Tire wear question. - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

**Trapper** · 04-13-2006, 04:17 PM

It seems my front tire wears a lot more left of centre (seated on bike). Any thoughts to what may cause this? I was thinking traffic circles or round abouts or whatever you call them. Possible?

**drgibson** · 04-13-2006, 04:21 PM

I think that one leg is shorter than the other.

**Trapper** · 04-13-2006, 04:23 PM

How did I know...

stp1971 · 04-13-2006, 04:30 PM

Riding predominantly on one side of the road and the crown of the road.

**Trapper** · 04-13-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stp1971

Riding predominantly on one side of the road and the crown of the road.

Makes sense, the crown of the road.

92Notch · 04-13-2006, 04:38 PM

damn ... never woulda thought.

Trap, you spend lots of time on the right side of the lane you're in? ... maybe I need to switch up between the left and right to maximize tire life.

**Trapper** · 04-13-2006, 04:42 PM

I'm almost always close to the centre/left side of lane. Maybe i'll start riding in the left lane.

[Planes, Trains and Automobiles] Concerned motorist yelling out the window - "You going the wrong way!"
John Candy Character - "How do they know where we're going?"

blackie1491 · 04-13-2006, 05:37 PM

Instead of riding in left hand circles, try some right hand circles.
When the wear is even, move up to fiqure 8's.

Then and only then, remove training wheels!!!!!!

CManT1914 · 04-13-2006, 08:02 PM

Interesting. The front tire on the Gixxer was like this when I bought it. One side (can't remember which) was more worn than the other. I'll have to pay attention to my new tire and which side of the lane I ride in now.

tlwisner · 04-13-2006, 09:31 PM

Juts turn your wheel around for even wear. Some dealers will do this for you (Install your front wheel backwards) on new bikes.

Discalimer:
(Just kidding, do not do this)

CManT1914 · 04-13-2006, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlwisner

Juts turn your wheel around for even wear. Some dealers will do this for you (Install your front wheel backwards) on new bikes.

Discalimer:
(Just kidding, do not do this)

Dude I thought you were serious for a minute! lol, didn't see the disclaimer right away.

SNAFU · 04-13-2006, 11:43 PM

Hmmmm interesting problem.

Maybe the left side needs more air?

4W4K3 · 04-14-2006, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapper

[Planes, Trains and Automobiles] Concerned motorist yelling out the window - "You going the wrong way!"
John Candy Character - "How do they know where we're going?"

Odd, I just watched this last week!

4W4K3 · 04-14-2006, 12:37 AM

Damn, double post! Sorry!

**intimid8er** · 04-14-2006, 08:40 AM

Trap.......Here ya go!! All the answers you need.

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

**drgibson** · 04-14-2006, 10:22 AM

Hey Sean remember when you guys were saying something was wrong with my tire in Daytona due to the scalloping. This is from the web site Tim linked to above.

"CUPPING:
Cupping, which is more accurately described as scalloping, is a natural wear pattern on motorcycle tires and it will always follow the tread pattern. It is not a sign that you have bad suspension parts. It merely shows that your tire is indeed gripping the road when you make turns (thank you for that Mr. Tire!). This scalloping develops within the side wear bands of a leaned motorcycle."

I guess I just lean more than you

**Trapper** · 04-14-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by intimid8er

Trap.......Here ya go!! All the answers you need.

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

Thanks, Tim. That is a cool article. It says the left side of the tire actually has more mileage (up to twice as much) due to the radius of the turns. Here's an exerpt.

Quote:

Why is this wear more evident on the left front in most cases? Actually, excessive side tire wear is only evident on the left front in countries where one rides on the right side of the road. Riding right means that the left side of your tire will have more (and likely faster) miles on it than the right side. Left hand turns have a larger radius than right hand turns in right side driving countries, hence you ride farther (and likely faster) turning left than turning right with subsequent increased side band wear on the tire's left side. The left side of your tire has more miles on it (in some extreme cases, twice as many) than the right side of your tire. And the side of your tire only gets mileage when you are leaned in a turn, otherwise, this area of your tire does not contact the pavement at all as shown in the photo. European left side drivers find that the right side of their front tires will wear out first. Quite the opposite effect for precisely the same reasons reversed.

**intimid8er** · 04-14-2006, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trapper

Thanks, Tim. That is a cool article. It says the left side of the tire actually has more mileage (up to twice as much) due to the radius of the turns. Here's an exerpt.

Quite a theory too.

92Notch · 04-14-2006, 11:35 AM

great read! .... so, if I'm reading this correctly, the only way to maximize tire wear is to do high-speed 180's (going real fast, doing a mini-stoppie, just enough to raise the rear tire so you can spin the bike around).... over and over again so 50% or riding is foward, 50% is reverse.

sweet!

stp1971 · 04-14-2006, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgibson

Hey Sean remember when you guys were saying something was wrong with my tire in Daytona due to the scalloping. This is from the web site Tim linked to above.

"CUPPING:
Cupping, which is more accurately described as scalloping, is a natural wear pattern on motorcycle tires and it will always follow the tread pattern. It is not a sign that you have bad suspension parts. It merely shows that your tire is indeed gripping the road when you make turns (thank you for that Mr. Tire!). This scalloping develops within the side wear bands of a leaned motorcycle."

I guess I just lean more than you

No,,, we were talking about the loose screw you had in your head,,,I mean tire. I am glad you got that fixed.

