"Rambling/Ranting" about front tire woes

Well, I'm sitting here listening to my little pocket radio,
feeling down about my recent front tire disaster.

Trying to adjust to the time change, I'd think it would
be easier to sleep later, rather than harder.

But, my tire dilemma began on 3/16 with the replace-
ment of a off-season, heavily worn Dunlop D206F 150/80/17, with a Dunlop
Elite III of equal size.

Life was good, as with all new tire experiences, the ride
and handling had been restored, and my faith in mankind
had been renewed. <g> Additionally, I'd recently wash-
the bike thoroughly, after the installer's comment - "hey,
do you know what a car wash is? <disgusted sigh>".

Then, 191.7 miles later, before 3/31, I had to roll the
scooter out of the garage to retrieve the charcoal grille
for my wife's dinner plan.

Glancing down with admiration at my newly acquired
tire, I was almost shocked into a cardiac arrest. There
it was, a machine screw firmly embedded in the tread
section of the new tire, about 1" offset from center-point.

I thought I was gonna' require defibrillation. I had to sit
down to collect myself. After a mild recovery, I returned
to inspect the damage. Yep, it appears a sheet metal
screw, firmly embedded in the tire, with a rather shiny
bright head, as if it's smiling, just to taunt me. The install
facility, Renegade Cycles in Mesquite, suggested that
the damaged tire could be tube(d), which I appreciated.

But, after some consideration, I don't see that as a viable
alternative. For one reason, should I repeat this experien-
ce once again, and pick up another road object, I'll be
sitting somewhere on the side of the road, with a tube(d)
tire without any air. That is, if I'm lucky enough to survive
a sudden front wheel deflation. At least now, for the time being, I can
still seem to ride the bike, including the for-eign object, back to the
shop. I guess there's the patch,
or "boot" option, but I've had no experience(s) with that.

Although I seldom exceed 60 mph. I'd rather not have to assess this tire's
history if I were to venture up to the subsonic speeds of the nearby
toll-way(s).

Not that I haven't had somewhat similar occurrences in
the past. My last rear tire replacement was accelerated
due to a road object's damage. But, that was certainly well into the sunset
phase of that tire's life. But now, <200
miles, that's just "cruel, and unusual punishment".

So, I'm off today to again replace the tire with another
that I pray will provide a much longer duration.

Thanks, for being the audience to my rant.

Gary

 

Being a new tire, maybe the screw isn't all the way through. Un-screw it and
listen for air.
If it isn't leaking after removal of the screw, I would not worry about it.
If it was leaking, given the location of the screw, I'd plug it and not
worry about it.

....louie

 

(Gary Walker)
Well, I'm sitting here listening to my little pocket radio, feeling down
about my recent front tire disaster.
~Glancing down with admiration at my newly acquired tire, I was almost
shocked into a cardiac arrest. There it was, a machine screw firmly
embedded in the tread section of the new tire, about 1" offset from
center-point.
~I thought I was gonna' require defibrillation. I had to sit down to
collect myself. After a mild recovery, I returned to inspect the damage.
Yep, it appears a sheet metal screw, firmly embedded in the tire, with a
rather shiny bright head, as if it's smiling, just to taunt me. The
install facility, Renegade Cycles in Mesquite, suggested that the
damaged tire could be tube(d), which I appreciated.
~But, after some consideration, I don't see that as a viable
alternative. For one reason, should I repeat this experien- ce once
again, and pick up another road object, I'll be sitting somewhere on the
side of the road, with a tube(d) tire without any air. That is, if I'm
lucky enough to survive a sudden front wheel deflation. At least now,
for the time being, ~I can still seem to ride the bike, including the
for-eign object, back to the shop. I guess there's the patch,
or "boot" option, but I've had no experience(s) with that.
~Although I seldom exceed 60 mph. I'd rather not have to assess this
tire's history if I were to venture up to the subsonic speeds of the
nearby toll-way(s).
~Not that I haven't had somewhat similar occurrences in the past. My
last rear tire replacement was accelerated due to a road object's
damage. But, that was certainly well into the sunset phase of that
tire's life. But now, <200 miles, that's just "cruel, and unusual
punishment".
~So, I'm off today to again replace the tire with another that I pray
will provide a much longer duration.
~Thanks, for being the audience to my rant.
Gary):~(

while grinning, wrote:
~Gary, inspite of reading about your bad luck, I found your piece to be
delighfully well written and very entertaining. I intend to send it to
my Son'n'law KB. He'll get a laugh out of it.
NOW: your ordeal. I am just afraid to have a tire , that has had a hole
in it. no matter what, I know I'd have to get another'n. Now: On a 4
wheeled vehicle, it is not so bad to reapair 'em, boot 'em. plug 'em.
But riding along on a bike, I would have a mental problem, of
constantly thinking about the dang thang. It wood'nt be wurth it, to me.
Thanks, and your're welcome. heh heh-bjay-

 

Yes, those are options. And once I've returned to the
shop, when we remove the screw, we'll know more.

But, like the patch, I'd probably not ride on a repaired
front tire though. But, many riders do....

