I own a 1250 GS, and after 5,000 miles have had to have my front tire (Bridgestone Battleax Adventure) replaced by the dealership. The rear tire is still in good shape. The dealer told me that is what they have been seeing the front tires last on the new 1250's. Anyone have any idea why the front tire wares faster than the rear. I always thought it would be just the opposite. I check my tire pressures before each ride, and the bike has no alignment or balance issues.
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Front Tires 1250 GS
- Thread starter apbehnen
- Start date
52184
GTRider
Just MHO, but the dealers only get to specify “street” or “dirt” tires when ordering a bike. I don’t think your front tire issue is a *bike* issue, it’s purely a tire issue. Not surprising with the Battleax tire IMHO. Mount up a fresh set of higher-grade (cough—Michelin—cough) tires and improve both performance and life of your tires.
Best,
DeVern
Best,
DeVern
riderr1150gsadv
Well-known member
Mine were gone after 8K miles as well and I have a 2018 1200 GSA. The replacement Michelin Anakee Adv tires are, so far, much better.
Conti or Metzeler, please
I'm not a fan of Bridgestone from OEM use back 20 or so years. My 2017 r1200gs now has 18,000 and change miles on the OEM Metzeler tourance next and has about 3/32 of tread left on it's front tire.
I am a big fan of Metzeler and Continental tires. Also consider that continental tires has a free towing plan if you have a flat tire with continental tires. See dealer or continental for details.
David
I'm not a fan of Bridgestone from OEM use back 20 or so years. My 2017 r1200gs now has 18,000 and change miles on the OEM Metzeler tourance next and has about 3/32 of tread left on it's front tire.
I am a big fan of Metzeler and Continental tires. Also consider that continental tires has a free towing plan if you have a flat tire with continental tires. See dealer or continental for details.
David
pglaves
#13338
That is interesting. Voni's 1994 R1100RS (Big Red) came with Bridgestone Battleax BT50 tires. They stuck well, performed well in the rain, averaged 9,044 miles per tire front and rear and were, along with a few BT54 tires, what we used for the first 289,000 miles on that bike. By 2003 we wanted better mileage for the Iron Butt Rally so switched to Metzeler ME880s for a few sets until 2013. We are now using Michelin Pilot Road tires. That was 64 Bridgestone tires, 13 Metzeler tires, and 8 Michelin tires for an overall average of 9,765 per tire. The Metzelers averaged 10,827 miles per tire and the Michelins have averaged 13,797 miles.
Some of these numbers are slightly skewed by four flat tires replaced before worn out.
Tire technology certainly has improved over the past 35 years.
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go with the michelins
my 2019 r1250gsa now has 8000 miles- and both tires still have some rubber left. plan to replace next month in anticipation of another long ride mid march!
my 2019 r1250gsa now has 8000 miles- and both tires still have some rubber left. plan to replace next month in anticipation of another long ride mid march!
gsinnc
Well-known member
This seems to be very common with the newer BMW's. The first time I'd heard of the front tire wearing out first was with my buddy's K1600GT. He routinely had the front wear first. We were both shocked but that is the same pattern we are seeing with our wet head RT's and GS's. We both have an RT and GS and on them are seeing the front tire wear at the same rate or faster than the rear. Never saw this on my 1100, 1150 or 1200 Hex Head BMW's.
In addition we are seeing overall tire wear much sooner than with prior BMW boxer bikes. A good run on a Wet Head for me is probably 8,000+ miles where as on my 1150 and 1200 Hex and Cam heads 10,000 to 12,000 was very common. The only answer I can think of is the great engine power and stronger brakes on the newer bikes.
In addition we are seeing overall tire wear much sooner than with prior BMW boxer bikes. A good run on a Wet Head for me is probably 8,000+ miles where as on my 1150 and 1200 Hex and Cam heads 10,000 to 12,000 was very common. The only answer I can think of is the great engine power and stronger brakes on the newer bikes.
riderr1150gsadv
Well-known member
I have a set of Dunlop Trailmax Missions in my warehouse. I'm trying for 9K miles on the Michelin Anakee Adv tires before replacing them...
how in the hell do you get 8K out of the AA tires?
I ride aggressive maybe but I see lots of other GSA riders riding like I do
I always check tire pressure 42 rear - 36 front
REDC650GT
Member
I am very happy with the Anakee Adventure tire, I have 8500 miles on my set and they are going strong. I had many sets of the Pilot Road 4’s and was taking them off at 6000 miles generally. The AA’s seem to have similar handling characteristics.
Chris
riderr1150gsadv
Well-known member
I am easy on the throttle and am not aggressive although I do ride fast when traffic and road conditions permit. YMMV
dukekaboom
One Man Wolfpack
BMW R1250GS Tire
I am surprised by some of the comments here regarding the Bridgestone Battleax A41 tires (not that I doubt anyone who has had that experience) because I find these tires exceptional as a 90/10 road-biased tire. I only have 2,503 miles on mine and, yes, they appear to be wearing quickly -- I would anticipate roughly 5 - 6,000 miles of life before needing replacement -- but i value grip and handling way more than tire life as I do tend to ride aggressively 50% of the time. I also had a set of Michelin Anakee Adventures on my first R1250GS (which I totaled at 3,267 miles) and the wore a bit better but had pretty decent grip -- in particular given their 80/20 design. I'm thinking about the Michelin TKC70 Rock as my next set as I want to do a bit more off-road riding.
Kent
P.S. I've attached a file showing the rate of wear based on tread depth measurements at (roughly) 500 mile intervals. I'll do this for all future tire purchases so I have hard data on which to base my tire choices on.
I am surprised by some of the comments here regarding the Bridgestone Battleax A41 tires (not that I doubt anyone who has had that experience) because I find these tires exceptional as a 90/10 road-biased tire. I only have 2,503 miles on mine and, yes, they appear to be wearing quickly -- I would anticipate roughly 5 - 6,000 miles of life before needing replacement -- but i value grip and handling way more than tire life as I do tend to ride aggressively 50% of the time. I also had a set of Michelin Anakee Adventures on my first R1250GS (which I totaled at 3,267 miles) and the wore a bit better but had pretty decent grip -- in particular given their 80/20 design. I'm thinking about the Michelin TKC70 Rock as my next set as I want to do a bit more off-road riding.
Kent
P.S. I've attached a file showing the rate of wear based on tread depth measurements at (roughly) 500 mile intervals. I'll do this for all future tire purchases so I have hard data on which to base my tire choices on.
gsinnc
Well-known member
WOW ... I can only hope for that kind of mileage!
front tire wear
Looks just like my 2016 gs Michelin Annakee 3s not impressed at all!! slip on hot or wet tar snakes, scarry!! A handful on gravel, and showing lots od side wear at 5100 miles. Dunlop or Contis next time.
Looks just like my 2016 gs Michelin Annakee 3s not impressed at all!! slip on hot or wet tar snakes, scarry!! A handful on gravel, and showing lots od side wear at 5100 miles. Dunlop or Contis next time.
