Mitas E-07 Interstate rain groove wandering---Help!

[Paqard]

So I just got these mounted and balanced. I weight 213 # geared up and the bike has Rumbux system with a Pelican case in the rear. I set the pressure at 38rear/33front and headed out. Did about 10 miles around town to speeds of 60mph and all was well so went down to the Interstate to check out some higher speeds ::26::. Saw the rain grooves when getting on and thought 'Hmm this should be interesting'. Holy shite ???. Bikes front end was drifting so bad at just 55mph that it felt like it was going down. It was moving 6-8" back and forth. Tried doing 65mph for just a bit (ya I'm and idiot) and that was it. There was no way I could have even changed lanes; just too hard keeping on track. So I got off and went out in the "country" where I know that I can go as fast as stupid goes and.....It was solid as a rock up to 90mph! Same old Tenere I'm used to with the OEM Battle Wings. I did some dirt for about 5 miles and came home. I know the tires aren't broken in yet but I don't see a big improvement coming. I plan on trying 36rear/31front next. Speed limits are 80mph fifteen minutes from my house so those speeds are common. I also travel and see California every summer and that place has rain grooves everywhere. Wander seemed to come mostly from the front. Rear didn't seem bad. What would be a good front that is close to the Mitas but more aggressive than the Battlewing and can go all day at 80mph with passing to 105mph which is my max.

 

[Squibb]

When we did I40/15/10 down to LA a few years back, we came across the surfaces to which you refer, only on a Streetglide with OE wooden Dunlops.

My suspicion is that your new Mitas, softer with higher grip & large tread blocks, are ever going to try to follow the rain grooves more than say a sport/touring tyre or the OE set-up. The trouble is, once we feel a bike squirming & not answering the helm as we expect, we all tend to back off & tense up, rather than just go with the flow. Maybe a bit of target fixation in the mix too, trying to anticipate the way the grooves will run. I suspect, once you get the new tyres worn in through a few heat cycles, your faith will build, your grip relax & all will be well with the world. You know, a bit like when you hit sand/fine gravel off road - back off & you might feel safer, but controlling the bike actually becomes more challenging, not less.

Ride Safe ......................... KEN

 

[hogmolly]

Have you ever changed your suspension? One thing I noticed when I bought my bike was the rear being very under sprung. Basically, myself at 240lbs would cause the front of the bike to flutter depending on the road surface. I had the preload fully in. I then put on hard bags and it got worse. I raised the forks in the triple tree and it got better but not until I resprung the back did I fix it.

The new tires could be showing you the issue. If you've already sorted the suspension then at least check that the front/rear tires are mounted in the correction rotation direction. Finally, some grooved roads will cause tracking problems on the front and there isn't a lot you can do about it. Narrow metal grate bridges are the worse ???

 

[Blind Squirrel]

33 front seems a bit low to me. I normally run about 36 front on pavement. I have the Dakars on my bike.

 

[Madhatter]

mitas e-07 dakars, a very good tire and will go 9000 miles plus but...... went from heidenaus to the midas , will proabaly go back to the k60s. the k60s though not perfect are pretty stable tire and seem to ignore most rain grooves . no big issues riding at higher speeds on the k60s . things seem to move in a predictable way, all good things....... but there are some on the forum who have gone on and on about the mitas e-07... now its a good tire, well made and the first set of tires that i've put on my bike that did not require any balance weights.... and this is what I noticed on my first ride on the e-07s . it was like going from work boots to track shoes , on turn in the bike felt like it would continue till it was on its side. of course that was how it felt not what it would do... so after a few days as I got used to the quicker turn in I found the tires to be all everyone was talking about but.... rain grooves are an interesting adventure ,a bit troubling . I do not remember rain grooves being as great an issue on the k60s , in fact I seem to remember ( memory can be selective) that rain grooves were a non issue on the k60s and was a nice surprise . e-07 do not like rain grooves.... second thing I've noticed is at high speeds ( 70mph and greater ) the e-07 does not like to cross the painted center stripe at speed. I get a vary unsettling wobble when passing other traffic... it seems , and you have to get down and take a look at the center stripes that it is on a ridge caused by traffic, you do not drive with your tires on the stripe so over time it develops a ridge. e-07 does not like this at speed , nor do I . as for dirt roads it may be a bit better than a k60s so if you do a lot of that it may be a good choice for you. the wobbles have a positive side to it, it keeps my speed down so not as likely to get those nasty tickets..... all in all not a bad tire just need to ride it like it likes it.... would I buy it again, no.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Yep, the E07 tends to have it's own mind on rain grooves and if splitting traffic the edges of painted lines will grab it. Just wait till you've been on an open steel grate bridge to see it really dance.


The dance is just disconcerting till you know it's only a tire characteristic and to not try to fight it. Kinda like riding sand or mud on a dirt bike, where you sit bike and let the front tire find it's own path.

 

[tomatocity]

I am on my second pair of Mitas E-07 Dakar tires. Like you I was VERY concerned with their Turn-in and Tracking.

The Tracking takes care of itself as they wear-in. Honestly they do. California has many miles of grooved concrete highways and where I live they have many bridges with a grated surface. As they gain miles the Tracking is reduced to almost nothing.

