Mixing Tires

[Navigator]

I did a forum search to see if I could find the answer to my question and, whew, there are a whole passel of tire threads out there.

My situation is a bit different. I bought my 09 Touring with only 7k miles on it from a friend and while he always kept it protected, changed the fuel and started it regularly over the years, his health prevented him from riding it for about the last 4 years. The tires are in great shape but after putting about 700 miles on the bike I'm concerned about the front.

When I lay the bike over in a right hand bank I get a front end shimmy. It isn't significant but most bothersome. Even after close inspection I cannot find any defect in the tire so want to replace it. I suspect it might be a minor flat spot from sitting so long so I intend to replace it before my son visits in July from Maryland and we go riding. It may not be a significant issue but any issue with a front tire makes me nervous.

I intend to change from the Metzlers to Avon Cobras and have two questions.

-Is the Cobra a radial like what I assume the Metz is?

-Have any of our members gone to a V rated tire instead of the stock H with the Avons? I believe Avon makes a V rated in the Touring size though. I really don't get why Triumph is putting an V rated tire on the Touring. I believe V is a 160mph (in 24 hours) rated while a H is 120. The Touring is no heavier than an Electra Glide, Victory Cross Country and I don't believe those don't come with V rated tires.

 

[Ishrub]

Speed ratings are not directly related to weight load ratings. Certainly higher speed ratings are likely to have a stronger carcass design to resist centrifugal forces but not necessarily a greater load capacity.

150/80 R 17 M/C 72V TL

Motorcycle Tire Speed Ratings, Load Ratings & Tire Size Designations
Tire Speed Rating Chart (New Style Speed And Load Index)
Speed Rating Max. Design Speed (MPH)
J 62
K 68
L 75
M 81
P 93
Q 99
R 106
S 112
T 118
U 124
H 130
V 149
W 168
Y 186

Motorcycle Tire Load Index Chart
See the Maxxis Tire School for current correct tire load index information.
LI = Load Index. KG = 2.2 lbs.


LI KG LBS LI KG LBS LI KG LBS
43 155 342 51 195 430 59 243 536
44 160 353 52 200 441 60 250 531
45 165 364 53 206 454 61 257 567
46 170 375 54 212 467 62 265 584
47 175 386 55 218 481 63 272 600
48 180 397 56 224 494 64 280 617
49 185 408 57 230 507 65 290 639
50 190 419 58 236 520 66 300 661


LI KG LBS LI KG LBS LI KG LBS
67 307 677 75 387 853 83 487 1074
68 315 694 76 400 882 84 500 1102
69 325 716 77 412 908 85 515 1135
70 335 739 78 425 937 86 530 1168
71 345 761 79 437 963 87 545 1201
72 355 783 80 450 992 88 560 1235
73 365 805 81 462 1019 89 580 1279
74 375 827 82 475 1047 90 600 1323

How To Read Tire Size Labels
The load rating corresponds to the total load carrying capacity of the tire at the speed indicated by the speed symbol. The Aspect Ratio equals the height divided by the width times 100.

Street Tire Size Designations
Metric Designation

Inch Designation

Alphabetical Designation

 

[Ishrub]

@Boog can tell you all about front Metzlers, mileage and Tourings too!

I now have 7,900 Miles on my OEM Mets. The back tire is holding up pretty well with only slight difference as it rolls from straight up to sides.

However, the front tire is showing significant wear just off of center. Inflation is correct but I seem to be having a reverse 'chicken strip' going on here where the center strip is still raised and the beginning of the sides is being worn down. I rechecked the inflation and that is not the issue so maybe I am riding just enough on the left and right lean to cause this extra wear. As you can see, it does not go the full width of the side of the tire.

 

[Navigator]

I also got it completely wrong. When I checked the tire size in the garage I could have sworn it was a V rated tire like on my Classic. Somewhat dark and bad old eyes. The Metz is in fact an H rated so the last part of my post is completely off.

Experience and opinions on tires, sizes, makes and longevity are all over the map. I put Bridgestone Exedra Max on the Classic's rear before giving the bike to my son and it is still going. I put the same brand on my Vulcan Nomad, front and rear, and they are OK so far but guys on the Nomad forum report them as short lived.

I know I'm going away from Metz's and need to change this front tire out quickly. I just found the Cobra on one of the on line places, an Avon AV71 Cobra 150/80R16 and it's a V rating with a maximum capacity of 761 pounds. From the chart you provided Ishrub, if I do the eye dance correctly, the 71 H has a load rating of 783 pounds.

 

[EasTexRIII]

When I lay the bike over in a right hand bank I get a front end shimmy. It isn't significant but most bothersome

The Metzlers are bad about “cupping” as I found to be true with the ones that were on my motor when I bought it. Yes they had the wobble/shimmy.
Changed to the Avon V rated and solved the problem. Last tire change I went with Michelin commander II and I like it as well as the Avon + it’s better in wet conditions although a little more expensive than the cobra

 

[Fingers]

@Navigator myself and a few others run Michelin Commander ll's f130/90/16 R180/65/16 they handle great, longevity 15,-16,000 on the rear mid to high 20,000 range on the front.

 

[Fingers]

Also the bike feels 200#s less as far as handling goes.

 

[Reino606]

Also the bike feels 200#s less as far as handling goes.

What tire pressure are you running in your mc II's?

 

[EasTexRIII]

38 lb's on mine

 

[Reino606]

38 lb's on mine

Same pressure front and rear?