I got about 10500 miles on the Bridgestone tires on my 2018 Honda Goldwing Tour. I have since replaced my tires w/Shinko tires made for 2018+ Honda Goldwings. I’m very impressed so far and I saved several hundred dollars.
The second point regarding Tyre issues here in Australia 🇦🇺 is the fact we have a tyre placard on the motorcycle that limits what tyre or tyres you can fit to your bike , you will not find any tyre reputable tyre installation company breaching this placards information. If you get a backyard tyre fitter installing any other tyre than what it is on the placard - your insurance is voided and the police will defect your bike and you will be required for your bike to be inspected within 14 days with the appropriate tyres on or your bikes registration will be suspended along with your license- you also receive a fine on the spot when you are found to have illegal tyres on. Being in Australia our road temperatures can exceed over 150f and as such plays havoc with tyre pressures.
Tyres are certainly a personal choice but I also believe the wear of your tyre comes down to 4 basic issues.1) type of road surface you are riding on :2) the regular tyre pressure ( accuracy of tyre gauge )inspection :3) ride load and balance of load on the bike and finally 4) road camber. Personal choice is exactly that - a saying here in Australia “ LIVE TO RIDE NOT RIDE TO LIVE “ if you have a well maintained bike and you have confidence in your tyres then enjoy the freedom that only a bike can give you- stay safe
2018 GW Tour. Stones since new. 28k with my 3rd set 200 miles ago. So 14k/set. Both had a couple thousand remaining but on both occasions I was about to take a 5000 mile trip so I changed. Never unfortunate to have a puncture prior to 12k on any of my prior wings, so I’ve never patched one. I’ll never Darkside. 40 psi front and back. 1 up rider. They do tend to cup a bit with that pressure at 12-14k.
I went dark side on a Harley Softail Custom. After about 20k miles I went back because I liked the more neutral feel when cornering and for resale because I was trading up for a touring bike. It worked well and I have nothing against it.
Tires: 17 Indian Springfield Dunlop elite 4s. 22k on last set with several thousand left on them according to dealer. 35k on the bike. Smooth, responsive riding. Screw in rear once. plugged until I could get a new one. Never considered DarkbSiding. I'll go with the engineers.
2008 and use Bridgestones, I have plugged a tire and rode it about 500 miles on a return cross country trip. Changed it when I got home. I use dyna beads as well👍
I was riding an '86 Wing. I installed new tires, 5 miles later had a nail in the rear. Lack of $$'s dictated a plug, At 6,000 it is still holding. Dyna beads are awesome, I experienced no problems. Ride-On sealer/balancer is now the first thing I do to a new tire install, it's Latex based and does no harm to rubber or the wheel. I will never again run any tire without Ride-On
Love your videos. All my earlier bikes I preferred Dunlops because they had the sticky feel to them, but more recently I bought a 2001 Gl1800 that came with Metzeler Marathon ultras (41 psi on both) and wow! they hang great on the corners. Even more recently I purchased an '02 Gl1800 and the tires are badly cupped, so I think I will look into another set of Mtezeler's as well.
My 18 Tour DCT came from the factory with Bridgestone tires. I’m happy with their performance and I expect to stay with the brand. I picked up a 3 1/2” deck screw about 4 months ago and I plugged it with the sticky plug. For awhile, it performed fine with no loss of pressure. Two weeks ago I started losing pressure from the plugged area. I ordered a new Bridgestone from Wingstuff, then found the Honda dealer I bought the bike from won’t install a tire unless it’s purchased from them. I checked with their parts department and they didn’t have the Bridgestone in stock, was significantly more expensive than Wingstuff, and I had to go to the dealership and pay for the tire before they would order it. Very disappointing. I contacted a local motorcycle performance shop and they said they’d install the tire. Thanks for the video.
Greetings:::I’m 66 have had many different manufactured motorcycle tires over the years, but very much a novice, tires are always getting better same with auto tires. I’m on a 2005 Goldwing with a 2010 MotorTrike we bought in 2017 with 14,700 miles, now 22,000 miles. I installed an Avon Trike tire on the front, Michelin’s rear. This is my first Honda Gl 1800, we love it but again it’s now 3 wheels and a different animal all together. As for the 2 wheelers, I’m also sitting on a 2012 BMW K1600GTL we bought new and added many options. It came stock with Metzeler’s, that was major mistake for BMW, not everyone lives and breaths the Tail of the Dragon on a daily lunch hour. I live in northern Indiana where 4 lane and nice 2 lane highways are the norm. Those Metzeler’s were junk at 4,500 miles. I then went the first set of Michelin’s I didn’t trust those Metzeler’s at all with my wife on the back. I’m also a real gear head when it comes to tire pressures, this is the key to any life of a motorcycle tire to pretty much max out the mileage of a tire. Long story short, I’m a Michelin guy so that’s what’s been on the BMW since. I’m now pushing 18,700 miles on the BMW, at the 18,000 mile check I still had 55% left on the original breaks, that’s the kind of rider I am. Both the Honda and BMW are still in mint condition, although I’m look’n for a new home for the BMW I’ve become a real Goldwing fan and would love to be on a 2020 DCT Roadsmith or CSC trike with the optional fuel tank. YIPPEE !!! Safe Travels Wild Bill
I tried double dark side on my 2001 Goldwing. I didn’t have any problems with the car tire but handling was different, took awhile to get used to it, little harder to lean into a curve. I did not care care for a bt45 on the front, very heavy feeling. Went back to Bridgestone tires front & back. Handling is much better and nimble. I still have the care tire on my spare back rim
Ive been a long time yamaha FJR1300 rider for the past 16 yrs and I swear by Michelin road series tires and omg in my opinion these are the best all around for sport touring and just amazing grip in wet weather and give me confidence in wet weather now I am finally gonna break from my yamaha and I have put a deposit on a brand new 2022 goldwing DCT I am gonna be a winger for the first time and I am so excited but ive been waiting since May for my bike and still have not gotten it I am not new to DCT I also have a 2015 honda CTX 700 DCT and really got to know the DCT and have also traded that bike for a honda NC750X DCT but I am disappointed Michelin makes no tire for the new goldwing anyway I really cant find tires for the new goldwing so I need some help I normally buy my tires from revzilla and they dont have bridgstones that fit goldwing so I am at a lost can someone please tell me which bridgestones to look for the best I got out of a set if Michelin for my yamaha was around 12k plus miles the worst was around 7k plus miles it really depended on the way I ride I am somewhat of a hard rider on the sport side and rude twisty mountain roads a lot as I gotten older I have toned down the way I ride just a little lol but I am always safe anyway could use some advice on tires for my new wing
Thanks for the hardness measurement. I will sacrifice durable for responsiveness and handling everyday of the week. I will be checking the Duro numbers going forward.
2018 Goldwing DCT. 12,000 on a set of Dunlop D423s. Could have stretched another 1,000 out of them. I don’t run with plugged tires. I run with 42 lbs of pressure, front and rear.
I've typically gotten 15-17k out of Dunlop E3 or E4. I'm on Bridgestone currently since they came with my 2019 DCT. They ride nice, I'm not a big fan of the shape of the rear tire. I feel the Dunlop profile handles a little better. I'm at sea level, run about 38-40 front and 44 rear.
2018 non tour manual. 41/38 psi. OEM Dunlops went 6300 miles until I was uncomfortable with the amount of tread; probably could have gone another 1000 miles. They were also cupping and noisy on the turns. Installed Bridgestones and happy so far at 9000 miles. Never seriously considered dark side because #1- I often scrape pegs when turning and #2- I’m bothered by the mismatched shape between the car tire bead and that of the motorcycle rim.
