[vroddrew]

Since my bike is presently in the shop having new tires installed, I thought I'd do a little research into the causes of tire wear. One question that frequently comes up is "Why does the left side of the front tire wear before the right side?" (In countries where we ride on the right side of the road.)

Like many people, I had been told that the cause was the "crown" in the roadway. But an article I found recently tends to disprove this.

The article theorizes that the reason us "right-siders" wear out the left side of our front tires is because because (in general) our left turns are larger radius (and are ridden at consequently higher speeds) than our right turns. Since the only time we ride on the edges of our tires is when we are turning, and that the slipping forces are greatest when we do so - riding just that small percentage of our total miles on the left side of the front tire accounts for the difference in wear.

The writer also does a good job of disproving the "crown" theory. He shows pictures that show that even the most severely crowned road does not present sufficient slope to contact the edges of the tires.

If you'd like to look at the source article, you can find it here .

 

[Val]

So, to save my front tire, I need to take those left turns sloooower??

Good research!

 

[Max]

My problem is I always accelerate into the turns. I know bad habit.

Good post vroddrew

 

[Val]

I'm still wondering why the front left tire cupping seems to be more of an issue with the v-rod than other bikes.

It makes sense that we'd go faster through the turns than other HD models. But then, left front tire cupping should be similarly common on sportbikes. Is that the case?

 

[vroddrew]

Actually, Max, accelerating through turns is a good thing to do - as you know, it transfers weight to the rear tire, and essentially lessens the amount of "plowing" the front tire experiences.

Val, I think that the somewhat more pronounced rake of the V-Rod increases the scuffing forces the front tire sees. This is perhaps explained in greater detail towards the end of the article (see the diagram showing the suspension geometry). Additionally - the V-Rod's OEM tires are much more like sportbike tires (i.e. softer, grippier rubber, with a fairly complex tread pattern) than the typical meat supplied with Harleys.

Combine soft "sportbike" tires, with "cruiser" type rake - and you do have a recipe for early appearance of cupping.

 

[Christine]

I still go with the theory that you take left handers faster because you are over to the right side of the road and so have a better/longer view of the road ahead and are, therefore, more confident going into the bend. So you get more wear.
Maybe it's a combination of both theories.

We get the more wear on the right side of the tyre in the UK (though that may be due to roundabouts)

I've even drawn a picture

 

[Val]

Got your marking done, I see...

 

[Christine]

Got your marking done, I see...

Let me see.
VRod forum?....Marking?

No contest

Christine
I can always do it later

 

[OKIE]

Do any tire makers claim less cupping than Dunlop?

 

[Max]

Okie I have the metz on the front of mine and see very little cupping compared to what I saw with the dunlop.

 

[OKIE]

Thanks, Metz it is.

 

[jlowry6]

Max - Can you tell me the exact Metz model's you have (front and back)... I'll be in the market for new tires very soon. Figure following your lead can't be a bad thing... unless you have reasons to the contrary??

 

[Max]

On the rear I run the 200/50VR-18 ME880

On the front I run the 120/70ZR-19 ME880

 

[jlowry6]

On the rear I run the 200/50VR-18 ME880

And am I correct in saying that no changes had to be made to accommodate the 200 on the rear?

 

[Max]

The only change needed was to notch the bottom belt guard to allow for clearance.

 

[jlowry6]

The only change needed was to notch the bottom belt guard to allow for clearance.

By notch do you mean remove? Also, there's no need for a different size rear wheel?

 

[Max]

Jamie on the bottom belt guard I simply cut a 1/8 inch deep notch about 1 inch long were it is close to the rear tire. The stock wheel works fine with the 200.

Max

 

[Harleyvrodguy]

My problem is I always accelerate into the turns. I know bad habit.
Max, correct me if I've been riding the wrong way for the past 25 yrs on the street, but I love the twisties and I always brake into the turn and accelerate out of it at a high rate of speed :kaz: .............any thoughts?

 

[Max]

Whats a brake?

 

[Harleyvrodguy]

Typically your outrigger(aka: your knee), or in the case of the Vrod my boots.........pegs seem to be friction causers..............LOL