I have about 4500 miles on my Metzeler ME550 and ME330 tires that I bought last summer.
Most of my riding is in-town or highway and I've noticed some small cracks on the rear tire in the tread groves. The cracks don't appear deep and the rubber is in good condition. The rear tire looks like it is getting a slight flat spot. Tire pressure is always maintained at 33/38 psi.
QUESTION: Is it time for a new tire (please say no) and does a slight flat spot cause problems in twisty roads?
Also, for the folks that use these tires, how do you like them?
My bike came with the stock tires, which were crap, so I have nothing else to compare my current tires with.
Thanks!
38 psi in the rear may be too much, causing the tire to be expanded more than normal; or when the tire heats up, the greater internal pressure may cause it to expand and the cracks begin in the grooves.
I would say decrease the pressure 1 psi and keep on riding those tires to the wearbars.
At 4500 miles you're about halfway through the rear tire.
I had an ME 330/550 set on the bike I sold to richard. They were certainly better than stock! He has since replaced the rear with a BT45, but I haven't thought to get his observations on any difference he might have noticed. I don't think the different rear would be all that noticeable, but if he changes to a BT45 in front he will probably notice a difference.
I say that because when I had both bikes I always slightly preferred the "feel" of the BT45 set on my '99 to the ME 330/550 set on the '96. I could never put my finger on it, but the BT45s somehow felt more planted, or confidence-inspiring in the curves, or something.
Oh, and I agree - set the pressure in the rear to 36 psi.
The cracks are normal. You get that on all tires. 4,500 miles is not a lot. The flat spot is normal, since most of the time you ride straight up. When the the flat spot gets more pronounced it gets interesting. You will feel it in the turns. I got 9,500 out of my stock rear. 15,500 out of my front. At 15,500 I put on new front and rear and you should see the difference in the turns.
I'm running the same set. I had some posts a while back about a bad tire set that was replaced by Metzeler under warranty. After about 9 months and 3000 miles, they were totally shot with sidewall cracking. I was told this was an anomaly.
The new set is holding up well, I've got about 1500 miles on them. I really like them, other than the bogus first set :)
wow, 15k on a front, im lucky if i get 5-6k outta my front and like 2500-3k on my rear, ok ill give ya that i ride on pilot sports, but still, damn
Thanks for the replies.
What tire pressures does everyone typically run (should make that poll).
36 seems to be the winning rear tire number.
Well, 36 is the Suzuki-recommended number. See the sticker on your swingarm ...
(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/100_1605_TirePressureSticker.jpg)
... or under your seat (or wherever it is on your model year).