04-13-2006, 04:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
Trapper Dogs Best Friend(admin) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: SOLD Location: Moncton NB Canada Posts: 9,190	Tire wear question. It seems my front tire wears a lot more left of centre (seated on bike). Any thoughts to what may cause this? I was thinking traffic circles or round abouts or whatever you call them. Possible? __________________ PointFlushRetrieve.com - Bird Dog Blog Motorcycle-Journal.com Blog

04-13-2006, 04:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,742	I think that one leg is shorter than the other. __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

04-13-2006, 04:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Trapper Dogs Best Friend(admin) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: SOLD Location: Moncton NB Canada Posts: 9,190	How did I know... __________________ PointFlushRetrieve.com - Bird Dog Blog Motorcycle-Journal.com Blog

04-13-2006, 04:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
stp1971 May 2007 Member of the month Joined: Mar 2005 Bike: 2004 Suzuki Intruder 1500LC / 2005 Suzuki DL650 V-Strom Location: Douglasville, Georgia Posts: 7,833	Riding predominantly on one side of the road and the crown of the road. __________________ Biketoberfest 2006 flashback courtesy of Intimid8er: "Like you knew damn well you shouldn't eat something like that, but all be damned to hell, you were gonna eat it!" __________________

04-13-2006, 04:38 PM	#6 (permalink)
92Notch Birthday Boy Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: '05½ C50 Limited Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 860	damn ... never woulda thought. Trap, you spend lots of time on the right side of the lane you're in? ... maybe I need to switch up between the left and right to maximize tire life. __________________

04-13-2006, 04:42 PM	#7 (permalink)
Trapper Dogs Best Friend(admin) Joined: Jul 2004 Bike: SOLD Location: Moncton NB Canada Posts: 9,190	I'm almost always close to the centre/left side of lane. Maybe i'll start riding in the left lane. [Planes, Trains and Automobiles] Concerned motorist yelling out the window - "You going the wrong way!" John Candy Character - "How do they know where we're going?" __________________ PointFlushRetrieve.com - Bird Dog Blog Motorcycle-Journal.com Blog

04-13-2006, 05:37 PM	#8 (permalink)
blackie1491 I took the All Bran Challenge Joined: Jun 2005 Bike: C50SE Location: Aldergrove, B.C., Canada Posts: 7,331	Instead of riding in left hand circles, try some right hand circles. When the wear is even, move up to fiqure 8's. Then and only then, remove training wheels!!!!!!

04-13-2006, 08:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
CManT1914 Fourth gear and illegal Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600 Location: Killeen, Texas Posts: 745	Interesting. The front tire on the Gixxer was like this when I bought it. One side (can't remember which) was more worn than the other. I'll have to pay attention to my new tire and which side of the lane I ride in now. __________________ Chris 2003 Suzuki GSX-R600 \| 2001 Suzuki GZ250 SOLD \| 1994 Ford Mustang GT SOLD

04-13-2006, 09:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
tlwisner Throttle Jockey Joined: Apr 2004 Bike: '05 Boulevard C50 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 3,208	Juts turn your wheel around for even wear. Some dealers will do this for you (Install your front wheel backwards) on new bikes. Discalimer: (Just kidding, do not do this) __________________ Tim Wisner AMA, SCRC Happiness is something we create

04-13-2006, 11:43 PM	#12 (permalink)
SNAFU Just Won't Go Away ! Joined: Mar 2006 Bike: '06 M50 Black Location: Winnipeg, Canada Posts: 5,020	Hmmmm interesting problem. Maybe the left side needs more air? __________________

04-14-2006, 12:37 AM	#14 (permalink)
4W4K3 In Training Joined: Apr 2006 Bike: a car :( Location: Frisco, Texas Posts: 149	Damn, double post! Sorry! __________________ MSF class Get a bike (Vulcan 500) Get licensed Can't wait! Save, save, save... Can I eat your brain?

04-14-2006, 08:40 AM	#15 (permalink)
intimid8er It's A Conspiracy Joined: May 2005 Bike: '06 XB12X Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer Posts: 10,091	Trap.......Here ya go!! All the answers you need. http://www.rattlebars.com/valkfaq/tirewear/ __________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast!

04-14-2006, 10:22 AM	#16 (permalink)
drgibson Antebellum Mod Joined: Jul 2005 Bike: 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 Location: Dallas, Texas Directly above the center of the earth. Posts: 10,742	Hey Sean remember when you guys were saying something was wrong with my tire in Daytona due to the scalloping. This is from the web site Tim linked to above. "CUPPING: Cupping, which is more accurately described as scalloping, is a natural wear pattern on motorcycle tires and it will always follow the tread pattern. It is not a sign that you have bad suspension parts. It merely shows that your tire is indeed gripping the road when you make turns (thank you for that Mr. Tire!). This scalloping develops within the side wear bands of a leaned motorcycle." I guess I just lean more than you __________________ “Please Remember to Kazoo Responsibly.”

04-14-2006, 11:35 AM	#19 (permalink)
92Notch Birthday Boy Joined: Aug 2005 Bike: '05½ C50 Limited Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 860	great read! .... so, if I'm reading this correctly, the only way to maximize tire wear is to do high-speed 180's (going real fast, doing a mini-stoppie, just enough to raise the rear tire so you can spin the bike around).... over and over again so 50% or riding is foward, 50% is reverse. sweet! __________________

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