Tires again, and again...

A few years back I bought the Avon RR's like everyone else did when reports of their performance became common knowledge. I'm 19/18, so I am 100/90/19 and 110/90/18 respectively. Go ahead a few years and my front has plenty of tread left..... (the crazy thing is I bought 2 fronts back then, so I even have a new one to back up the old one which is in very good shape) My rear tire is worn down the middle and the snake-like groove on the crown recently disappeared from wear, so I'd rather not take a chance and ride it much longer even though there's good tread pattern left on the sides.

I just bought a Battlax46 to replace the rear tire, because it was about $50 cheaper than the Avon RR, and it's a dedicated rear tire, so I assume it has more tread thickness than a universal tire like the RR.

Being that my tires are different width, I can't just move the front to the back every time the rear tire wears out. I guess when I had tires that were the same size,(K81's) I never noticed how much my front tire outlasts the rear. I just moved the front to the back and bought a new front.

Anyone have a thought on the comparative lifespan of a front tire versus the back tire? double? triple? something else?

From what I've read, I'm sure I'll like the Battlax46 but am open to comments about it since it's the first one I've ever tried...

Thanks in advance..

I've been using the 400 x 18 RR on the back of my Vincent rather than the 110/90/18. The 400 x 18 is a dedicated rear so it has 7.5mm tread depth rather than the 5.6 of universal sizes like the 110/90/19.
The 400 x18 rr is a perfect match for the 100/90/19 front in diameter. Both are 26.4"
The 110/90/18 has a bit smaller diameter at 26.1"
Both the 110/90/18 and the 400 x18 are 4.6" wide.

The 400 x18 rr also gives you a 64 weight rating vs 61 for the 110/90/18. This is nice to have if you ever carry a passenger. I've been getting around 6000 miles out of the 400 x 18. Most of that mileage is done two up with luggage.


I have no experience with the Battlax but , like you, have heard good things about them.

Of course a front tyre is going to get a lot more life out of it than the rear as the front don't have the power train connected to it as well the frontend is lighter, all the power of the bike is on the rear wheel, on all my bikes my front tyres will out last 2+ rear tyres.
Even when I replace the front it still has plenty of thread on it just most of the time the shape has changed from wear, but keep an eye on the PSI regularly is also very important for longer life out of any tyres.

Not all bikes. The front on my BMW GS wears slightly quicker than the rear. I think it's because it's such a heavy bike, goes like smelly stuff off a shovel, has powerful brakes and the front telelever suspension barely compresses on braking, pushing the front more (an odd feeling until you get used to it).

This is most inconvenient. Always 2 tyres, instead of one.

I use 2 WM-4 19" Morad Rims and do exactly what oOnortonOo stated and shift my front RR to the rear when it wears down. Fresh one on the front.
I get about a season of riding or about 6000 miles per change out. Never have to worry about too old rubber or age hardened tires.

Thanks all, My front tire still looks very good, so I was a little perplexed at how worn the rear was... that's why I asked this question. I didn't realize how great a difference in wear rates there was between front and back. Before I changed my rims out from the stock rims, a few years ago, I always did what Thomas does with the same size tires. Front goes to back, new tire up front. I never realized how much more the rear tire wears than the front because of that. I also didn't take into account (the last time) at how much difference mounting a universal tire would wear than a dedicated rear with more tread depth, so there's that element too.... live and learn .... I've read good reviews of the battlax46, so I'm looking forward to getting it mounted next week and going out on it...

At least 3:1.

o0norton0o said:

Thanks all, My front tire still looks very good, so I was a little perplexed at how worn the rear was... that's why I asked this question. I didn't realize how great a difference in wear rates there was between front and back. Before I changed my rims out from the stock rims, a few years ago, I always did what Thomas does with the same size tires. Front goes to back, new tire up front. I never realized how much more the rear tire wears than the front because of that. I also didn't take into account (the last time) at how much difference mounting a universal tire would wear than a dedicated rear with more tread depth, so there's that element too.... live and learn .... I've read good reviews of the battlax46, so I'm looking forward to getting it mounted next week and going out on it...

Click to expand...

In real terms, a dedicated rear will do about 50% more mileage than a universal.

So, contrary to what some folk seem to think (there have been protracted debates about this in the past), this dedicated vs universal thing is not just some finicky detail for tyre nerds.

