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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3122
Location: Central Iowa, USA
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 Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 7:13 am Post subject: |
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| Number 6 wrote: | | So now my tire question: if I want a tire that will last very long, what should I buy? |
You will need to research how hard/soft the rubber compound is.
If you want a soft tire with lots of grip for handling and cornering, you will trade off mileage life.
And then the opposite, a firmer tire(bias ply) will obviously have less stickiness but will last the longest too.
Personally, I won't put bias ply's back on either of my bikes. They are too stiff and you can feel every bump of the road.
Like I posted up above, I can get in excess of 12K miles with the PR2 front and Avon rear.
Around here in the flat lands of the mid-west I don't get much "winding twisting cornering" or need for aggressive riding to require a supper sticky tire compound.
YMMV
_________________
Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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drikko
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 20 Nov 2009
Posts: 1966
Location: Brisbane, OZ
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:13 am Post subject: |
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The tyres on my land cruiser last about 80,000 klms, try a pair of them 
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB
DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.
'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde |
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Sonu
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 15 Jan 2004
Posts: 400
Location: San Jose, CA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: The (much dreaded) tire question (sorry, guys!) |
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| omarsbuddy wrote: | , I just can't believe I wore one out in 5000 miles! There's GOT to be a better alternative!  Right? |
Omar,
I've used Michelin PR3's on STOCK rims for the K1100LT.
110/80ZR-18 on the front and 150/70ZR-17 on the rear.
I would recommend changing both front and rear so you have a matched set. I've put 9000 miles on mine & have plenty of tread left. I expect they will go to at least 12K miles. I do not ride like a bandit however & primarily use my bike for commuting on freeways.
Hope this helps,
Sanjiv
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1997 K1100LT "Ziggy" _GarminGPS_Corbin saddle_K Guards _Hyperlights_Fog lights_Eastern Beaver Relays_Cee Bailey_4"speakers_Michelin PR4's_MoS2_Spiegler lines_TPMS_VDO
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott_Anderson wrote: | | Number 6 wrote: | | Scott_Anderson wrote: | It is possible to get a radial in the stock LT tire size, I personally have tried the 150/70 on the rear and didn't like it. More work to get the bike up on the center stand.
I went back to the 140/80 rear in the Avon brand with the PR2 on the front. I can get between 12-15K miles with this combination.
If you want to stay with the LT stock tire size you won't find many tire mfgrs that make BOTH the front and rear. There are some, just not many. |
That's why the RS does not have spacers between the gearbox and the center stand. |
The RS wheel sizes are opposite of the LT as well. 17 front and 18 rear. |
Right but it ends up in a small diameter difference for the rear, hence the spacers.
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott_Anderson wrote: | | Number 6 wrote: | | So now my tire question: if I want a tire that will last very long, what should I buy? |
You will need to research how hard/soft the rubber compound is.
If you want a soft tire with lots of grip for handling and cornering, you will trade off mileage life.
And then the opposite, a firmer tire(bias ply) will obviously have less stickiness but will last the longest too.
Personally, I won't put bias ply's back on either of my bikes. They are too stiff and you can feel every bump of the road.
Like I posted up above, I can get in excess of 12K miles with the PR2 front and Avon rear.
Around here in the flat lands of the mid-west I don't get much "winding twisting cornering" or need for aggressive riding to require a supper sticky tire compound.
YMMV |
I understand, just wondering what specific model is hard.
I use my bike for commuting (90 miles/day) and the rear tire (Michelin Pilot Activ) ends up square, I'll be switching to a 170/60/17 on a K12RS rim, wondering if a PR2 would last long enough (PR3 are softer as far as I understand), otherwise there's a Shinko Raven that costs only 2/3 of the price of the PR2 and supposed to last long...
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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Scott_Anderson
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 3122
Location: Central Iowa, USA
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Number 6 wrote: | | I use my bike for commuting (90 miles/day) and the rear tire (Michelin Pilot Activ) ends up square,...... |
I have the same issue with the rear tire "squaring off" too.
I don't have enough corners and twisties around here to keep the side worn equal to the center.....
Even with the "squaring" I still get +12K miles out of an Avon.
_________________
Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott_Anderson wrote: | | Number 6 wrote: | | I use my bike for commuting (90 miles/day) and the rear tire (Michelin Pilot Activ) ends up square,...... |
I have the same issue with the rear tire "squaring off" too.
I don't have enough corners and twisties around here to keep the side worn equal to the center.....
Even with the "squaring" I still get +12K miles out of an Avon. |
What model is it exactly?
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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Scott_Anderson
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, but they don't sell it in 170 size.
Anyway, I plan to mount it myself, what kind of tire irons do I need?
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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Jim
Site Admin
Joined: 17 May 2003
Posts: 3841
Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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| Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Number 6 wrote: | Thanks, but they don't sell it in 170 size.
