Riding on the Darkside
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Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done??

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Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done?? Empty Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done??

Post  skullsession Thu Apr 10, 2014 7:33 am

Kumho SPT KU31 195/55-16.  On a Victory Cross Country.  Installed late Oct, 2013.

I've only got a hair over 6,000 miles on this tire and there is only 1/8" tread left.  Original specs on this tire is 10.5/32".  This means I've already used 6.5/32".  I'm 62% trough this tire already...if you assume I'd run it to slick.  I won't.  So...I'm actually closer to 76% through this tire.

WHOA!!  I've seen one post where a guy said his was done at about 8,000.  Crazy.  I had hoped this wouldn't be the case for me.  Looking at the database that shows distance on this tire, I see folks getting 20k+.

I usually ride one up with no gear.  Occasionally I haul a little camping gear.  I'm 200 lbs.  I check pressure religiously - keep it at 36-37 lbs.  I'm comfortable on the tire....handles nice....but I only made the darkside switch for added mileage, so this is disturbing.

Suggestions for a tire that you know gets better distance?
skullsession
skullsession

Number of posts : 35
Age : 54
Location : Houston, TX
Registration date : 2013-10-28

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Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done?? Empty can we see a picture

Post  genedjr Mon Apr 28, 2014 12:17 pm

Take a picture please. I am also interested in mileage, but the bottom line is $$$ per mile. Check my other thread on the potenza. With 3500 miles so far I do expect to get 18K-20K out of mine. While I am happy (see other thread) with the avon AM26 rear on the front, I don't expect it to last as long, maybe 10K-12K or about the same as the stone 709, but $50 cheaper.

...gene
genedjr
genedjr

Number of posts : 50
Age : 66
Location : Colorado Springs
Registration date : 2013-11-13

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Post  skullsession Fri May 09, 2014 9:09 am

Gene...I'll be happy to get you a pic when I get back to my buddie's place. I kept the tire over there because there may be a couple thousand miles left in it. I took it off before we ran down to Big Bend a couple weeks ago. That was about 2,400 miles, so I didn't want to be worrying about it in the desert. But...I can tell you the tire appears to have worn evenly across the tread. Doesn't look funny....just looks used.
skullsession
skullsession

Number of posts : 35
Age : 54
Location : Houston, TX
Registration date : 2013-10-28

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Post  skullsession Wed May 28, 2014 8:08 am

Following are pics of that tire.  I estimated that there are only about 2,000 miles on it, based upon tread used and mileage accumulated.  I think this tire would have been bald at just over 9,000 miles or so. Like I said, I hated to pull it off the bike, but I was up against a 2,500 trip and didn't want to take the chance.

To my eye, it was wearing pretty evenly. It just didn't last as long as I had hoped.

Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done?? 1

Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done?? 3

Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done?? 2
skullsession
skullsession

Number of posts : 35
Age : 54
Location : Houston, TX
Registration date : 2013-10-28

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Kumho SPT KU31 - Only about 8,000 miles and done?? Empty looks even to me

Post  genedjr Thu May 29, 2014 1:07 pm

How aggressive are you riding? It also looks like the center is wearing faster than the edges - have you tried a lower pressure? Pick up a thread gauge and measure 3/5 places across the tire in 3/5 different spots. They should be within 1mm or 1/32.

Very aggressive riding will kill off a tire pretty quick. Also, do you accelerate fast and use the engine to decelerate? Again, those also impact the mileage.

...gene
genedjr
genedjr

Number of posts : 50
Age : 66
Location : Colorado Springs
Registration date : 2013-11-13

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Post  skullsession Wed Jun 04, 2014 8:28 am

I do realize that these pics make it look like the tire is wearing more in the middle. It is...slightly....but not by much. Across the entire bottom of the tire, it was pretty even. I checked that when I took it off, but I didn't make note of then. But, even if it wore perfectly evenly, this tire would have been done by 9 or 10k - which is thousands of miles less than what I would have expected. This tire is still hanging on the wall at my buddies. I'll take good measurements and note then.

Personally, I don't feel like I ride very aggressively. I've been told by a couple of friends that I "ride hard"...but seriously...I don't think I do. Most of the miles on this tire were to and from work, on straight-line city streets....not more than 55 mph or so.

I do a fair amount of engine braking...and maybe I take off fairly quickly. But I don't think I rode it any harder than I did my previous Bridgestone motorcycle tire - and IT lasted near 12k. Maybe I ride more aggressively than I think I do. Or...maybe it's just this tire.

In either case...I'm trying to ride easier on the Protenza that I replaced it with. We'll see how that goes. But I promise you that the first 2,400 miles on the new tire were anything but easy...haha...Davis Mountains, Big Bend, Hill Country. Now, I just have to milk the remaining mileage out of it.

Thanks for the tips and feedback.
skullsession
skullsession

Number of posts : 35
Age : 54
Location : Houston, TX
Registration date : 2013-10-28

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Post  skullsession Wed Jun 04, 2014 8:31 am

Gene...just noticed you're using the same Bridgestone Potenza RE960 that I switched to. How's that holding up for you?
skullsession
skullsession

Number of posts : 35
Age : 54
Location : Houston, TX
Registration date : 2013-10-28

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