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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | The BMW blog site I grew to know when on my LT had a thread on proper tire pressure that was much like our "type of oil you use" thread...lots of opinion. However; the point with tire pressure on the LT...due to the weight...same lbs.-ish to the Vision...was that if you went with the mfg/dealer/owners manual recommended pressure, you were sure to get cupping and other deformities because it was too low.
So everyone on the blog loved to post how much over the spec. air pressure they were going with and how many miles they were getting on their front and rear, what tire brand...yadda, yadda,...I don't see that on this site.
I have less than 3000 miles on it got the bike last fall, no long trip yet but have some planned this year. After sitting under wraps in my igloo called a garage, it got up to 48 yesterday, sunny and I took the cover off, unplugged the tender, installed my CeeBailey Christmas present (finally), did my oil change, set my air pressure, pressed the start button (instant yahoo which is always a welcome sound after sitting silent for 144 days) let the oil warm up like Lloyd says and went for a 90 minute ride.
I lost some tire pressure having it sit in the cold for so long and just set it back to the specs. in the book...my tires look great (they still have the tits on them, I love talking tits) those of you that have had to replace the tires...are you going with what they put on from the factory? Does the spec. air pressure work for you? Anyone with an opinion that also has a snow shovel on their front porch like me would be welcome.
Thanks
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | every bike i have ever had that the tires cupped was due to improper tire inflation.. as a rule i do 4 lbs over what my past motorcycle manuals say, and i never cupped ever again! NEVER.... |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | I also went 4 lbs over and have no issue with cupping. ET |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
West Bend, WI | Vince,
I run 40 & 40 and have not had any issues to date. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Stockton, Ca. | I've run the recommended pressure posted on the sticker. Over 7,500 miles so far and the tires look like I've got at least another 2,500 left on them. So far these are the longest lasting tires that I have had on a bike. I do drive them aggressively in the twistys and high speeds whenever possible. I will get another set, they have served me well so far. In the past (other bikes) I got about 4,00 out of a set. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Vinner1 - 2009-03-15 9:15 AM
The BMW blog site I grew to know when on my LT had a thread on proper tire pressure that was much like our "type of oil you use" thread...lots of opinion. However; the point with tire pressure on the LT...due to the weight...same lbs.-ish to the Vision...was that if you went with the mfg/dealer/owners manual recommended pressure, you were sure to get cupping and other deformities because it was too low.
So everyone on the blog loved to post how much over the spec. air pressure they were going with and how many miles they were getting on their front and rear, what tire brand...yadda, yadda,...I don't see that on this site.
I have less than 3000 miles on it got the bike last fall, no long trip yet but have some planned this year. After sitting under wraps in my igloo called a garage, it got up to 48 yesterday, sunny and I took the cover off, unplugged the tender, installed my CeeBailey Christmas present (finally), did my oil change, set my air pressure, pressed the start button (instant yahoo which is always a welcome sound after sitting silent for 144 days) let the oil warm up like Lloyd says and went for a 90 minute ride.
I lost some tire pressure having it sit in the cold for so long and just set it back to the specs. in the book...my tires look great (they still have the tits on them, I love talking tits) those of you that have had to replace the tires...are you going with what they put on from the factory? Does the spec. air pressure work for you? Anyone with an opinion that also has a snow shovel on their front porch like me would be welcome.
Thanks
Sure glad you guys up north are getting out a little now. To go 144 days without riding is just plain wrong. I would have to have an enclosed trailer and pull the Vision south until I could ride. Enjoy the spring, oh and don't worry about tire cupping, just ride. Take care! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | dollarbillwi - 2009-03-15 11:15 AM
Vince,
I run 40 & 40 and have not had any issues to date.
Uncle Bill:
Thanks for the vine...so what they spec. in the rear and 4 over in the front...I know you, there has to be a reason.