'14 with airbag wing for me. Owned since new. I've stayed with stock bridgestones myself. 13,000km to 15,000km (8 to 10,000 miles). Going to continue with them. Works for me. I was 36 rear and 41 psi front but went up a bit to keep the pesky light from going on as the bike aged. Cold weather seemed to play a role. Light on cold and went off when it warmed up. Replaced my wheel sensor batteries recently and may go back to the 36/41 for the softer ride. I know that the Bridgestones allow me to go through the cone patterns but at the tread side limits. Maybe you have a source for new tpms sensors if I need them in the future. Happy riding.
Update...batteries replacement in sensors went well. Been at least year. Plug a tire? You bet, anytime. No reason not too. I used to feel that it was substandard. Not in the least. I wouldn't worry about the exposed cords too much either. Just more for the plug to grab and seal against. Slime kit for me. I lubed the reamer with the glue and put glue on the rope plug. The tire isn't going to tear apart. I bet it won't even leak. My two cents.
2021 Tour DCT. Just went for my annual inspection sticker at about 5,500 miles and was told that their was cupping on my front tire. Dunlop Sportmax OEM tires. Will not be replacing with Dunlops when the time comes. I ride primarily on 2 lane somewhat twisty backgrounds and am not an aggressive rider.
Metzeler just released Goldwing specific tires in their Cruisetec series. I'm still saving for my Gen 6 Wing, but have good experience with the Roadtec 01 on the current VFR.
On my 02 wing, 08 vtx1800 and my 17 wing I change at 10000 miles. I have been told by the shop I still have a 1000 or so miles left. I have run dunlop like came on the bike. And yes I have plugged my rear tire on the 02 wing. The hole was in the center of the tire and rode it 8000 more miles before replacing it. No problems at all. Now if it was close to the sidewall I would of replaced it. Never had any trouble with balancing they balance it and don't do it again till I replace the tires. Now darksideing like chris that just pounds concrete pulling a trailer is great. But if you like to hit the twistys hard it handles different. I like the back roads driving down the same interstate all the time is no fun to me. Or pulling a trailer all the time. Yes your more visible but if you have to move quick your still dragging 10 foot of trailer behind you. Kind like having a truck and your running to the store so you pull your rv with you. Not going to hurt nothing but your gas mileage and maybe a little extra wear on your clutch but the wing has plenty power. Sorry I don't proof read anything so grammar mistakes i apologize.
The problem with the Goldwing, not just the newest generation, but the older ones as well, is tire life, particularly the rear tires. Another issue is load capacity. No manufacturer seems to make a tire that can handle the load (traveling two up with luggage can easily exceed the max load rating of the tire). The front tire seems to wear much longer than the rears, in some cases, twice as long, so I decided to go with a car tire on the rear. I have never had one on any of my previous bikes, so this was a new (and a little scary) experience for me. I went with a Pirelli P1, which is also a run flat. This tire rides much smoother than any MT tire I've had on any of my bikes, and the bike still leans in the corners exactly the same as it did with the MT. In fact, the bike handles exactly the same as it did before. If this tire lasts as long as most people who have used it claim, I don't think I'll be going back to a MT...
I have had a bad experience with slime, the reason is for the following reasons: 1) depending on temperature ( ambient temperature 85f + ) the liquid welds the tyre rubber to the bead of the rim plus it blocks up valve. When it comes to replacement of . Too as sewer the tyre here in Australia they won’t guarantee no damage will occur to the aluminium rim plus they charge an additional 80 to 100 $100 US to clean dress and refit a new tyre on and don’t bother going to Honda because they flatly refuse to deal with a tyre that an self repair additive has been installed in to the offending tyre let alone the mandatory replacement AT YOUR COST. Of the tyre pressure monitors
I have a 2008 Goldwing, with 75,000 miles on it. I have went through several brands of tire, Mostly Dunlop. I got 12,000 on my first set, pretty decent I thought. After that about 9 to 10 thousand. I had a rear tire blowout going 80 mph on the interstate. Thankfully I was pulling a trailer, so I didn’t crash. I diligently checked my air pressure 42 in both tires. After my Dunlop Elite 4’s wore out at 8,000, I was feed up with tires not lasting. So I went to a run flat car tire. My honest opinion is that it is not for new riders. The only thing is that it pops back up faster. No problems after 10,000 miles on it. In my opinion it handles in a curve so much better. I live in the Appalachian mountains, so most of my riding is curvy mountains. I definitely would not recommend this to a new rider, plus slow down to give yourself time to get acclimated to the different feel of the tire. I absolutely don’t pay attention to it now.
'07 Goldwing. I've run Dunlops & Bridgestones but landed on Avon Cobra Chromes. I ride very aggressively in NC mountains. Avon's are the stickiest - I only get 11K on front & 7K on rear. 41 in front, 42 rear, pursuant to manufacturers specs. Yes, I run on a plugged rear, never on front.
I had to replace my tires on my Road Glide at 15k. This was at Harley's recommendation. I think it was just their standard interval. However, even though the tires still looked pretty good, I could feel a roughness or hardness in the ride. As soon as the tires were replaced, it was a feeling of a renewed softness in the ride. On that bike I think I'll go about the same distance (15k) again. As for my GW, I only have 3k miles on that bike.
First tire change on my 2019 DCT at 8,250 miles on my dealers recommendation. I'm a little disappointed in the low mileage. The dealer was adamant that rear tire would not pass inspection. So . I had him install front and rear tires. When I purchased the bike he had warned me that the dunlops the bike came with would not get good mileage. I had him replace the dunlops with bridgestones. Hoping I get better mileage with these tires. The dealer is a 2018 goldwing rider so i'm putting my trust in his recommendation. No darksiding for me.
I replaced my Dunlop tires on my 18 GW Tour at 123xx with E4 Dunlops. Last few thousand on Stock Dunlop’s were scary to say the least. Love the E4s. Had E4s on my 07 Goldwing and replaced at 20,xxx and they were just as good the day I took off as I put on and replaced with E4s again. Seems like the Bridgestones have more grip for awhile but drop off with the grip sooner around 6-7xxx miles
On my 2003 Goldwing, I typically get 15,000-16,000 miles on each set. The rear wears out first. The front seemed like it had a few thousand left. I now have a new 2019 Goldwing Tour DCT. We'll see what kind of mileage we get here.
2008 Goldwing. It came with Dunlop tires that went about 20k, but were a tad slippery when wet. Replaced them with Dunlop E3 tires which went to about 18k, but were scary in the wet. Tried a set of Bridgestone tires, and the rear had cord showing by 9k, plus they were not great in the wet. Finally tried Metzler 888’s. Got about 15k, and they stuck like glue in wet or dry. No cupping issues either. On my second set of 888’s. I have found there are two choices for rear 888’s. I always go with the higher load rating tire. I use dyna beads now and am very satisfied. I run the front air pressure at 45 psi, and the rear at 50. For a small puncture I will patch the tire and keep running it. I do not like to plug the tire, as the tool used to open up the hole for the plug does more damage in my opinion.
I ran Dunlops on my 08 wing ,then Bridgestones,then Metzelers. Dunlops cupped and caused handlebar wobble, Bridgestones wear to fast. The Metzeler was super hard and noisy I rode it 155 mi right after buying it , I could hear and feel the noise even on a Wing. It took a long time for that tire to quiet down. I prefer the Bridgestone but it seems to wear to fast but is stickier and smoother out of all of them.
12500 on factory Bridgestone, on a 2016 GW, and I checked air pressure every time I ride. I can’t see 15-20k I rode 18k on the dark side and had no problems, handle good in rain, curves and everything I did. But probably won’t do again. But I proved to myself that it was safe.
2018 DCT Tour - 17,800 on my Bridgestone front tire, 10,000 on a Dunlop rear tire (could have gotten a few more thousand miles but I was in the middle of a 6,000 ride). No plugs for me.
