I want long lasting Tires for my 2003 Stone, please.

[mtwillyman]

My 2003 Stone is in need of new tires and tubes, ugh. It has Dunlap D404s on it now. What does the collective recommend for maximum tire life. I live in western WA and ride pretty mellow. Thanx for any advice, peace.

[rocker59]

Metzeler ME880

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[Dilliw]

Metzeler ME880

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I've switched to the Pilot Activ's as the wear is almost as good and usually the buy-in price is a good bit cheaper.

[kidsmoke]

I’m on a Jackal, same basic bike as your Stone, (pic link below) also running Pilot Activ’s. 7k so far and no complaints whatsoever. Smooth and lots of life left.

[Ncdan]

I have several sets of Shinko tires with great results in handling and milage and the prices are very reasonable. I have found that with tires expensive is not necessarily best.

[Kev m]

I had decent wear on my Jackal with and ME88 and later ME880 (think about 10-12k on the rear, more on the front).

I currently have an ME888 on my Sportster and expect at least that (in the past I've gotten AS LITTLE as 8k on the Sporty rear with an ME880).

I have a Pilot Activ on the back of my V7 and am hoping for 10k.

Both the Pilot Activ and the ME888 feel a little less sure-footed in rain, I  can get a little slippage on them when I didn't using a Sport Demon (V7) or ME88 or ME880 (Jackal and Sporty). It's probably worth the trade off for me on the V7, since the demon was ridiculous in wear, and I'll likely stick with it on the Sporty...

Ironically maybe for the first time in my life I'm happy with a Dunlop (the new OEM ones on the RK, and though it's too early to tell wear I'm optimistic it's going to be long).

That thoroughly confuse you?

[LowRyter]

I've run 880 on my EV and have never changed.  They wear longer than any tire I've ridden. 

[guzzisteve]

I've got 21K mi on rear 880's, 34K on front. V rated 880's a bit less, 17k mi on rear.

[MMRanch]

mtwillyman

The old 880's might have been long lasting tires , but the new 888's didn't last 7,000 (rear - 883 Sportster).

I put 43,000 miles on a Avon AM26 Front (using front brake for 99.5% of all stopping/slowing chores) .

There is a speedometer error with the 80 series tire that the 90 series fixes , (GPS vs speedometer)

I got 21,800+ miles on my last Commander II rear tire - it was just down to the wear bars. (S-40 Suzuki)


Mounting is part of the "Total" tire cost ! 

[kballowe]

Those 404 Dunlops are the bargain end of the 400 series Dunlops - but they do have a very stiff carcass.

Assuming 110/90-18F and 140/80-17R
A quick look for tire sets.........

Dennis Kirk (sets, delivered) :
Metzler 880's  $250
Michelin Pilot Active $260
Continental Conti Go $218
.....

All of those will give better service and function than the 404's

[MMRanch]

All of those will give better service and function than the 404's

+1

I've tried the 404 on two bikes (KZ750) (S-40) , never got more than 8,000 miles on either of them.

[Sheepdog]

My Guzzi is also a Tonti California...a Vintage. I've tried Metzlers (880s and Lasertecs), Bridgestone BT-45s, and Michelin Activs. The 880s were long-lasting and decent handling, but were expensive and weird handling when getting close to the wear bars. The Lasertecs were awful...I took them off after 4000 miles. The BT-45s were a great price and the bike handled well with them, but the rear wore out before 5000 miles. The Michelins have been outstanding. They handle well; even in the rain (on my way to Cedar Vale, I crossed the mountainous Ouachita National Forest in constant rain...with nary a slip). The mileage won't quite match the 880s, but the Activs represent a far better value as their price is lower (I bought mine from Tires Unlimited for $225/set) and their performance more consistent over time.

[rodekyll]

ME888.

[mtwillyman]

Wow, Thanks for the good info my friends. It is appreciated a lot, peace.

[Chuck in Indiana]

 

The Lasertecs were awful...I took them off after 4000 miles.

Honestly, I don't know how they've managed to sell those things for so long.

[malik]

I run Avon AM26 & consistently average around 20,000km (12,000 miles) per rear, and 50-60,000km (37,000 miles) on the front on both my V7s. I weigh around 80kg (175lb) and when touring carry an additional 35-40 kg (77lb). I run 36psi in both, & 38psi loaded. Note:- I shouldn't think tyre performance on other bikes would be directly comparable, though riding style & road surface are always a factor. I prefer the Avon's handling characteristics over the Lasertec, the BT45 & the Sport Demon. The one Pilot Activ I have run on the rear handled well, and lasted 19,500km (12,000 miles).

[malik]

Sorry, different Stone in mind. I'm sure they are out there, but I don't know of any Cali rider who is as anal on tyre stats. Cali's have a bit more weight, a lot more oomph (technical term), and handle a lot differently, depending on the rider. I shouldn't think the tyre stats are directly transferable. For example, I don't run Avon's on the 1100 Sport.

[Joliet Jim]

I think the ME 880 on my 02 stone will outlast me. Avon in the front is wearing well also.

[rocker59]

Yes. I loved the Pilot Activ on my Bassa

I've switched to the Pilot Activ's as the wear is almost as good and usually the buy-in price is a good bit cheaper.

