• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Tire testimonial or just getting old?

  • Thread starter Thread starter flyingace
  • Start date Start date
F

flyingace

Guest
I have never gotten more than 5,000 miles from a rear tire. My current Dunlop K491 now has 10,000 miles and is barely worn. It would be a stretch to say it's 1/4 worn. It's weird.

Now my 850L is 25 years old and box stock - meaning to say it doesn't handle well. I go slow around corners, I go slow on the straights and I stop slowly. Possibly the most conservative rider in the world.

The question is, is it the tire or the riding style that gives me this slow tire wear? I ask because I might buy another tire someday.
 
The k491 has a belt under the tread that adds stability and extends life. The rubber is also fairly hard. Both these things add up to long life, plus your driving pattern helps.

Unfortunately, Dunlop discontinued those tires and the new version does not come in as many sizes as the old version. Hopefully, your sizes are not affected.
 
I am probably the champion of tire brutality, and I had 12,000 miles on a set of 491 Elite IIs. They could have gone another 3,000 easily, but I had a set of Pirelli Sport Demons waiting in the wings and got impatient.

I'd have to say there was a tradeoff, mainly in feel. They gripped well enough in the dry, but felt rather stiff and heavy, like new hiking boots. The Pirellis felt like slippers, and had better wet grip.

They stopped making the 491 in 17" rear sizes, but they still make it in 16" sizes for the L models (MT90-16). The MM90-19 front is also still available. However, the Elite III is now available in those sizes, and all indications are that it is even better in terms of grip and feel, with excellent longevity.
 
My K491 currently has 30,000 miles on it. It's almost gone but still not slick. I have a new one in the shop that will go on soon. My riding style is a little on the conservitive side.
Happy trails,
Buddy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top