Zh2 tires

[runnerhiker]

I have 3,000 miles on mine and I think I'll get another 1000 miles out of the OEM tires.

[ncj01]

Originally Posted by Vanessa

So if I read this right, you get about 1000 miles out of a rear tyre and you do about a couple of 1000 miles per month?
So you're changing your rear tyre every 2 weeks? Really?
I've done approaching 3000 miles since new on my ZH2, and both tyres still look pretty much like new.

You lot must be riding far far more aggressively than me.

Yes Sir, that is correct. 

Sometimes i'll get over 1000 on the rear - depending on who i'm riding with, and time of year, temp and road conditions.  Ex: cooler months with poor weather and colder road temps, we ride easier, and i've gotten as high as 1500-1600 miles out of a rear.

Most typically the sides wear our before the center, but again varies a little on which roads/time of year, length of rides...
The tires close- up below/attached is on my '22 1290 Super duke, that's the OEM front (Dunlop S22), and the 2nd rear (a Mich Pilot Power 3), and the bike had 2400 miles on it when photo taken. 
I try not to ride them to the true wire, but b/c most of my rides are 300-350 per ride-day i change them before wire shows, b/c no way i'd make through the next ride.

The other pic is a screen grab off my buddy's bike, that's me on the right on my MT10. 
For several years i've gone back/forth between Duke & MT10 as my favorite road bike, like Blonde/Brunette... each is impossibly good, which i forget when i'm riding the other.
I don't have the MT at the moment, but i do have the new EVO duke...
My brother bought a '23 Zh2, so i'm grabbing a '21 Z-SE to match and i've always been curious... kinda excited.
I've had a B-King before, so i know what a powerful but porky naked feels like, and i'm hoping the ZH2 is notably more agile and powerful, i'm sure it is...
I know the feedback that Z isn't a handling bike, whereas the MT, Duke, Ape, Duc are.... i don't really care, i'm not out to win any races, just have a good time riding in my own comfort level.

As for changing tires very frequently, yes, that's my burden and curse. I've gotten good at it however.
Having several bikes in the garage, i can spread the miles out and as such i'm not exactly changing tires every week, but at least once/month.

[ncj01]

some what frustratingly, the forum isn't allowing me to upload photo's.

it's asking for me to log-in again (in a pop-up window), but then it won't accept my log-in creditials, which i know are correct (as i just logged into the forum).

Sorry that i can't share pics at this time for that reason............. don't mean to go on a rant, but this type of obstacle is part of why traditional forums like this one are dying out in favor of groups on Facebook.
It shouldn't be this hard.

thnx!

[85ELR20ZH2]

I’m with Vanessa here - that suggested tyre wear is either untrue or implies imminent death/imprisonment

[SaltyStream]

Originally Posted by Cko2008

Does anyone's Zh2 eat through rear tires quickly?

Yes, even if I ride fairly gentle most of the time. 

Note:
If you wear the sides more than the middle, I would say that's for the track.. not the road.
I wouldn't last long where I live if I rode like that. 

[John_A]

Originally Posted by 85ELR20ZH2

I’m with Vanessa here - that suggested tyre wear is either untrue or implies imminent death/imprisonment

Maybe some people exaggerate on the interwebs.
I remember some claiming 600 miles on rear tyre on Hayabusas etc. During break-in!

I think there are two real factors that also need to be priced in:
1. Some OEM tyres come with less thread, even if they appear to be the same designation as the make/model you buy later as replacements. We're talking 2-3mm less!
2. Not everyone is obsessive with tyre pressures. Some run with several psi lower than recommended, 10+ psi is not unheard of. They just never check them. Some even check them while warm, and take air out thinking they are overinflated.

My OEM rear tyre got a nasty screw in it before 1000 miles I think. I plugged it, but it was still leaking a bit.
I plugged it again (more out of curiosity to see if two plugs next to each other are viable).
It was still leaking (very slightly) in the bubble test, and I measured the thread depth at 3mm so decided to have it changed early just to be sure.
I also run 3-4 psi lower pressures front/rear as I rarely go over 100mph and ride solo. It's all 2nd/3rd gear on these roads. The lower the tyre pressure, the higher the temps when it warms up, the stickier it gets, but you also get more wear. Can't have it all..

[Vanessa]

I followed someone's advice on here about reducing tyre pressure by 1psi front and rear to give more comfort. It seemed to help a bit with that. I regularly check my pressures, and I often exceed 100mph on my daily commute. My tyres still look really good, and have not squared off at all, and I was worried that they might with all the motorway miles I do.
I am still impressed daily with how well this bike deals with wind blast at speed with the accessory front screen.

[runnerhiker]

I run about 4 psi low unless I am going on a trip and I have loaded panniers, panniers on my other bikes, so on the ZH2, low 4 psi most of the time on the ZH2.  There was a technical paper on the Dunlop site about 10 years ago that gave a great explanation of running lower tire pressure.  I haven't seen it since, I am guessing the lawyers made them take it down.  But it went along the lines of what John said two messages above, adding that the 36/42 psi is utterly important for carrying weight, not for traction performance, that running a lower pressure would increase traction.  Up to a point, of course, but that even 5 psi low was not a safety problem.  Safety not a problem until about 10 psi low.  For supporting evidence, see what pressure people run when they do track days.  It's always below 36/42.

[SaltyStream]

I see no need to reduce the tyre pressure for track days. As the picture show, it is more than sticky enough on a hot summer day.
This was on very new/fresh M9RR. Max lean was a tad over 50 degrees in the turns according to the IMU.

For once the side of the tyre is more worn than in the middle... 

[Vern666]

I'm the same as saltystream, 36/42, checked at least once a week, trackdays and normal roads,  no problems what's so ever, that's with peg scraping.
Roughly  3500 miles on a rear, that's pretty good.