Topic: cb750 fast rear tire wear

[cheftuskey121]

Hey guys. new subject for me. did some moderate searching, was scared by results of people getting 8,000 miles out of their tires....

I now have 4000 miles on Yolanda, I bought a set of the vintage style Continentals RB2/K112. the front still looks brand new but the rear.....the center tread is basically bald, and I still have the little feeler nipple things on the sides. I don't do much heavy cornering as I am a new rider and it puckers my nether regions up thinking about it....but golly how can the center of the rear tread be bald at 4000 miles and the rest of the tread look new? I inflate the front tire to 30psi, and the rear to 32psi. I never ride two-up, I have never done a burnout or wheelie. I accelerate fairly quickly, but I never launch, and have never locked up the rear wheel for anything. I don't ride on gravel and not much in wet either. kinda confused why I only got 4000 miles out of it. there are no sidewall cracks either.

now I am not knowledgeable on the subject and have no other basis to compare so I am at the mercy of outside judgement and suggestions. I think I am going to go with a more modern rounded shape like avon or metzlers. I want to keep the original inch sizes if possible, I just don't want to wear out another rear tire so fast. I mean really, I've only been riding the bike for 4 months. I do ride it almost every day, and thats about 1000 miles a month I suppose, but am still confused.

any help/advice/suggestion/complaint is welcome, as well as future technique and tire recommendations. thanks guys!

[TwoTired]

What size are your current tires?

[cheftuskey121]

What size are your current tires?

whatever the stock sizes are for a 19" front rim and an 18" rear rim. 3.25x19 and 4x18 I think?

[BobbyR]

Motorcycle tires tend not to last as long as car tires. You are probably under inflated. Modern tires are different than the tires of the 1960's. TT is checking to see if you went too wide which causes that type of wear you described. I will let LLoyd explain that.

You also said you like to accelerate briskly, while you are not burning out under heavy throttle their is some slip which you probably won't feel, but the tire does.   

In any event, if your tire is bald or close to bald, you have to change it. You only have two and the pavement is really hard.

[cheftuskey121]

Motorcycle tires tend not to last as long as car tires. You are probably under inflated. Modern tires are different than the tires of the 1960's. TT is checking to see if you went too wide which causes that type of wear you described. I will let LLoyd explain that.

You also said you like to accelerate briskly, while you are not burning out under heavy throttle their is some slip which you probably won't feel, but the tire does.   

In any event, if your tire is bald or close to bald, you have to change it. You only have two and the pavement is really hard.

yargh! thats what I figured. time to overnight a tire and get it mounted, Ive got a big trip to ATL this weekend! I think I may just get the same tire and while the next one wears down I'll save up for another set. is is CRAZY to get an unmatched rear tire? as in, not continental.

[MoMo]

I have ridden with unmatched tires(but they were of a very similar tread design) and there was no problem.  However, I do not push any limits-other than the speed one.  Larry

[Retro Rocket]

Motorcycle tires tend not to last as long as car tires. You are probably under inflated. Modern tires are different than the tires of the 1960's. TT is checking to see if you went too wide which causes that type of wear you described. I will let LLoyd explain that.

You also said you like to accelerate briskly, while you are not burning out under heavy throttle their is some slip which you probably won't feel, but the tire does.   

In any event, if your tire is bald or close to bald, you have to change it. You only have two and the pavement is really hard.

yargh! thats what I figured. time to overnight a tire and get it mounted, Ive got a big trip to ATL this weekend! I think I may just get the same tire and while the next one wears down I'll save up for another set. is is CRAZY to get an unmatched rear tire? as in, not continental.

Chef, do a bit of shopping  round mate, there are dual compound tires on the market that may just suit your cautious approach to riding, Dual compound tires are softer on the sides and harder in the middle...

http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/battlax/bt45.html

Read the specs on the tire, its a dual compound and they work well on our bikes...

[Stev-o]

Chef - I'm not real familiar with the Conti, but i/m guessing it is a soft compound tire. Those tend to offer good grip at a price of short wear life. 4000 miles out of a tire is not bad, and the rear will almost always wear quicker than the front, nearly 2 to 1.

Retro has given you a good recommendation, I have the Bridgestone BT45's on my K4, still look new but only 1000 miles so far.

