KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: aschrauth on March 14, 2023, 03:58:38 AM
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Hello everyone!
So I have around 9,000 Km on my current set of tires that I changed on my kymco when I noticed that the OEM ones were badly dry rotted at around 1,000 KM. I examined both of them and noticed that the back one is worn more than the front which is normal for a motorcycle from what I was told. The question is how do I measure how much tread is currently on my tires? I have a tread depth gauge but I assume it is only good for car tires and not motorcycle tires. The tires that I have on now are Duro all-season tires that look like the ones that I have pictured below. In the future, I will probably be installing the exact same brand because of the handling and I like that they ride well in the rain and snow.
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Yes, it’s normal to get twice the life out of a front compared to a rear tyre. My X-Town did about 5,000 miles on a rear and was on course for 8-10K on the front.
Your car depth gauge is good for the scooter and there should also be 1mm wear bar indicators in the grooves. Personally, I ignore those as I’d change them out at about 3mm. Bikes have only 2 palm size contact patches, I prefer them to be in tip top shape!
As for which brand / type, go with what works for you. I like Michelins, but I don’t think they do enduro type in scooter sizes. That’s what I’ll be needing (enduro) for my DTX360 when they need changing, so I’m actively looking ready for then.
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TWI is written several times at your tires flanks. Could also be several arrows pointing towards grooves.
Tread Wear Indicator means if you go vertical up to your tires profile, you will find lower portions between the blocks. If this level is reached, tires are to be changed.
Pls see link
https://www.atmaindia.org.in/tread-wear-indicator-twi/
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It's tire time for my K-Pipe, I'd like something more aggressive for a little off road, but having a hard time finding something in tubeless, and don't want to go to a tube type tire
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I jsut checked the tread on my rear tire, currently Im sitting at a three whitch is not safe Imho. I guess I will replace both of them when the weather warms up, Not looking forward to it though. I do plan on purchacing a pair of rimshield protectors, the ones that came witht the tire spoons that I purchaced were junk and ended up marring up my rims. I ended up repainting them
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I jsut checked the tread on my rear tire, currently Im sitting at a three whitch is not safe Imho. I guess I will replace both of them when the weather warms up, Not looking forward to it though. I do plan on purchacing a pair of rimshield protectors, the ones that came witht the tire spoons that I purchaced were junk and ended up marring up my rims. I ended up repainting them
agree, what's legal, and what's safe are not the same, I replace tires at 40%
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agree, what's legal, and what's safe are not the same, I replace tires at 40%
Totally agree. Police motorcycle cops here change at 3mm, they regard anything less as sub-optimal. It's my rule of thumb too.
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Totally agree. Police motorcycle cops here change at 3mm, they regard anything less as sub-optimal. It's my rule of thumb too.
Makes sense. The UK is under water 11 months a year....
Stig
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Makes sense. The UK is under water 11 months a year....
Stig
for me, it's the unpaved roads that I encounter, also hard to plan a long trip when your tread gets low.
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Makes sense. The UK is under water 11 months a year....
Stig
Seems like it sometimes 😂🤣
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If you like the Duros, stick with them. I quite like those tyres.
I have learned over the last 15 years what tyres I do and don't like, and it doesn't necessarily align with what *should* be good.
An ex-racer friend of mine (he'd done the Manx, whatever that meant) swore by Maxxis towards the end of his riding career.
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If you like the Duros, stick with them. I quite like those tyres.
I have learned over the last 15 years what tyres I do and don't like, and it doesn't necessarily align with what *should* be good.
An ex-racer friend of mine (he'd done the Manx, whatever that meant) swore by Maxxis towards the end of his riding career.
I always liked Avon
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An ex-racer friend of mine (he'd done the Manx, whatever that meant) swore by Maxxis towards the end of his riding career.
“Whatever that meant”? Really Viper? Shame on you! The Manx GP held every September on the IoM is the stepping stone to the TT and a specialist meet for classic machinery ineligible for the TT. Been a few times and for my money it’s a better event than the TT as it’s so much more laid back and friendly. Last went in 2016.
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So I ordered tires yesterday and found out that tire beads exist. Apparently they balance the tire as it is spinning. Do these actually work? or anyone have experence with them
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So I ordered tires yesterday and found out that tire beads exist. Apparently they balance the tire as it is spinning. Do these actually work? or anyone have experence with them
I have them in my Liberty tires.
Do they work.....no way to prove if or how much they do, unless you have a tire shop to run quick comparisons.
So, I hope they do.