Anyway, I plan to mount it myself, what kind of tire irons do I need? |
You'll beat yourself to death changing a tire with irons - no matter which ones you use. You need to find someone with a tire changer - preferably not a Harbour Freight - No Mar is much better.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 5:59 am Post subject: |
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Aw c'mon Jim, this past spring I changed the tires on all 4 bikes in our garage.....with tire levers. 8 tires off, 8 new ones on.
What fun
Actually with this fleet, I am really thinking of a Cycle Hill (No Mar) changer.
I'll have to finally admit to Gwen that she was right- like there was any doubt.
This item is very handy
except that 3 of the 4 rear tires are too wide (wider than 160mm)
But if I only had one MC in the garage, I would continue to do the change with tire levers. Any good tire changing machine will take up some space while all my gear fits in a small box.
Number 6,
The longer the better with tire levers- 10" long are good. But get at least 3. And if your wheels are in good (unscratched) condition and you want them to stay that way, get 6 or 8 of these:
And you will need a way to balance the wheel/tire combo- Marc Parnes makes a great product. http://www.marcparnes.com/index.html
All totaled, if you shop around you can have everything you need for $200-$250 or so and you are good to go for many years.
But a Cycle Hill changer would be VERY nice to have and use. 
John
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John & Cathy
'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F. |
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 9:30 am Post subject: |
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Thanks John!
I already have the Marc Pames balancer and my rim has no tire on it yet.
Why do you need so many protections, 3 is not enough?
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94 K1100LT |
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Number 6 wrote: | | Why do you need so many protections, 3 is not enough? |
You will find it very difficult to move the rim protectors around once you start levering the tire on. At least I have. (And they are cheap!)
BTW, a small paint brush (about 1" or so) and some diluted dish soap really helps to slide the tire over the rim. And once you have levered it onto the rim, push the tire away from the rim and spread the soapy mixture between the tire bead and the edge of the rim- REALLY helps when it comes to "pop" the bead onto the shoulder- might never happen if you try it dry.
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John & Cathy
'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F. |
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Tyronewildman
Joined: 16 May 2012
Posts: 24
Location: Tyrone, Georgia USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 6:25 pm Post subject: Tire Irons & Rim Protectors |
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A+ on lots of rim protectors and try the 24" Tire Irons for $4.99-Man Size
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=tire%20irons
I mounted 2 for my S3T Buell and one for friends Suz last evening. Used another friends Coats manual changer with No Mar bar. Still not easy but I'll drive an hour rather than using my tire irons. Folks say I'm crazy but I have used WD40 for mounting lube for years with no problems. Mark Parns was on the FJR board when I got my '04 FJR & been using his balancer since.
Later,,,De 
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'13 FJR Yamaha
'09 Road King
'07 Buell P3 Blast
'02 Buell S3T
'94 K1100LT ABS BMW
'94 GL1500 Honda
'89 PC800 Honda
'77 T140V Triumph
'69 441 Victor Special BSA
'69 CT90 Honda
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: Tire Irons & Rim Protectors |
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| Tyronewildman wrote: | A+ on lots of rim protectors and try the 24" Tire Irons for $4.99-Man Size
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=tire%20irons
I mounted 2 for my S3T Buell and one for friends Suz last evening. Used another friends Coats manual changer with No Mar bar. Still not easy but I'll drive an hour rather than using my tire irons. Folks say I'm crazy but I have used WD40 for mounting lube for years with no problems. Mark Parns was on the FJR board when I got my '04 FJR & been using his balancer since.
Later,,,De |
Great, thanks a lot! Where can I get cheap protections too?
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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drikko
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 20 Nov 2009
Posts: 1966
Location: Brisbane, OZ
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2012 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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Some short lengths of garden hose with one side cut lengthwise works well.
The missus won't notice it missing hopefully....
_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB
DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.
'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde |
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SugarHillCTD
Site Admin
Joined: 10 Oct 2007
Posts: 4238
Location: Now in Eastern Pennsylvania
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 12:08 am Post subject: |
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So I finally opted for a PR2, the tire is on the rim but just found out the valve is defective. How do one change a tire valve?
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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Niemand
Mad Brick Rider
Joined: 29 Mar 2006
Posts: 108
Location: NC, USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 2:19 am Post subject: Valve Stem Change |
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I just cut a chunk of the inner bulbous part of the stem with some diagonal cutters or whatever I have handy, then pull the old stem out through the opening. Clean the hole, then lightly coat the new stem with tire mounting lube and pull through with a valve fishing tool like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Milton-S447-Valve-Fishing-Tool/dp/B000COS0O2
Obviously this would be much easier to do with the tire removed, but I've seen it done by just pressing the bead to the center of the rim near the stem. I would just remove and remount the tire personally though, as I found my PR2s a bit stiff for that to seem possible with my ham hands.
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Niemand
1994 K1100RS
2023 DR650SE |
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Number 6
Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 05 Feb 2011
Posts: 481
Location: Paris area, France
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| Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, done, the most difficult was to get the inner part of the old valve in the tire.
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I am not a number, I am a free man.
94 K1100LT |
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