Triumphrat

GeoDiablo · 07-04-2006

I'm looking for some folks knowledgeable on the subject of tires. It seems the stock rear tread (5100 miles) is gettin' a bit thin up the middle. (I'm not afraid to lean 'er over, but unfortunately most of my riding is in a straight line.) I had hoped for many more miles than this.

A couple of questions:

1. What to get, and where? Or what can you recommend. I understand most better quality tires will use sort of a blend of different rubber, with a "harder" rubber through the middle of the tire and somewhat softer and stickier on the outsides. What is this called. (I assume the stockers are not this way.)

2. What'll it cost? I do so love spending money.

3. What's the proceedure? I'm trying to take care of my own maintenance, and while I'm sure I can manage to remove the rear wheel, I don't think it's feasable to mount the tire and balance it. Am I going to have to take it to my dealer (an hour away) or another bike shop to do the work?

These may be stupid questions, and or asked and answered and searchable in the archives, neverthelessâ€¦

thanks â€“

markbvt · 07-05-2006

Timely question -- my rear tire is getting a bit worn too. For what it's worth, it's my second rear tire -- got about 7500 miles or so on the original BT45, replaced it with another BT45 (except in a 140 width instead of the stock 130), and I've gotten less than 5000 miles out of this one so far (although it'll probably be 5500-6000 by the time I change it out).

I stuck with the OEM Bridgestone Battlax BT45 tires when changing both front and rear, but I'm thinking of switching to something else next time I have to change both front and rear tires (my front lasts a lot longer, so I expect not to have to change it again till my third rear tire is toast). The BT45 really isn't a bad tire, and I suppose tread life is decent given the way I ride -- and it is a dual-compound tire (harder in the middle, softer on the edges). But I'm wondering if I could find something better.

Cost for a new rear tire depends on who you go to. Online prices are far better than any of the shops I've encountered, but you probably make up the difference in shipping and mounting fees. The shop I normally deal with for tires (not my Triumph dealer because they seem to charge full retail on tires) will charge me around $150 for the rear tire, tax, and discounted mounting (because I bought the tire from them). Maybe a bit less.

As for the procedure, you're definitely best off removing the wheel yourself, taking it to the shop for mounting/balancing, then putting the wheel back on the bike yourself. Most shops will charge quite a bit extra if they have to pull the wheel and put it back on.

--mark