SuckSqueezeBangBlow
Well-Known Member
These are and will be my ongoing notes on these tires and are really more intended for that purpose, really they are more to see how the tires do in the various conditions that I will be riding them in. Mostly for my own notes but I thought that others would be interested in reading my opinion so that they can use that info to decide if they want to try them or not however this is really for my own musings so that I can remember how things actually were instead of how I thought they were. Feel free to comment if you wish.
Why these tires? I am a very cost conscious fellow, not cheap, I will spend it if I have to but would prefer not to. These were very inexpensive tires (under $190 Cdn) for both tires and they have had decent reviews from others so thought I would give them a shot and form my own opinion. I was planning an Alaska/Tuk trip for next year (but that has been postponed) and wanted to use this as a test to see if they could handle what I was going to be giving them. This year I will be riding about 10,000km in total from Toronto Ontario to just outside Denver, Colorado (mainly on interstates), will be doing about 70% off road while there, then up to Sturgis, Deadwood, Custer etc and then back home. Should be a good overall test under many different conditions and I expect the tires to last until I get home.
Currently have about 2200km on the stock BattleWings and that is the total mileage on my '18 S10 ES, except for 4 km all was on road with a mix of highway and backroads. The 4 km was packed dirt road up by Chalk Lake. Can't really say I have much of an opinion on them other than they were fine. Still getting used to the bike too so that does not help in determining how good or bad they were, have not been in any real rain so can't comment there either.
Had GP put the Shinko's on and the ride home was interesting to say the least. Man these things were slick right off the start, sure they were not scrubbed in but felt like riding on glass on the way home. Hooked up my TPMS the next day and the front was at 33 and the back was at 42, yeah, gotta lower that.
Left the front at 33 and dropped the back to 39. Went out to Chalk Lake and did the same run and the Shinkos felt much better in the loose stuff than the BattleWings did but were still on the slippy side, especially on the road out there. Forgot to lower the rear.
Took the highway up to Barrie and the front got up to 35 and the back heated up to 45. After letting it cool down for a bit dropped the back down to 38 but got distracted by a pretty blonde so forgot to keep lowering it. Was worth the distraction...Have about 200km on these and they still feel like they are not broken in, never had a tire take this long to "feel good". Chicken strips still on the centre of the tire...strange.
Did some back road touring to Kirkfield, back pressure was up to about 43 but got another 200km on them. By the time I got home they felt broken in, chicken strips were off in the center but most were still there on the sides. Not sure what the pressure is at now as it is locked on the last reading which was when they were still warm but should drop the back down by about 2 or 3psi and will drop the front down to 32.
Pictures to follow...
This is not the end of this review, it is not even the beginning of the end. Perhaps this is more the end of the beginning. Will not be riding much in the next week so will only update the pressure adjustment and post the pics.
Why these tires? I am a very cost conscious fellow, not cheap, I will spend it if I have to but would prefer not to. These were very inexpensive tires (under $190 Cdn) for both tires and they have had decent reviews from others so thought I would give them a shot and form my own opinion. I was planning an Alaska/Tuk trip for next year (but that has been postponed) and wanted to use this as a test to see if they could handle what I was going to be giving them. This year I will be riding about 10,000km in total from Toronto Ontario to just outside Denver, Colorado (mainly on interstates), will be doing about 70% off road while there, then up to Sturgis, Deadwood, Custer etc and then back home. Should be a good overall test under many different conditions and I expect the tires to last until I get home.
Currently have about 2200km on the stock BattleWings and that is the total mileage on my '18 S10 ES, except for 4 km all was on road with a mix of highway and backroads. The 4 km was packed dirt road up by Chalk Lake. Can't really say I have much of an opinion on them other than they were fine. Still getting used to the bike too so that does not help in determining how good or bad they were, have not been in any real rain so can't comment there either.
Had GP put the Shinko's on and the ride home was interesting to say the least. Man these things were slick right off the start, sure they were not scrubbed in but felt like riding on glass on the way home. Hooked up my TPMS the next day and the front was at 33 and the back was at 42, yeah, gotta lower that.
Left the front at 33 and dropped the back to 39. Went out to Chalk Lake and did the same run and the Shinkos felt much better in the loose stuff than the BattleWings did but were still on the slippy side, especially on the road out there. Forgot to lower the rear.
Took the highway up to Barrie and the front got up to 35 and the back heated up to 45. After letting it cool down for a bit dropped the back down to 38 but got distracted by a pretty blonde so forgot to keep lowering it. Was worth the distraction...Have about 200km on these and they still feel like they are not broken in, never had a tire take this long to "feel good". Chicken strips still on the centre of the tire...strange.
Did some back road touring to Kirkfield, back pressure was up to about 43 but got another 200km on them. By the time I got home they felt broken in, chicken strips were off in the center but most were still there on the sides. Not sure what the pressure is at now as it is locked on the last reading which was when they were still warm but should drop the back down by about 2 or 3psi and will drop the front down to 32.
Pictures to follow...
This is not the end of this review, it is not even the beginning of the end. Perhaps this is more the end of the beginning. Will not be riding much in the next week so will only update the pressure adjustment and post the pics.