On the topic of the Centramatics - I had them put on my 2019 DCT a couple of weeks ago during it's 24K service (tires were getting replaced anyway) - and I have to say in the 1100+ miles I've put on since the difference is quite obvious. While my bike didn't have a huge problem with vibration, my left hand would start to feel tingly or numb-ish after 3+ hours of riding. After the Centramatics were installed, that little bit of vibration was essentially entirely gone! And as a visual confirmation of same, before when the sunlight was at my back and the tops of the two struts were visible in front of the handlebars, their endless "popping" up and down by a few millimeters or so was almost mesmerizing to watch - kind of hypnotic effect. Well, they have completely settled down - smooth as glass on the same orads and the same speeds on which I put on the previous 24K miles. So while I have no vested interst in the company, I have to say these Centramatics work - Cruiseman, maybe you ought to give them a review!
With my 18 GoldWing I got 10k on both. The front was on 2/32 and the rear was 4. I could have gone another 2 or 3. I use Bridgestones. I use Centramatics and they work great. I've used them for 5 years and they are great.
You should watch the video from Traxion Dynamics about the pressure when you have their suspension. 34-35 front and 38 rear. Dunlop E3 on my 05 wing and I did get 18k miles. On my valkyrie E3s went 20k miles. Just bought an 18 DCT and put on the Excedra Max. Only have 4800 so far will see. My 18 has the Traction Dynamics and have been running 35 F 38 R and no cupping after 4800
Hey there cruise man. Do you have any info when we can put android auto on these machines? I picked up my new goldwing in February 2020 with 3 miles on the clock......just passed 10,000 miles ( yes 10,000 miles in 120days....slow year....what quarantine?...) thanks in advance..
Arguing about tires seems like so much more fun than all the other stuff people are arguing about. I did a 10000 mile trip in 2018 on a Kawasaki voyager 12 and Dunlop E3's. They look near new. E4's on the 07 Wing with 10000 miles on them and still plenty of tread. With all that being said, I'll try something new next set. Good topic Chris. Thanks.
8000 miles on Bridgestones that came with 2018 DCT tour and was down to the wear bars. Plugged the rear at 1500 miles and never had a leak. Just put on Dunlop’s. I have never had a problem with sticky rope plug.
I got a blue 2018 Honda goldwing. It came with the dunlop tires. I worn out them at 6000miles. Then I replaced with bridgestone. Now I have 13000miles I just have my third set of tire. I think the bridgestone last longer but the dunlop has better handling. I use the tires very fast because I ride my goldwing very aggressively on twisty.
Great video Chris.. I’m a Bridgestone man myself. I love everything about them, and have no means in changing. I use centrmatics balances. I’ve got around 8,000 miles on mine as we speak and I’m sure I’ve got at least 5, 000 left I’m hoping. I run 36 front, and 42 in rear.
6 k on factory set of Dunlops, Ride 3/4 of the time two up, hard carve lots of mountain roads throughout VT ski county. Won’t Plug. Wish I got more life from tires but think riding style has a lot to do with it.
For pre 2018 models Bridgestone are the best compromise... last between 10 and 15k... Honda repair handbook plus Cruiseman's garage videos are a must for the dedicated Winger... no slime on motorcycle tires, it is not helping when the new one comes on.... never drive long on plugged tires... finally keep tires a little over inflated... otherwise I shop at Babbits, Revzilla, Wingstuff, and the local Honda dealership for parts... btw. this channel is one of my favorites and everybody should be watching too... even if you would never fly a Wing... and I always darkside... on my car... they won't be found on my Wing...
i thought about darkside, but i'm a Retired Harley-Davidson Service manager and when Harley on some of their models were going to Michelin Tires we got a video sent to us introducing the HD Michelins, and in the Video Michelin was VERY ANTI Darkside and showed tires coming off and bead blowing out and bikes crashing...........After that Video you couldn't Pay me to go Darkside, i'd quit riding 1st.
Ohhhhh i get 15000 to 20000 on my michelin commander 2's only got 4500 on stock dunlops at 5000 or so on my Metzlers and look as good as new. Plug to get home, then REPLACE !!
I have the Redheaded Stepchild of the Goldwing world the F6C Valkyrie the 2014 1832cc bike, and the Morons at Honda thought it would be a good idea to put sport bike wheels on it, and finding tires just SUCKS........Sport bike tires wear out in 5000 miles and cost way more, and the cruiser touring tires don't come in the sport bike wheel sizes, i'm a Michelin guy my Harley's all get Commander II's but to run a commander II on a 2014 Valkyrie you have to go from a 180/55-17 (stock) to a 200/55-17 and there are questions as to weather it fits, So i went with Metzler ME888's but with them i had to go to a 180/60-17, like the Metzlers so far, but not as smooth a ride feel as my Michelin equipped bikes. And what's up with Motorcycle tire prices ?? i used to get just 10 years ago tired from and rear for about $250 now it's more like $500 for a set ........no wonder so many are going darkside
My 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT had the front Bridgestone tire replaced at 12,111 miles. The rear tire was replaced at 14,509 miles. Back when I had my GL1500, I would get 22 - 25,000 miles out of the Dunlop E3 tires. Even the stock Dunlop K177 tires I would get at least 20,000 out of them. My 2005 Goldwing would get 18,000 miles on average on tires. They just don’t last as long as they used to. When I replaced the rear tire on my 2018, I got the Bridgestone G852G 200/60Rx16 which is a taller tire. It happened to be cheaper than the 55 tire specifically made for the Goldwing. I would ride mostly in Econ mode. I lost 3 - 4 mpg using this new tire. I was getting around 50 mpg and now am getting around 46 mpg in Econ mode. This can be understandable that it takes more power and gas to get a bigger tire rolling, the same as if there were gearing changes, and of course the speedometer is off a couple mph at 60mph. However, I did notice that if I ride in Tour mode, the mileage returns to 49 because with the engine creating more power in Tour mode, it overcomes the work to get the bike rolling. It is like using the A/C on a car that has 80 - 90 hp and you lose power when the A/C is on, whereas if you had a V8 and more power the vehicle’s power isn’t affected by the A/C. I try and keep the pressures at 36 front, and 41 rear. However according to the TPMS on the Wing, the tire pressures goes up and down with temperature and fluctuates 5 - 8 lbs. If I don’t ride the bike for 3 - 4 days, the cold temp readings drop, but if I ride every day, they stay at near normal. I would like to get the Centramatic wheel balancers for my bike, I think besides keeping the wheels balanced all the time, it will also save money not having to pay for tire balancing at the time of tire replacement. This could eventually cover the cost of the balancers in savings. My 2005 Goldwing, I replaced the rear tire and got 100 miles on it in one week, and it got a screw in it. I wasn’t about to go down and pay another $300 for another tire, so I plugged it. It worked great for about 4 years. I believe I had about 8,000 miles on the tire before it started leaking and I had it replaced. If my wife rode with me instead of her riding her own bike, I would have bought a new tire. Ride Safe.
Prior to my 2018 Goldwing Tour, I had a 2014 Victory Cross Country with Dunlop E3 (from factory) and replaced with Dunlop E4 - both sets lasted 15-16K miles before needing to be replaced. Absolutely will not ride on a plugged tire on a bike - my policy has always been to eplace only.
I never drive with a plugged tyre. And I never use tire sealants as well. On my car, yes. but when it comes to my bike, I don't make any compromise at all. The reason is pretty simple : If it comes to failure, you just have ONE tyre left. 10000 miles is also my experience before I change my tires.
@@gerrellbradshaw6083 No that's not the point. Of course I would use a plug in this situation. The discussion was about plugging a tyre and driving another thousand miles with it just to save money. That I wouldn't do.