I got a long ways to go before these tires wear out...they seem fine...when you replace yours are you going with the same ones? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | 41/41 - front/rear - Got 15k front tire, 23k back tire (could have gone to 25 but have a big trip planned next month.) No cupping. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Maybe what I have is waving and not cupping as my are not perfectly round and I do run 40+ in front and rear. I've had that with every E3 I've owned, Bias and Radial. All 3 rear tires have done it and my 2 fronts have done it. My first rear tire was changed at over 15k, and the second, over 14k. I changed my front at 23K. So I guess I'll have to come to a rally or something so I can feel your tires and you feel mine and see what I'm talking about, or what you are talking about. Maybe we're not talking the same thing. Hey, don't get personal about feeling the tires now, strickly business..... |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | Jeez, just noticed I got it backwards - 23k front/15k rear. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 235
Evergreen, CO | I also run 40/40. I had cupping on the factory rear tire, but that is riding two up probably 80% of the time, and neither of us are flyweights. Got close to 12K on the rear, and as soon as I got home from my 5k+ ride last summer, I replaced it pronto (it was PAST the comfortable replacement mark). I replaced it with a Metzeler ME880. Not enough miles on this new rear tire yet to see if 1) The cupping issue is still there, or 2) How the Metzeler will compare to the factory tire in miles till needing to be changed. Had good luck with Metzelers on my Harley, liked the extra stick in the rain, so I'm trying again. Not to say I won't try something else if it seems better though..... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 1158
Richmond, Virginia | just for the record, i always wear a cup while riding and ive never run over any tits...... but i dont think thats the topic here... thanks for sharing, ok back to beer and the game. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 102
Northeast Pennsylvania | 42/42 psi. I'm hitting 10K and both front and back look like they can take ten more. I have never had a tire where I didn't replace after 7000 to 9000. I haven't coddled this bike either. Is this the norm and why. What's the diff with the dunlops on my TC and my Vision. We're talkin a 10,000 mile difference listening to some of your replies. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | victory2002 - 2009-03-16 11:10 AM
42/42 psi. I'm hitting 10K and both front and back look like they can take ten more. I have never had a tire where I didn't replace after 7000 to 9000. I haven't coddled this bike either. Is this the norm and why. What's the diff with the dunlops on my TC and my Vision. We're talkin a 10,000 mile difference listening to some of your replies.
Had Metzler's on my LT...they were fine...I don't ride in the rain, got caught once and they were fine at Interstate speeds. If it's raining...I'm finding a watering hole and waiting it out!
These Dunlops seem fine too...just looking for people that have gone through a set or two on the Vision and hear their opinion.
FYI...after 144 day sitting in the igloo...the front was down to 20 lbs. and the rear 28 lbs. Reset them to 40 & 44 respectively. |
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Tourer
Posts: 460
Centennial, CO | SongFan - 2009-03-15 2:45 PM
Jeez, just noticed I got it backwards - 23k front/15k rear.
Ha ha! I wondered how you were getting more out of the back than the front (tires I mean). |
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Cruiser
Posts: 98
Santa Maria CA | I run 41 in the front and 44 in the rear, the wife has a goldwing with the same tires on it and i run the same tire pressure on her bike. We seem to average about 17,000 on the rear and 25,000 on the front. Have almost 34,000 on my vision now, just about ready for new rear tire. I do use the beads for balancing, seems to make a diferants. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 194
Buford, GA United States | Just got a new rear tire at 12,600 miles and it was slick. Front tire looks like it will only go another 1,000 miles and I try to keep them at 41. That is the most miles I have ever gotten out of a rear tire so I went with the OEM tire again. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 34
Pensacola, FL | Good Thread ! I just got back from a weekend ride (Reminds me, I need to update my mileage counter !), and as I was washing/detailing bike, I noticed my front tire is cupping ! I'm hoping that correcting the pressure will enable me to clear that up & get at least 15k out of it !
Steve. |
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Tourer
Posts: 412
Fargo, ND | I've found cupping to be a fatal disease and never had any luck curing the problem once it sets in...good luck however! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | Flatsix - 2009-03-16 9:45 PM
I've found cupping to be a fatal disease and never had any luck curing the problem once it sets in...good luck however!
I'm with John on this too...just like on car tires, once the cupping is there it's there! That's one reason I watch my tire pressure fairly closely. I've seen tires with plenty of tread left and cupped, just gotta toss them...ouch! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 34
Pensacola, FL | Yes, I to have seen this in automotive applications, just hoping I could "Think Positive"... LoL and it would magically go away ! Crap, now I might have to delay that trip to see KevinX !
