this might not translate over very well.

I have 6K on my current set and they're not showing much, if any, wear. Should be good for at least 10K.

I run 40/40 cold.

All things considered - I think the Cobras are the absolute BEST tires you can run on the Touring.

I've heard other good things about the Avons, too, and thought I might try a pair of 'em next time, for comparison. (That is, unless I get such overall great service out of the Ex Max's that I just can't bring myself to buy any other brand... lol....)