Tyre deformation

[lil4399]

In June this year I noticed my front tyre had deformed to a pronounced V shape. Rear was getting thin so changed both for Battleaxe (mate has them on his XJR and really liked them) all seemed fine until today, put it in the dealers to have the throttle bodies synchronized, job went well but he showed me that my front tyre was deforming...

Anyone else had this problem?

Just for info running at 35psi and check them weekly.

[Hooli]

Seems quite common, I've had it on several different bikes. Never really found out why, but fresh fork oil, checking the steering bearings and fork bushes has sometimes improved things.

[DP1400]

I had this exact same problem 18 months ago. After a 250mile motorway dash, two-up with a heavily loaded rack. I couldn`t believe it! I put it down to having a harder centre compound than the rest of the tyre (BT021) and inadvertently possibly running it slightly low on air. The bike handled like a pig until I renewed it (BT023).
I will be keeping a close eye on it at the miles tick by......all good to date!

[steve porter]

Underinflation

[lil4399]

Underinflation

Check the pressures weekly.

[KiwiCol]

I'd of thought 35psi was a bit low, handbook recommends 36psi for front & personally I run 38 front & 40 - 42 rear depending on load.   Mind you, I'm a big heavy bloke too.    (.154322 of a short ton)

[steve porter]

Gauge could be wrong, if not it's still underinflated so bump it up a few pounds as that's how they wear if they are

[lil4399]

I will try 38 psi for a few weeks and monitor it.

I will also strip the forks this winter and refill with new oil as they see a little weak.

[Hooli]

Check the fork bushes for wear while you're in there.

Parts 8 & 22 in this pic. This is an early fork but the bushes will be in the same place, they stop the lower fork leg wobbling on the end of the sanction. If you lift the bike up & pull on the bottom of the forks, any movement means these bushes are worn out.

[grog]

I wont ever use Bridgestone, seen 3 or 4 with front tyre just wearing off one side. Mates CB1300, less than 4 th ks, another on low k cb600, stuffed at 5th. Nothing to do with worn forks, low k bikes. Just inferior tyres. Back in 80s had same with A49 Michelin and Dunlop Elites, new tyres, un rideable, thrown in bin. Never had a prob with Pirelli but as said before, Pirelli car tyre lasted one day, flew to pieces. Might seem strange but my experience, had cheap chinese tyres on car, switched to Goodyear, chinese were far better in wet, never a vibration. Have balanced Goodyear 3 or more times, always a bit of shake. Chinese also lasted better, nearly due another set, what to buy?

[Jeykey]

I´ve had this happen to me with a Battlax, can´t remember the model, BT20 I think. In my case, I guess the v-shape had to do with me riding mainly in urban areas where most of the time I can´t lean enough. The lean angles only caught half of the tyre. I´m curious to see how the Michelin Road 5 will do.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

 Now a few 1000 is I to my BT031's, no issues to date.  Agree living in suburbia just hammers the right hand front, my Daytona675 had tyres worn asymmetrically that bad that the bike just flopped into corners. Its the roundabouts that do it.  New set of tyres sorted it.  The BT031 dual compound don't seem to be too affected by this yet.

[Roo]

Running Road 4's ,  have been playing around with susp and tyres pressures,just to see ?

Popped in 38 and 40 (cold) and quite like the feel, sharpened her up and feels lighter and less effort..  Don't know about outright grip ,but hey I'm not on a race track anymore.....
I say try stuff, you may like it ?

[grog]

36/38 for me Roo. Seems to work ok. Pirelli not Michys. Doesnt seem to worry rear but if front goes neglected, sure can notice.Im very fussy on pressure so doesnt happen often

[KiwiCol]

I run 38/40-42 but I'm heavy, bike thinks there's always a pillion on it.