Stig
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So I ordered tires yesterday and found out that tire beads exist. Apparently they balance the tire as it is spinning. Do these actually work? or anyone have experence with them
Yes, that is how they work. As the tire spins the balancing beads orient themselves automatically to balance out the tire/wheel.
I replace the rear rubber on my AK myself and used Dyna Beads balancing beads. Was on Interstate for a short time running about 70+ mph during my ride yesterday, and a lot of 55+ mph and some 65+ mph road for just over 100 miles total for that ride. The beads worked great. Could not tell any difference from when weights were used. Just make sure you use the right amount and don't spill any. Due to the factory TPMS on my tires I couldn't put them in through the valve stem so had to pour them into the tire before seating the bead... IOW, spoon one side of the tire on the rim, then pour in the beads, then spoon the second side on the rim, and while keeping the valve stem up (as in not at the bottom) air up the tire to pop the tire bead on the rim.
I figure if they were not working it would show up on the Interstate.
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Yes, that is how they work. As the tire spins the balancing beads orient themselves automatically to balance out the tire/wheel.
I replace the rear rubber on my AK myself and used Dyna Beads balancing beads. Was on Interstate for a short time running about 70+ mph during my ride yesterday, and a lot of 55+ mph and some 65+ mph road for just over 100 miles total for that ride. The beads worked great. Could not tell any difference from when weights were used. Just make sure you use the right amount and don't spill any. Due to the factory TPMS on my tires I couldn't put them in through the valve stem so had to pour them into the tire before seating the bead... IOW, spoon one side of the tire on the rim, then pour in the beads, then spoon the second side on the rim, and while keeping the valve stem up (as in not at the bottom) air up the tire to pop the tire bead on the rim.
I figure if they were not working it would show up on the Interstate.
I had never heard of them. I follow a guy on youtube called Mithes scooter stuff and he used balancing beads when installing new tires on his vespa. I didnt use them when I did my first tire install. Might have to try them out; front tire is arriving via UPS tomorow and the rear should be in by friday. I ordered some rim shield protectors as well. This time I will not install the tires the wrong way. Last time I did a tire install I forgot that they were directional tires and had to redo the whole tire over again.
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“Whatever that meant”? Really Viper? Shame on you! The Manx GP held every September on the IoM is the stepping stone to the TT and a specialist meet for classic machinery ineligible for the TT. Been a few times and for my money it’s a better event than the TT as it’s so much more laid back and friendly. Last went in 2016.
I did know - he talked about ALL THE TIME :) it was very poor sarcasm.
He was a true racer, just his personal life was such a mess that I think it held him back.
I'd love to go one year.
I always liked Avon
See, I was avoiding mentioning my favourites/hates but I hate Avons with a passion, although I know other people love them - it really is horses for courses out there.
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I did know - he talked about ALL THE TIME :) it was very poor sarcasm.
He was a true racer, just his personal life was such a mess that I think it held him back.
I'd love to go one year.
See, I was avoiding mentioning my favourites/hates but I hate Avons with a passion, although I know other people love them - it really is horses for courses out there.
It's a yearning of mine to get back to the Manx too. As for Avons - only tried them once. Does that answer your question?
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It's a yearning of mine to get back to the Manx too. As for Avons - only tried them once. Does that answer your question?
We all love a good Avon Roadslider.
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We all love a good Avon Roadslider.
Yep, that was my gripe, iffy grip and you never knew quite when it would let go!
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So I ordered my new tires and they have arrived! I plan on installing them on monday when I am off from working the weekend. Where I live only motorcycle dealer that I contacted wanted $50.00 to install one tire if I provided them and 25.00 to install both if I purchaced them myself. I did it myself last time and saved a fortune. For two Duro tires it cost me about $110 Dollars Plus I had to get new tire rim shields plus some Dyna Beads.
I plan on doing a smoky burnout with my old tires; I will share the video with everyone. Wish me luck!
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Tire lube is worth getting. I found a small size at NAPA. Vaseline or dish soap if nothing else.
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One down, one to go. Suprisingly it didnt take as long as when I put the first set of tires on. I was unable to do the front because the axle nut was sezed in place. I tried to break it free with a 3/8 wrench and breaker bar and ended up snapping the teeth inside the wrench >:( Not a good move on my part. Just waiting on a breaker bar and a new 3/8 ratchet to come in before I tackle the front.
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Tire lube is worth getting. I found a small size at NAPA. Vaseline or dish soap if nothing else.
I ended up using vasoliene from the dollar store. That and actually heating the tire up before install really helped. I preheated the oven for 250 and let it heat up to tempature, turned it off and placed the tire on a large cookie sheet for about ten minutes. When i pulled it out it was very flexable and went on the rim like a glove!