Thanks,

Gary

 

(Gary Walker)
Well, I'm sitting here listening to my little pocket radio, feeling down
about my recent front tire disaster.
~Glancing down with admiration at my newly acquired tire, I was almost
shocked into a cardiac arrest. There it was, a machine screw firmly
embedded in the tread section of the new tire, about 1" offset from
center-point.
~I thought I was gonna' require defibrillation. I had to sit down to
collect myself. After a mild recovery, I returned to inspect the damage.
Yep, it appears a sheet metal screw, firmly embedded in the tire, with a
rather shiny bright head, as if it's smiling, just to taunt me. The
install facility, Renegade Cycles in Mesquite, suggested that the
damaged tire could be tube(d), which I appreciated.
~But, after some consideration, I don't see that as a viable
alternative. For one reason, should I repeat this experien- ce once
again, and pick up another road object, I'll be sitting somewhere on the
side of the road, with a tube(d) tire without any air. That is, if I'm
lucky enough to survive a sudden front wheel deflation. At least now,
for the time being, ~I can still seem to ride the bike, including the
for-eign object, back to the shop. I guess there's the patch,
or "boot" option, but I've had no experience(s) with that.
~Although I seldom exceed 60 mph. I'd rather not have to assess this
tire's history if I were to venture up to the subsonic speeds of the
nearby toll-way(s).
~Not that I haven't had somewhat similar occurrences in the past. My
last rear tire replacement was accelerated due to a road object's
damage. But, that was certainly well into the sunset phase of that
tire's life. But now, <200 miles, that's just "cruel, and unusual
punishment".
~So, I'm off today to again replace the tire with another that I pray
will provide a much longer duration.
~Thanks, for being the audience to my rant.
Gary):~(

while grinning, wrote:
~Gary, inspite of reading about your bad luck, I found your piece to be
delighfully well written and very entertaining. I intend to send it to
my Son'n'law KB. He'll get a laugh out of it.
NOW: your ordeal. I am just afraid to have a tire , that has had a hole
in it. no matter what, I know I'd have to get another'n. Now: On a 4
wheeled vehicle, it is not so bad to reapair 'em, boot 'em. plug 'em.
But riding along on a bike, I would have a mental problem, of
constantly thinking about the dang thang. It wood'nt be wurth it, to me.
Thanks, and your're welcome. heh heh-bjay-


Thanks BJ.... Unfortunately, I have the same concerns.

I look at it this way. It's painful just to pay for these tires,
without having to (re)pay for one in only 200 miles. But,
after the reinstall, it's over. Contrast that with having to
anguish or worry over the tire's condition for the remain-
ing life of the tire. I'll choose #1.

Thanks,

Gary

 

Thanks Jerry. This is a Valkyrie also, but the front tire.

Gary

 

Up until this tire, they were both still Dunlop OEM's
D206's. However, this latest front tire is the Elite III,
still Dunlop. I was a little concerned about the change
when the installer made the recommendation, but I
reviewed Dunlop's site, only to read that the Elite is
the upgrade/replacement for the D206.

Yes, I'm aware of the Valkyrie owners changing out
to the Metzler's, Avon's, etc. In fact, many of the Valk
sites have the migration results very well documented.

As I recall from that reading, the Avon's win out as the
superior tire for the replacement on the Valk. It seems
that the Metzler's, although extending the mileage, didn't
fare quite as well with regard to handling, durability, etc.

I've learned over the last few years that the biggest factor
with my tire durability, is my riding style. Namely, just
because a tire is not squealing doesn't mean it's not
breaking traction, and depositing mileage on the street.

So, with that in mind, the additional safety factor, and
some advanced age thrown in, I adjusted my riding style
considerably. I would probably think that with my new
putt-putt style, I'll easily get 14-16K out of the Dunlop's.

Of course, that's presuming that I can keep the foreign
objects out of them. <g>

Thanks,

Gary

 

The first replacement, for the front, with the Elite III,
cost $212 and change. I don't have the invoice at
hand at the moment, but that charge was about $155
for the tire, $45 for the change, and the rest for tax.

I don't research tire prices relentlessly, as do some,
but isn't ~$155 pretty close to some online prices?

Pretty expensive, but not too bad, I've paid more in the
past, as I recall. That work was done a Renegade
Cycles in the 75150 area.

I'm about to post an update on the second replacement,
take a look!

Thanks,

Gary

 

Well, that's good to know, but I just don't understand
how they would gratuitously replace a new tire when
I'm the one that piloted it on top of a machine screw.

Not disagreeing, I just find that pretty phenomenal.

Thanks,

Gary

 

(Gary Walker) wrote:
(thinks it over and says
I look at it this way. It's painful just to pay for these tires, without
having to (re)pay for one in only 200 miles. But, after the reinstall,
it's over. Contrast that with having to anguish or worry over the tire's
condition for the remain- ing life of the tire. I'll choose #1.
Thanks,
Gary

wrote:~)
Think of it this way. You could have rode off on a sizeble trip, and
along the way it go down on ya. and strand ya', or wurse, get too low,
while hurrying around a nice curve, and get ya' hurt! heh heh-bjay-

 

(Gary Walker) wrote:
(thinks it over and says
I look at it this way. It's painful just to pay for these tires, without
having to (re)pay for one in only 200 miles. But, after the reinstall,
it's over. Contrast that with having to anguish or worry over the tire's
condition for the remain- ing life of the tire. I'll choose #1.
Thanks,
Gary

wrote:~)
Think of it this way. You could have rode off on a sizeble trip, and
along the way it go down on ya. and strand ya', or wurse, get too low,
while hurrying around a nice curve, and get ya' hurt! heh heh-bjay-


Yes, those are certainly possibilities. As I learned while
at the shop today, BS'ing with others, just about every-
one has a favorite tire story, or two.

Gary