On the contrary, it’s a big deal for normal / real world riders.

Fast Eddie said:

In real terms, a dedicated rear will do about 50% more mileage than a universal.

So, contrary to what some folk seem to think (there have been protracted debates about this in the past), this dedicated vs universal thing is not just some finicky detail for tyre nerds.

On the contrary, it’s a big deal for normal / real world riders.

Click to expand...

Well said.

And an even BIGGER deal for throttle junkies.

On my (Hinckley) Scrambler and the (Hinckley) Trident that preceded it, I find that front and rear tyres wear out at the same rate. Approx 10000m per pair on the Scrambler (I am sufficiently nerdy to make notes of these things). The Trident chewed them up in approx 6000m and the rear tyre 'felt' worn long before the tread depth required it to be replaced.

One time, the tyre fitter put the rear tyre on the wrong way round (Scrambler rear wheel). I didnt notice it when I collected the wheels, but as soon as I rode the bike it felt very wrong very quickly.

Matt (cNw) put Battlax45's on my bike from "new" and they were "good" (6000 miles rear and 8500 miles front) and provided adequate grip.
I replaced them with Avon Roadrider Mk2s (100/90-19 & 4.00-18) because 45's had been replaced by 46's with different dimensions and I wanted to try something different.
The Avon rear will be replaced soon (6000 miles) and the front looks nearly new (3500 miles)
The biggest thing is that the Avons feel more confident in a tight sweeping turn. I know "feeling" is probably subjective, but - they do it for me!
Cheers

daveforty said:

On my (Hinckley) Scrambler and the (Hinckley) Trident that preceded it, I find that front and rear tyres wear out at the same rate. Approx 10000m per pair on the Scrambler (I am sufficiently nerdy to make notes of these things). The Trident chewed them up in approx 6000m and the rear tyre 'felt' worn long before the tread depth required it to be replaced.

One time, the tyre fitter put the rear tyre on the wrong way round (Scrambler rear wheel). I didnt notice it when I collected the wheels, but as soon as I rode the bike it felt very wrong very quickly.

Click to expand...

900 or 1200 ?

robs ss said:

Matt (cNw) put Battlax45's on my bike from "new" and they were "good" (6000 miles rear and 8500 miles front) and provided adequate grip.
I replaced them with Avon Roadrider Mk2s (100/90-19 & 4.00-18) because 45's had been replaced by 46's with different dimensions and I wanted to try something different.
The Avon rear will be replaced soon (6000 miles) and the front looks nearly new (3500 miles)
The biggest thing is that the Avons feel more confident in a tight sweeping turn. I know "feeling" is probably subjective, but - they do it for me!
Cheers

Click to expand...

Yes, “feel” is indeed subjective.

It’s also EXTREMELY important !

It’s why I replaced OEM tyres with Avon Cobra’s last year on a bike that had done 800 miles.

A decision worth every penny !

Fast Eddie said:

900 or 1200 ?

Click to expand...

900. It is a 2006 (early carbed / Mk1) bike.

Classic Nortons are relatively easy on tires compared to the high HP rides I've owned. Fronts on a Norton last 3:1 on the street maybe more now in my golden years. In my wild and crazy youth riding motorcycles other than my Norton, 800 miles was about all I got out of a rear before it started to square off. Fronts went of fairly quickly as well, but that was a long time ago and irrelevant.

I've never had a Bridgestone on my Norton, but I did run the fatter Bridgestones Battlax tires on my other bikes after I got tired of paying for Perelli Pilot rubber. Battlax rubber sticks as well as any tire and lasts a couple hundred miles longer than other tires I've used.

I refuse to put Avon Road Riders on my Norton. Heresy, but I gotta draw the line somewhere and they are overpriced as far as I am concerned. Last Avon I used on my Norton was a Super Venom. I'm close to needing a new rear after 2100 miles last year. Not sure what I will buy. I have Conti Go tires on now, but they had a big recall last year, so will probably try something else. Probably won't be a Battlax BT46 though. I don't like tires with a tread line of any design running in the center of the tire. Hangover from living and riding in California for decades and dealing with the rain grooves.

Anyway good luck with the Battlax46. It should wear well.

