Rear tire vukcan 900 classic LT

[Mark62]

I need advice on what I did wrong and what I should buy for a replacement. I have 8000 miles on my 2007 classic 900 LT and the rear tire has very little tread in the center of the tire but plenty on the sides, is this normal? I was told by the dealer that since I ride every mile with my wife as a passenger I should inflate rear at 42 psi and the front at 32 which I have done. Total weight for the two of us is 380lbs. I thought I should have gotten 10-12000 miles on this tire and it appears to me it needs to be replaced. Would appreciate and advice or suggestions!! Email is mb-haeska@charter.net or reply here please.

[1400pilot]

Thats normal wear Mark for a motorcycle tire that is run on straight roads with no curves, you only use the center part of the tire so thats what wears.

That mileage is pretty normal for a rear MC tire, a MC tire wears faster because of the softer compunding the tire is made with, which adds in the grip of the tire to the road.

42 is the proper pressure to run in the the rear tire, I would also bring the front up to 40psi for less tire chopping and greater wear. the front tire should last twice as long as the rear.

[brad4411]

The stock 404's wear out very quickly. I replaced mine at 8,000 also and it had the same tread wear pattern as yours. I ride almost exclusively solo and on highways.

Suggest replacing it with Metzeler ME880, much much better tire life. I've got 7,000 on my 880 rear and I'm not even to 50% wear.

[Mark62]

Thanks for the advice on a replacement tire. Now I know I didn't do anything wrong, do you think it should be replaced with the wear I am describing?

[Aifwikir]

Originally Posted by brad4411

The stock 404's wear out very quickly. I replaced mine at 8,000 also and it had the same tread wear pattern as yours. I ride almost exclusively solo and on highways.

Suggest replacing it with Metzeler ME880, much much better tire life. I've got 7,000 on my 880 rear and I'm not even to 50% wear.

I second that! I only got 6500 out of my stock 404 riding solo (low tire pressure I think). I got 10,500 out of my last Metzler (new tire 2 weeks ago) and I'm hoping to get more out of this one. Tire pressure is everything when it comes to longer wear.

32 is to low for the front tire, you should run atleast 38 or cupping will start.


Aif

[bobkat]

I just ordered a new set of Maxxis wide white walls for my 900lt. I have 8000 miles on mine also. Any opinion on Maxxis tires?

[rod2625]

If you stay under 70mph front 1/32 and rear 2/32 of thread...get a gauge and measure it. If you are running 70+ it is recommended 2/32 ft and 3/32 rear.
My 900's 404s I changed at just over 9,100 miles. I could have gotten at least another 1,000 miles out of them and would of still had safe tread. I ran them at 36/40 lbs of pressure as per the Dunlop tire recommendation. With me and gear the bike is hauling close to 275 lbs daily and on trips close to 300. I am not sure how some folks are getting twice them mileage out of their ft as opposed to the rear. When I changed out the 404s they had 2/32+ on the front and 3/32+ on the rear.

I went to ME 880's and their recommendation is 38-40 ft and 40-42 rear. I have just over 5,500 miles on them and have 5/32 and 6/32 of tread left.

[MrClean]

Went to Metzlers after only 7500 on the rear, 12,000 on the front stockers. Metzler was a far better feeling tire, you'll like it. And, to beat a dead horse, when my Metzler rear went out at 7500 miles I swapped to a General Altimax 195/65-15 and am currently on track for about 20,000 miles on this tire. You're not riding a Ninja, you don't need tires for one.

All that being said, if you it took you almost two years to wear that tire out OR just want to run MC Tires the Metzs are hard to beat.

[Biker Dad]

Originally Posted by MrClean

Went to Metzlers after only 7500 on the rear, 12,000 on the front stockers. Metzler was a far better feeling tire, you'll like it. And, to beat a dead horse, when my Metzler rear went out at 7500 miles I swapped to a General Altimax 195/65-15 and am currently on track for about 20,000 miles on this tire. You're not riding a Ninja, you don't need tires for one.

All that being said, if you it took you almost two years to wear that tire out OR just want to run MC Tires the Metzs are hard to beat.

Mr. Clean... I've seen several comments on the forum from you on using a Altimax 195/65-15 on the rear.. Since this doesnt have the natural side roll of a MC tire, how does this handle on corners, turning etc..... How does running a Radial on the rear match up with a bias ply on the front.. Just curious.. I may consider this opitons, especially since I communte on my bike and MC tires are pretty expensive compared to auto tires..

Thanks

[MrClean]

Bike handles the same as it did with the Metzlers. Car tires deform where a MC tire is stiffer and holds it's shape. Straight up and down where most of my riding is there is close to 6 inches of contact patch to spread the load on instead of that 1 inch that keeps increasing into that lovely flat spot. Although it has already been stated in this thread, durometer readings of mc and CT show CT are SOFTER than mc tires. The 'It's softer so it's stikier' thing just isn't so. It's ok, most of these things are just repeated and seem to make sense so nobody is out there telling fibs. You will get Car tire experts and Motorcycle tire experts that will tell you that the tires are different for a reason. Aircraft tire makers will tell you that their tires are different from Tractor tires, but it didn't stop me from using them on the golf course. On your 900 you will not be exceeding the capabilities of the CT unless you've modified the bike. Removed the bank indicators and floorboards and moved the muffler up out of the way. I've leaned it over on the 'Newt' when I entered a corner at 55 instead of 50 or lower, had to lean my body in a bit and give her a little juice with the peg scraping the whole way, the tire didn't let go.

For more reading and serious study I urge you to go the the Delphi Darkside Forum and introduce yourself, read and ask questions. The tires seat at a higher pressure than the MC tires do, you have to break them in AND you'll need to find your Sweet Spot. Once that is done though, you'll love it. Or if you don't, it's a 62 dollar experiment. Unless I get a sport bike or a bike that I can't find the correct tire to fit, I won't be going back to a MC tire.