Been winging it several years and traded my 06 in for an 18 DCT soon as they were available to order. Love the 18 DCT would do it again in a minute. I've used on most motorcycles over the years, Metzelers, Avons, Dunlops and Bridgestones. I thought the Metzelers were good, but I"ve come to like the Bridgestones pretty well. They seem to ride smooth and I can get a good amount of life out of them. I usually change around the 10k mark and the set of Bridgestones I have now I've got over 11k on them. With the 06 and its suspension, seems most tires would cup around 6-8k and with this 18 DCT, I started to get minor cupping around 8-9k it seems. I'm due for a new set of sneakers and just ordered a set of Bridgestones from Wingstuff the other day. Free shipping. I run 40/40 psi and I'm pretty happy with that setup riding mostly 2 up. Take care and stay safe ! ! !
I am running Bridgestone's on my 2014 GW. I have just over 7K on the front tire (38psi) and 6K on the rear (41psi). I have fewer miles on rear because I had to replace it after running over sharp plastic which cut into the side cord (plastic was all over the lanes on a busy highway and could not avoid it). The tires look like they could do another 6 or 7k. Dark side is probably ok for interstate driving but I don't trust it for the type of riding I do.
In the UK I would expect to have the book thrown at me if stopped by the police while riding the motorcycle with a car tyre fitted, let alone if I was involved in an accident. Any advantages of fitting a car tyre to the bike are simply a moot point as it should not be done. IMHO
Cruiseman, You hit a lot of topics on this one. I have a 2018 Goldwing Tour that came with Bridgestones. I'm at the wear bars at about 13,000 miles and will replace them in early June. I will put on Dunlop Elite 4's which is what I had on my 2006 Wing. I had about 14,000 miles on that bike's tires when I sold it with no end in sight on the tread. My 2006 had Centramatics on it and I could tell an immediate difference in the ride but couldn't explain what that difference was but I believe it helped my tire mileage. I do not have them on the 2018. I've been fortunate to not have had a puncture on a tire but do carry a repair kit that will get me to a shop for a new tire ASAP. On the 2006 I always ran 36/41 until I put on the Elite 4's. While talking to a Dunlop rep at Wing Ding I told them I wasn't impressed with the handling of the new tires. She told me to run 41/41. After adding more pressure on the front I had no issues with the handling. I will never run dark side. Car tires are simply not designed for motorcycles and I won't take a chance with them. Not worth the risk, no matter how small it may be. And Slime goes in my UTV tires and that's all. Thanks, as always, for your videos.
Something I forgot to mention. Tire sealants can destroy a TPMS. Also, the correct link for the 2018-2020 Goldwing Maintenance Group is: facebook.com/groups/6gengoldwingmaint
I used to run Dunlop and Bridgestone on my ultra classic, then I tried a Metzeler and it was so smooth I loved it. It also followed the groves in the road much less than either of the others. If they now have one for my 18 dct, that is what I will be using again. Long mileage is nice, but does not mean as much to me as the feel the tire transferred to the bike. Tire models change though, so maybe the newest models have a different feel.
First off, Cruiseman, here in England they're tyres, not tires. Personally, I wouldn't dream of visiting the dark side, although I can understand those who say that they get extra grip through corners when they're riding on that ridge at the junction of the tread and the sidewall. The problem is, if you lean just that bit further over, you're likely to lose it without warning. If car tyres performed consistently better through corners, then motorcycle racers would use flat-profile tyres - and they don't. That said, I take my hat off to those mavericks who push the boundaries in life. Just loving my new Goldwing!
Interesting topic. I ride a 2015 HD Roadglide SE. As with prior Harleys, with Dunlops, 10-11k on rears, more on tread left but badly cupped, so I change the both, 40/36psi. As soon as Michelin Commander IIs were available that what I run, very simple handling, grip but I get an easy 40-50% more miles 40/40psi.
Victory Cross Country tour- Donlop E3 12k miles. 38 psi 2018 Goldwing tour- Donlop E4 10k miles. 38psi Now running Bridgestone on 2018 Goldwing Tour only have 2k miles so far. 38psi. I use rope plug to plug a tire and only ride on plug tire to get home. I personally do not like riding on plug tire and will replace both tires ASAP. Was told the belt integrity of tire is compromised using any plug or patch. Never a big fan of dark side because of my riding style and tire design. Sidewalk on car tire is not meant to be in contact with road. Motorcycle tires are designed to fit the rim (need) properly.
Michelin tire’s on my Goldwing. yes they don’t make one specific for the goldwing but have tires close enough size that will make the speedometer closer to actual vs being off a couple MPH Front tire 38psi Rear tire 41 psi tire plugs yes to get me to a new tire
I used to use Dunlop, but after 2 of the tires separating I switched to Bridgestone and have had 2 sets with no issues. I live in San Antonio and keep the pressure at 41 back and front because mechanic told me I’ll get better handling and longevity from the tires. I use no balancing as I don’t see a need for it.
Have you ever heard of a tire sealer product called Sahara tire management. They claim it does not pool like a Slime product, but coats the tire. Claim it can be used on anything from a tube bicycle to Semi trucks and everything in between. safe to use with TPMS and the tire runs cooler. Any info from anyone on this????
2014 HD Ultra Ltd. On my 3rd set, all different brands. Getting 16-17K on the rears. Could have easily gone 2K more. Replaced front and rear each time. OE Dunlops, Mich. C2, now on American Elites. Looks like the Elites might exceed the others on miles. Had a nail once in the rear, replaced.
2012 GW- double darkside - so I get about 30k per tire. If I ran MC tires I would not run with a plug either due to the flex of the sidewall. I run the Battlax 45 on front with 40 psi and Pirelli P1 run flat and run that about 33. Great combination of tires. I can do everything on my darkside tires I could do with MC tires.
I just never understood tire manufacturers .. IF the customers are looking for tires that last longer, i.e. milage wise.. then why NOT making one. If your customers are switching to non-motorcycle tire then you losing money to those they may NEVER return to your product. Instead just make what they want and make the money.
2018 DCT Tour. 10,000 on first set of Dunlop’s. Just replaced with Shinkos. Got good reviews. Amazing prices! Engineered in Japan, made in South Korea. Check out the Motorcycle Men blog interview with a Shinko Exec. Impressed with their history and engineering. Would plug on a trip to be able to continue. Honda recommended pressures. How do Dynabeads work with the TPMS sensors?
I'm riding a 2013 F6B and Double Darkside for 10,000 mi over last 4 months, most of those are towing my trailer. Both front and rear still look brand new! Rear- Bridgestone Dry Guard/Run flat 195/55 at 40psi. Front- Rear MC tire, Battlaxx BT45 at 40 psi. Love em!!!
With the old wing my best tire mileage was with the Dunlop E3 on the rear and the Bridgestone G709 on the front..15k miles with that setup...with this 2018 I replaced the OEM Bridgestones 11k...went with OEM Bridgestone rear and went with the Bridgestone front from the old wing.. G709 front...Ive plugged rear tire with only 1k miles on them and rode til it was wore out...would only plug a front to get home and then replace the front tire. Ive noticed no difference with the beads over stick on weight...Imo the beads are just more money being spent...you are already paying for a spin balance when the tires are mounted
I have a 2019 DCT Tour. Mine came with the Dunlaps and currently have 4,000 miles. I run 38/41 psi and they are ok. I have never used Bridgestone. I have seen that the Dunlap E4's now come in the correct size for the 2018+ Gold Wing. I had them on a Victory and loved them. I would like to try them when I need to replace the originals.
My 2018 came with Dunlops. At about 8k they had plenty of tread, but I picked up a nail so I replaced both. 6k so far on the new Bridgestones and I see very little wear. As for pressure I go by the manual, but I don’t think two or three pounds is any big deal. On my other motorcycles I use the Michelin pilot road five. Great tires.
