SuzukiSavage.com - tires - tires

Rogue_Cheddar

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Haverhill, Massachusetts
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Re: tires - tires - & more tires
Reply #15 - 12/03/06 at 15:33:29

phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:12:

So I was riding my '97 LS650 in the rain on Monday, gently accelerated through a wide right turn, and the rear tire lost all traction, I skidded, wobbled, and ended up lodged on the median, but still upright.
I've skidded before in the rain, and later that day, I was turning at 3 mph in a parking lot, and I guess I hit an oil patch, because I felt the rear tire slide a couple inches.

The tires are just the factory installed tires with plenty of tread left on them.

Am I sliding around just because it's a light bike on city streets, or do I just have bad tires?

If your tires are new then it might be just that they aren't broken in. I've seen signs in motorcycle shops saying beware that new tires can be slick for the first few hundred miles. Something to do with chemicals still leeching from a new tire.

Oops I'm sorry I didn't see that your riding a 97, are you saying they are original tires, then they might just be weathered hard.

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'95 Red Savage. Oring grips and pegs, 30" Fishtail muffler,152.5 main, 1/3 spacer mod ,seat lift, Verslagy.

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justin_o_guy

Ex Member

Re: tires - tires - & more tires
Reply #16 - 12/06/06 at 08:27:38

My stock tires were always slimy. Only lasted 5,000 on the back. When I replaced that sorry tire it was like having a different bike. As soon as I scuffed that tire in I was having FUN in corners, not worrying so much about it sliding out & low siding it. When the rear wore out a second time the front was shot, so replaced both & SHAZZAM, it's a motorcycle. Handles so much better than stock. Several tire types are spoken highly of here. You can't go wrong following the advice of these folks with experience. My advice is replace the tire on the rear at least. Both tires if you really want to feel secure in a corner.

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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #17 - 12/06/06 at 11:26:08 I went with Dunlop 491 Elite II and also with the 140/90-15. I have been very pleased with the tires in general and, with the 12.5" Progressive shocks, the changed height/stature and handling of the bike. I did bolt a hockey puck to the bottom of the sidestand to compensate for the additional lean though.
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phasender

Ex Member

Re: tires - tires - & more tires
Reply #18 - 12/06/06 at 11:29:48

Thanks. If my tires are weathered hard, is there anyway to soften them up without replacing them? Not that it matter much right now, battery's drained, and my friend's got the charger, so I'm grounded for a bit.

justin_o_guy wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:12:

My stock tires were always slimy. Only lasted 5,000 on the back. When I replaced that sorry tire it was like having a different bike. As soon as I scuffed that tire in I was having FUN in corners, not worrying so much about it sliding out & low siding it. When the rear wore out a second time the front was shot, so replaced both & SHAZZAM, it's a motorcycle. Handles so much better than stock. Several tire types are spoken highly of here. You can't go wrong following the advice of these folks with experience. My advice is replace the tire on the rear at least. Both tires if you really want to feel secure in a corner.

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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #19 - 12/06/06 at 11:32:03 phasender wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:12: If my tires are weathered hard, is there anyway to soften them up without replacing them? I'm pretty sure that if you remove the tires, soak 'em in gasoline and light 'em with a match, they'll soften up eventually.
Back to top	1998\|MAC muffler\|ceramic coated header\|K&N air filter\|Amal Mk2 carb\|Odyssey battery\|iridium plug\|NC windshield\|Dunlop 491s\|Superbrace\|EBC brake rotor\|12.5" Progressive shocks\|Kuryakyn ISO grips IP Logged

phasender Ex Member	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #20 - 12/06/06 at 15:37:51 I'll try that tomorrow. Do I want the high octane fuel, or can I get away with 87 octane? I guess I should clean them first, huh? Just kidding. Actually, though, I usually fill up with premium gas, because at 50 mpg, I figure the extra half penny a mile is worth it. What do you guys use?
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john1652 Ex Member	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #21 - 12/06/06 at 16:57:11 [url][/url] yes but my question is this : has anyone used the 130/90-15 tire? There are several manufactures with that size and I wonder if it makes any appreciable difference thanks so much for the tire softening ideas let me know how it works john
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justin_o_guy Ex Member	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #22 - 12/07/06 at 04:43:11 Paying for that extra octane content in a low compression engine is a waste. Buy El Cheapo fuel & crank the throttle hard enough to waste it! Then use your savings on fuel to pay for more fuel. You are purchasing s
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Re: tires - tires - & more tires
Reply #23 - 12/29/06 at 18:30:18

I put the Dunlop 404 130/90/15 on my '04 and I am well pleased with it. I put about 110 miles on it yesterday. It handles very well, but I have to admit that I'm not a peg-scraper and I rarely drive over 65 mph. It doesn't look much different on the bike than the 140, and it gives you several brands to choose from. Plus the tire is slightly taller than the stock tire, which is what I wanted. With the rim being as narrow as it is I don't think I'm giving up any tread contact area. My .02.

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Yonuh Adisi FSO Serious Thumper Offline Savage Jedi (Knight) Posts: 3622 Pilot Valley NV, aka Tatooine Gender:	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #24 - 12/30/06 at 19:32:40 I will be replacing my rear tire pretty soon, already have a dunlop on the front. (unknown model) I was wondering what all weather dunlop you would suggest. I'm not up on tire models so I don't know if the dunlop models mentioned already are all weather or not.
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clueless-FSO Senior Member Offline Posts: 454 Birmingham, Al Gender:	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #25 - 12/30/06 at 19:36:20 Dunlop 404......works fine
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TVR_FSO Serious Thumper Offline I'm Ya Huckleberry.... Posts: 870 Frisco, Texas Gender:	Re: tires - tires - & more tires Reply #26 - 12/31/06 at 09:53:39 I went with the Dunlop K555 140/80-15 about 300 miles ago. Its just now gripping like it should in the corners.
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