TouringTyre Report.........

[steptoe]

.02443 cents per klm YOU MAKE FAR TO MUCH MONEY

seriously though, try running 38 in them, you end up with a smaller running area but with a lot less movement in the walls and face of the tyre,

Metzeler marathon  rear atm, put on in grafton last yr on the way home from bourke at 75000, now at 92500 and still a bees dick over 2mm to go,
 but I ride like grandad also
the Avon ended up costing .00722222

[beemeerr11]

Replaced the Michelin's that I put on the bike when I bought it in 2009, they did the Bourke trip, tyres were on the bike for about 4 years, hard as a rock and from new experienced handling problems that would keep you on your toes when you least expected it.
Just before Nymboida  I put a set of Metzeler Lazertech  same as Brian's and I'm really happy with them, may be it's because of how bad the Michelins were but the tyres still had nipples in the middle at Tamworth, can't tell you what the wear factor is and they obviously don't handle as good as Jonesy's flat track tyres he had on in that mud stretch before we got to camp.
On another note, I had a set of Avons on my K1100, bought them to get good milage from, and ended up getting rid of them after about 7,000 K's as they gave the effect that you were riding with knobby tyres on a road bike, my opinion only.

Cheers

Lou

[Jonesy :-)]

replaced my rear Bridgestone BT45 today after 7735km's  usually run about 35psi. worked out to be 0.0244343891402715 cents per kilometre.......you do the math 
trips of note
Bathurst to Bourke n back
Bathurst to Philip island n back
Bathurst to Nymboida n back

[steptoe]

an update on the tyres,, being the Avon Roadriders
 the bike is now at 70,000 klm, the rear tyre has now done the best part of 12,000 klm,
 front tyre is still at 2.5mm
rear is 2.5mm also now

[excess.11]

Guys , it would be of great benefit and interest to ourselves and others if we could periodically keep listing kms and measured wear rate until we change to a new tyre.
Anyone else having to fit  new tyres.........list the Make of tyre and type of bike ie RH or Standard (Castrol 6hr winner) and  the progression of wear for all to see.
Even if you have part worn tyres........get the info on here so any standout performances can be shared with the group.

[steptoe]

I on the other hand am happy with my tyre choice,

on arrival home after the trip with a gross weight of 520 kgm, {stopped at the local weigh bridge out of curiosity}

front tyre, 2.5mm

rear tyre, 3.9mm

is just starting to show a flat running surface now

[AussiXS11G]

Well now.......the Metzler is definitely not a touring tyre (imho)
after the trip.....
Front - 1.6mm at cre of tread
Rear - 2.4mm ditto
 

[AussiXS11G]

Tyres - Metezeler Lasertec
Pressures - Front 34 psi Rear 38psi
Front - 2.2mm at centre of tread


Rear - 4.5mm at centre of tread


I don't hold hopes that these will wear well on this trip - I predict that the rear will resemble a truck tyre and the front will be knaffed on my return

[steptoe]

tyres ------- avon road riders

speedo ------- 65000 klm

rear @ 38 psi,, tread 5mm

front @ 34 psi,, 3mm

to be added onto on return

[excess.11]

Tyre Type : Pirelli Sport Demon
 Pirelli website " Blurb"
http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/sport_demon.html
Tread Depth when new : Front 4.0mm
                                        Rear   7.0mm

Before Rally Tread Depth : Front 3.5 mm @34 Psi
                                            Rear  5.0 mm @37 Psi

After Rally Tread Depth : Front 3.1 mm
                                         Rear 3.0mm
Distance travelled 2,160kms

All up weight onboard..... including self / panniers/tank bag/rear rack bag....122kgs

Excellent handling / comfort and all round tyre .Will definately buy the same again.
 As we all know there has to be some trade off..... regarding wear and handling in wet or adverse conditions.
A long wearing tyre usually means a flatter profile (slower response handling)
 harder compound ( less grip in the wet).
Keep in mind....the initial centre tread wear rate on a new tyre is more significant......... than the three quarter to midway point  as it starts to wear down.......... due to there being progressively more rubber in contact with the road .

[steptoe]

good idea Jeff,

will show up quite well with all the different styles and types of rubber on the bikes, along with the variations of pressures used also

[excess.11]

As we are all interested in what tyres we might next consider.....a group report on tyre" type" and " wear" can be logged on here...as a......... "Before Rally" and "After Rally" assessment.

After some 2,000kms plus or minus ......... to and from the rally......... it would be interesting to see what wear was measured via the centre tread front and back.
So just take note of your start and finish kms travelled.......... with a before and after tread measurement.........easy peasy mrs squeezy.
Log the details on here as a valuable reference and topical debate.
This will serve as "The Touring Tyre Report"............not necessarily a tyre you d fit for around town or track work or weekend twistys but one to give you mileage for touring.