Tyre life and recommendations

Just bought my Bandit 1250; it had done 2800km and the ride home took this to 4000km. The rear Dunlop 218 has a big flat spot across the tread, with only 1mm tread in the middle - so it will be a problem to transfer the rego unless I change the tyre I suspect. Front is ok but worn too.

Is this normal for the 218s? I found the tyres only had 30psi in them - I suspect this has made the wear worse.

Any recommendations for a harder wearing tyre?

thanks

jawntybull wrote:Just bought my Bandit 1250; it had done 2800km and the ride home took this to 4000km. The rear Dunlop 218 has a big flat spot across the tread, with only 1mm tread in the middle - so it will be a problem to transfer the rego unless I change the tyre I suspect. Front is ok but worn too.

Is this normal for the 218s? I found the tyres only had 30psi in them - I suspect this has made the wear worse.

Any recommendations for a harder wearing tyre?

thanks

My rear 218 was pretty well shot at 5000k but I milked it to 6.
30psi is way to low should have been close to 40 and you'll notice a big handling difference at 40 to.

I'll put my hand up and recommend Michelin Pilot Road 2. A lot of us use them but there are other options. Thel will set you back about $310 but mine has done almost 9000k and looks to be only half worn and they grip to the edge. My stock 218 front did 8000k so no need to change them together. Front pressure should be 38ish.

Cheers,
Chris.

Thanks Chris - very helpful.

You mean it gets better? I had a lot of fun along the Murray Valley rd, so now I realise I had low pressure in the tyres I'm looking forward to my next ride up north!

cheers, John

I also run the dunflops until my 6,000km service. I had a set of Bridgeston BT021 fitted.

Replaced the front again (another BT021) at 15,000. So 9,000kms of service including Highway droning to Melbourne for the Tassie trip earlier this year and my daily commuting and weekend fun.

Rear was still good at that point and still looks good now at 18,000km.

The front went from looking a bit worn to being extreamly worn in about a week (250km). I think this is common with all the new dual-compound tyres, when they start to go, they go really quickly...

Oh, yeah - Tyre pressures are on the sticker on the chain guard. 36psi front and 42psi rear.

as the others said, low tyre pressure will wear the tyres out alot quicker.

The original tryes dont last very long at all. I got just over 3000 on my set.
I put the Pilot Powers on. VERY happy with them, they are wearing very well indeed.

How do people get more than 15000km out of a rear tyre on a Bandit? The best I've ever got from a rear was around 14000, and that was from the original Macadam. 10,000 seems to be my average, although the Roadtech I've got on at the moment will probably get about 15000, but that'd be it.

mine are OK but i was having vague thoughts about trying maxxis when needed- they seem to get a good report from other o'seas - has anyone used those?

b12mick wrote:How do people get more than 15000km out of a rear tyre on a Bandit? The best I've ever got from a rear was around 14000, and that was from the original Macadam. 10,000 seems to be my average, although the Roadtech I've got on at the moment will probably get about 15000, but that'd be it.

My rear PR2 looks like it will last 15k (not far off 10k now) I'll be very happy with that.
When its all said and done I'd be happy with 10k - 12k so I may look for something a little bit grippier than the PR2 for just general bike work.
If I was planning a big tour it would be a PR2's without question.

I had an M1 on the rear for 5000km. It left me confused. I was pissed that a near $300 tyre only lasted 5000k's, but man what a great 5000k's, absolutely no chicken strip and I hadn't been anywhere near a race track....

Got 2100 out of the stock Dunflops, fitted Conti's love em. On my 1250 BTW.

Dink

Just found a PR2 for the rear of the B1250 in a new independant repair shop in town priced at $300 fitted.
I think Santa may get that in time for Christmas. The old PR2 will have done about 15,000 (between 36 & 40 PSI) by then and was $335 a couple of years ago.

I think I should have bargained harder. My PR2 rear cost me $350 at my local bike shop! Plus fitting! Not happy now. Seems to be a good tyre though. My original dunlop got to 4000km.

