Concerned with Tire wear

[Davidk]

I have excessive wear on one side of my tire. Center is fine. Its a Metzler 777 with 6500 miles.

Two questions:
1. Why wear on only one side?

2. Does it need replacing?

7057

[Mooney14]

I would definitely replace that tire. I have never had one wear on just one side prematurely , but if I had to guess the tire is balanced or the forks are out of alignment. There are plenty other people on this forum that I’m sure will chime in and help you.

[bob109]

I have excessive wear on one side of my tire. Center is fine. Its a Metzler 777 with 6500 miles.

Two questions:
1. Why wear on only one side?

2. Does it need replacing?

7057

The "crown of the road" will cause wear as you have described! Those who live on the other side of the pond i.e. England experience more thread wear on the "right side" of their front tires!

[Sorcerer]

Tire is done. It appears you have been having a lot of fun in roundabouts. What’s the rear look like.
Is it Shinko 777or a metzler 888.

[2wheelsforme]

Yep that tire is not long for this world. I agree with Mooney, unbalanced or forks misaligned or maybe a faulty tire to begin with. Certainly more wear than the crown of the road or more left hand turns as some say would do. I do not recommend doing this but the wheel can be flipped and see if it starts wearing the other side. I ran that way for several hundred miles once before noticing I was backwards and did not appear to suffer any negative consequences. I have read about a wheel needing to be balanced across from side to side also if not even. I have seen shops put weights on the center line and sometimes stuck to one side more. Not sure how it really should be. I have had side wear before and just got a new tire ASAP. If it happens again with new tire suspect the bike other wise the tire.

[Davidk]

Whats the latest preferred replacement tire? Im running a CT on the rear

[Phantom]

The "crown of the road" will cause wear as you have described! Those who live on the other side of the pond i.e. England experience more thread wear on the "right side" of their front tires!

I agree with Bob 100% !!! Discovered this from Honda Rune owners in England that were having the right side of their front tires wearing faster then the left side.
Honda Rune owners in the USA and Canada were having the left side wear out faster. It didn't help that the crappy Dunlops came with only 7/32nds of rubber.


Tire is done. It appears you have been having a lot of fun in roundabouts.


When we turn left at intersections, lean and accelerate... we travel 40-60 feet on the left side of the tire. When we turn right, lean and accelerate... we travel 20-25 feet before returning to the upright position. The left side normally sees more pavement here in the USA. It is NOT an alignment/fork issue.

[Cali261]

Wouldn’t more of us be seeing that same wear pattern if that was the case?

[bob109]

Wouldn’t more of us be seeing that same wear pattern if that was the case?

The "wider" the road, the less pronounced "crown" encountered, in most cases. Narrow country/secondary roads are "notorious" for "crowning" and will quickly induce uneven tire wear. As a "Dark Sider" I've discovered that a "Rear BattleAx BT45 Tire" is the answer for front tire longevity. Those who own Wing Trikes have been using the "Rear Ax" as front tires for years with great success. Some even "reverse mount" the tire!

If you do some research you'll find plenty of data on "Double Dark Siding" to include the actual "dissecting" of "front and rear tires" by yours truly!

[2wheelsforme]

That is not left hand wear due to crown or turns. Look close and you see what I know as scalloping, worn in spots rather than all the way around. Besides if crown or longer left hand turns do it then we all would have it. I would bet it is improper balance or defective tire. A Cobra was the last tire I had it happen on but not as bad as the OP picture. Now run Stones and has not happened.

[Davidk]

Road crown actually does make sense

I drive all narrow rural roads. Rarely any highway

[SeaSteve]

That is not left hand wear due to crown or turns. Look close and you see what I know as scalloping, worn in spots rather than all the way around. Besides if crown or longer left hand turns do it then we all would have it. I would bet it is improper balance or defective tire. A Cobra was the last tire I had it happen on but not as bad as the OP picture. Now run Stones and has not happened.

I agree with 2wheelsforme that the tire looks worn in some spots but not others AND with only 6700 miles on the tire??? I'm not familiar with the Metzler 777 but I've run 880 and 888's on Honda VTX cruisers and the wear was even. (EDIT: The wear was even...all the way around the tire on the left side more than the right side.)

First, all of my information comes from this GREAT write-up (http://www.rattlebars.com/tirewear/) on tire wear of motorcycle. I also recommend Tires 101 from Bareasschoppers (https://tech.bareasschoppers.com/resources/tires-101/) which links to the other site I provided. I think BIGLRY (http://hondaf6b.com/member.php?358-BIGLRY) is even referenced on the site a few times.

In a nut shell...Normally, ALL front motorcycle tires wear more on the left or right side depending on what side of the road you drive on and it's due to leaning the bike in turns at intersections.