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[Diploman]

Tire life is greatly dependent on road surface.  Here in Western Pennsylvania, the roads are annually resurfaced with what is called "chip and seal":  IE, finely crushed granite in a matrix of hot asphalt.  This creates a surface with millions of microscopic stone axes, resulting from the breakage of rock crystals into sharp blades, exactly as neolithic humans used to do to make tools, spearpoints, knives, etc, but on a micro-scale.  The resulting road surface is high-traction ( useful in snowy winter conditions) and also high-wear.  The micro-knives embedded in the road surface eat up Moto tires faster than any surface I have encountered anywhere else in the world. Astounding.  I typically get no more than 4K miles on a rear tire.  The BT-45 on my V50 is already significantly squared off after 2500 miles and will undoubtedly need to be changed before 5k.  Life in the high-traction chip-and-seal lane.  Some of the mileage figures cited above seem like fantasies to those of us who ride on this exotic road surface. Pennsylvania is a fabulous state for biking if you like scenic back roads - there are hundreds of rural hamlets in the hinterland, all connected by a labyrinth of two-lane roads.  Pennsylvania, in fact, has more miles of paved road than any other US state because of this configuration. 

Enjoy the ride, but be prepared to change tires soon.

[LowRyter]

Several buddies of mine just got back from a 6,500+ mile trip into Canada and the Western USA.

Versys 1000
1200RT
FZ09
Burgman 650 

They all ran Michelin Pilot 4's. The feller on the Burgman stopped over last night and his front tire is maybe 35% worn and the rear ir 60% worn. He said all the other guys tires were also in good shape and ready for at least a couple 1000 more miles before the rear will need changed. Previous Bridgestone tires on the Burgman he got about 6K on a rear and 10K on a front before they were down to the cords.

I'm impressed enough that i will be trying the Pilot 4's when my current rig need shod

I usually get about 7500 miles on the rear radial on my 1200 Bandit (Pilot 3 is on now).  I get fewer miles on the smaller rear radial on my V11 Sport (I get the same or better mileage on my Dunlops than I did with my Pilot 4).

I would guess I get about 12-18k on the 880 bias rear tire on my EV. 

I am not sure where we're going with this or what the comparison is about.

[twowheeladdict]

I didn't notice anyone asking, but how many miles a year do you average?  Long mileage tires are also harder compound tires which have the trade off of less grip.  Tires get harder as they age which decreases grip more.  Your tires may become dangerous before the wear bars show if you don't ride enough miles a year.

[MMRanch]

I try to take turn letting the two bike go on a daily ride.   The V-7 got about 8,000 miles over the last year and the S-40 got about 12,000 miles over the last year (it had a 3,000 miles Texas ride while the V-7 had to wait at home ! 

The V-7 went through the Sports Demon in less that 5,000 miles and started on a AM26 rear , and also went through the Sports Demon front in less than 7,000 miles and started on a front AM26.

The S-40 is running the two year old Commander II with 16,000 mile on it and another 5,000-6,000 more left on it (Rear) .    The front is the same AM26 that's been on it for the last 25,000 miles and is about 3/5's gone (third year in progress).

[ChuckH]

Not mentioned about the radial Michelin PR-4's is that they are great in wet weather.  I've had two sets on my R1200R bike and get 10K+ on the rear, more on the front, all loaded touring.

Since you live in western WA, you frequently have the opportunity to ride on wet pavement.  For those conditions, I'd seriously look at the PR-4's.

[twowheeladdict]

Not mentioned about the radial Michelin PR-4's is that they are great in wet weather.  I've had two sets on my R1200R bike and get 10K+ on the rear, more on the front, all loaded touring.

Since you live in western WA, you frequently have the opportunity to ride on wet pavement.  For those conditions, I'd seriously look at the PR-4's.

The PR4s are great tires.  My only negative (is it a coincidence?l is that I got punctures in the rear tire on two different sets that I attribute to all the rain grooves.  Both got replaced with contimotions because that was all that was available.  The contimotions have no rain grooves on the center.  Were both to the threads without a puncture.

[ChuckH]

The PR4s are great tires.  My only negative (is it a coincidence?l is that I got punctures in the rear tire on two different sets that I attribute to all the rain grooves.  Both got replaced with contimotions because that was all that was available.  The contimotions have no rain grooves on the center.  Were both to the threads without a puncture. 

I have no experience with the ContiMotion tires.  I also had a flat on one of the rear PR4s, picked up a nail near the center on a ride back from TN.  I had it repaired with an internal patch-plug and rode it down to the wear bars.

My suspicion is the rain grooves in the PR4s are there by design to channel the water away from the outer surface of the tire.  They look a bit funny but seem to be effective for that purpose.

[twowheeladdict]

I have no experience with the ContiMotion tires.  I also had a flat on one of the rear PR4s, picked up a nail near the center on a ride back from TN.  I had it repaired with an internal patch-plug and rode it down to the wear bars.

My suspicion is the rain grooves in the PR4s are there by design to channel the water away from the outer surface of the tire.  They look a bit funny but seem to be effective for that purpose.

Yes, the PR4s are great rain tires.  I felt no need to slow down in the curves in a rain.

But I do believe that all those rain grooves set the tire up for a puncture.

The Contimotions are inexpensive sport touring tires that happen to have all the rain grooves for when you are leaned over instead of rolling straight.

[mtwillyman]

Thanks for the input fellas. I have a set of Metzler 888's on order. M.I. will spoon them and the cursed tubes on the orange turd soon.

[LowRyter]

Thanks for the input fellas. I have a set of Metzler 888's on order. M.I. will spoon them and the cursed tubes on the orange turd soon.

888 or 880?

[mtwillyman]

888's.