Schwany said:

Classic Nortons are relatively easy on tires compared to the high HP rides I've owned. Fronts on a Norton last 3:1 on the street maybe more now in my golden years. In my wild and crazy youth riding motorcycles other than my Norton, 800 miles was about all I got out of a rear before it started to square off. Fronts went of fairly quickly as well, but that was a long time ago and irrelevant.

I've never had a Bridgestone on my Norton, but I did run the fatter Bridgestones Battlax tires on my other bikes after I got tired of paying for Perelli Pilot rubber. Battlax rubber sticks as well as any tire and lasts a couple hundred miles longer than other tires I've used.

I refuse to put Avon Road Riders on my Norton. Heresy, but I gotta draw the line somewhere and they are overpriced as far as I am concerned. Last Avon I used on my Norton was a Super Venom. I'm close to needing a new rear after 2100 miles last year. Not sure what I will buy. I have Conti Go tires on now, but they had a big recall last year, so will probably try something else. Probably won't be a Battlax BT46 though. I don't like tires with a tread line of any design running in the center of the tire. Hangover from living and riding in California for decades and dealing with the rain grooves.

Anyway good luck with the Battlax46. It should wear well.

Click to expand...

thanks for the feedback... My tire wear also looked like 3 to 1 in my eye, with the center groove completely worn away on the rear, which prompted me to think whether a high speed blow out was worth the risk of riding it much further. I also winced at the price of a new Avon RR for my next rear tire. I think it was $190. for a universal (less tread depth again) versus the Battlax was $132. and the battlax was a designated rear tire, so it had more tread depth.

I don't know what your rear tire size is but I have an extra unused front tire that is an Avon 100/90/19 universal tire that I would sell you for half the price of new. I bought it 3 years ago and it's been stored inside in the dark (under my stairwell enclosure in my house) since I bought it. I thought for sure I would burn up the first front tire in a season or two or riding,... but that didn't happen at all... so I got it if you are interested.. I'm going to buy a battlax front tire, if I like the BT46 rear tire, just to try something else...

o0norton0o said:

thanks for the feedback... My tire wear also looked like 3 to 1 in my eye, with the center groove completely worn away on the rear, which prompted me to think whether a high speed blow out was worth the risk of riding it much further. I also winced at the price of a new Avon RR for my next rear tire. I think it was $190. for a universal (less tread depth again) versus the Battlax was $132. and the battlax was a designated rear tire, so it had more tread depth.

I don't know what your rear tire size is but I have an extra unused front tire that is an Avon 100/90/19 universal tire that I would sell you for half the price of new. I bought it 3 years ago and it's been stored inside in the dark (under my stairwell enclosure in my house) since I bought it. I thought for sure I would burn up the first front tire in a season or two or riding,... but that didn't happen at all... so I got it if you are interested.. I'm going to buy a battlax front tire, if I like the BT46 rear tire, just to try something else...

Click to expand...

That would be a nice deal, but I've got 18's front and rear.

I posted on this a while a go but now may be hidden in the mists of time...

I thoroughly recommend using balancing beads in the inner tube instead of weights on wheels. I was suspicious to begin with so did the rear first (2oz or 57g) and, surprise, surprise, they really do work. So I did the front as well - great result 6000 miles on.

I see the advantage is that they are constantly keeping the tyre in balance, despite wear. No ugly weights either. The only downside is that it's a bit finicky getting the beads through the valve stem - but not a biggie.

I use CounterAct which cost $20AUD and is enough for 6 tyres. There is another brand - DynaBeads I think.
Apparently these beads started in the trucking industry where dollars saved on tyre life would, I imagine, be HUGE!

Okay, I'll get back in my box now.
Cheers

Mart UK said:

Not all bikes. The front on my BMW GS wears slightly quicker than the rear. I think it's because it's such a heavy bike, goes like smelly stuff off a shovel, has powerful brakes and the front telelever suspension barely compresses on braking, pushing the front more (an odd feeling until you get used to it).

This is most inconvenient. Always 2 tyres, instead of one.

Click to expand...

My Pan European was the same, changed pairs every time, and because of the weekly mileage I did on it that change could be anticipated as weeks apart, certainly not years.

But a Commando isn't 600lb weight of motorcycle. 2:1 is a good rule of thumb for most bikes I've had, road or race.

You may end up changing the front a little early at that, but that is no bad thing.

Usually the front tire sidewalls start cracking way before the tread wears out. Or a strange handling quirk develops.