Best tire for most mileage on street.

Trailace

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I'm planning to do a long-distance ride this summer and was wondering what tire can I get the most mileage out of. (on pavement)

The trip from planning will be about 9500 miles and did not want to stop for replacement tire. I will baby the tire if it'll get me the distance.

Thanks for any input I will post more later about the trip.
 

Dogdaze

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I think opinions will be as varied as an oil thread. But look for a tyre that has a harder center strip, assuming you will be doing long highway miles? I also believe most tyres are capable of doing this mileage.......... if you gentle with acceleration and braking, but you will also have it 'square off' with highway miles. Getting tyre pressures right and weight will also factor into the longevity of the tyre, as will road surface and temps.
 

Juan

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I agree with all that Dogdaze said. Keep the drive mode on T whenever possible. My original Battlewings (came with the bike) gave me more than 10,000 miles on tarmac (hardly any unpaved roads). I'm now onto Metzler Tourance and they also seem to be doing well. Mind you, I don't hard press the bike both in accelleration and braking.
 

Brick

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I get completely different mileage out of tires when I travel than when I ride locally.
I was running the Metzeler Tourance originals left WesternNC got ~ 9,700 on the front and got home almost 11,000 miles on the front.
Around here in the mtns and curves not packed for travel I would get 6,300 miles if lucky.
Travel tire wear is totally different for me.
YMMV
 

4jranch

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I have the same question as the thread starter and have looked over a few of the tire threads and come up with these thoughts. I have an option for an easy tire change part way though my trip.

OEM Battlewings- I think with watching the air pressure these will make the whole trip. Ok for both street and light gravel roads

Shinko 705 series- good reports on longevity on these, inexpensive, maybe better on gravel, maybe not as good on wet roads

Michelin PR4 series- likewise good longevity reports, fairly expensive, great in the rain, gravel? probably not.

That is my synopsis based on others reports and my experience with the Battlewings and PR4s.
 

Dogdaze

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::026:: for the Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trail, so far great grip on the road, longevity, not sure as only had them on for about 5-600 miles, I don't look for long life tyres, I look for the best grip in cool/cold roads, as I really don't do more than 5K miles per year.
 

RIDEMYST

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I run the PR4 Trails also. The Battlewings that came on the bike (2015 ES Tenere) developed flat spots around 5K. I'm on my second set of the PR4's and got 10K on the first set. I should add that I do primarily touring but they seem find when I'm off pavement. -JEP-


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justbob

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I ride mildly agressive.
I've run a couple of PR4 rears and got 6500 miles from each. I've run a bunch of BW502 E spec rears and get 8500 miles out of them.
 

Bappo

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Best wearing tire for me has been the K60's. 10k mile trip and the front still looked new and rear was good for a couple more thousand.

If you can find a pre-China Tourance rear it will go 10k easy and rides very well. China made ones, not so much. I have 16k on a front that can go another 10k. Using a Tourance Next on the rear and it is doing well so far.

If your trip is out west in the summer heat on chip sealed roads you might get less miles, no matter the tire.
 

EricV

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I long ago had this question. I ran the Iron Butt Rally in 2013 on my Super Ten. No tire at the time would give me over 10k miles. The PR3 Trail only went 6800 to cords. I chose the Heidenau K60 and it did the deed. I averaged 12k on the rears for several sets and it did the IBR fine, though I did a rear swap anyway at checkpoint 2, just to be on the safe side. I saved the take off and ran it to the wear bars, still gettting over 12k from it over all.

The current PR4 might do it, but some depends on your throttle activity too. I personally had no issues in the wet with the K60. When brand new, yes, it's going to activate the TCS in the rain. On day 11, in torrential rain at hwy speeds I had zero issue in weather that blew another rider over on the interstate. It's all in the wrist. The K60 is not my favorite sand or mud tire, but it does last and is a good compromise for on/off and can be ridden hard in the dry on pavement.
 

Checkswrecks

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Although it got squared off like an old Army truck tire, I replaced a K60 with over 17,000 miles and another member has hit 26,000.
 

EricV

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Checkswrecks said:
Although it got squared off like an old Army truck tire, I replaced a K60 with over 17,000 miles and another member has hit 26,000.
One thing I have noticed about the K60 is that once it squares off, wear really slows down. It will look like it has 1000 miles left for 4-5k miles sometimes. No doubt to do with that center rib.
 

tenbob

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Over 10000 on Avon Storm 3ds and still plenty left. Been awesome for me. All on tarmac, but never held back to prolong there life. I like traction off... ;)
 

elbrff

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Hey, if you decide to go with the K60's, be careful when going high speeds. Specially if it's windy. Also when you get close following a truck it gets really wobbly with the wind turbulence.
 

EricV

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elbrff said:
Hey, if you decide to go with the K60's, be careful when going high speeds. Specially if it's windy. Also when you get close following a truck it gets really wobbly with the wind turbulence.
Interesting comment. I've worn out several sets of K60s and never noticed that issue. Including running 80 in high winds next to lines of semi trucks, at night, in the rain. I'm wondering what windscreen and luggage set up you are running and if that is more of the issue than the tires. I have seen big differences with riders running top boxes and solo Vs two up riding in regards to weave/wobble issues. The gap between the rider and the top box increases instability in some conditions.

I'm running a Med CalSci screen, Yamaha side wind deflectors and Zega Pro 31/38L bags with a low profile fuel cell on the back that leaves no gap between the rider and the cell.

@tenbob - Miles or Kilometers? Good data point. ::008::
 

Big Blu

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elbrff said:
Hey, if you decide to go with the K60's, be careful when going high speeds. Specially if it's windy. Also when you get close following a truck it gets really wobbly with the wind turbulence.
I've the same experience with TKC60's on my GSA. At around 70mph a very slight wobble starts and it wants to wander a bit. The next set of tires will be more street oriented, likely to be PR4's....

Paul
 

elbrff

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EricV said:
Interesting comment. I've worn out several sets of K60s and never noticed that issue. Including running 80 in high winds next to lines of semi trucks, at night, in the rain. I'm wondering what windscreen and luggage set up you are running and if that is more of the issue than the tires. I have seen big differences with riders running top boxes and solo Vs two up riding in regards to weave/wobble issues. The gap between the rider and the top box increases instability in some conditions.

I'm running a Med CalSci screen, Yamaha side wind deflectors and Zega Pro 31/38L bags with a low profile fuel cell on the back that leaves no gap between the rider and the cell.

@tenbob - Miles or Kilometers? Good data point. ::008::
I can compare the K60s with the Battlewings, as I haven't changed my bike set up. For the record, I have the Yamaha tall screen, Yamaha side wind deflectors and the 8" Jesse bags. Don't have a top box.
I ride daily on the toll road at 85mph and I've gotten used to the K60s. I can say I'm content with these tires, but I wouldn't say I'm happy with them....
The battlewings give more stability on asphalt, and confidence. The K60s do an OK job on asphalt, but I would only recommend if you're planning on going off road a little. The original post is about STREET tires, therefore I would not recommend the K60s. I'm still not convinced on the solid center strip on the K60s. Will try Mitas E07 for my next set of tires.
 
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