Road crowning CANNOT be the issue. Think about how much of an angle the bike and tire has to be at for the worn part to come in contact with the asphalt! The wear at that angle MUST be caused by a left turn, and here in the USA, it's largely due to the larger radius left turns we perform at intersections. Over time the larger radius and thus longer distance adds up by. We drive miles more in a left angle lean then right angle lean. Also the lean angle creates centrifugal force at an ANGEL to the tire. The ANGLED force removes more rubber from the tire than when it's straight up and down on the open road.

[bob109]

I agree with 2wheelsforme that the tire looks worn in some spots but not others AND with only 6700 miles on the tire??? I'm not familiar with the Metzler 777 but I've run 880 and 888's on Honda VTX cruisers and the wear was even.

First, all of my information comes from this GREAT write-up (http://www.rattlebars.com/tirewear/) on tire wear of motorcycle. I also recommend Tires 101 from Bareasschoppers (https://tech.bareasschoppers.com/resources/tires-101/) which links to the other site I provided.

In a nut shell...Normally, ALL front motorcycle tires wear more on the left or right side depending on what side of the road you drive on and it's due to leaning the bike in turns at intersections.

Road crowning CANNOT be the issue. Think about how much of an angle the bike and tire has to be at for the worn part to come in contact with the asphalt! The wear at that angle MUST be caused by a left turn, and here in the USA, it's largely due to the larger radius left turns we perform at intersections. Over time the larger radius and thus longer distance adds up by. We drive miles more in a left angle lean then right angle lean. Also the lean angle creates centrifugal force at an ANGEL to the tire. The ANGLED force removes more rubber from the tire than when it's straight up and down on the open road.

Try riding the country roads of NE Pa. and you'll encounter "road crowning" you can't believe! You actually have to "lean left" to keep the bike up and that's no exaggeration. Depending where you live and what roads you ride and encounter has a direct impact on front tire wear as does the "road surface" i.e. fine/course macadam! Add in tire rubber compound and your have a varied receipt for tire wear/cupping. If tire balance was a issue those who use "BALANCE BEADS" and "RIDE ON" would never have cupping! If you follow the manufacturers instructions whenever installing the front wheel it states to "bounce the front end of the bike to align the axle shaft" and then secure the axle clinch bolts. That maneuver is missed by many riders who then receive less tire wear than anticipated!

[Ewreck]

Torq Loopz man. Torq Loopz.:rolleyes:

[BIGLRY]

Torq Loopz man. Torq Loopz.:rolleyes:
https://youtu.be/kdOPBP9vuZA

[olegoat345]

Low PSI can cause the sides to wear. Never heard of just one side wearing.
Look at the AVON's = they make a tire just for GW's = great service, great ride, great mileage. Google AVON USA & call their 800# for the AVON P/N.
Got F&R from Dennis Kirk @ my door for $299.xx. I really like dyna beads, 1oz F; 2oz R.

[billsim]

Low PSI can cause the sides to wear. Never heard of just one side wearing.
Look at the AVON's = they make a tire just for GW's = great service, great ride, great mileage. Google AVON USA & call their 800# for the AVON P/N.
Got F&R from Dennis Kirk @ my door for $299.xx. I really like dyna beads, 1oz F; 2oz R.

Low tire pressure will exaggerate the wear from crowned roads and turns on one side of a tire.
Also, the bike spends a lot more time on the left side sitting in the garage.:)

[2wheelsforme]

Close to 200K on 6 bikes in 19 years and on pretty much the same roads day after day. All tires except for 3 or 4 wore perfectly in the center. Even had one that wore on the right side instead of the left. They all got replaced before the tread was gone mostly due to those wear spots caused the tire to bounce a bit. And it if was road crown or turns would it not be even all the way around the tire and not just in spots?

[bob109]

Close to 200K on 6 bikes in 19 years and on pretty much the same roads day after day. All tires except for 3 or 4 wore perfectly in the center. Even had one that wore on the right side instead of the left. They all got replaced before the tread was gone mostly due to those wear spots caused the tire to bounce a bit. And it if was road crown or turns would it not be even all the way around the tire and not just in spots?

Something to help you understand your front tire! The next time you install a new tire, leave the front of your bike elevated! Take a "cinder block" and place it on one end approximately 1/2" from the front center on the tire. Have someone slowly turn the tire while you take a piece of white chalk, rest it on the block and "ever so slightly" move the chalk so it begins to touch the tire ( like using a "Dial Indicator" on a round object! You will discover that your "brand new tire" is not "perfectly round"! Move the block to the side of the rim/tire and perform the same chalk test to the tire sidewall and then to the side of the rim and see what results you get! I'm betting you will be surprised at the amount of "run-out" you observe i.e. the chalk contact/test! This is coming from a "Old Motor Head"!

[glryder98]

I have excessive wear on one side of my tire. Center is fine. Its a Metzler 777 with 6500 miles.

Two questions:
1. Why wear on only one side?

2. Does it need replacing?

7057

That is definitely NOT Road crown wear. I would check up under the fender and I bet you will find rubber "tire grindings" remove the axle and I bet the forks are out of alignment.