[andy750]

I had the same experience with Dunlops - on my ride to North Carolina for the Tail of the Dragon trip I got 2500 miles out of the rear - 1000 miles of 80mph highway riding and lots of cornering. I was disappointed. I replaced with an IRC in North Carolina and after the return trip its looking pretty worn. I usually use Bridgestone BT-45s and get 9000+ miles out of the rear. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it.

Best tire mileage I ever got was 16,000 miles out of Dunlop K491s - dont think they are made any more. Tire was pretty bald by the end of that 2 month trip to Mexico.

Good luck with getting a new tire!

cheers
Andy

[cheftuskey121]

you guys are the best, thanks! looking at bt45's can I run a front tire in the rear? 110/90/18 but the description says front tire. I can get it in two days using amazon prime but they don't have any "rear" ones for 2 day shipping. just curious. I am shopping around on other tire sites as well.

[andy750]

I wouldnt run a front tire in the rear - different tread pattern/different function.

[cheftuskey121]

I wouldnt run a front tire in the rear - different tread pattern/different function.

cool, thanks andy for the fast response. I'll get a matched set from americanmotorcycletire.com only $50 for 2 day shipping!

[cheftuskey121]

now I am stuck in tube land with far too many choices. any recommendations on a brand of tubes to get?

[70CB750]

Top of my head says metzeler for tube, but don't ask me for source of that info.

I got matched set of BT45s September 2012 and August 2013 I already replaced the rear.  You should check the pressure, the tire should go up 2 psi after riding 10 minutes or so, starting with cold tire.

I think I keep the rear at 26psi.  Overinflated tire will wear fast in the middle.

[Black 750K8]

What size are your current tires?

whatever the stock sizes are for a 19" front rim and an 18" rear rim. 3.25x19 and 4x18 I think?

This is a very vague answer to a simple question. They have numbers on the side might take two minutes to go take a look.

[BobbyR]

Top of my head says metzeler for tube, but don't ask me for source of that info.

I got matched set of BT45s September 2012 and August 2013 I already replaced the rear.  You should check the pressure, the tire should go up 2 psi after riding 10 minutes or so, starting with cold tire.

I think I keep the rear at 26psi.  Overinflated tire will wear fast in the middle.

Most people get a wobble at that low a tire pressure with the BT45 and other newer tires.

[70CB750]

Likely I remember wrong number, but it is dark out there and no way I am going to check the pressure now, with boogeyman walking around and what not.

[brooze72]

I run my rear K81 at 36 as recommended by Hondaman.  Only have 1000 on it though, still looks new, chicken strips are very large.

[Stev-o]

Chef - If your tube is only 1 year old, you could reuse it [if it doesnt get pinched]

[cheftuskey121]

Chef - If your tube is only 1 year old, you could reuse it [if it doesnt get pinched]

my tubes are 5 months old haha. I am getting a new tube for the rear, but I am going to try and salvage the front tube for the new front tire.

BT45 front and rear, new tubes and rim strips ordered. now hopefully they get here before friday or I'm not going to ATL! thanks for all the help guys

[bryanj]

If you got 4,000 you are doing well. Average back in the 70's for any 750 rear tyre was 3,000

[martin99]

I have BT45s on my CB750F2 and had them on my XJR1200 before that. I agree they are a good tyre with lots of confidence-building grip. What I have found on both sets though is that the fronts tend to wear to a point, especially if you tend to do a lot of straight line riding with minimal leaning. Mix it up with plenty of twisties and you should be fine.

[PeWe]

Conti K112 still available?
I had very bad experience with that tire over 30 years ago. Grip, grip and sudden loss of grip and bike almost jumped off the road. This was before the engine upgrade.
Metzeler did not act like that. ME99 rear. I hope their (my) new Lasertecs have similar behaviour with good grip that loose the grip nice and slow and bike in full control.

[seanbarney41]

PeWe, I have a set of Lasertecs on my bike right now and I think they are great (although, most roads in my area are pretty straight)...available in correct 3.25x19 front, 4.00x18 rear too...

[Tews19]

I have used Dunlops 404s and BT 45s... Love the BTs and have put on several bikes.... 2k plus miles this season and still like new.. If had to replace a rear tube not to long ago and still good to go.