tyre wear

[hobs]

Can anyone add a comment on why my rear tyre on my ST1100 has worn primarily on one side (right side as I sit on the bike. Had the tyre fitted at an experienced bike repair shop. Tyre has done over 4000klm I think at a rough guess. More concerned over the uneven wear as the wear in the tyre itself. Anyone have a comment on this. Did most of my riding around Whyalla SA, so lots of higher speed (110) riding. I have attached a photo to assist. The tyre is a Bridgestone T30RZ.
Thanks, Hobs

[HunterTodd]

There a quite a few theories about it. All I know for  sure is the Pirelli Angels which were on the bike when i got it did it quite badly. The left side had heaps of tread and the right was bald.
The Michelin Pr3s which i changed last month had no sign of it nor do the Pr4s that I put on which now have 6000 kays on them.
Very odd phenomenon.

[StinkyPete]

Hi Hobs,
I've spoken to several tyre fitters about this common pattern of uneven wear on motorcycle tyres.  The consensus seems to be that it is caused by the camber on the road, causing more wear on the right side of tyres as viewed from the rear.    Over the life of the tyre this has a significant impact on wear.  Others may have other opinions.    One factor that I have demonstrated will increase tyre life is to be fussy with pressures, and I'll check mine before each ride.    Increasing pressures from the recommended 42psi (front)  and 42psi (rear)  to 42psi(front) and 44psi(rear) and closely monitoring my pressures,  increased the life of my PR3s from 18,000km to 22.000km.

[hobs]

Hi Pete,
Did run my tyres at 41psi front and back from recommendations from this site. The shop that fitted these tyres said I should not run my front tyre higher than 36psi and 41psi for the rear. I have diligently maintained these pressures since the tyres have been fitted. Did think that road camber may be a factor.

Just to throw a left curve ball out there; I carry my tool kit ect. in the left side pannier which would make the left side heavier. If I am balancing the bike, I would have to lean right slightly to equal the center of gravity.

[STroppy]

Hi Hobs,
One factor that I have demonstrated will increase tyre life is to be fussy with pressures, Increasing pressures from the recommended 42psi (front)  and 42psi (rear)  to 42psi(front) and 42psi(rear) and closely monitoring my pressures

Hi Pete, did you mean to put a different pressure in the "increased pressure to" bit? As it reads you increased from 42 to 42.

[Sicman]

  There are a few factors which can cause this -

1) Tyre pressures - Dont trust that gauge at the servo  - Get yourself a good gauge and test it out against others until you trust it  . Get a compressor at home to make checking your tyres damn easy. Check your pressures before every trip. Tyre's are porous and will lose pressure when just sitting in the shed. Its amazing how much tread gets ripped off when pressures are low. Try a few more PSI to account for your pillion, gear on the bike, winter gear on you adds weight, camping gear, trailer if you are towing etc.

2) How is your bike loaded? - Do you have water bottles or wet weather gear in one pannier only leaving the other side empty - Loading makes a difference 

3) Wind - A cross wind for half a day from one side will cause you to push into the wind to keep the bike straight wearing that side tread down more 

4) Road camber - You don't get it so much in the city, but get out on the country roads, and depending on the camber of the road, you can lose a lot of tread  Picture the ruts in the tar where the heavy truck wheels are - If you sit on the right side of the wheel rut you will wear the right side of the tyre down, but if you sit in the left side of tyre rut in the middle of the road you will balance the camber out and wear the tyre evenly - It takes practice to find the even camber part of the road which means more riding

5) Road surface - different types of tar to stone ratios will mean different wear - I.e. Hot mix to stone top country roads

6) Tyre quality - Different tyres give different performance - Word of mouth will set you straight - I haven't ever heard someone get a lot of kms from a Bridgstone where the tyre pressures weren't right for the loading on the bike

Just a few things to consider. Hope that helps 

[alans1100]

I'll put the link in that I posted here. http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=1171.msg21460#msg21460

http://www.rattlebars.com/tirewear/

[StinkyPete]

Hi Hobs,
One factor that I have demonstrated will increase tyre life is to be fussy with pressures, Increasing pressures from the recommended 42psi (front)  and 42psi (rear)  to 42psi(front) and 42psi(rear) and closely monitoring my pressures

Hi Pete, did you mean to put a different pressure in the "increased pressure to" bit? As it reads you increased from 42 to 42.

Woops!   I meant 42 front and 44 rear, and have corrected my original post.

[STeveo]

Could the swingarm have a twist in it.
Because the shock is only on one side it may have had a heavy bottoming and put a slight twist in the arm. Might be worth a check to make sure the wheels are both verticle for peace of mind.