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Hello everyone!
In the future, I will probably be installing the exact same brand because of the handling and I like that they ride well in the rain and snow.
Just curious, what brand tyre did you go with?
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I ended up using vasoliene from the dollar store. That and actually heating the tire up before install really helped. I preheated the oven for 250 and let it heat up to tempature, turned it off and placed the tire on a large cookie sheet for about ten minutes. When i pulled it out it was very flexable and went on the rim like a glove!
Just curious....is the Vaseline then cleaned off tire and rim?
Stig
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Just curious....is the Vaseline then cleaned off tire and rim?
Stig
Yes, all it is used for is the ease of install. I do work in a tire shop and normally we use beadslick but I did not feel like paying for a container so I figured vasoliene would do just as well.
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Yes, all it is used for is the ease of install. I do work in a tire shop and normally we use beadslick but I did not feel like paying for a container so I figured vasoliene would do just as well.
But do you clean it off before seating the bead?
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But do you clean it off before seating the bead?
No, I used it before when I installed my first set of tires. When I pulled both off their was no trace of it on the bead.
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Just curious, what brand tyre did you go with?
I have had good luck with Duro tires. I like the agressive tread design and how they handle in snow.
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I have had good luck with Duro tires. I like the agressive tread design and how they handle in snow.
Ah, so Duro is the brand, there was me thinking it was just an abbreviation you were using. Forgive my ignorance! Now to see if they sell here in the UK...
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I ended up keeping both tires instead of throwing them away like I did the OEM set. I think I am going to upcycle them into a cool shelf for all my nicknacks in my man cave. Here is an example of what it will look like. Now all I need to do is find some scrap wood.
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I ended up keeping both tires instead of throwing them away like I did the OEM set. I think I am going to upcycle them into a cool shelf for all my nicknacks in my man cave. Here is an example of what it will look like. Now all I need to do is find some scrap wood.
I've seen old tractor tyres used as planters before now...
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I preheated the oven for 250 and let it heat up to tempature, turned it off and placed the tire on a large cookie sheet for about ten minutes. When i pulled it out it was very flexable and went on the rim like a glove!
How did the kitchen and oven smell after? How long did it linger?
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I've seen old tractor tyres used as planters before now...
they don't have to be tractor tires to be used as planters. I use my old tires to make raised beds in my garden, 3 car tires tall is perfect height for gardening, peppers especially, like raised tire beds, 2 plants to a stack, a teaspoon of Epsom salts every now and then, and ya be growing jalapenos by the bushel, they really like the warm soil from the sun hitting the tires
I use my motorcycle tires as potato planters. as the plants grow, add another tire and mulch to fill, at the end of the season, a 100lbs of taters in the stack
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they don't have to be tractor tires to be used as planters. I use my old tires to make raised beds in my garden, 3 car tires tall is perfect height for gardening, peppers especially, like raised tire beds, 2 plants to a stack, a teaspoon of Epsom salts every now and then, and ya be growing jalapenos by the bushel, they really like the warm soil from the sun hitting the tires
I use my motorcycle tires as potato planters. as the plants grow, add another tire and mulch to fill, at the end of the season, a 100lbs of taters in the stack
And that’s why I love this forum..learn something new every day!
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And that’s why I love this forum..learn something new every day!
+1 !!
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+1 !!
+1!
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Hello everyone!
So I have around 9,000 Km on my current set of tires that I changed on my kymco when I noticed that the OEM ones were badly dry rotted at around 1,000 KM. I examined both of them and noticed that the back one is worn more than the front which is normal for a motorcycle from what I was told. The question is how do I measure how much tread is currently on my tires? I have a tread depth gauge but I assume it is only good for car tires and not motorcycle tires. The tires that I have on now are Duro all-season tires that look like the ones that I have pictured below. In the future, I will probably be installing the exact same brand because of the handling and I like that they ride well in the rain and snow.
Can't believe people are changing their tires so soon. A guy I follow on Youtube "Biketrips" has a Kymco AK550 which He rides all over Greece and said he had 40,000 KM on his tires when He chose to change them. Anything under 20,000 is shocking to me and especially under 10,000 miles.
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Can't believe people are changing their tires so soon. A guy I follow on Youtube "Biketrips" has a Kymco AK550 which He rides all over Greece and said he had 40,000 KM on his tires when He chose to change them. Anything under 20,000 is shocking to me and especially under 10,000 miles.
I’ve seen some Greek motorcycle tyres and I wouldn’t trust my hide to them! 😂🤣
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I have to say never going to put a tire in an oven at 200 F temperature. I have managed to change tires over the years and, one does learn a few tricks.
