rbernie
Member
I'm coming up on the need to replace my rear tire and was idly musing on the tire life that I've had so far. My S10 is used for commuting mostly, and the bike's odo shows 17.5K miles.
1) OEM BW's - replaced F/R at 4.5K miles; the rear was squared off but had 1K-2K left in it, while the front was badly cupped. I replaced both as a set despite the fact that I could probably have nursed 6K from the rear - I had a 1400 mile highway run in front of me and didn't want to run out of rear tire, and the front tire felt really wonky from cupping. The front cupping started early, and I never warmed up to these tires as a result - I really just wanted them off the bike.
2) Metzeler Tourance - replaced F/R at 7K miles; rear was down to wear bars and squared off, front was mildly cupped but had 2K or better left in it. Replaced as a set because I wanted to try the street-only Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail. I hoped for better mileage than 7K out of the rear but overall performance for my needs was fine.
3) Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail - at 6K so far on the set, the rear is down to the wear bars (not squared off, tho) and the front looks quite good - it may hit 12K miles with ease. I've worn these tires to the edges, and other than thumping badly over botts dots and the unexpectedly short rear tire life, they have performed pretty much in line with expectations.
I'm debating just replacing the rear tire only; dunno if I'll stay with the Michelin or try to find a complementary street oriented rear from another manufacturer.
1) OEM BW's - replaced F/R at 4.5K miles; the rear was squared off but had 1K-2K left in it, while the front was badly cupped. I replaced both as a set despite the fact that I could probably have nursed 6K from the rear - I had a 1400 mile highway run in front of me and didn't want to run out of rear tire, and the front tire felt really wonky from cupping. The front cupping started early, and I never warmed up to these tires as a result - I really just wanted them off the bike.
2) Metzeler Tourance - replaced F/R at 7K miles; rear was down to wear bars and squared off, front was mildly cupped but had 2K or better left in it. Replaced as a set because I wanted to try the street-only Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail. I hoped for better mileage than 7K out of the rear but overall performance for my needs was fine.
3) Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail - at 6K so far on the set, the rear is down to the wear bars (not squared off, tho) and the front looks quite good - it may hit 12K miles with ease. I've worn these tires to the edges, and other than thumping badly over botts dots and the unexpectedly short rear tire life, they have performed pretty much in line with expectations.
I'm debating just replacing the rear tire only; dunno if I'll stay with the Michelin or try to find a complementary street oriented rear from another manufacturer.
