Tired

[bodie27]

Yes well its tire time for the old C50. Does it ever end this price we pay to enjoy what we do? Just lashed out and got some Iso grips and a chrome brakes light cover and then realized I shoulda been spending it on a new rear tire. I've done nearly 9000miles on the stock ones which seems pretty normal. Anyway while i get it changed should I get anything else done to it back there. Just had a major service so the oil is ok but need I do anything to the drive? I'm gonna go with Metzler. Do they make that much of a difference..will they last longer??it will be interesting to find out, and some words of experience will be muchly appreciated. My brother arrives soon and he has be riding for nearly 30 years and I'm just thinking I'll need all the help I can get! I won't even attempt to keep up with him.

[DrBob]

Good choice: I love the Metzeler ME880 tires, and find they last at least twice as long as the stock tires. Just be relegious about keeping the PSI up where it should be, as even a couple pounds solf will radically reduce tire life with the Metzelers.
I replace my wheel bearings every other set of tires, and of course wile the rear wheel is off you can clean and inspect that drum brake, but as new as your bike is it won't need anything except the tire and tube.

[blackie1491]

My tires are being replaced Wed., I am just over 13,000 miles and looks like I could push another 1,000 out of them. I have noticed it is easier to lock up the rear and it is sliding out more on the tar snakes so I am not taking any chances as rain season is upon us.

The choices are limited here and I have bridgestones going on. Will replace both this time and next time just do the rear.

I am happy with the wear I got out of the stock tires but the price for them here is mind blowing. The dealers buy them thru Suzuki and then their markup and the cost is $800 a pair minus 20%, which is still $600. The Bridgestone are $300 after discount. I have been told they have better rain traction.

We will see.

[hammersfan]

Quote: I am happy with the wear I got out of the stock tires but the price for them here is mind blowing. The dealers buy them thru Suzuki and then their markup and the cost is $800 a pair minus 20%, which is still $600. The Bridgestone are $300 after discount. I have been told they have better rain traction._________________________________________

Thats a crazy price for the dealer to charge, no wonder people call the stealers instead of dealers ! You could get Metzlers for that price .

[blackie1491]

I could have got the OEM's from the US for $155, plus freight, a pair.
That was from a Suzuki dealer also.

It is bad enough we have limited selection but we also pay thru the noise.

[Uncle B]

While we are on tires which is the proper tire pressure?
1. What the book says- 33/35 irtfm
2. What the frame says- 35/38
3. What the tire says- 41/41

[v0lusia]

The number from the side of the tire is the MAX pressure..... Never use that.

Go with the number on the frame of the bike or recommended pressure from the tire manufacturer's website.

[Jerryzuki]

[quote=blackie1491]My tires are being replaced Wed., I am just over 13,000 miles and looks like I could push another 1,000 out of them. QUOTE]
That's some great milage there Blackie! I got around 12,000 out of mine and it's getting pretty worn out. So I orderd the rear yesterday. The little shop that I use was able to order it and sell it to me for $105.00 + $30.00 for mounting. It's the IRC just like the OEM, I considered my 12k good milage so I am going back with IRC.

[blackie1491]

Hi Jerry;
I hit 14,000 miles yesterday and if it was still warm here I could hit 16,000 or more as the rear still looks good. But in the cool weather here now it is easier to lock up the rear.
I am happy with the OEM's just don't like the cost here.
I assume cooler climate and the fact I seldom ride the freeway, may be 1,000 miles so mostly 60 MPH range, accounts for the good wear.

The bridgestone tread pattern is so diff., I am going with new front and rear.

The front looks good for another 14,000 miles.

So I can't complain on the IRC's.

[AZRyder]

Originally Posted by blackie1491

Hi Jerry;
I hit 14,000 miles yesterday and if it was still warm here I could hit 16,000 or more as the rear still looks good. But in the cool weather here now it is easier to lock up the rear.
I am happy with the OEM's just don't like the cost here.
I assume cooler climate and the fact I seldom ride the freeway, may be 1,000 miles so mostly 60 MPH range, accounts for the good wear.

The bridgestone tread pattern is so diff., I am going with new front and rear.

The front looks good for another 14,000 miles.

So I can't complain on the IRC's.

I plan on sticking with the Whitewalls that came with the 90T.

[bodie27]

Well I got a price here for a rear Metz'.. 170-80-15 ME880 =$270 Aust which is about $200 American. And thats fitted. The tyre guy said that the Metzlers are a great tyre and popular but he also said they wouldnt last as long as the stock tyres as the stocks have a long time to cure by the time they get made in japan, shipped to suzuki, shipped to Australia etc etc. Still would get around 12000 km he said.

[blackie1491]

I was just over 23,000 kms and could have pushed another 3,000 km's.

12,000 km's is only 7,500 miles. That is sportbike type milage for a rear.

[bodie27]

Weird huh, why would he tell me that they wouldnt last that long. He was keen to sell them but pretty definite on the lack of "curing" they would have. By curing I think he means "sit around for ages in the back of the shop."
Does anyone know what he means by this??

[blackie1491]

Heat and high speed freeway riding eat up tires.

I assume it is much cooler here than there, but if the IRC's give better mileage, that is strange as most in the states claim higher mileage than with the IRC's.