KymcoForum.com
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: EvilTessmacher on June 30, 2018, 03:45:31 PM
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Without going into a lot of detail, I'm rather curious about the experience of other riders. Based on the information I've seen on multiple scoot/cycle forums, two of the best tires out there are the Pirelli Diablo and the Michelin City-Grip.
Which one of them has the longest treadwear? I've never really seen much detail about this, nor have I seen any direct comparisons that dealt with anything aside from other characteristics such as grip, speed, handling, etc. I'm interested in tread-wear. The way that I ride, coupled with my inherently cautious nature means that I'm not going to push my tires as if I'm emulating being on the Isle of Man. I'm more of a touring/cruising type rider. Not to say that there aren't moments where I see myself as Doohan or Pedrosa, or Rossi, but they are few and far between. So it's not to say that I wouldn't want a decent tire, hence the Diablo and the City-Grip reference...
Nope, my frugal nature is more interested in the amount of miles I can spend on a tire, or a set of tires.
What's the general experience with the two? Are there others I'm missing that give good ride characteristics coupled with that ever-important tread wear rating?
Please, by all means, feel free to discuss. Experience with tires is one thing that we all need to know, and that can only be obtained empirically, or by hearing the tales of others.
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The Diablos are fairly short-lived. I believe the City Grips will last a good deal longer, but I didn't use them for that long before my engine died.
I don't think I'm particularly sensitive to the nuance of different tire handling. But I did have a slight wobble at a certain speed that switching to the City Grips all but eliminated.
I never slipped once with either tire, including plenty of driving in the rain.
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Vespa mounts the Michelin City Grip on many of their new dcootets.. ..including their pricey 924.
I've ridden on a set for 5 years. Love them in the wet, and have gotten over 12,000 miles on them.
Stig
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For comparison, I believe I got about 6000 miles / 10,000 km on the Pirelli Diablos on my People 250.
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Based on my experience with the Pirelli Diablo radials they were bald in 5,000 miles. Only just bought the Michelin City Grips for my Aprilia Atlantic 500 so I have no experience with them yet.
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Can't speak directly to your size tire, but in the sizes I can use it in the CG is known to wear better, & there have been a few reports, including one I've seen in person, of Diablos cracking.
The cracks were minor and not through the tread, but they happened within 2k miles on the one I saw, & were enough that I would probably have replaced it had it been my tire.
I gather they're great for hard turns and such but I haven't had any issues with the CG's in that regard either.
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A lot of it is how you ride. I kill tyres in 5000-6000KM easily :( keep it smooth and it will reap divifends
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Total scooter/driver weight and engine size has a lot to do with how tires wear
As well as tire diameter.
My VW Beetle's radials usually were replaced due to age cracks - rather than tread wear. 16" radial tires on a very light car with 1600cc engine last a very, very long time.
My 12000 mile Michelins are on a LIKE200I....and the front is still going strong!
Dunlops on my 300 Forza...probably half the above.
On a 400cc scooter...proably will get @3500 》5000 miles on the rear...no matter the tire. Get a smaller scooter if you need more from a tire!😊
Stig
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My opinion, right? My experience is OEM Maxxis is a poor tire. First replaced the rear on a DT300I with Avon Stryker which wore out just as fast (fat, old guy, reasonable speeds). Next was Metzler front and rear. What a dream improvement in handling! Bike stolen before tire wear could be established. Got a new, old stock DT300I replacement, same year 2013 in 2016 and made about 3500 miles on the OEM rear tire when the wear indicators showed up along with cracks all over the place especially on the bead line. Replaced front & rear with Michelin Power Pure dual compound. Marvelous handling improvement, maybe not quite as good as the Metzler but WAY better'n Maxxis! Got about 3500 miles on these with no signs of wear front or rear.
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That bad on the 400 Stig?
My 650 gets ~7-8k off the rear & about twice that off the front.
Think I might even get 9kish off the current rear (Shinko), but tough to say until you get there.
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My opinion, right? My experience is OEM Maxxis is a poor tire. First replaced the rear on a DT300I with Avon Stryker which wore out just as fast (fat, old guy, reasonable speeds). Next was Metzler front and rear. What a dream improvement in handling! Bike stolen before tire wear could be established. Got a new, old stock DT300I replacement, same year 2013 in 2016 and made about 3500 miles on the OEM rear tire when the wear indicators showed up along with cracks all over the place especially on the bead line. Replaced front & rear with Michelin Power Pure dual compound. Marvelous handling improvement, maybe not quite as good as the Metzler but WAY better'n Maxxis! Got about 3500 miles on these with no signs of wear front or rear.
That's really interesting - I've only got a Maxxis on the front at the moment but I really can't fault it.
I'm going to try the Michelin City Grips next that everyone raves about :)
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My new Piaggio Medley has Maxxis tyres. :-[
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My new Piaggio Medley has Maxxis tyres. :-[
How are you finding them?
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I could not fault the Maxxis either, Viper until I put the Metzler on front and back. The Maxxis on the front would "follow" every little groove, tar snake and joint line and the Metz would not. Steering feel was vastly improved. The difference was like no power steering compared to power steering with feed-back!
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I could not fault the Maxxis either, Viper until I put the Metzler on front and back. The Maxxis on the front would "follow" every little groove, tar snake and joint line and the Metz would not. Steering feel was vastly improved. The difference was like no power steering compared to power steering with feed-back!
Sounds like I need to try Metzelers. Thanks Crossbolt :)
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How are you finding them?
If it's like here in the states the Maxxis tires are factory equipped but Maxxis doesn't distribute motorcycle/scooter street tires in the US.
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Exactly as I'd hoped, I'm learning a great deal from the experiences of others.
I may have to add the Metzlers to my shortlist.
Oh, and Stig... Dear friend, I absolutely had to have a bigger scoot, not a smaller one. Your suggestion, while spot on, actually defeats the purpose. <snicker>
Tire wear is a fairly significant maintenance issue and is most definitively a safety issue as well. I've seen the photo-threads with cracking OEMs, with tread problems, with the tar snake dance issues, and others, and given that it's my only contact with the driving surface, I would want one that I have some confidence in, as well as not having to replace every couple of months or so.
On a semi-related note, I'm just over 500 miles since delivery, and approaching that magical 600mi initial service, and am just about halfway to being done with the break-in! Yay!
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How are you finding them?
Ok at the moment but still riding gentle as I am still in the run in period.
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I have used City Grips on the front of my Super 8 and Sport City 250. They worked great and the one on my Super 8 is still on with about 15,000 miles on it. There is still plenty of tread left. I'd put in eon the rear but it doesn't come in the right size.
I also put a City grip on the rear of my Majesty. It felt fine but wore out in less than 4,000 miles.
I have a City Grip on the rear of my Smax. It feels great but has less than 1,500 miles on it so I don't know how long it will last.
It's hard to find tires that come in the right size for both the front and rear of my scooters so I often mix brands.
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I always mix brands ;D