New 12GS tires, and my 12GS tire history

[mistercindy]

I replaced two tires yesterday. My front, an Avon Roadrider, which had been on the bike since May 6, 2007, had an amazing 21,693 miles on it!:bow And it still had good tread, but it had obvious weather cracks and needed to go.

The rear was a Metzler Tourance (old style) with 10,616 miles on it. It was installed on May 23, 2008. That's the most I've ever gotten out of a rear tire. Frankly, it should have been replaced a thousand miles ago. It really was smoothed out. The tech said that he pulled two nails out of it. Who knows how long they were in there.:dunno

This is the first time in a long time that I replaced a front and rear at the same time. And, its the first time in a long time that I've had two of the same tires: Metzler Tourance, the old style.

BTW, my bike had 51,434 miles on it when the tires were replaced (38,253 on the odometer, since my cluster was replaced under warranty at 13,181 miles). I bought the bike used with ~12,050 miles on it on October 22, 2005.

Here's the tire history for my 2005 R12GS:

Rear tires:

Bridgestone BT020 (new tire when I bought the bike on 10/22/05) - 6,843 miles
Bridgestone BT020 (installed on 05/05/06) - 6,632 miles
Avon ST AV46 (installed on 3/10/07 ) - 7,891 miles (should've been replaced 500+ miles earlier)
Metzler Tourance (installed on 10/31/07) - 7,387 miles
Metzler Tourance (installed on 6/23/08) - 10,616 miles (should've been replaced 1000 miles earlier)
Metzler Tourance (installed today)

Front tires:

Bridgestone BT020 (new tire when I bought the bike on 10/22/05) - 6,843 miles (stupidly replaced it when I replaced the rear even though it had a lot of tread left on it)
Bridgestone BT020 (installed on 05/05/06) - 10,833 miles
Avon Roadrider (installed on 05/06/07) - 21,693 miles (good tread left - replaced due to weather cracking)
Metzler Tourance (installed today)

[Rich]

As I get older I keep notes like that too. :thumb

On the Avon Roadrider that lasts so long, how are the handling characteristics?

[AirForce]

I'll be replacing the Michelin's on my 05 next month at about 9000 miles. I've had good mileage out of old Tournaces and Avon Distanzias. Probably go with Tourances again. And Dyna Beads will go in the new tires again.

[mistercindy]

As I get older I keep notes like that too. :thumb

On the Avon Roadrider that lasts so long, how are the handling characteristics?
Its a good street tire. Not as sticky as the BT020, but plenty good to be fairly aggressive. I've never had a rear Roadrider so its a little hard to judge. But its obviously harder than a lot of street tires or it wouldn't have lasted that long. I'm kind of eager to see if the front Tourance lasts as long.

And as to the notes - I'm just anal retentive.:D Frankly, all I do is keep receipts in a folder and write the information on the top. I've considered taking them all and putting it on an Excel spreadsheet.

[david46]

I have the Metzeler Tourance on my R1200G.S, and I think you will like them. I have a question on the tire air pressures that you have been running in the past couple of years. Will you be running the same combination pressures on the new Tourance. Thanks for the Info,
Dave

[Polarbear]

I got the Bridgstone "Battlewings" that came from the factory. Good tires and I went Metzler next time with same results. Both tires have worn about the same, regarding Battle Wings and the Tourances. I just took the back Tourance off this weekend and it was at 11000 miles, with a tiny bit of center tread still showing. I just put a Battle Wing(BW502) back on the rear, because its 25$ cheaper than the Metzler. BW502 price was 115$, shipped free from AZ., no tax:). Fronts? Mine have gone well into the middle teens for mileage and have still looked pretty good when I changed them. The fronts clearly go FAR. Avon's, a tire I used "years ago" were also a fine tire on my older R1100GS. I had no issues with Avon. Anything above 10000 for a rear tire is exceptional and even 9000, I consider great back there. Riding habits can make them go far or otherwise! Randy

[Polarbear]

I run near 38/40 lbs front and 40/42 rear tire pressure on a GSA1200. Rider; 250, 6'2" and Jesse bags that have stuff in them most of the time. The higher pressure will make them go further too, imo. Offroad, I use less air, if riding far in the dirt. Randy

[maxscycle]

