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NorseMan9
05-03-2005, 11:55 AM
Basic question that is not in my manual: I have a '97 650 ST with 7200 miles on it. How many miles should I expect out of a set of tires? 13k sticks in my mind from a previous life of riding but not sure.

Thanks for any help.
James.A
05-03-2005, 10:03 PM
I'd be happy with 7k out of a rear tire. Remember, Harder tires=longer wear=less traction. Everything is a trade off.
dlearl476
05-03-2005, 10:26 PM
Basic question that is not in my manual: I have a '97 650 ST with 7200 miles on it. How many miles should I expect out of a set of tires? 13k sticks in my mind from a previous life of riding but not sure.

Thanks for any help.


Erik, what tires do you have on the F? All have "wear bars" on them. Ususally small webs in the tread. Tires shouldn't be used below that. An alternative method is to place a penny with Lincoln's head down into the tread. If you can see the top of his head, time for new tires. If you perhaps have Michelins, the wear indicators are adjacent to the "Bibendum*" on the sidewalls.
Me personally, I replace as many tires due to cracking as wear due to a plethora of bikes clogging up my garage. If you're on OEM tires from '97, I'd check that out.

*That's "Bib, the Michelin man" to youse unwashed.
rreynold6
05-04-2005, 02:10 PM
On my previous '98 F650, the Bridgestone Trailwings were toast at about 7500-8000 miles. The Metzeler Tourances on my current "02 F650GS have over 13,000 on them and still have considerable tread left although it is blocking pretty bad. The Trailwings are junk compared to the Tourances AND the Tourances grip AT LEAST as well and I feel a lot better than the Bridgestones.
I will replacing them with new Tourances soon.

Rick
sbryan@vtbryans.com
05-29-2005, 07:56 PM
Just put new sneakers on the wife's 2001 F650GS. The Trailwings were toast at 5K. The new Michelin Anakee's went on after a lot of tussle getting the old tires off. Everyone says the rear is a bear - and I agree. Took about 2 hours and a lot of foul language. The front went a little better - until the last little bit of levering on the new tire and I hear "ssssssss" as I pinch the tube and put a hole in it. Luckily I had ordered new tubes but saved the old so the old tube went back in and I VERY carefully levered the tire back - successfully this time.