I got rid of the stockers at about 5500. the rear was almost down to the markers but the front could have gone further.
Put Bt021's on front and rear when i changed.
Changed the front again after another 7-7500 cause it was wearing funny and in places down to the markers.
I put on a bt016 and I find this a much better combo than bt021's at both ends for my riding, but i did some other work on the front end at the same time so the result i got may not be all due to the tyre.
going by the wear on the rear i think i'll get about 14000 out of it in total. i'm hopefull to get about 7000 in total out of the bt016 on the front, but i think it might be less

Dhula,
You must be very light on the throttle input. I keep my pressure at 41 constant in the rear and get barely over 6000k with an 021. This is with mixed commuting and weekend scratching. I agree with the bizarre wearing on the front, but that has happened to all the front tyres I have had on the Bandit which includes the OEM Dunlop 218, Michelin PR2 and now 021.

Next set of tyres will most likely be a set of Conti Road attacks front and rear.

reddog wrote:Dhula,
You must be very light on the throttle input. I keep my pressure at 41 constant in the rear and get barely over 6000k with an 021. This is with mixed commuting and weekend scratching. I agree with the bizarre wearing on the front, but that has happened to all the front tyres I have had on the Bandit which includes the OEM Dunlop 218, Michelin PR2 and now 021.

Next set of tyres will most likely be a set of Conti Road attacks front and rear.

My front PR2 has 12,000 on it and has no strange wear patterns. In fact it looks like it would do 20,000 but wear will probably accelerate at some point before that. Pressures are 36 - 38psi all year round.

I replaced both rear and front at the 6,000 kms service - the rear still had a bit left and the front had more. I don't corner too hard so the rear had squared off a bit. I put PR2's on as a result of this forum. Haven't done enough k's since to make a sensible comment but hoping to get to the 18,000 k service before replacing them.

reddog wrote:You must be very light on the throttle input.

Yeh, recon I am lately although I did notice I got a bit more aggressive (leaning and acceleration, not angry) once I did the front end work and replaced the front tyre.
Most of my riding now is either the daily commute to work or out with the wife and kids on the back so tend to take it kinda gentle.

My originals lasted 4500 and then I fitted Angel STs that IMO were excellent. After 10000 Ks they looked like they had another 10k left in them, however at 12k the rear had steel belt sticking out and the front had considerable wear on the right side but not the left. Pressures always 36f and 42r. As I mentioned elsewhere I had to have a Pilot Power fitted in Stanthorpe on the way home. It is way softer compound, but I LOVE this tyre. Monday I am getting one fitted to the front. When they wear out I will probably go back to the Angels or try the PR2s.

2wheelsagain wrote:Just found a PR2 for the rear of the B1250 in a new independant repair shop in town priced at $300 fitted.
I think Santa may get that in time for Christmas. The old PR2 will have done about 15,000 (between 36 & 40 PSI) by then and was $335 a couple of years ago.

Just had to replace my Metzelers. Had a nasty puncture in the rear, so got a pair of PR2. Front and rear fitted for $449.

step_andy wrote:
Just had to replace my Metzelers. Had a nasty puncture in the rear, so got a pair of PR2. Front and rear fitted for $449.

Holey smoke! Thats a great deal. You sure they say 2CT on the sidewall lol

2wheelsagain wrote:

step_andy wrote:
Just had to replace my Metzelers. Had a nasty puncture in the rear, so got a pair of PR2. Front and rear fitted for $449.

Holey smoke! Thats a great deal. You sure they say 2CT on the sidewall lol

Yea ... good deal.
Team moto is doing quite a few specials
http://www.teammoto.com.au/tyre-centres.php

Has anyone fitted Dunlops? I would not touch this brand even with a 10 foot pole. I believe that their decision to supply Suzuki with a cheap and nasty stock tyres has turned away many potential customers.

I believe both Dunlop and Bridgestone do cheap and nasty tyres for the OEM market; you are right it sucks and says nothing good about their brand values.

But its also Suzuki trying to keep the price down by using cheap tyres.

I’m happy to stick my neck out and say I liked the feel of the OEM D218 especially the rear and its quick warm up.
They also gave plenty of warning when about to let go. They just had crap mileage.
I avoid while lines and turn arrows for the first 5km with the PR2’s but once up to temp they’re fine.

This morning I got around to having a new PR2 fitted on the rear at my local team blue shop.
$310 because I took the bike in but I'm happy with that.
I got 16,160km out of the old one and really only replaced it now because Mr Plod ordered me to a couple of weeks ago
The front looks like it will do 20,000+ but I'll replace it if the handling feels a bit off with the new one on the rear.