Tires

[PickerMOOT]

Has anyone experienced squirrely behavior with a front tire just before it needs changing?  My front tire is getting near time to change, and since I've only had my 3GMagna a short while, I don't have a good feel for how it would behave with a new tire.  Our roads in my area of town are in need of some replacement, and every ripple in the road makes her feel skittish.  

What air pressure do you guys use?  I guess it could be a combination of that, getting close to wear-out, and my last bike having a steering damper on it.  

Also, where do you go for tires and install in the local area, since I am in Rowlett?

Thanks again,
Cary

[Curtis_Valk]

I don't have a feel for how the tires do when they get down to the last.  My 99 had the original tires on it last year when I bought it so I replaced them because of age not wear (only 3000 miles).  If you have any scalloping (most all tires eventually scallop to some extent) it will make them feel diffently and also can make them noisy.  I am willing to bet you will see a vast improvement with new shoes.

I get my tires from Howells Cycle in Van, just the other side of Canton.  It is a little over an hour drive, but his prices can't be beat and if you take him the wheels, he only charges $12 each to mount and balance if you buy his tires (as of my last tire purchase).  Even if you take him tires you bought elsewhere, he doesn't stick it to you as bad as other dealers.  He only asks for the chance to have your business and if you buy them cheaper elsewhere, he doesn't take it personally.

Eric has been great to deal with.  I also bought my Magna there BTW.  Here is the link:  http://www.howellscycle.com  I have Metzelers on right now but will probably go back to the Dunlops for the Magna.  The Metz have slipped a couple of times on me in wet conditions and I am finding it hard to trust them.  I've also had two punctures in the rear already and am considering trashing it.  Hope this helps.

Curtis

[Curtis_Valk]

Oh ya.....I run 38 front, 40 rear.

Curtis

[PickerMOOT]

Thanks Curtis.

I will check 'em tonight!

Cary

[Magna 4 Me]

From the looks of the picture, you still have the stock Dunlop on the bike.  Mine had those on it when I bought it and they had about 8K miles on them.  They felt real skittish and if you were decelerating it put a shimmy into the handlebars.  

You will notice that a lot of us switch from the Dunlops to Metzler ME 880 tires front and rear, size is up to you, some go with slightly larger rear tires.  I went with the Metzlers and have stayed with the stock size and now have 54K miles on the bike and won't switch to anything else unless Metzler goes out of business.  

I get my tires off the internet, Motor Cycle Accessory wharehouse, and get the local dealer to mount them, I take the wheels off the bike and take just the wheels over.  

The Metzlers give better handling and longer tread life.  They are a little more expensive than the Dunlops but the extra milage makes them worth it.