Let's talk tires------Again !!

[gv550]

Originally Posted by 01nomad

I'm still wearing my first E3s out. I have 12,000 miles on the front and 18,000 miles on the rear. They both still have 6mm on them. I have 130/80/16 on the front and 160/80/16 on the rear. The 160 is oversized for the 1500. The 1600 takes a bigger tire.

The E3 front tire has only 5 mm of tread when new, if you have 6 mm after 12k miles then I'm guessing you mounted a rear tire on the front wheel? (the rear has 9 mm new)
I'm not criticizing your methods, I've wondered about doing the same thing myself. Did you mount the tire backwards? Also, the sipes on a front tire are longer than the rear and actually overlap in the center, I'm wondering if that is for better water dispersion?

Garry

[ccmjr77]

I have the ME880 Radials front and rear with about 3000 miles so far. Wear is ok so far. They are better than the stones. I did not like the wear or the ride on the original stones. I got about 11000 miles out of them. They were noisy and I felt like the front could break loose in some curves.
I will probably go with the Avon Cobras next time because I am not real happy with the ride of the ME880s. I think the front radials is a little noisy in the curves and the ride is not as smoothe as I think it should be.
that is my .02.

[jastearns]

I'm going with E3's and the bike is in the shop having them put on right now. I visited with Waterman when he was in Fargo and the E3's bias 130 front and 160 back have the greatest load carrying capacity and deeper tread. We ride 2 up most of the time and pull a trailer on long trips and we are both "large" people. I got about 6200 miles on my Bridgestones and I'm changing them both out before they get too slick. The front could have gone many more miles but I wanted a matched set.

I'm anxious to see how the E3's work out. I might go the to "Darkside" if the mileage isn't what I think it should be. I haven't set that number in my head yet.

[rickyboy]

OK then, with all the different opinions, and as the time goes on it's getting harder to make up my mind,
I'm getting closer to putting an orig. Bridgestone on the back, and running the frt. out.
I don't want to go smaller in size on the rear. {or frt.}
I was hoping to go with a W.W. tire.
And can't decide if I dare go to a radial ply.
I wanted to get more than 16,000 kms. on a rear tire.

[caper]

Hi Rickyboy . I just put a new bridgestone on the back. It wasn't my choice as the dealer had this one on hand ,so!! About white walls on a nomad.. I don't like them! On my last bike Suzuki c90t they looked great! Radials I have never driven on .. wounder what they are like!!!

[coldfingers]

rickyboy, the 160/80/16 in the bias E 3 is bigger than the stock 170/70/16 on the back of the 1600

[01nomad]

OK, I went out and rechecked the front tire. It has over 5mm (at least 5.5mm) left on it. I measured the side and it has 7mm towards the edge. Could the 130/80/16 be different?
No, I didn't mount it backwards, but I heard of people doing that. I'm thinking they got less miles out of the tire.

[rickyboy]

Originally Posted by coldfingers

rickyboy, the 160/80/16 in the bias E 3 is bigger than the stock 170/70/16 on the back of the 1600

OK,.....it's higher? not wider? And the E3's aren't a radial? Is there a match for the frt.? Is it the same size as stock ?

[donoller]

try the new avon cobra you will be a happy camper

[bigjohn]

Ricky - reality is that you probably will not get much more than 16,000km on a rear tire running any of themotorcycle tires. I'm run through four tires on my 'Nad so far. Finished off the 'Stone by riding it from Kentucky to Washington. Went with Metz 880s then Dunlapped 404s and returned to the 880s. The 880s gave good service.

My '00 1500 runs 150s both front and rear.

I've heard some very good things about the Cobras and getting good milage out of them.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by donoller

try the new avon cobra you will be a happy camper

What he said
Only thing is I don't think they come in WW.

[coldfingers]

Ricky the 160/80/16 is a little taller but it is .31 of an inch narrower than the stock back tire for the 1600. Ellis told me it had the same load rating I think. Someone on this website gave a website awhile back for comparing sizes of tires and I have it bookmarked at work but not here at home. Maybe someone else will come in and and tell us again what it was. It was neat as you could type in the two sizes you wanted to compare and it would tell you the differences.

[rflnomad]

I replaced my Stock Bridgstone with the same at 9000+ miles. I had no real complaints with them and in the wet they seemed fine to me. (in florida, the wet road is a real factor!)
I am sure there are many great tires out there, but for us we will stay with the stockers.

[schoeney]

Originally Posted by gv550

I got 12,000 kms out of the stock rear 'stone on my 05 Nomad, and 23,000 kms out of the stock front 'stone. Since then I've been running Dunlops, E2s at first and now E3s. I get 50,000 kms out of the rear 160/80B16 E3 (except for the 2 removed early due to punctures) and 40,000 kms out of the 150/80B16 front. Having run 11 Dunlops the mileage has been very consistent, and good road handling. E3's for me, great tires IMO.
50,000 kms = 31,000 miles

Garry (ya, I ride a lot :))

Wow...now that is unusual...more miles out of the rear than the front?

Ricky. I am also nearing a decision (7800 miles on OEM stones). I am going with the E3's bias 160/80/16. 2003-1500.

[schoeney]

P.S. The E3 160/18/16 rear is costing me $158 U.S. at local dealer...plus $35 US for mounting + balancing .