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How old is old?

Started by T Legg, April 07, 2019, 02:21:34 PM

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T Legg

I purchased and then installed this tire in October before the RPM rally.The tire only has two thousand miles on it,has never had a flat or been run with low tire pressure.The bike is always parked on the center stand and has been ridden weekly all winter yet half the sidewalk of the tire is cracked like dry rot.when I put it on I wasn't happy with the date code (2315) but I didn't think a three year old tire would be a problem.This is my third set of sport demons they ride well but wear quickly however none of them had sidewall cracks before.
T Legg

red

Quote from: T Legg on April 07, 2019, 02:21:34 PMI purchased and then installed this tire in October before the RPM rally.The tire only has two thousand miles on it,has never had a flat or been run with low tire pressure.The bike is always parked on the center stand and has been ridden weekly all winter yet half the sidewalk of the tire is cracked like dry rot.when I put it on I wasn't happy with the date code (2315) but I didn't think a three year old tire would be a problem.This is my third set of sport demons they ride well but wear quickly however none of them had sidewall cracks before.
T Legg,

Environment counts for a lot.  How many aging factors apply, where you park the bike? 
Aggressive detergents, solvents, strong sun (little or no shade), dry air, hot air, windy, outdoors, parked on sunny sand/concrete, next to metal siding (think solar oven)?

Good catch, on the sidewall cracking.  For a strong heavy bike like the FJ, even with good storage conditions, I would only go five or six years on most tires, no matter the tread depth remaining.  With harsh storage conditions, that number would be less; the actual number of years not would be fixed, but set by inspection results (as you did here).

All IMHO, of course.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

ZOA NOM

At the speeds we ride, replace it.
Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

Pat Conlon

I agree with Rick. If in doubt, replace it.

Travis, sidewall cracks @ 5 years is about right for my dry desert climate. Your dry Nevada climate is similar.
4-5 years is my time limit I put on my tires but I've not had this problem in many years. I average around 4-5 thousand miles per year so I typically replace a set every 2-3 years max.

Getting tries fresh at time of sale can be a problem with the odd sized 150/80-16 donut.
I'm a fan of the Avon 3D storm radial tire. I've never had a problem getting fresh Avon tires.
I'm a bigger fan of my current 180/55-17 Road 5's


1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

ZOA NOM

Pat, you gotta check out the Pirelli Angel GT II's. I'm about to order my second set. Love em.
Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

Pat Conlon

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

FJ_Hooligan

Had Angel GTs on my S1000XR.  Great tires!  Got 4Kmiles out of the front and 4.3K out of the back.

That's actually pretty good mileage, the Dunlop Q3s were shot at 3.5k.
DavidR.

ZOA NOM

They just came out with the GT II's. I'll fit those just before the Rally. They added the longitudinal grooves for enhanced grip in wet conditions. Same dual-compound goodies at the center and the edges. I think I'm over 4k on my GT I set.

Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

Tuned forks

Rick, are the Pirellis available in the stock FJ sizes or just the bigger rim sizes?  I need tires before the rally too.

Joe
1990 FJ1200-the reacher
1990 FZR 1000-crotch rocket

ZOA NOM

Quote from: Tuned forks on April 07, 2019, 10:13:25 PM
Rick, are the Pirellis available in the stock FJ sizes or just the bigger rim sizes?  I need tires before the rally too.

Joe

I don't think so. However, you're in luck... I happen to have my original wheels sitting on a shelf with very slightly used rubber. Yours free  if you want them.  They're

Michelin Pilot Power (front)
and

Avon AV66 (rear)

Rick

Current:
2010 Honda VFR1200 DCT (Full Auto!)
1993 FJ/GSXR 1200 (-ABS)
1987 Porsche 911 Carrera (Race)
1988 Porsche Carrera (Street)
Previous:
1993 FJ1200 (FIREBALL)
1993 FJ1200ABS (RIP my collar bone)
1986 FZ750
1984 FJ600
1982 Seca

T Legg

Quote from: ZOA NOM on April 07, 2019, 03:27:10 PM
At the speeds we ride, replace it.    

I couldn't agree more.Nothing detracts from my riding skill more than lack of confidence in my tires.I wouldn' be able to take a good corner without thinking about the thousands of tiny cracks flexing open and closed as I mashed the tires through the turns.I have had these tires well over 100 mph approaching their max rated speed and its disappointing that they have let me down after only five and a half months of use and two thousand miles.the date code on these tires I read wrong originally it is 0516 the tires are only three years and three months since manufactured.I keep my old tires so I can compare how they wear.I bought the sport demon tire that I replaced as well as the tire that now has cracks in it from Dennis kirk .I bought the original sport demon in march of 2018 and ran it until the threads showed in october 2018 the date code was 0417.I checked it and even after laying in the sun unmounted for six months it has no sidewall cracks. the tire I bought from dennis kirk also but in october of 2018 had the date code 0516 a year older than the tire I bought in march of 2018.I don't know of another tire that fits the 16" rim and has a 149 mph speed rating so I will have to stay with the sport demons.    
T Legg

ryanschoebel


How about these?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005J6OPPG/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Thats what is on the 84, and they are 16 inch, speed rating of 168 mph.
1985 FJ1100-- Atlas (SOLD)
1984 FJ1100-- Storm

Sparky84

Quote from: ryanschoebel on April 08, 2019, 11:46:40 AM

How about these?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005J6OPPG/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

Thats what is on the 84, and they are 16 inch, speed rating of 168 mph.
Do they still make those?
I know the link says "unavailable" but that could be just their stock.
1984 FJ1100
1979 Kawasaki Z1300
1972 Honda CB750/4 K2

ryanschoebel

Good point, maybe not. How about these Avon Storms?

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/avon-storm-3d-x-m-tire

Also a 16 inch rim rated at 168 mph
1985 FJ1100-- Atlas (SOLD)
1984 FJ1100-- Storm

Pat Conlon

I like them:
Quote from: Pat Conlon on September 16, 2018, 01:24:39 PM
Avon Storm 3D X-M gets my vote.

You have a 17" front so you can run a matched set. (better if you had the wider 3.5" FZR front rim)

I did a resto on Jason Lawson's '93 and left the rear rim the oem 16". UI figured we would convert over to the 17" rear in the future so, to get him on the road, I installed the 150/80-16 Avon Storm 3D.

Wow!
Stable when leaned over on the shoulders (amazing considering the tall side wall) nimble with good grip, fast warm up, Good mileage.

I was very impressed with this tire.
Even to a point where, had this tire been available 12 years ago, I would have felt no need to convert my FJ over to a 17" rear.

Kudo's to Avon for producing this tire in the rare 150/80-16 size.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on February 22, 2018, 07:37:20 PM
I can't say enough about the Avon Storm 3D in the 150/80-16 size. I was very impressed.

What I can say, on my '84, that if this Avon tire had been available 15 years ago, I would have never converted my back rim over to a 17" rim.

Yes, I still would have converted my front over with '89+ fork lowers and the 3.5" FZR rim to run the matching 120/70-17 Avon.(and the R-1 brakes, etc...)

....and now we have a new and improved Avon Spirit?  Kudo's to Avon!

Please let us know your impressions and what sort of mileage you get out of these tires.

Cheers. Pat




Look at the Avon Spirit ST's:  http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=17635.msg177984#msg177984

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3