Turn-in can be controlled with tire pressure. Originally I inflated to 36F 41R. This was very scary (to me). I read all I could read on this forum and discovered these tires like lower pressures. Currently I use 32-34F and 37-39R. My first pair of Dakar's were like riding on a rail. The current pair are a little less then the first but they are still a fantastic tire. Leaving in 45 minutes to ride the edges off of them.

 

[SilverBullet]

I run 38 frt/40 rear Dakar version also and see below. On my 4-5th set now, no other tire even comes close for my needs.

Yep, the E07 tends to have it's own mind on rain grooves and if splitting traffic the edges of painted lines will grab it. Just wait till you've been on an open steel grate bridge to see it really dance.

The dance is just disconcerting till you know it's only a tire characteristic and to not try to fight it. Kinda like riding sand or mud on a dirt bike, where you sit bike and let the front tire find it's own path.

Better to dance slightly on rain groves than dance in the rain. I really doubt you're moving 6-8" unless it's rider induced. Ride it like CW says and no issue. Practice it to build your confidence, don't wait until you are forced into a unplanned maneuver. Dirt bike experience really helps in this regard, takes all the worry out of it. Whenever I change tires I always go searching grooves, tar snakes, uneven lane transitions and do a high speed run to feel the new tire.

_

 

[Paqard]

Thanks to all for quick replies. I forgot to mention they are Dakar's. I have had the rear re-sprung and sag is currently approx 67mm front and rear with the ES set at one rider/soft/ -3. Bike only has 3,500 miles on it and all fork bolts have been checked and tight. No play at the steering head.
I did keep my grip loose but it just kept doing its thing in the rain grooves. I briefly tried stopping it but to no avail. It wasn't head shake of course; just poor tracking. 6-8" is just unsafe at only 55mph and I'll need to corner at at least 65mph. Good to hear from those familiar with California Freeways. I was a resident there for awhile- 59 years ::008:: and know the state well from one end to the other including side to side. I can't imagine running up to Tahoe and over to Reno with these tires and hitting rain grooves which is what I'll have to contend with in July. Have family in both Chico and Santa Rosa. I'll give it a few hundred more miles but what would be a good front tire replacement? The K60 I worry about the reports of rain handling but I'm rarely caught out in it. Thanks.

 

[Checkswrecks]

As Tomato wrote, they do get better as they wear and a few hundred miles might not do it.

 

[verboten1]

I love my dakars, right off the bat they scared me on wet tar snakes though! I'm around 7000 miles on them now and I love them. They will be my tire for the tenere until there is something even better out there!

 

[EricV]

I am running dakars at 36F/42R. I always run with panniers on, and at least one side full of crap. I also run a larger main tank and weigh 240 w/o gear, so a bit heavier than you. My '15 has custom suspension too.

All that said, the first thing I'd suggest is that you loosen the axle/pinch bolts for the axle and bounce the front tire against something solid like a curb or wall. Just 2-3 times lightly bouncing the tire against the wall or curb square on to it. Then tighten the axle and pinch bolts for the axle again. Now go for a ride and see if it feels any different.

I'm not very, how shall I put this, easily bothered, by grooves/grates/ruts, etc and a little wander in the front end. Far too many miles on open grate bridges in the rain and rain/rain grooves in general. I grew up riding in the Pacific NorthWet in Portland, which is a river city with many bridges. This stuff just doesn't bother me.

Still, I think your front pressure is too low by 2-3 psi for your weight. And suspect anyone running lower pressure like 31-33 will get better wear and tire life with a few more psi. This means for on road use, not off pavement riding.

 

[HeliMark]

I run my E-07's at 38F/41R on the highway and currently have 11K miles on them. They do grab the rain grooves when new and settle down, after putting some miles on. And splitting traffic out here in California can be interesting as they do like to "grab" everything. But after a little time, it becomes a non-event as you get use to them. As you know, big difference between a 90/10 (80/20?) and a 50/50 tire, and how they react.

The only thing I do not like on my E-07's is the way they handle the tar snakes. Not fun.

Mark

 

[tomatocity]

I run my E-07's at 38F/41R on the highway and currently have 11K miles on them. They do grab the rain grooves when new and settle down, after putting some miles on. And splitting traffic out here in California can be interesting as they do like to "grab" everything. But after a little time, it becomes a non-event as you get use to them. As you know, big difference between a 90/10 (80/20?) and a 50/50 tire, and how they react.

The only thing I do not like on my E-07's is the way they handle the tar snakes. Not fun.

Mark

... and Bias Ply vs Radial

I haven't had a Tar Snake event yet. How does the E-07 react?

 

[Checkswrecks]

... and Bias Ply vs Radial

I haven't had a Tar Snake event yet. How does the E-07 react?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_H-LY4Jb2M

 

[Madhatter]

have not heard that song for a very long time.... thanks.

 

[Madhatter]

the unofficial snake of Texas is the Tar..... not really noticed any real concerns with the e-07 with the tar snakes so far, but I remember the k60s didn't like them at all on a wet day. might have been more of a concern latter in the wear cycle.... as tire composition changes as you get to the end of there usable life.

 

[tomatocity]

Very good Checks. Great song.

 

[bob dirt]

great song...it was released the same year I graduated high school.