Tire wear question

[53driver]

12K out of a rear tire sounds like you are doing everything right. I usually take them down to the wear markers but if you are getting a bad feel or noise go ahead and change it, you got the goody out of it. Tires are too cheap to try and get an uncomfortable or unsafe extra few hundred miles out of them.

+1
You've got TPMS already, so ensure that you are no kidding at 39/41 EVERY TIME for highway cruising.
12k is a great run for most. I get 15-18k out of either the 'Stones or Elite4s.
Yes, if the tire starts talking to you, it's time to listen. ("I get a slight howling sound")
Yes, if the tire starts communicating with you through the bike, it's time to listen. ("when I lean the bike on that ridge the back end does a little dance")
A flat tire on the side of the road - assuming you control it and manage to stop safely with out becoming the cream in a Peterbilt sandwich - will still cost you the price of a tire for a tow.
These are our babies - baby that girl!
Get her some new dancing shoes!
Cheers,
Steve

[rdbonds]

The howling I understand. Mine starts that noticeably at ~4k miles into a rear Bridgestone, when you initiate a lean into a turn. It has to do with the shape of the tread...the treadblocks feather a bit, leading to the moan/howl. If you lightly rub your hand along the tire tread, you can feel it.

You guys are my heroes on mileage for sure. I get 8K pretty religiously on a rear Stone (assuming I don't find a nail first). 11k or so on a front. That said, I do replace mine well before it gets to the wear bars. Maybe I need to work on smoothness more.

[olegoat345]

2-3 psi over what sticker says

[F6Dave]

I got an email from Honda Directline. They're having a closeout sale on the Tiregard TPMS system for $80. I'm running that system and it works quite well.

[skinnyguy]

The new tire is on and I'll be off to work soon, it'll be nice to have the B back to its full potential. Thanks for all the replies and advice.

[olegoat345]

51psi? wow that was high. What's the max tire pressure on the sidewall? I'd never exceed that.
I've been running my AVONs at 42f & 44r (per AVON) which is a bit higher than Honda says.
I'm sure different brands have a little different max psi.

[Zteve]

I am coming up on 12,000 miles on the rear tire, it looks like plenty of groove left but the tire is worn a little flat in the center and when I lean the bike on that ridge the back end does a little dance plus I get a slight howling sound. The manual says change the tire at .080 tread depth I think, I don’t think I’m quite there yet but is it time to replace it or good few a few more miles?

Your doing pretty good at 12,000 miles. I'd be half way into the next tire.

[rdbonds]

You're doing pretty good at 12,000 miles. I'd be half way into the next tire.

Me too.

[F6Dave]

Since I installed TPMS on my F6B I've been surprised at how much the pressure increases at high speeds on hot days. I run my rear at about 44 PSI, but that often increases to over 50 while riding. At very high altitudes the pressure gets even higher due to the drop in atmospheric pressure.

The same goes for the temperature. The front tire stays just a few degrees above the ambient temperature, but the rear often exceeds 130 degrees.

[98valk]

Here's my 2 cents:

I am convinced that hard acceleration and hard braking have the most effect on tire life.

I run 36/39 psi. I replaced my tires at 17,400 because they were 6 years old and Bridgestone had a sale. They were not to the wear bars yet.

I tried 40 up front for a couple of miles. It was like riding on a rock! I would not give up comfort for thousands and thousands of miles just to get another 10% or more out of a tire. If that is even true. Clearly the lower tire pressure did not wear my tires out faster.