Steve. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Edmonton Alberta, Canada | I have 6800 miles, ran presure the book says to, I have cupping front and rear. Had dealer look at it, and of course the day I hauled it in, the temp dropped, and so did the preasure in the tires and blame it on under inflation. So will be buying tires this spring, just don't know which yet. Any recomendations?
btw....HAVE NOT RIDEN SINCE MID OCTOBER, AND BY THE WEATHER.....BE ANOTHER MONTH HERE......WOULD COUNT DAYS, BUT JUST P ME OFF!!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I bring this around again. Every E3 I've owned has had some degree of "cupping". Maybe I just have "waving" and not cupping as others may be referring too. I has never caused me any problems and I run the tire out with good mileage. No adverse handling, bumping or vibration. When I run my hand over the tire there is a wave pattern to it. Are we talking the same thing? I run my tires at 40+ front and rear, maybe I need a new gauge. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 266
Hartland, , WI | varyder - 2009-03-17 8:19 PM
I bring this around again...No adverse handling, bumping or vibration. When I run my hand over the tire there is a wave pattern to it. Are we talking the same thing? I run my tires at 40+ front and rear, maybe I need a new gauge.
Varyder:
Sure..."cupping" "waving" any deformities that arise before you feel the tire life really should be up. I think the two are different and know what you are talking about with the "waving", the cupping I've experienced does cause a vibration.
Think about the temperatures the tires go through in a season, from the heat of a road that's been baking all day and the load and speed we put on them, not surprising to me at all that tire structure fails before the tread life is gone. What does tire pressure go up during a ride from the "cold" start of the day...7-9 lbs?
Like I said at the beginning of the thread...tire selection and debate with the LT crowd was like what I read on our "favorite oil" topic...they all started out their opinions by recanting about the unique weight of the bike. Well, the Vision is nearly the same but I haven't seen any threads (comparatively) about cupping woes and other tire maladies.
If the season trips go as planned, I'll be needing a rear tire this year at some point so I thought I ask what others are doing.
The common fix for the cupping issue with the LT crowd was to run 4-6 lbs. more in the rear than what the tire mfg. had set. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | I prefer the E3 Dunlap tires, they are the OEM tire so I know they fit right. They are a good $ value . They are the same as the Wing so you can get them a lot of different places. They give good grip dry and wet, and give good mileage. And they are American made. So I recommend the Dunlap E3. The only negative, the rear tire on my Vision does get wavy, so they do make a little noise in the curves after you have 10,000 miles on them. I've talked to other folks that use this tire and they also agree the E3 is a good tire. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 92
West Bend, WI | Vince,
Just from past experience on cruisers, that I always up the front pressure, as they are normally the first ones to cup. So far the E3's seem to be a great tire. Will have to see how well they wear and continue to handle. I did like the Cobras I had on the V2K alot.
Uncle Bill :-) |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Being a wrench, but not a tire man it was hard to understanding all this cupping issue and you've set that straight Vinner1. I know what cupping is, but couldn't understand if the waving of my tires where the same as someone calling it cupping. If it is indeed cupping then that is a problem and an indication of another issue, that much I do understanding. Like any forum, I take all the information and run it all through a colander and it comes out mush. But somewhere in there is the best fit answer. I'm cheap, but not cheap enough to run a car tire. I ride too much to go with those high dollar tires that wear out fast, nor am I scrapping floorboards and doing a hundred miles an hour everywhere I go. E3 seemed to be the best fit all around and found them to be an excellent tire when I had the goldwing. I was elated that the Vision came stock with the E3, and find I get the same mileage from the radial on my 900lb bike as I did with the bias on my 800 pound bike, around 14-15k. I might push it a little past the wear bars if the weather is holding out or I don't have to take a long trip. I actually ran my tire from the 11k mark until I got back from Texas some 3,600 miles later. I was in need of a tire for sure when i got back.
Edited by varyder 2009-03-18 11:23 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 25
Southern Maine | I'm glad to hear that my Vision is not the only one with tire cupping issues. I noticed both front and rear starting to develope that wear pattern around 3500 miles and questioned my dealer and the response was that the crown in our roads here in the northeast was the cause which makes no sense to me. At 8500 miles the front is doing better and has more miles but the rear will need to be replaced before any trips this season. The tire pressure has been set to the man. recomended pressure cold faithfully. The milage was about 50/50 loaded two-up and solo,my wife and I are not lightwieghts and all storage was full. I had the same problem with the 2003 TC I had before .My experience with car tires woud lead me to balance, shocks, or worn suspension parts. I hate having to replace a tire at 9000 miles when everyone else says they last for ever. My hope for cure is balancing beads and a new sneaker |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | In the automotive industry, if tires cup, it's shocks or bushings. |
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Tire cupping issues?