Hi Cruiseman and others. I have purchased (happy with all purchases) a few items from Max at Traxxion and would appreciate some feedback and experience with his upgraded shocks for a 2021 Goldwing to reduce cupping and extend tire life. Also what are reasonable mileages before tire replacement is needed?
Kevin, tire life is going to depend a lot on how you ride the bike. I am a pretty conservative rider and I can get about 11K out of a set of tires. I know some guys are comfortable going 15K, but my 11K mine always start to ride rough and I go ahead and replace them. Canyon carvers might only get 7K out of a set if they ride hard. I am not familiar with Max's upgrade for the 2021, but I did have his suspension on my 2007 Goldwing and it made a huge difference.
My 2018 DCT Tour has original Dunlops currently at about 7,000 miles. I run 36F/41R . Plug tire and replace it when I can. I ran several sets of Dunlops E3 on my 2003 Goldwing 36F/41R and road them down to the wear bar unless I had a long trip planned. Yes the E3 rear tire would break lose sometimes on wet pavement from a stop. The E3s did track well over metal bridges.
On my 2018 DCT Tour I get about 5,000 miles on rear and 9,000 front. Using B'stone and occasionally use a non-run flat Darkside on rear. I do not like runflats. Have my Darkside tire on a spare rim. The Goldwing rear rim bead seats do match auto tires. I install my own tires, piece of cake. I trust sticky rope plugs for like of tire IF toward center of tread and punctured, not cut. Some Darkside tires can really cut it up in the twisties (a good thing). I really don't give a flip about how far a tire will go, it is all about the grip for me.
I got about 10500 miles on the Bridgestone tires on my 2018 Honda Goldwing Tour. I have since replaced my tires w/Shinko tires made for 2018+ Honda Goldwings. I’m very impressed so far and I saved several hundred dollars.
Hey Damion, what model Shinko's are best for the GW?
The second point regarding Tyre issues here in Australia 🇦🇺 is the fact we have a tyre placard on the motorcycle that limits what tyre or tyres you can fit to your bike , you will not find any tyre reputable tyre installation company breaching this placards information. If you get a backyard tyre fitter installing any other tyre than what it is on the placard - your insurance is voided and the police will defect your bike and you will be required for your bike to be inspected within 14 days with the appropriate tyres on or your bikes registration will be suspended along with your license- you also receive a fine on the spot when you are found to have illegal tyres on. Being in Australia our road temperatures can exceed over 150f and as such plays havoc with tyre pressures.
Tyres are certainly a personal choice but I also believe the wear of your tyre comes down to 4 basic issues.1) type of road surface you are riding on :2) the regular tyre pressure ( accuracy of tyre gauge )inspection :3) ride load and balance of load on the bike and finally 4) road camber. Personal choice is exactly that - a saying here in Australia “ LIVE TO RIDE NOT RIDE TO LIVE “ if you have a well maintained bike and you have confidence in your tyres then enjoy the freedom that only a bike can give you- stay safe
2018 GW Tour. Stones since new. 28k with my 3rd set 200 miles ago. So 14k/set. Both had a couple thousand remaining but on both occasions I was about to take a 5000 mile trip so I changed. Never unfortunate to have a puncture prior to 12k on any of my prior wings, so I’ve never patched one. I’ll never Darkside. 40 psi front and back. 1 up rider. They do tend to cup a bit with that pressure at 12-14k.
I went dark side on a Harley Softail Custom. After about 20k miles I went back because I liked the more neutral feel when cornering and for resale because I was trading up for a touring bike. It worked well and I have nothing against it.
Tires: 17 Indian Springfield Dunlop elite 4s. 22k on last set with several thousand left on them according to dealer. 35k on the bike. Smooth, responsive riding. Screw in rear once. plugged until I could get a new one. Never considered DarkbSiding. I'll go with the engineers.
2008 and use Bridgestones, I have plugged a tire and rode it about 500 miles on a return cross country trip. Changed it when I got home. I use dyna beads as well👍
I was riding an '86 Wing. I installed new tires, 5 miles later had a nail in the rear. Lack of $$'s dictated a plug, At 6,000 it is still holding.
Dyna beads are awesome, I experienced no problems.
Ride-On sealer/balancer is now the first thing I do to a new tire install, it's Latex based and does no harm to rubber or the wheel. I will never again run any tire without Ride-On
Love your videos. All my earlier bikes I preferred Dunlops because they had the sticky feel to them, but more recently I bought a 2001 Gl1800 that came with Metzeler Marathon ultras (41 psi on both) and wow! they hang great on the corners. Even more recently I purchased an '02 Gl1800 and the tires are badly cupped, so I think I will look into another set of Mtezeler's as well.
My 18 Tour DCT came from the factory with Bridgestone tires. I’m happy with their performance and I expect to stay with the brand. I picked up a 3 1/2” deck screw about 4 months ago and I plugged it with the sticky plug. For awhile, it performed fine with no loss of pressure. Two weeks ago I started losing pressure from the plugged area. I ordered a new Bridgestone from Wingstuff, then found the Honda dealer I bought the bike from won’t install a tire unless it’s purchased from them. I checked with their parts department and they didn’t have the Bridgestone in stock, was significantly more expensive than Wingstuff, and I had to go to the dealership and pay for the tire before they would order it. Very disappointing. I contacted a local motorcycle performance shop and they said they’d install the tire. Thanks for the video.
Where do you live, dj16911 and who was that rotten dealer? If that's the way he treats us, I wouldn't buy so much as a T-shirt from the guy.
NEVER, go to that dealer again!!!
@@veiledallegory Unfortunately it’s the only Honda dealer in my area. Pro Caliber Motorsports.
Greetings:::I’m 66 have had many different manufactured motorcycle tires over the years, but very much a novice, tires are always getting better same with auto tires. I’m on a 2005 Goldwing with a 2010 MotorTrike we bought in 2017 with 14,700 miles, now 22,000 miles. I installed an Avon Trike tire on the front, Michelin’s rear. This is my first Honda Gl 1800, we love it but again it’s now 3 wheels and a different animal all together. As for the 2 wheelers, I’m also sitting on a 2012 BMW K1600GTL we bought new and added many options. It came stock with Metzeler’s, that was major mistake for BMW, not everyone lives and breaths the Tail of the Dragon on a daily lunch hour. I live in northern Indiana where 4 lane and nice 2 lane highways are the norm. Those Metzeler’s were junk at 4,500 miles. I then went the first set of Michelin’s I didn’t trust those Metzeler’s at all with my wife on the back. I’m also a real gear head when it comes to tire pressures, this is the key to any life of a motorcycle tire to pretty much max out the mileage of a tire. Long story short, I’m a Michelin guy so that’s what’s been on the BMW since. I’m now pushing 18,700 miles on the BMW, at the 18,000 mile check I still had 55% left on the original breaks, that’s the kind of rider I am. Both the Honda and BMW are still in mint condition, although I’m look’n for a new home for the BMW I’ve become a real Goldwing fan and would love to be on a 2020 DCT Roadsmith or CSC trike with the optional fuel tank. YIPPEE !!!