Art
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I’ve seen some Greek motorcycle tyres and I wouldn’t trust my hide to them! 😂🤣
Metzelers are NOT Greek tires......
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Metzelers are German. Been around a long time. They were the top choice for dirt bike tires back in the 70's.
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Metzelers are German. Been around a long time. They were the top choice for dirt bike tires back in the 70's.
German company, not necessarily manufactured in Germany, I had a set made in Brazil
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Any more I don't worry about what country the manufacture uses for cheap labor etc. I just buy a brand that I feel makes good tires. Not much I can do about it.
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Any more I don't worry about what country the manufacture uses for cheap labor etc. I just buy a brand that I feel makes good tires. Not much I can do about it.
lots of tire manufacturers are doing it in Brazil, cause thats the source of raw material, the rubber tree is native to the Amazon basin, cheaper to ship the end product than it is the raw material to cheap labor, then ship again to the customers
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I also believe the mfgrs have set a max of 7 years of time before the tire is considered wornout. Most tire shops wont touch a tire at 7 years in age other than to replace it! Tread depth, cracking of carcass, birthdate are the 3 things that determine when a tire needs replaced !! When you buy new tires, get a date code when they were mfgr. Sometimes tires are sold that have set for a year or two in storage, you dont want them !!
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Looks like I'm screwed with car tires, don't drive enough in 7 years to wear them out.
Art
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Looks like I'm screwed with car tires, don't drive enough in 7 years to wear them out.
Art
😂
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Looks like I'm screwed with car tires, don't drive enough in 7 years to wear them out.
Art
Heck for someone like me who drives less than 100K a year I never get the full life out of my cars tires, they end up dryrotting before wearing out.
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I drive hardly at all, less than 20-25 miles a week, divided by 2 trucks, and once a year towing my UTV to my brothers and back 350 mile round trip. Not sure how much I'll ride, in nice weather, I take my k-Pipe, or AK550 to doc appointments and the trucks sit
not like when I was still working, putting 20k+ miles on my car (a couple years, in the 40k range) AND putting 30k-35k on my SV650 at the same time, one year I spent $3500 in tires for the SV alone while my bimmer, a 320i, had 100k Michelins on it and never put tires on it in the 4 years I owned it
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just ordered up a pair of IRC tires for my K-Pipe, the Avons I really wanted are on back order till July 25th
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I drive hardly at all, less than 20-25 miles a week, divided by 2 trucks, and once a year towing my UTV to my brothers and back 350 mile round trip. Not sure how much I'll ride, in nice weather, I take my k-Pipe, or AK550 to doc appointments and the trucks sit
not like when I was still working, putting 20k+ miles on my car (a couple years, in the 40k range) AND putting 30k-35k on my SV650 at the same time, one year I spent $3500 in tires for the SV alone while my bimmer, a 320i, had 100k Michelins on it and never put tires on it in the 4 years I owned it
Normally I put all the miles on my scooter and let the car sit. Right now I ride to work five days a week on a twelve mile commute both ways. My agility right now has about 10,300Km.
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Normally I put all the miles on my scooter and let the car sit. Right now I ride to work five days a week on a twelve mile commute both ways. My agility right now has about 10,300Km.
I used my bike for company business, one year I had a $15k+ deduction for motorcycle mileage, you are allowed to take the GSA per diem rate, this year up to 63½¢/mile
https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-pov-etc/privately-owned-vehicle-pov-mileage-reimbursement-rates (https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-pov-etc/privately-owned-vehicle-pov-mileage-reimbursement-rates)
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I used my bike for company business, one year I had a $15k+ deduction for motorcycle mileage, you are allowed to take the GSA per diem rate, this year up to 63½¢/mile
https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-pov-etc/privately-owned-vehicle-pov-mileage-reimbursement-rates (https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-book/transportation-airfare-pov-etc/privately-owned-vehicle-pov-mileage-reimbursement-rates)
Unfortunatly I mainly use my scooter to commute to and from work. I dont think that can be deducted.
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Unfortunatly I mainly use my scooter to commute to and from work. I dont think that can be deducted.
It takes a lot of deductions to surpass the standard deduction for most of us.
Stig
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It takes a lot of deductions to surpass the standard deduction for most of us.
Stig
I take standard deduction on my personal tax, the mileage deduction is on my self employment/business, before I even get to my personal stuff
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Unfortunatly I mainly use my scooter to commute to and from work. I dont think that can be deducted.
same here, but from a home office to job sites, self employment has it's benefits