Triumphrat

11-09-2005

I have an '03 S3 and I noticed I'm getting severe cupping on the left hand side of my front tire. The tire is the stock Bridgestone BT-010. I check the air pressure regularly and don't know if this is a set-up issue, road issue, or tire issue. If this has something to do with setup I would like to get it fixed before I trash another front tire.

Thanks,
Chuck

redsled · 11-09-2005

Mine is the same way. I have cupping on both sides, but the left is worse. I imagine the difference is because of the crown built into the roads. I have a Stanley wood planer that I use to lessen the cupping. It makes the ride much smoother when everything gets evened out.

ES3 · 11-09-2005

I don't know what cupping is (pic please :wink: ) but it could be the damping adjustment. When it's to soft, it shows on the tire.
Good luck.

ken750f · 11-09-2005

I believe it is more of a tire issue then anything else. My stock Bridgestone did the same thing. I now have Continental Road Attacks with about 2000 miles on them and there is no cupping whatsoever and I made no changes to my suspension setup.

2cats · 11-09-2005

Where I come from (personal experience with 020's, sport-touring.net, apriliaforum.com) Bridgestones are generally regarding as being very bad cuppers.

ELP_JC · 11-09-2005

Anything with a ridge in the middle and symmetrical tread design is going to cup like ***** in my experience. It happened with the crapstones and D220s. I also have the conti roadattacks now and ZERO problems. Avons also have the asymmetrical tread pattern. Another benefit of those tires is they don't tram on freeway grooves either.

11-10-2005

Thanks to everyone for the replies. Glad to hear that it is a tire issue rather than a bike issue. Think I might switch to Pilot Roads like I had on my last bike. I really liked those and hope they work just as well on the S3.

Thanks again,
Chuck

ATKpilot · 11-10-2005

Quote:

On 2005-11-09 09:40, ken750f wrote:
I believe it is more of a tire issue then anything else. My stock Bridgestone did the same thing. I now have Continental Road Attacks with about 2000 miles on them and there is no cupping whatsoever and I made no changes to my suspension setup.

Ken,
how do you like the Road Attacks? I need to replace
my 010's (worn back and cupped front) and am really
intrigue by the Conti's. I have narrowed my choice to these
or Dunlop 208 ZR's. I have heard nothing but good about them except in one German mag that said they caused a shimmy in the front but were great in the wet.

ken750f · 11-10-2005

ATK,

I have not felt any shimmy at all (so far at least). I really like the tires. Put a little over 2,000 miles on them so far and they have certainly lived up to all of the write-ups I had read about them prior to purchasing. They handle the curves great, don't catch grooves on the highways and have been great on longer (and 2-up riding) rides as well. Plus, even after over 2,000 miles there is only a little wear on the back and barley any at all on the front. The only issue I had was when I first put them on (if you want to call it an issue), and that is when going into a turn, these tires seem to "drop" or roll the bike into the corner rather rapidly. You come into the corner, start to lean, then "bam" the bike drops into the corner. Rather unsettling at first, but once you get used to it and you realize the bike is actually stable and the tries are actually gripping then it becomes rather fun!!!!! Makes for fast & fun cornering......................... :-D .

These tires have been great thus far and as I said they have lived up to the praise. If they live up to the amount of mileage that I have read you can get out of them, I am definitely going to "stick" (no pun intended) with the Conti Road Attacks.

Ken

ATKpilot · 11-10-2005

Quote:

On 2005-11-10 17:36, ken750f wrote:
ATK,

I have not felt any shimmy at all (so far at least). I really like the tires. Put a little over 2,000 miles on them so far and they have certainly lived up to all of the write-ups I had read about them prior to purchasing. They handle the curves great, don't catch grooves on the highways and have been great on longer (and 2-up riding) rides as well. Plus, even after over 2,000 miles there is only a little wear on the back and barley any at all on the front. The only issue I had was when I first put them on (if you want to call it an issue), and that is when going into a turn, these tires seem to "drop" or roll the bike into the corner rather rapidly. You come into the corner, start to lean, then "bam" the bike drops into the corner. Rather unsettling at first, but once you get used to it and you realize the bike is actually stable and the tries are actually gripping then it becomes rather fun!!!!! Makes for fast & fun cornering......................... :-D .

These tires have been great thus far and as I said they have lived up to the praise. If they live up to the amount of mileage that I have read you can get out of them, I am definitely going to "stick" (no pun intended) with the Conti Road Attacks.

Ken

Ken,
thanks for the feedback, that about clinches it for me.
I had read that they tip in quick and that you have to get use to that. I think I read that in a canyon-chasers test report, but like you he said he liked it and didn't want to go back to other tires. I have a tendancy to drop in to much already I hope this doesn't add to this bad habit