Safe Travels
Wild Bill
I tried double dark side on my 2001 Goldwing. I didn’t have any problems with the car tire but handling was different, took awhile to get used to it, little harder to lean into a curve. I did not care care for a bt45 on the front, very heavy feeling. Went back to Bridgestone tires front & back. Handling is much better and nimble. I still have the care tire on my spare back rim
21 GW T DCT - 12K mi. Road service over plugged alive to testify! Stones definitely! Ride on!
Ive been a long time yamaha FJR1300 rider for the past 16 yrs and I swear by Michelin road series tires and omg in my opinion these are the best all around for sport touring and just amazing grip in wet weather and give me confidence in wet weather now I am finally gonna break from my yamaha and I have put a deposit on a brand new 2022 goldwing DCT I am gonna be a winger for the first time and I am so excited but ive been waiting since May for my bike and still have not gotten it I am not new to DCT I also have a 2015 honda CTX 700 DCT and really got to know the DCT and have also traded that bike for a honda NC750X DCT but I am disappointed Michelin makes no tire for the new goldwing anyway I really cant find tires for the new goldwing so I need some help I normally buy my tires from revzilla and they dont have bridgstones that fit goldwing so I am at a lost can someone please tell me which bridgestones to look for the best I got out of a set if Michelin for my yamaha was around 12k plus miles the worst was around 7k plus miles it really depended on the way I ride I am somewhat of a hard rider on the sport side and rude twisty mountain roads a lot as I gotten older I have toned down the way I ride just a little lol but I am always safe anyway could use some advice on tires for my new wing
Rubber hardness is measured by durometers The hardest Dunlop is Elite 4 Duro 80 good wear Duro 65 soft tire
Thanks for the hardness measurement. I will sacrifice durable for responsiveness and handling everyday of the week. I will be checking the Duro numbers going forward.
2018 Goldwing DCT. 12,000 on a set of Dunlop D423s. Could have stretched another 1,000 out of them. I don’t run with plugged tires. I run with 42 lbs of pressure, front and rear.
I've typically gotten 15-17k out of Dunlop E3 or E4. I'm on Bridgestone currently since they came with my 2019 DCT. They ride nice, I'm not a big fan of the shape of the rear tire. I feel the Dunlop profile handles a little better. I'm at sea level, run about 38-40 front and 44 rear.
2018 non tour manual. 41/38 psi. OEM Dunlops went 6300 miles until I was uncomfortable with the amount of tread; probably could have gone another 1000 miles. They were also cupping and noisy on the turns. Installed Bridgestones and happy so far at 9000 miles. Never seriously considered dark side because #1- I often scrape pegs when turning and #2- I’m bothered by the mismatched shape between the car tire bead and that of the motorcycle rim.
I've got centramatics on my 2013 and they seem to be working fine....
Buying a set of Bridgestone for the new riding season....
cheers!
'14 with airbag wing for me. Owned since new. I've stayed with stock bridgestones myself. 13,000km to 15,000km (8 to 10,000 miles). Going to continue with them. Works for me. I was 36 rear and 41 psi front but went up a bit to keep the pesky light from going on as the bike aged. Cold weather seemed to play a role. Light on cold and went off when it warmed up. Replaced my wheel sensor batteries recently and may go back to the 36/41 for the softer ride. I know that the Bridgestones allow me to go through the cone patterns but at the tread side limits. Maybe you have a source for new tpms sensors if I need them in the future. Happy riding.
Update...batteries replacement in sensors went well. Been at least year. Plug a tire? You bet, anytime. No reason not too. I used to feel that it was substandard. Not in the least. I wouldn't worry about the exposed cords too much either. Just more for the plug to grab and seal against. Slime kit for me. I lubed the reamer with the glue and put glue on the rope plug. The tire isn't going to tear apart. I bet it won't even leak. My two cents.
12K - 2012 GL1800 - I like the OEM Stones - 36 PSI front and 41 PSI rear.
2021 Tour DCT. Just went for my annual inspection sticker at about 5,500 miles and was told that their was cupping on my front tire. Dunlop Sportmax OEM tires. Will not be replacing with Dunlops when the time comes. I ride primarily on 2 lane somewhat twisty backgrounds and am not an aggressive rider.
Metzeler just released Goldwing specific tires in their Cruisetec series. I'm still saving for my Gen 6 Wing, but have good experience with the Roadtec 01 on the current VFR.
On my 02 wing, 08 vtx1800 and my 17 wing I change at 10000 miles. I have been told by the shop I still have a 1000 or so miles left. I have run dunlop like came on the bike. And yes I have plugged my rear tire on the 02 wing. The hole was in the center of the tire and rode it 8000 more miles before replacing it. No problems at all. Now if it was close to the sidewall I would of replaced it. Never had any trouble with balancing they balance it and don't do it again till I replace the tires. Now darksideing like chris that just pounds concrete pulling a trailer is great. But if you like to hit the twistys hard it handles different. I like the back roads driving down the same interstate all the time is no fun to me. Or pulling a trailer all the time. Yes your more visible but if you have to move quick your still dragging 10 foot of trailer behind you. Kind like having a truck and your running to the store so you pull your rv with you. Not going to hurt nothing but your gas mileage and maybe a little extra wear on your clutch but the wing has plenty power. Sorry I don't proof read anything so grammar mistakes i apologize.
The problem with the Goldwing, not just the newest generation, but the older ones as well, is tire life, particularly the rear tires. Another issue is load capacity. No manufacturer seems to make a tire that can handle the load (traveling two up with luggage can easily exceed the max load rating of the tire). The front tire seems to wear much longer than the rears, in some cases, twice as long, so I decided to go with a car tire on the rear. I have never had one on any of my previous bikes, so this was a new (and a little scary) experience for me. I went with a Pirelli P1, which is also a run flat. This tire rides much smoother than any MT tire I've had on any of my bikes, and the bike still leans in the corners exactly the same as it did with the MT. In fact, the bike handles exactly the same as it did before. If this tire lasts as long as most people who have used it claim, I don't think I'll be going back to a MT...
I have had a bad experience with slime, the reason is for the following reasons: 1) depending on temperature ( ambient temperature 85f + ) the liquid welds the tyre rubber to the bead of the rim plus it blocks up valve. When it comes to replacement of . Too as sewer the tyre here in Australia they won’t guarantee no damage will occur to the aluminium rim plus they charge an additional 80 to 100 $100 US to clean dress and refit a new tyre on and don’t bother going to Honda because they flatly refuse to deal with a tyre that an self repair additive has been installed in to the offending tyre let alone the mandatory replacement AT YOUR COST. Of the tyre pressure monitors
OEM 'Stones 17,8xx on my 2018 Tour DCT 36 PSI F 41 PSI R
I have a 2008 Goldwing, with 75,000 miles on it. I have went through several brands of tire, Mostly Dunlop. I got 12,000 on my first set, pretty decent I thought. After that about 9 to 10 thousand. I had a rear tire blowout going 80 mph on the interstate. Thankfully I was pulling a trailer, so I didn’t crash. I diligently checked my air pressure 42 in both tires. After my Dunlop Elite 4’s wore out at 8,000, I was feed up with tires not lasting. So I went to a run flat car tire. My honest opinion is that it is not for new riders. The only thing is that it pops back up faster. No problems after 10,000 miles on it. In my opinion it handles in a curve so much better. I live in the Appalachian mountains, so most of my riding is curvy mountains. I definitely would not recommend this to a new rider, plus slow down to give yourself time to get acclimated to the different feel of the tire. I absolutely don’t pay attention to it now.
'07 Goldwing. I've run Dunlops & Bridgestones but landed on Avon Cobra Chromes. I ride very aggressively in NC mountains. Avon's are the stickiest - I only get 11K on front & 7K on rear. 41 in front, 42 rear, pursuant to manufacturers specs. Yes, I run on a plugged rear, never on front.
I had to replace my tires on my Road Glide at 15k. This was at Harley's recommendation. I think it was just their standard interval. However, even though the tires still looked pretty good, I could feel a roughness or hardness in the ride. As soon as the tires were replaced, it was a feeling of a renewed softness in the ride. On that bike I think I'll go about the same distance (15k) again. As for my GW, I only have 3k miles on that bike.
Plug and continue to ride. I have ridden 5000 miles on a plug. I use the sticky ropes as well.