I replaced two tires yesterday. My front had 21,693 miles on it! The rear had 10,616 miles on it. [/LIST]


06 R12GS, My oem tourances (old school) ran 19,300 miles on the rear before I finally wore to the treadbar. The front still had 3/32" of tread left but I removed it to mount a set of ME 880's on it.
max

[Polarbear]

For a rear tire anything, this is one huge exceptional run for a rear tire! My best has been around 12000 rear and near 20 for a front only. Never heard anyone going this far on a rear. Congrats:). Randy

[Burnszilla]

Try a Conti Trail Attack. They have a rounder profile. You'll never go back. LOVE these sticky tires. The do ok in the dirt, although they look like a street tire.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3301455097_9f19f27f8f_b.jpg

[Polarbear]

Had not heard of the Conti one for GS's:). My latest GSA came with BWings and they are equal to the Metzlers, imo. The Conti's look good though. Are they priced right? At $115, the BW's are hard to beat and I mount my own, with my personal tire machine:). May want to try those Conti's someday. Randy

[The_Veg]

Thanks Burnzi for the tip! I agree, they do seem to resemble the BW's in some respects, and I love the BW's...if the Contis perform as well, wear as well, are easier to mount (damn BW's are OBSTINATE with their thick sidewalls!), and are priced competitively, I just might hafta try them.

BTW, what is the black cylinder mounted on the right side just below the bag-mounts?

[henzilla]

Try a Conti Trail Attack. They have a rounder profile. You'll never go back. LOVE these sticky tires. The do ok in the dirt, although they look like a street tire.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3301455097_9f19f27f8f_b.jpg

My 09GSA came with those, great road response but not fun in the mud or a wet caliche road. My rear had belts showing at 7000, just swapped the front at 8500 with maybe another 500 left on it. Jury still out for me. They did stick well until the cord appeared one agressive afternoon. May try again in future if I plan on being on the pavement that set.

[henzilla]

I love the BW's...if the Contis perform as well, wear as well, are easier to mount (damn BW's are OBSTINATE with their thick sidewalls!), and are priced competitively, I just might hafta try them.

Just changed a set of BW's off a friends bike...those sidewalls were a beach to dismount also.

[mistercindy]

I have the Metzeler Tourance on my R1200G.S, and I think you will like them. I have a question on the tire air pressures that you have been running in the past couple of years. Will you be running the same combination pressures on the new Tourance. Thanks for the Info,
Dave
I tend to run around 44/42.f Then I'll ignore it for a month and put 'em back to 44/42.

[ghostrider1964]

Battlewings did not come close to the wear nor the traction of my old style Metzlers! I pulled the front and rear Battlewings and threw them in the recycler!!!:banghead I might ride a bit more agressive than some and the roads here are hot chip and calichie, both take their tolls on Tires. Have not tried conti's but I plan on ordering another set of Tourance soon:wave

[henzilla]

Revival thread...

Ready to replace another set of GSA tires. Have a new set of Tourance and a set of Tourance EXP's sitting on the floor. Have heard the EXP's are getting less mileage than the originals...What are the results any one has seen and under what kind of riding? Alex said he would not go back with a set in another thread. On ADV Rider there is a mixed bag with different bikes from Tigers to V Stroms.

My plan is to go with the EXP's for a trial and plan on replacing them before I go to TN in July if they last less than the 7K I have been getting on a rear regular Tourance. The EXP's look more like a 80/20 road tire , I guess I will see with the gravel and caliche roads I play on. They look like the Contis that came on the '09 ...those liked the road, but hated any kind of mud.

[henzilla]

No EXP feedback? = not good...

[Polarbear]

I've not found anything short of KNOBS for mud and sand, thats any good. The dual sport tires are more highway friendly and hardpack dirt,gravel, etc....I go slow when I find mud, snow, sand, or find myself wondering how I fell off:). Ask me how I know:). Randy:D

[henzilla]

Tourance EXP's are great on pavement and stick in the corners...what they do not like is loose caliche and gravel ranch roads. Felt like a flat tracker taking a few corners...they definitely drift like a road tire they resemble. I had ridden same stretch on the original Tourances several times before and not had that much"fun"

I'll see how they wear in the next few weeks...I do not think I will get another set based on the dirt road experience.