1100 Tires are changing

[Aladinbama]

Looking for a rear tire for my 1100. Dunlops, Avons, and Metzlers are out unless someone says something amazing.
And strictly in the 160/70-17 size!
I currently have a Michelin Commander II REAR and a Bridgestone Excedra G547 up front! The MCII is getting a bit thin and seems to be loosing a bit of traction (or feel anyway) just above the wear bars!. The 547 is only a couple thousand miles old.
I've had the Bridgestone B020 and was very happy with it and I like the Commander II, but now we have the Bridgestone T31 - How does it compare to the other two? and is there anything else out there (that's affordable). I do run Shinkos on other smaller bikes, but haven't ventured there for this one!
I'm tempted to go with the Bridgestone 020 AGAIN, but don't want to miss out on the T31 if it's THAT much better!
And sorry, I know it's another oil question, but ST1100 tire availability seems to have changed a LOT in the last couple years!

 

[paulcb]

FWIW, there's a Commander III out now. I've got one on my ST11... 16k miles and still looks new.

 

[Uncle Phil]

BT031 is a radial and you will not get the mileage out of it that you will with a Commander or a BT020 bias.

 

[ChriSTian_64]

Why don't you go with Bridgestone Exedra G548 ? It will match perfectly your front tire and it has excellent report and was recommanded by members on this forum.

That's the one I bought last summer and I am very happy with it.

 

[kiltman]

but now we have the Bridgestone T31

This set just arrived on my doorstep two hours ago. Bridgestone T31 GT front and a T31 for the rear. These have been my favourite tire, and I've been running these for the past 4 years, prior to that the T30's and 023's. I like them, but I do go through two sets a season. I do my best riding with these tires on.

 

[ChriSTian_64]

Two sets a season ???

Kiltman, how many km/miles do you cover each season ?

 

[Pop-Pop]

Looking for a rear tire for my 1100. Dunlops, Avons, and Metzlers are out unless someone says something amazing.
And strictly in the 160/70-17 size!
I currently have a Michelin Commander II REAR and a Bridgestone Excedra G547 up front! The MCII is getting a bit thin and seems to be loosing a bit of traction (or feel anyway) just above the wear bars!. The 547 is only a couple thousand miles old.
I've had the Bridgestone B020 and was very happy with it and I like the Commander II, but now we have the Bridgestone T31 - How does it compare to the other two? and is there anything else out there (that's affordable). I do run Shinkos on other smaller bikes, but haven't ventured there for this one!
I'm tempted to go with the Bridgestone 020 AGAIN, but don't want to miss out on the T31 if it's THAT much better!
And sorry, I know it's another oil question, but ST1100 tire availability seems to have changed a LOT in the last couple years!

Just bought a t31 front and will b getting the rear soon. Dont know how good it is, but im not very good either! I trust the recommendations here. The guys here have helped me a ton! Im grateful! U know who you are!

 

[kiltman]

Two sets a season ???

Kiltman, how many km/miles do you cover each season ?

Close to 25k kms. Last season was the least in a long time with under 20k

 

[Upt' North]

T31 is great, the new T32 is supposed to be better!
Upt'North.

 

[kiltman]

the new T32 is supposed to be better!

I was looking for it from my distributor but no luck...I look forward to trying it out.

 

[The Cheese]

If it was a new set I'd say go T31s. But since you have a newish Excedra G547 on the front, put a G458 on the rear. @ChriSTian_64 is right. Match the font.

 

[rwthomas1]

Got the bike with a set of worn out Battlax's, put a set of Exedra's on at the recommendation of many on the forum. I have not been disappointed. Another vote for a G458.
RT

 

[Kevcules]

BT031 is a radial and you will not get the mileage out of it that you will with a Commander or a BT020 bias.

Have you run through a set of the BT's already and was not impressed with the mileage?

 

[Uncle Phil]

Have you run through a set of the BT's already and was not impressed with the mileage?

Yes, I get about 5,000+- miles on the rear.
I figure there must be something wrong with the throttle on my ST1100s ...

 

[Uncle Phil]

At the end of the day, it does not really matter unless you are headed for the race track or run a 99% at the edge all the time.
I've run all sorts of combinations of tires in 400,000+ miles and so far my hair has not caught on fire and my ST1100s have not burned up in a fiery crash.
My general rule of thumb - bias for mileage, radials for handling.
Since, in my brain, the majority of the 'handling' is directed by the front tire and I get better mileage out of the front tire, I'll put a radial up there.
And I usually run a bias on the rear, since, in my brain, it's sort of following the leader up front.
I'm sure some one much smarter than me and a possessor of degrees in engineering, physics, etc. can prove all that to be wrong, but I will continue to 'dance with the one that brung me'.

 

[Pop-Pop]

Yes, I get about 5,000+- miles on the rear.
I figure there must be something wrong with the throttle on my ST1100s ...

I hear a lot of complaints about throttle problems. That should be looked into!

 

[jrp]

Front tire after 4200 miles down to the wear bars. Has a distinct ridge in the middle and is worn more on either side than in the middle. It is a Metzeler Roadtec Z6:



The rear Roadtec Z6 tire (which was installed at the same time as the front) appears to have a lot of rubber left:

 

[Larry Fine]

Has a distinct ridge in the middle and is worn more on either side than in the middle.

That's because you live too close to twisty roads and don't spend enough time on the highway getting there.


Maybe need a little more air pressure, too.

 

[CYYJ]

Looking for a rear tire for my 1100. Dunlops, Avons, and Metzlers are out unless someone says something amazing.

I have always used Metzler tires on my ST 1100 - must have bought about 15 sets of them over the past 20 years.

They are great for grip, especially in the rain and when leaned hard over in Alpine passes, but they won't win any mileage contests. So if your priority is best grip on switchback roads, I highly recommend them. As for mileage - I just can't figure out why I get over twice the mileage out of Michelin tires on my ST1300 than I get out of Metzelers on my ST 1100.

Michael

 

[Trvmtchll]

Dennis Kirk has the Avon 3D in stock iv been running them for 2 season now get exactly 6,000 out of a rear but love the grip of the tire