950SM --- tire wear

devilfishlane · 02-10-2008, 05:30 PM

I have a 950 SM and I m wearing out my front tire tread on the outsides, at twice the rate as the center.

My pressure is normal -33 psi-

I also ride alot of mountain roads, breaking somewhat hard

Whats going on?

Thanks

Popey · 02-10-2008, 06:22 PM

No problem IMO. You're using the bike as it was intended!

trc · 02-10-2008, 06:55 PM

I agree, I run Qualifiers and use them both on and off-road. The on road sections wear (melted) the sides and off-road tears up the centers. This is just the price we pay for the use of a 100+ Hp street/dirt bike. Its like having two bikes for the price of two.

(www.timrobelconcepts.com)

snarf · 02-11-2008, 04:58 AM

Thats completely normal :) In fact, you deserve a pat on the back for using the ol' girl in the manner in which she was designed for! Nothing bugs me more than a performance bike being sissy-footed around on :)

govdog76 · 02-11-2008, 01:27 PM

I agree with the other inmates that not only is that type of wear normal, but indeed enviable!!

MY 950SM and I weep that you have such easy access to these type of roads.

All that being said, I think the OM specifies a psi or two higher than you are running, which would serve to increase wear on the center of the tire. You could bump up the pressure a little and see if that helped the wear over a few thousand miles.

Cheers!

brents347 · 02-11-2008, 08:54 PM

Devilfish,

While I agree that this type of wear is normal when I run my bike on the track, I don't think a street tire should necessarily wear the outside of the tire that much faster. Of course that depends on what tire you run, how hot your ambient and road temps typically are and how hard you are riding the bike. I do believe that you are riding it hard.

The only suggestion I would make would be to check the balance of the motorcycle with regard to front/rear loading. If the front is particularly soft and the rear is set-up stiff it creates what I call a 'stink bug' effect where the rear stays raised up and the front dives on corner entrance which can lead to front tire loading and excessive tire wear.

The mags and such all suggested that to set up the SM you should back out the front preload almost if not all the way. This works great but the rear still has to be in balance. It seems like this approach could lead to an out of balance situation pretty easily.

Just something to think about.

02-10-2008, 05:30 PM	#1
devilfishlane ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2007 Oddometer: 55	950SM --- tire wear I have a 950 SM and I m wearing out my front tire tread on the outsides, at twice the rate as the center. My pressure is normal -33 psi- I also ride alot of mountain roads, breaking somewhat hard Whats going on? Thanks

02-10-2008, 06:22 PM	#2
Popey Nutter Joined: Aug 2004 Location: SF, CA Oddometer: 1,698	No problem IMO. You're using the bike as it was intended! __________________ Ed '10 KTM 990SMR '08 KTM 690E '08 CBR 1000RR (Track) '02 Mille R (Track)

02-10-2008, 06:55 PM	#3
trc Tim Robel Concepts Joined: Jun 2007 Location: Sanbernardino, CA Oddometer: 121	I agree, I run Qualifiers and use them both on and off-road. The on road sections wear (melted) the sides and off-road tears up the centers. This is just the price we pay for the use of a 100+ Hp street/dirt bike. Its like having two bikes for the price of two. (www.timrobelconcepts.com) trc screwed with this post 02-10-2008 at 10:08 PM

02-11-2008, 04:58 AM	#4
snarf WFO and clueless Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Oddometer: 645	Thats completely normal :) In fact, you deserve a pat on the back for using the ol' girl in the manner in which she was designed for! Nothing bugs me more than a performance bike being sissy-footed around on :) __________________ -Derek 'If you wanna play tough, you had better be stupid!' 8 bikes and counting.. www.kyriders.net

02-11-2008, 08:54 PM	#6
brents347 KOTW 2010 Finisher Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Where the hell is Truckee, CA? Oddometer: 2,978	Devilfish, While I agree that this type of wear is normal when I run my bike on the track, I don't think a street tire should necessarily wear the outside of the tire that much faster. Of course that depends on what tire you run, how hot your ambient and road temps typically are and how hard you are riding the bike. I do believe that you are riding it hard. The only suggestion I would make would be to check the balance of the motorcycle with regard to front/rear loading. If the front is particularly soft and the rear is set-up stiff it creates what I call a 'stink bug' effect where the rear stays raised up and the front dives on corner entrance which can lead to front tire loading and excessive tire wear. The mags and such all suggested that to set up the SM you should back out the front preload almost if not all the way. This works great but the rear still has to be in balance. It seems like this approach could lead to an out of balance situation pretty easily. Just something to think about. __________________ Brents347 Truckee, CA. 07 Yamaha R6 07 KTM 950 Super Enduro 04 KTM 250exc- plated two-stroke

02-11-2008, 01:27 PM	#5
govdog76 Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Tar Heel Country Oddometer: 45	I agree with the other inmates that not only is that type of wear normal, but indeed enviable!! MY 950SM and I weep that you have such easy access to these type of roads. All that being said, I think the OM specifies a psi or two higher than you are running, which would serve to increase wear on the center of the tire. You could bump up the pressure a little and see if that helped the wear over a few thousand miles. Cheers!

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