Hey I just got my LT in September. The tires looked new to me but I put 5k on the bike and the center is just about worn out. I am awaiting a BT020 tire also looking for good mileage. I just think the tire wore faster than it should have. Looking forward to changing it over to another tire. Will know exactly how long it will go. Front is still in great shape. I will probably have 20-30 k on the bike before winter comes. Just turned 30K.

 

Unless I am mistaken, you can probably use my mileage as an upper end guideline of what to expect if you are a very conservative rider. Mine were getting so bad that I thought something may have been wrong with the suspension system.

 

Need a bit more info
Like 1-up or 2
Fully loaded or not. I think the road surfaces out west are harder on tires than when I am touring east. My stock tires gave 13000+ before I opted to change out both after 2 seasons of riding. I did not need to but I wanted fresh rubber to begin my 3rd season. Plus winter garage storage was on my mind.
Last summer while in MT I had to replace rear with white thread showing on one spot on the tire and just 11000. So how to judge the upper limits.
My saddle weight is 180 plus camp equipment for one. Nothing goes on the top case though cases are filled normal and backpack on pass seat. Nothing extra added to bike. Metz all the time.
ride safe :bmw:

 

Changed my ME880's to BT's last week, front had 17393 and the non-reinf rear had 11978. Had non-reinf on rear as a result of a blowout in Idaho and that was all that was available locally.

 

I just changed my rear with 18K. The wear bars just went flat. Metz ME 880. Jim

 

Hi,
I am about to change my tyres from BT020 (I liked them)to Avon Storm 2 Ultra (give them a go).

Why am I changing, they are getting down to the wear bars.

How many Klms/Miles, dunno, don't care, just remember having fun.

Brian

 

I have always used the Bridgestone Battlax 020's and get around 6 to 7K riding 2 up. Fronts go faster and don't seem to come with much tread on them. I changed air pressure to 42/48 and get a little better mileage mostly on rear. They have good stick-sion and are less expensive so until I hear of a sticky tire with better mileage I think I'll stay with Bridgestone's.

 

I get probably 7-8k out of a front and 9-10k out of a rear... solo riding...

I would suggest the storm2 ultra if you haven't already.... I really like the handling ... they stick pretty good...

funny you mention burning out fronts before the rear..... I have the same problem.... I tend to ride the LT like I stole it.... so I figured that might have something to do with it... :histerica

actually right now I have an avon distanzia on the front.... it was the only thing I had in the garage...
and I'll be damned, but it handles real nice.... but it's a little loud.

 

Those storms are only for pre 2005. correct?

 

No Idea, Mine is an 02

I'm not sure what all the sillyness is about anyway... from what I can see, all the LT's are pretty much the same. any 160/70/17 (79v) will work..

anyone want to explain the difference?

 

I ended up with a 880 radial front tire(by mistake) but still have a bias 880 rear,but so far it's great!

 

I recently replaced my rear Bridgestone BT020 with another BT020. I ride mostly 2 up and at a pressure of 48 psi on the rear. The BT020 I replaced had 14,674 miles on it. It still had some miles on it too. I replaced it because of an upcoming trip. My tire shop said it was a good idea for a trip but for local riding it probably would've gone "another 1,000 or so".

Now on the other hand I will not use the BT020 front tire as I got only got 7,586 miles on the one I had put on a few years ago before it was shot. However I'm running a ME880 on the front and the ME880 front before that had 17,146 before the wear bars started showing.

:bmw:

 

OUCH, tough crowd today.

 

All of this time I assumed it was because radials we no longer produced. Hence BMW went with bias.

Interesting that the change in geometry wouldn't work with radial tires.

I never looked at the stock shocks to see if they were changed since when my rear went I bought after market shocks.

Best from T'son
bob