Tires but a sort of different question...

[vance580]

My rear tire is getting towards the wear bars so it looks like I will be needing a new one. I have only had my Buell for about 2 months now so not sure how long the tire lasted. The front still looks ok so I may be able to get another rear tire before needed a front. I may just get the same as the front for the rear and run them and hope that they both wear for my next set. Here is my question. I ride my Buell everyday as my main form of transportation and I'm not a track rider by any sense of the word. I like to ride twisties but this is my first bike so I only have 2 months experience so I'm no super leaned over kneedragger. If I was to go to a 190 rear tire since most of my riding is just cruising places would the bigger footprint make the tire last more miles? Or would it not even matter between the 180? Would the bigger footprint help for rain since there would be more contact patch? Just trying to make it wear a little better since most of my riding is just straight riding its like a straight line where its worn and the sides still look good. I currently have Michilen Pilot Power 2 CT's, should I just ditch them both and get something that wears better for the long haul but is still grippy for the rare twisty runs I do?

[RT Performance]

I would say stick with the stock 180 size putting a 190 on a narrow rim really doesn't improve the foot print much.
for your style of riding i would go get a set of dunlop road smarts.
There dual compound and last a long time yet provide good grip.
I get mine local from the yamaha shop for around $200 a set.

[anrkizm95]

I would say stick with the stock 180 size putting a 190 on a narrow rim really doesn't improve the foot print much.
for your style of riding i would go get a set of dunlop road smarts.
There dual compound and last a long time yet provide good grip.[up][up]

[Macbuell]

Michilen Pilot Power 2 CT's

190

[up][up][up][up]

[dmp0001]

190 would be for looks only, but it looks good. There is no downside to using a 190 as they are even rated for use on 6" rims. I like to use as wide as possible so I went with the 190.

[McMurphy]

Don't the 190s actually use less of the rim then the 180s? Thought I read that on here somewhere. Either case it's a moot point. You can put a new rear on, but I'd suggest using the same model tire as the one it's replacing. Mixing/Matching brands can lead to bad joo-joo from what I'm told. Hence why I never do it.

As for what kind of tire, I use my bike daily for riding to/from work. I'd say about 24 miles of highway speeds, and 6 of stop and go. And weekends I try to do some more...spirited riding.

I went with Pirelli Angels because no one here had Michelin Pilot Road 2s or 3s in stock, and I needed a tire that day because I got a chunk of barbed wire in my back tire.

With about 350-400 miles I'm loving them so far. Had them out to the edges on both sides with no issues, great traction and stability. Don't really have enough miles to tell wear yet, but seems like they'll hold up well. Oh and they're phenomenal in the rain.

Granted, they're a fair bit more on the costly side, so if you're on a budget I'd suggest the Pilot Road 2s, or the Dunlops.

[airBuell]

I use my bike for commuting. There are no real twisties around here. Anyway, I use the pirelli scorpion sync dual compound front/rear (180). Seems to perform well rain or shine with my riding style.

[ATFIII]

I have Michelin Pilot Road 3's with hard compound in the middle for high commuting mileage and soft outside or shoulder compound for better cornering grip. Have about 500 miles on them and they are great! $350 installed front and rear though.

[vance580]

Thanks for the input guys. I'll start looking to see what prices look like. I may just get a set then hold on the the front in case something happens later and I need a tire I can get a rear to match it if money gets into a pinch. (I'm an old college student). From pics I've seen the 190 does give that beefy look to the rear so I guess now it will depend on the prices. I just wasnt sure how much if any the footprint would be affected and if that would improve treadwear.

[dmp0001]

EBR uses a 190 stock on a 6" wheel, just thought I'd throw that in there

[vance580]

Got some Road Smarts on hold at the local CycleGear I'm going to pick up tomorrow. After talking with a few of the guys that ride there they said I should stick with the 180 if I like twisties because the 190 will change the way turn in feels. I'm still getting comfortable with faster sharp corners so I really dont want to throw off my feel to much. Plus I have like .25 -.5 in. chicken strips with the 180 so I am not even using the whole tire anyways. I did notice that I have smaller chicken strips when going left so it seems I feel more comfortable going that way then right.

[buzzhead8189]

Good choice with the Road Smarts. I have over 10,000 miles of Iowa on my set and have yet to make it to the wear bars. In the corners they are better than I am.

[mc4life27]

good choice to stick with the 180 until you are more comfortable with your bike. as far as tire ware goes i always go through two back tires before i have to replace the front.

[kelly]

i put on the metzler sprot touring tires adn have put at least 1000 miles on them so far and i dont even have any chicken strips from highway riding. if you go with a 190 like most have said itll decrease your contact patch adn wear in the center fast. if you get the sports tire itll be better fro playing but not for daily use they will go out in around 4000 miles verses a sport touring tire gettin you twice that. prices are the same so pick your poison. always keep your old tires fro emergencies adn carry a plug kit with at least 8 co2 cartriges to fully fill a tire, or gut one of them plug in a cigarette lighter type air pumps adn carry that with you. be aware them little pmups get white hot during use. sometimes i feel stupid carrying so many tools adn repair **** btu i love it when i come across bull**** on the road. casue we all know noone is available when ya break down in route hehehe.

[vance580]

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone. Got my Roadsmarts installed today. Got them at cyclegear so they put them on if I had them off the bike so had to bust out the homemade lift.
Here is what the old ones looked like.
http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/vance580/IMAG0082.jpg

Here are the new Roadsmarts. Couldnt start riding and scrubbing them cause it started raining right after I got the wheels back on.
http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/vance580/IMAG0085.jpg
http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/vance580/IMAG0086.jpg

Here is my homemade lift setup.
http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/vance580/IMAG0081.jpg

All put back together and ready to ride again. Got to do some riding tomorrow so they will be scrubbed for my Sunday ride on the backroads. Whats a good amount of miles to put on to get them scrubbed and ready for some twisties.
http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad261/vance580/IMAG0087.jpg

[brightbuell]

You can take that white factory sticker off, otherwise NNNNice!

[unionthug]

I like the 190 but it made my STT ride higher. [up]