First tire change on my 2019 DCT at 8,250 miles on my dealers recommendation. I'm a little disappointed in the low mileage. The dealer was adamant that rear tire would not pass inspection. So . I had him install front and rear tires. When I purchased the bike he had warned me that the dunlops the bike came with would not get good mileage. I had him replace the dunlops with bridgestones. Hoping I get better mileage with these tires. The dealer is a 2018 goldwing rider so i'm putting my trust in his recommendation. No darksiding for me.
Hey Cruiseman why not using tire pressure recommanded by the tire manifacturer... IE Dunlop 36 front 41 rear.
I replaced my Dunlop tires on my 18 GW Tour at 123xx with E4 Dunlops. Last few thousand on Stock Dunlop’s were scary to say the least. Love the E4s. Had E4s on my 07 Goldwing and replaced at 20,xxx and they were just as good the day I took off as I put on and replaced with E4s again. Seems like the Bridgestones have more grip for awhile but drop off with the grip sooner around 6-7xxx miles
On my 2003 Goldwing, I typically get 15,000-16,000 miles on each set. The rear wears out first. The front seemed like it had a few thousand left. I now have a new 2019 Goldwing Tour DCT. We'll see what kind of mileage we get here.
2008 Goldwing. It came with Dunlop tires that went about 20k, but were a tad slippery when wet. Replaced them with Dunlop E3 tires which went to about 18k, but were scary in the wet. Tried a set of Bridgestone tires, and the rear had cord showing by 9k, plus they were not great in the wet. Finally tried Metzler 888’s. Got about 15k, and they stuck like glue in wet or dry. No cupping issues either. On my second set of 888’s. I have found there are two choices for rear 888’s. I always go with the higher load rating tire.
I use dyna beads now and am very satisfied. I run the front air pressure at 45 psi, and the rear at 50. For a small puncture I will patch the tire and keep running it. I do not like to plug the tire, as the tool used to open up the hole for the plug does more damage in my opinion.
Never expect Bridgestone to do anything. They are the worse tire ever. Dunlop all the way.
I ran Dunlops on my 08 wing ,then Bridgestones,then Metzelers. Dunlops cupped and caused handlebar wobble, Bridgestones wear to fast. The Metzeler was super hard and noisy I rode it 155 mi right after buying it , I could hear and feel the noise even on a Wing. It took a long time for that tire to quiet down. I prefer the Bridgestone but it seems to wear to fast but is stickier and smoother out of all of them.
I got a 2012 Wing with Avon Cobra Chrome on it have 12,000 miles on them with no noticeable wear I love them
12500 on factory Bridgestone, on a 2016 GW, and I checked air pressure every time I ride. I can’t see 15-20k
I rode 18k on the dark side and had no problems, handle good in rain, curves and everything I did. But probably won’t do again. But I proved to myself that it was safe.
2018 DCT Tour - 17,800 on my Bridgestone front tire, 10,000 on a Dunlop rear tire (could have gotten a few more thousand miles but I was in the middle of a 6,000 ride). No plugs for me.
On the topic of the Centramatics - I had them put on my 2019 DCT a couple of weeks ago during it's 24K service (tires were getting replaced anyway) - and I have to say in the 1100+ miles I've put on since the difference is quite obvious.
While my bike didn't have a huge problem with vibration, my left hand would start to feel tingly or numb-ish after 3+ hours of riding. After the Centramatics were installed, that little bit of vibration was essentially entirely gone! And as a visual confirmation of same, before when the sunlight was at my back and the tops of the two struts were visible in front of the handlebars, their endless "popping" up and down by a few millimeters or so was almost mesmerizing to watch - kind of hypnotic effect. Well, they have completely settled down - smooth as glass on the same orads and the same speeds on which I put on the previous 24K miles.
So while I have no vested interst in the company, I have to say these Centramatics work - Cruiseman, maybe you ought to give them a review!
To each his own as far as the car tire , but it’s not what I would do. Nor would I recommend it. Just based on physics
With my 18 GoldWing I got 10k on both. The front was on 2/32 and the rear was 4. I could have gone another 2 or 3. I use Bridgestones. I use Centramatics and they work great. I've used them for 5 years and they are great.
You should watch the video from Traxion Dynamics about the pressure when you have their suspension. 34-35 front and 38 rear. Dunlop E3 on my 05 wing and I did get 18k miles. On my valkyrie E3s went 20k miles. Just bought an 18 DCT and put on the Excedra Max. Only have 4800 so far will see. My 18 has the Traction Dynamics and have been running 35 F 38 R and no cupping after 4800
Any feedback on running Elite 4 on the new Wing?
Running Dunlops on my 2018-6 speed, got 18,000 km (12,000 miles).
Hey there cruise man. Do you have any info when we can put android auto on these machines? I picked up my new goldwing in February 2020 with 3 miles on the clock......just passed 10,000 miles ( yes 10,000 miles in 120days....slow year....what quarantine?...) thanks in advance..
Arguing about tires seems like so much more fun than all the other stuff people are arguing about. I did a 10000 mile trip in 2018 on a Kawasaki voyager 12 and Dunlop E3's. They look near new. E4's on the 07 Wing with 10000 miles on them and still plenty of tread. With all that being said, I'll try something new next set. Good topic Chris. Thanks.
8000 miles on Bridgestones that came with 2018 DCT tour and was down to the wear bars. Plugged the rear at 1500 miles and never had a leak. Just put on Dunlop’s. I have never had a problem with sticky rope plug.
I got a blue 2018 Honda goldwing. It came with the dunlop tires. I worn out them at 6000miles. Then I replaced with bridgestone. Now I have 13000miles I just have my third set of tire. I think the bridgestone last longer but the dunlop has better handling. I use the tires very fast because I ride my goldwing very aggressively on twisty.
Great video Chris.. I’m a Bridgestone man myself. I love everything about them, and have no means in changing. I use centrmatics balances. I’ve got around 8,000 miles on mine as we speak and I’m sure I’ve got at least 5, 000 left I’m hoping. I run 36 front, and 42 in rear.
6 k on factory set of Dunlops, Ride 3/4 of the time two up, hard carve lots of mountain roads throughout VT ski county. Won’t Plug. Wish I got more life from tires but think riding style has a lot to do with it.
For pre 2018 models Bridgestone are the best compromise... last between 10 and 15k... Honda repair handbook plus Cruiseman's garage videos are a must for the dedicated Winger... no slime on motorcycle tires, it is not helping when the new one comes on.... never drive long on plugged tires... finally keep tires a little over inflated... otherwise I shop at Babbits, Revzilla, Wingstuff, and the local Honda dealership for parts... btw. this channel is one of my favorites and everybody should be watching too... even if you would never fly a Wing... and I always darkside... on my car... they won't be found on my Wing...
ST 1300.. Michelin pilot road 4. Tire pressure 42/42...12-13,000 rear...14,000 front.
i thought about darkside, but i'm a Retired Harley-Davidson Service manager and when Harley on some of their models were going to Michelin Tires we got a video sent to us introducing the HD Michelins, and in the Video Michelin was VERY ANTI Darkside and showed tires coming off and bead blowing out and bikes crashing...........After that Video you couldn't Pay me to go Darkside, i'd quit riding 1st.
I would like to see that video.
This is the first I’ve heard of people crashing because of using CTs. Where can this video be found?
Cruiseman, What version of Bridgestone ?
Ohhhhh i get 15000 to 20000 on my michelin commander 2's only got 4500 on stock dunlops at 5000 or so on my Metzlers and look as good as new. Plug to get home, then REPLACE !!