[johnnyYTED]

a few years back I doubled someone to somewhere in Vic who leaned out to see paST me to see  when he wasn't STanding up to look over me.. When we arrived I had everyone else point out my half bald ,1 side, tyre. we're you riding 1 up?

[hobs]

will be pulling the rear wheel off this morning and will check all of your suggestions. Thanks for the speedy 'brainstorm' replies. what makes this site so valuable.
Cheers, Hobs

[hobs]

Had a Michelin PR4 fitted today to replace the worn Bridgestone. Had to replace all three sets of brake pads as all were worn below the wear point. the PR4 is 160/60 whereas the Bridgestone was 160/70. Noticed the difference as soon as I sat on the bike. Feels much lower in the back end. The ride was good, all brakes work appropriately and the rear wheel doesn't have that resistance feeling I was getting in the last few rides.

How do I reduce the size of a photo to post on here?

[alans1100]

Had a Michelin PR4 fitted today to replace the worn Bridgestone. Had to replace all three sets of brake pads as all were worn below the wear point. the PR4 is 160/60 whereas the Bridgestone was 160/70. Noticed the difference as soon as I sat on the bike. Feels much lower in the back end. The ride was good, all brakes work appropriately and the rear wheel doesn't have that resistance feeling I was getting in the last few rides.

How do I reduce the size of a photo to post on here?

Not a good tyre size for the 1100 as the weight rating is way to low - much better to use the 1300 rear (170/60) if you can't get OEM rear which only a couple brands now have.

You need photo editing software to reduce the size a little or you can upload to photobucket or similar and copy the link from there to your post.

See here http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=4583.0

[hobs]

Now you got me scared!!!. Went back to the bike shop to compare the old tyre with the new. The old tyre (Bridgestone 160/70) had the same LI and speed rating as the new tyre, 330kg, 220k/hr.
Has anyone else fitted a Michelin PR4 to their ST? Interested to settle my troubled mind.

Cheers, Hobs.

[alans1100]

Now you got me scared!!!. Went back to the bike shop to compare the old tyre with the new. The old tyre (Bridgestone 160/70) had the same LI and speed rating as the new tyre, 330kg, 220k/hr.
Has anyone else fitted a Michelin PR4 to their ST? Interested to settle my troubled mind.

Cheers, Hobs.

Running PR3s on mine 170/60 on the rear. If you don't load your bike to the max you'll be ok.

Check the load speed index (69W) load here. ST1100A needs 74W but the 1300 rear is 73W which is a better choice. http://motorcycle.michelin.com.au/tyres/michelin-pilot-road-4#dim

The W for the speed rating is the same at 270K/h but the load index of 69 means a max weight on the rear tyre of 325KG compared to the 74 index of 375kg for the OEM size.  I've had dealers fit the 160/60 size because they couldn't get a 160/70 but I'd much prefer they fit the 170/60 (73W or 365kg). Take into account the weight of the bike plus fuel is gonna make it about 335Kg plus the rider weight; though not all of that weight is on the rear.

[Gadget]

How do I reduce the size of a photo to post on here?

Try irfanview. Free and easy photo editing software.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

[Gatey]

Can anyone add a comment on why my rear tyre on my ST1100 has worn primarily on one side (right side as I sit on the bike. Had the tyre fitted at an experienced bike repair shop. Tyre has done over 4000klm I think at a rough guess. More concerned over the uneven wear as the wear in the tyre itself. Anyone have a comment on this. Did most of my riding around Whyalla SA, so lots of higher speed (110) riding. I have attached a photo to assist. The tyre is a Bridgestone T30RZ.
Thanks, Hobs

High crowns and mostly straight ish roads. Might look at your preasure too.

[winston66]

For what it is worth,
It is a well known and researched fact that in countries that drive on the left hand side of the paved roads that because of the larger arc that is travelled, and subsequently the further distance travelled on a lean whilst cornering  when turning to the right at an intersection etc , as compaed to when turning more sharply to the left , that the right hand side of any tyre  after a protracted  period of time on any motorcycle will show more wear on the right hand side than the left hand side of the  same  tyre. This is as seen  from the drivers position.This additional wear probably  would also  be compound to the normal additional abrasion and wear to the tyres which would be caused by the stance of the motorcycle staying vertical on a surface that is cambered to the left for the balance of the distance traveled.
Cheers to all,
Winston66,
Northampton, Western Aus.

[Gadget]

My Yammy Vstar 650 cruiser and ST1300 both wore more on the right than the left. I put it down to road camber and small and big roundabouts where you spend a lot of time leaning right and accelerating out of them.

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[Old Steve]

How do I reduce the size of a photo to post on here?

I use Paint, open the image and click on view/resize then save the reduced image as <**** lores.jpg> - usually size images about 400 pixels x 600 pixels.