Tyre Deformation

[Dead Eye]

For a few weeks now, maybe a month or more in fact, the front end of my bike has felt... off - particularly noticeable when cornering and when the tyres are cold. Once they are warmed up the problem seems to dissipate

I'd checked around the front of the bike a bit without much success in identifying the problem, but after a short ride today I took a closer look and found that a section of the front tyre feels raised / deformed. Its most noticeable when running your fingers across the tyre and can just about be seen by the eye when up close.

I took a photo to try and illustrate the issue and have highlighted the area where you can just about see the raised section of the tyre. This raised section appears to loop the entire tyre is almost midway between the centre and offside of the tyre (slightly closer to the centre)

[smg id=1737 type=preview caption="BT023"]

This is a BT023 that has about 4-5k miles on it and the problem has only surfaced within the last 1000 miles at most. I'm assuming that I'm going to need to replace the tyre, but wanted opinions and thoughts on whether this is just a one-off issue down the the tyre or whether there are other forces at work here. Also worth noting is that the bike doesn't do any commuting and the majority of my mileage is on A and B roads so the tyre isn't squared off (that I can tell)

[nickodemon]

It looks like the tyre is starting to square off a bit. This tyre problem occurs at the point where the hard compound (centre) meets the soft compound on the sides and the wear becomes uneven. Sometimes tyre pressures can cause this to happen or style of riding. I had this problem on a fzs 600 i bought and it made the handling poor. It's probably too low pressures, as when braking the hard compound stays firm, but the soft compound is being forced back. I would buy a new tyre :\

[Dead Eye]

That's interesting as I had felt my pressures were either ok or a little high. I've kept the front between 34 and 36 PSI. I've dropped it to 34 recently as I was a fat foccer before and I've lost a bit of weight now...

[nickodemon]

The tyres that had the same issue on my fzs600 were avon ulta storms, which i hated. It may have been because of the uneven wear tho..

[eddie]

Pressure. 37psi. Get your self Michelin pilot road CT2's

[stevierst]

BT021's were terrible for this, and went 'off' very quickly ruining the handling. Not heard of it on 023's though. If its effecting your ride, maybe it'd be worth changing the tyre, especially as the weathers getting better!

[Dead Eye]

I've had 2 BT023's on my 600's without any issue which is why its a bit surprising now - but this is the 1000 now I guess and slightly different tyre size

[esetest]

I had this on my last front tyre which was a BT021 , but it was also well worn , the new BT023 I have has a slow puncture loses 10psi over a week , I top the front up to 36psi , I will have to look out for this myself .

[Dead Eye]

I would understand it more if the tyre was older or worn more, but its about 6 months old and as mentioned before only has 4-5k on it... that's low for a rear, let alone a front...

[esetest]

I have done about 3k on my front , not noticed any handling issues yet but I will look out for this .

[slimwilly]

i had that with the same tyres on my VFR, didnt notice any handling problems though, it was a heavier bike , just gassed it through the revs

[Dead Eye]

I guess as the tyre heats up the compound becomes more pliable which is what leads to the improved handling

[nick crisp]

I would understand it more if the tyre was older or worn more, but its about 6 months old and as mentioned before only has 4-5k on it... that's low for a rear, let alone a front...

Ohhhhh reeeeally?  :lol

[Dead Eye]

Well it is in my opinion based on my experience with them so far

[solorider]

I had something sililar on a firestorm I used to own, in a straight line I had no issues, on the open road I had no issues, but going right the bike was terrible, going left at town speeds I had no issues, the tyre which was also a bridgestone had also squared off badly at an angle but it wasn't obvious and the tyre had plenty of tread.

[Dead Eye]

Sounds exactly like my issue... new tyre time I guess Not an expense I was planning on this soon

I expect I'll be going for a T30 for now - I may not like spending money, but I prefer to buy quality parts where ever I can

[chaparral02]

I would understand it more if the tyre was older or worn more, but its about 6 months old and as mentioned before only has 4-5k on it... that's low for a rear, let alone a front...

Only 4k to 5k !!!  :look

My FZ1 front tyre was below it wear limit marks at below 5k...

[stevierst]

Shit! I'm lucky to get 3k out of my rear:

[Dead Eye]

T30 ordered and to be delivered on Tuesday, then its just a case of whipping the wheel off and popping to the local garage to have them swap the tyre...

I'm wondering if its worth keeping the BT023 in case of "emergency" as although its not perfect, its still perfectly road legal

[chaparral02]

I'm wondering if its worth keeping the BT023 in case of "emergency" as although its not perfect, its still perfectly road legal

There no way I would keep a deformed (out of shape) front tyre...It be straight in the bin..
Having a deformed tyre as a spare for a car would be bad enough but as a spare for the front of a 1000cc motorcycle  :eek

It really not worth risking your life by keeping a knacked tyre as a emergency spare..