xl700va tyre wear

[deskjetian]

I just checked the tyre tread depth on my XL700VA. The front is about 4.5mm (centre) and the rear is about 3.5mm. That's after 3100+ miles, all on the black stuff, one up.
Does anyone know what tread depth the new trailwings would have come with?
I know what the legal minimum is, but would be interested to know what you would run them down to ?

[stephen McG]

I got TA700 last June and the tread on the trailwings is huge.
I cannot think you could run them down to min tread.
I have passed 8400 miles and suspect that I will change rear at 9000.
By now I am getting a noticeable wobble with the rear tyre definitely squared off.
At the moment I am treating every mile as a bonus as my last 4 tyres on previous bikes have come to a premature end of life due to nails.
I am getting some pleasure in the fact that this tyre will get changed because it has to.
Even with a squared tyre there is still a decent visible tread.
The front is fine.
Stephen McG in sunny Glasgow

[Tony M]

By the time my back one had worn down to about 3mm in the centre (which only took me about 2.5k miles: gratuitous application of power - I ride it to enjoy!!) the handling seemed to be going downhill, in that it was getting much more sensitive to white lines and road grooves. The front was still in pretty good nick: it's in the garage, and I might put it back on with a new rear (not necessarily a Bridgestone) for the rest of the summer/autumn. I've been running TKCs since the end of last summer.
I must confess that, in spite of the general slagging that Bridgestones get, I found them quite good on tarmac (useless on mud and damp grass, though!) - but they don't seem to last long.

[africajim]

My VA9 Varadero came with Deathwings, the back is down to a couple of mm left at 3000 miles.
I always run them down to the limit, although I would be careful in the wet with a well worn deathwing!
I'm changing mine to Michelin Anakees next week as I've a trip to Europe planned for July and have faith in the Michelin, 6000 miles on the Tiger, so I hope to get more miles out of them.

[Plasnart]

I got TA700 last June and the tread on the trailwings is huge.
I cannot think you could run them down to min tread.
I have passed 8400 miles and suspect that I will change rear at 9000.
By now I am getting a noticeable wobble with the rear tyre definitely squared off.
At the moment I am treating every mile as a bonus as my last 4 tyres on previous bikes have come to a premature end of life due to nails.
I am getting some pleasure in the fact that this tyre will get changed because it has to.
Even with a squared tyre there is still a decent visible tread.
The front is fine.
Stephen McG in sunny Glasgow

That's incredible! I can't imagine how you ride to get that mileage, mine had gone off by 3500 miles and were down to 1mm when I replaced them at 4400. The stated wear limit is 2mm by the way.

I don't buy into the whole 'deathwing' crap either, they were very good in all weathers and only slid a little once I think, much less than my last bike with BTO20's, a standard very good tyre. They did have a slightly lumpy feel at slow speed so I'm running Tourances now, which are very smooth and fast steering. Replacement cost was the same for both incidentally.

[Orinoco]

Rear Deathwing stayed for 12,000 miles and was down to just above the legal limit. The front is hanging on still, but at 14,000 miles it's down to 1.6 mm and going just as soon as I can get an Anakee delivered.

Have to disagree with Plasnart about the Deathwing and the Bridgestone 020's though. Managed somewhere close to 200,000 miles on the 020's on various bikes and found them fine in all weathers and temperatures. The deathwings are OK in the warm and dry, but if it's cold or wet they act in a very different manner....

[MandoBear]

I think it's fair to say that the Trailwings do divide opinion... and also that the Trailwings fitted to the 650 Alp are very different indeed to those fitted to the 700 (sorry Orinoco - don't know which you're riding). All the different sizes of Trailwings seem to have very different tread patterns (and compounds more than likely). From a personal standpoint, I found the Trailwings on the 700 Alp to be pretty good wet or dry - never once had a moment with them - my only major gripe is that the rear only lasted for 6000 miles and had got really squared off by that time which made handling interesting (the old rear tyre did in fact stand up on its own when it was removed).

I've just gone on to Tourances and the difference in feel of the bike is huge - even allowing for the comparison between a brand new set of tyres and some well worn out old ones. I'm having to re-learn how the bike goes around corners.

I agree that StephenMcG must be riding like a saint to get that kind of wear from his rear tyre - or do they have very non abrasive tarmac in Glasgow?

[Orinoco]

sorry Orinoco - don't know which you're riding

<.... SNIP ....>

I agree that StephenMcG must be riding like a saint to get that kind of wear from his rear tyre - or do they have very non abrasive tarmac in Glasgow?

I'm on a 2008 XL700VA8

In terms of milage and usage; I'm a commuter so I spend a lot of time at a constant[ish] speed on the motorway which does little to wear tyres, then through London traffic which does. I tend to accelerate just quick enough to avoid trouble which means the rear doesn't get as much grief as it could do [like if I had to be the first away from the lights each time]. The front on the other hand gets a decent workout from all the braking and filtering that gets done.

[sadpsych]

I'm on a 2008 XL700VA8 too.

Similar commute too. Bendy A roads, fast dual carriageway, towny filtering stuff.

Rear trailwing replaced at 8K like for like, front changed for Anakee at 10K, Trailwing that i took of had a weird wear pattern on it that i think was due to compound. All the wear was in a wobbly band about half inch each side of centreline. Centre part of tread was virtually untouched. some would put his down to under inflation but i check the TP's weekly and theyre kept at the recomended PSI, so cant really blame that. Have noticed a marked improvement with the Anakee with regards to handling, will probably change rear to same when next due which looks like it'll last another 4K

[Pondlife]

Got 4500 miles on the clock and the back tyre is good it would seem for another 4000 miles, can't say I'm a cautious rider with the throttle at pull away and corners.. so god only knows how some of you guys wear them out so quick .

As for the Deathwing theory, well I ride everyday all year round and have to commute in the rain, snow and Ice ( it was pretty bad this year )and have to say that they only slipped out once, so I can't not recommend them as a good all round tyre

Here's to another happy and hopefully upright 4000 miles on them..