Tyre problems. HELP please

[Kilted Ginger]

Stock tyres Dunlop Sportmax D220F ST.
3600 miles, Front 3.2mm avg tread, rear 4.5mm avg tread
pressures 33(f) and 36(r)
Out today with pillion and back felt very squirmy when cornering, so much so i cut short ride and came home. Had a look at rear tyre and apx inch from each side looks strange as if rubber perishing. Is this normal, is this a problem, are the tyres done, or have i had a bad day and this is all in my head. I've only been riding 3 months all on the sv, all on these tyres, so I have zero experience. Any help appreciated.

I know you have to run in new tyres for 150miles, only thought was that as i was leaning over further onto strips of tyre i'd not used before and that these strips still had the original coating and hence were slippy, but this is probably rubbish.

http://upload4.postimage.org/1093040/DSC01127.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1093040/photo_hosting.html)
front, all looks ok.

http://upload4.postimage.org/1093069/DSC01123.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1093069/photo_hosting.html)
You need to open the photos to see the texture, best pic is last one.

http://upload4.postimage.org/1093083/DSC01125.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1093083/photo_hosting.html)

http://upload4.postimage.org/1093099/DSC01124.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1093099/photo_hosting.html)

http://upload4.postimage.org/1093121/DSC01126.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1093121/photo_hosting.html)

[Ed]

I can't see any problem with them - they look OK to me, nothing untoward in the pics. I'd put a few more psi in if I was carrying a passenger.

[Peter Henry]

Just looks like normal wear to me fella. You want to see the edges of tyres after a track day! They look wrecked! Maybe check the pressures especially when opting to take a passenger and maybe consider adjusting rear shocker for the extra load. :wink:

[Red ones]

I'd agree with PH (for once)

Whack the rear suspension up a notch and put about another 3 psi in front and back. It makes a HUGE difference - but they look OK

[Stu]

I prefer "That standard is 36psi at the front and 42psi at the rear." from "What are the correct tyre pressures for Avon tyres (av35/36) " Faqs on the main site

[fizzwheel]

That rear looks a bit squared off to me. It might just be the camera angle though. Do you do a lot of motorway / dual carriageway riding ? If so a squared off rear tyre might be giving you the squirmy characteristics.

Also it might be a bit flat have you checked your tyre pressures ?

[kwak zzr]

my rear looks like that (square)

[mattSV]

They look fine to me.

This what a ****ed tyre looks like:-

http://upload4.postimage.org/1095130/IMG_1283.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1095130/photo_hosting.html)

http://upload4.postimage.org/1095135/IMG_1284.jpg (http://upload4.postimage.org/1095135/photo_hosting.html)

On my SV1000, settting the tyre pressures to 36/42 with a pillion makes a big difference.

[kwak zzr]

theres plenty left on that! (on the sides :oops: )

[stuartyboy]

Out today with pillion and back felt very squirmy when cornering, so much so i cut short ride and came home.

Could be the effects of the harvest - stoor everywhere on the roads.

[Beenz]

I got the same feeling from the stock Dunlops. After 3.5k the whole lot went off badly, the squirming was anought to make me change. I 'allegedly' do treat my tryres hard though.

I'd try either a new rear or swap both for something else. I've had fun on Avon Azaros' and love em. Others have had better luck with Continental Road Attacks. I'll try them next. Other combinations I cannot comment on.

[Kilted Ginger]

Had an experienced biker look at my tyres today 30+ years road and racing, took him all of 5 seconds, "yep its fecked" "get new ones", something about angles of wear and points of contact and other techno babble, says it'll be particularly noticable underload (ie cornering with a pillion), says its not urgent and if i was experienced I could probably eeek out another 500 - 1000 miles but Im not so i'll get new ones when its in for its 4k service on the 30th.

Question now is what do i replace them with.

I commute about 30 miles daily in all weathers
I try to get in at least 2 decent runs 100 - 200 miles a week,
want something with good traction in wet and dry that will also have a decent life span.

cheers

[fizzwheel]

Honestly you cant go wrong with a pair of Metzler Z6's they are great in the dry and really confidence inspring in the wet.