[Phantom]

If you research the Metzeler 777....

Per the manufacturer ... it is a DUAL compound tire, with HIGH SILICA compound on the sides!

If you ever research multi compound tires, the SOFTER SILICA rubber placed on the side tread is for traction and the best rubber to grip the road. The NEGATIVE is that it wears faster then the CENTER harder compound rubber of the tire. Sport Bike tires are very sticky because of the HIGH SILICA content, yet don't last.

The Honda RUNE 2003-2004 Dunlops were a DUAL Compound tire and Dunlop discovered after 2 years that the FAT 910lb. Honda Runes were eating the softer SILICA based compound on the sides of the front tire prematurely. The Rear Tire was a single compound and wore evenly. They wanted the best traction but discovered that aggressive riders were LUCKY to get 3000 miles on these dual compound Silica front tires, riders not so aggressive were getting 4000 to 6000 miles on the front tires MAX ! Yet all of us were getting 8,000 to 12,000 miles on the same Dunlop rear tire.

From an Engineering report ......
To understand the miraculous effects of the silica-silane mixture, one must understand that since the development of pneumatic tires, engineers have lived by a simple and immutable law – soft tire compounds get more grip, but wear faster and have high rolling resistance, while harder compounds wear slower and have lower rolling resistance, but get less grip. The inevitable tradeoffs that engineers must make between grip, rolling resistance and treadwear is known as the “magic triangle.” To properly balance these properties for a specific tire has been the goal of every tire engineer who has ever mixed a compound.

This Metzeler front tire has a SOFT rubber Silica compound on the side and is not designed to last on a F6B. Left turns will eat up these softer tires.
Look at the METZELER photos attached where it explains the purpose of this DUAL compound, Metzeler shows you that the HIGH mileage rubber is on the center. Most riders buy for PRICE and not for what the tire is designed for. This tire does not belong on a F6B if mileage is what you are after.

[Phantom]

More images and information....

[bob109]

More images and information....

Tony:

Thanks for the "Priceless Narrative" with supporting pictures! Seeing is believing and paramount in "Quelling" old wives tales and assumptions" about "Motor Cycle Tire Wear"! The argument that "road crowning" has little or no impact on front tire wear is as old as the hills. Trying to educate folks of "left center cupping" is a real challenge and is like "Oil Debates"!

Regards

bob109

[2wheelsforme]

None of those pictures showing cupping just left side wear. Maybe another thing altogether than the picture in the OPs post. Many miles and many tires, most wear centered, very few did not, some did show cupping at the end of life but all were on the same roads over the years. I do believe left hand turns can wear the left side more than the shorter right hand turns and that improper pressure (under40) can increase wear. I think road crown plays little to nothing in how a tire wears. Google left hand tire wear, most, bike places, mags or someone with supposedly some expertise say it is a myth but many individuals on forums still throw it up as a truth. The OP pic is an extreme example of this scalloping problem and I bet has been run with very low tire pressures. TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT BUT THREE RIGHTS DO MAKE A LEFT. That might help your tire wear more evenly :)

[3wings]

One more thing to consider might be the fact that the longer, wider radius left turn tends to be taken at higher speeds because you can! The F6B is heavy and at higher cornering speeds exerts a lot of force on the traction point on the tires. Years ago we ran Dunlop K91 tires on a 24 hour race bike at Nelson Ledges. Talk about tire side wear!!! The center looked almost new after over 1700 miles.

[98valk]

Wouldn't riding the twisties also involve longer left turns than right turns? There is going to be a lot more wear at speed in a curve than just making a corner. my .02

[bob109]

That is definitely NOT Road crown wear. I would check up under the fender and I bet you will find rubber "tire grindings" remove the axle and I bet the forks are out of alignment.

Out of curiosity, how would you align the forks???

[olegoat345]

Maybe the axle is offset a tad or one of the spacers is installed backwards or on the wrong side.

[VaBob]

Surprised it took the 3rd page before someone said something about Dual Compound tires. While I dont have the time or patience to find even more photos to support my argument, I will share my experience.

On 3 different motorcycles inside of the last 10 years, all of my front tires have had what looks like a flat angle on each side of the center compound. And I think that it may have been 3 different manufacturers, but no completely sure. The Triumph Sprint (standard/sport tour) had dual compound. It wore dunlop roadsmarts, and the suzuki c50 had metzlers. Dont remember whats stock on our bike. But all 3 have done the same on the front tire.

Dont know if this helps or not.

[shortleg0521]

That could be forks misaligned,.
Did you replace the tire and do ins4tall of wheel?
Check the procedure for wheel install, there is a part where
it talks about fork alignment.

[tenxxx]

Duel compound tires. You can easily see the difference in the ware pattern.
Personally im right handed and like left turns over right?
so Im probably more aggressive in left turns.
That tire is ready.