I have the Redheaded Stepchild of the Goldwing world the F6C Valkyrie the 2014 1832cc bike, and the Morons at Honda thought it would be a good idea to put sport bike wheels on it, and finding tires just SUCKS........Sport bike tires wear out in 5000 miles and cost way more, and the cruiser touring tires don't come in the sport bike wheel sizes, i'm a Michelin guy my Harley's all get Commander II's but to run a commander II on a 2014 Valkyrie you have to go from a 180/55-17 (stock) to a 200/55-17 and there are questions as to weather it fits, So i went with Metzler ME888's but with them i had to go to a 180/60-17, like the Metzlers so far, but not as smooth a ride feel as my Michelin equipped bikes. And what's up with Motorcycle tire prices ?? i used to get just 10 years ago tired from and rear for about $250 now it's more like $500 for a set ........no wonder so many are going darkside
Maintenance - Gold Wing? No data in cross reference!
I have 2016 goldwing I'm getting 14000 on OEM tires, I did put fork brace on when I first got bike.
My 2018 Goldwing Tour DCT had the front Bridgestone tire replaced at 12,111 miles. The rear tire was replaced at 14,509 miles.
Back when I had my GL1500, I would get 22 - 25,000 miles out of the Dunlop E3 tires. Even the stock Dunlop K177 tires I would get at least 20,000 out of them.
My 2005 Goldwing would get 18,000 miles on average on tires.
They just don’t last as long as they used to.
When I replaced the rear tire on my 2018, I got the Bridgestone G852G 200/60Rx16 which is a taller tire. It happened to be cheaper than the 55 tire specifically made for the Goldwing.
I would ride mostly in Econ mode. I lost 3 - 4 mpg using this new tire. I was getting around 50 mpg and now am getting around 46 mpg in Econ mode. This can be understandable that it takes more power and gas to get a bigger tire rolling, the same as if there were gearing changes, and of course the speedometer is off a couple mph at 60mph.
However, I did notice that if I ride in Tour mode, the mileage returns to 49 because with the engine creating more power in Tour mode, it overcomes the work to get the bike rolling. It is like using the A/C on a car that has 80 - 90 hp and you lose power when the A/C is on, whereas if you had a V8 and more power the vehicle’s power isn’t affected by the A/C.
I try and keep the pressures at 36 front, and 41 rear. However according to the TPMS on the Wing, the tire pressures goes up and down with temperature and fluctuates 5 - 8 lbs. If I don’t ride the bike for 3 - 4 days, the cold temp readings drop, but if I ride every day, they stay at near normal.
I would like to get the Centramatic wheel balancers for my bike, I think besides keeping the wheels balanced all the time, it will also save money not having to pay for tire balancing at the time of tire replacement. This could eventually cover the cost of the balancers in savings.
My 2005 Goldwing, I replaced the rear tire and got 100 miles on it in one week, and it got a screw in it. I wasn’t about to go down and pay another $300 for another tire, so I plugged it. It worked great for about 4 years. I believe I had about 8,000 miles on the tire before it started leaking and I had it replaced. If my wife rode with me instead of her riding her own bike, I would have bought a new tire. Ride Safe.
AVON...
Prior to my 2018 Goldwing Tour, I had a 2014 Victory Cross Country with Dunlop E3 (from factory) and replaced with Dunlop E4 - both sets lasted 15-16K miles before needing to be replaced. Absolutely will not ride on a plugged tire on a bike - my policy has always been to eplace only.
I never drive with a plugged tyre. And I never use tire sealants as well. On my car, yes. but when it comes to my bike, I don't make any compromise at all. The reason is pretty simple : If it comes to failure, you just have ONE tyre left. 10000 miles is also my experience before I change my tires.
So you're in the middle of no where and get a flat, you wouldn't use a plug?
@@gerrellbradshaw6083 No that's not the point. Of course I would use a plug in this situation. The discussion was about plugging a tyre and driving another thousand miles with it just to save money. That I wouldn't do.
I could not get the facebook page to show up. It said this content is not available right now. 6gengoldwingmaint
Sorry: facebook.com/groups/6gengoldwingmaint/
Been winging it several years and traded my 06 in for an 18 DCT soon as they were available to order. Love the 18 DCT would do it again in a minute.
I've used on most motorcycles over the years, Metzelers, Avons, Dunlops and Bridgestones. I thought the Metzelers were good, but I"ve come to like the Bridgestones pretty well. They seem to ride smooth and I can get a good amount of life out of them. I usually change around the 10k mark and the set of Bridgestones I have now I've got over 11k on them. With the 06 and its suspension, seems most tires would cup around 6-8k and with this 18 DCT, I started to get minor cupping around 8-9k it seems. I'm due for a new set of sneakers and just ordered a set of Bridgestones from Wingstuff the other day. Free shipping.
I run 40/40 psi and I'm pretty happy with that setup riding mostly 2 up.
Take care and stay safe ! ! !
I am running Bridgestone's on my 2014 GW. I have just over 7K on the front tire (38psi) and 6K on the rear (41psi). I have fewer miles on rear because I had to replace it after running over sharp plastic which cut into the side cord (plastic was all over the lanes on a busy highway and could not avoid it). The tires look like they could do another 6 or 7k. Dark side is probably ok for interstate driving but I don't trust it for the type of riding I do.
In the UK I would expect to have the book thrown at me if stopped by the police while riding the motorcycle with a car tyre fitted, let alone if I was involved in an accident. Any advantages of fitting a car tyre to the bike are simply a moot point as it should not be done. IMHO
Cruiseman,
You hit a lot of topics on this one. I have a 2018 Goldwing Tour that came with Bridgestones. I'm at the wear bars at about 13,000 miles and will replace them in early June. I will put on Dunlop Elite 4's which is what I had on my 2006 Wing. I had about 14,000 miles on that bike's tires when I sold it with no end in sight on the tread. My 2006 had Centramatics on it and I could tell an immediate difference in the ride but couldn't explain what that difference was but I believe it helped my tire mileage. I do not have them on the 2018. I've been fortunate to not have had a puncture on a tire but do carry a repair kit that will get me to a shop for a new tire ASAP.
On the 2006 I always ran 36/41 until I put on the Elite 4's. While talking to a Dunlop rep at Wing Ding I told them I wasn't impressed with the handling of the new tires. She told me to run 41/41. After adding more pressure on the front I had no issues with the handling.
I will never run dark side. Car tires are simply not designed for motorcycles and I won't take a chance with them. Not worth the risk, no matter how small it may be. And Slime goes in my UTV tires and that's all.
Thanks, as always, for your videos.
Something I forgot to mention. Tire sealants can destroy a TPMS. Also, the correct link for the 2018-2020 Goldwing Maintenance Group is: facebook.com/groups/6gengoldwingmaint
I used to run Dunlop and Bridgestone on my ultra classic, then I tried a Metzeler and it was so smooth I loved it. It also followed the groves in the road much less than either of the others. If they now have one for my 18 dct, that is what I will be using again. Long mileage is nice, but does not mean as much to me as the feel the tire transferred to the bike. Tire models change though, so maybe the newest models have a different feel.
Same here. I run the Metzeler tires on my Honda VTX 1800T LOVE them
First off, Cruiseman, here in England they're tyres, not tires. Personally, I wouldn't dream of visiting the dark side, although I can understand those who say that they get extra grip through corners when they're riding on that ridge at the junction of the tread and the sidewall. The problem is, if you lean just that bit further over, you're likely to lose it without warning. If car tyres performed consistently better through corners, then motorcycle racers would use flat-profile tyres - and they don't. That said, I take my hat off to those mavericks who push the boundaries in life. Just loving my new Goldwing!
Interesting topic. I ride a 2015 HD Roadglide SE. As with prior Harleys, with Dunlops, 10-11k on rears, more on tread left but badly cupped, so I change the both, 40/36psi. As soon as Michelin Commander IIs were available that what I run, very simple handling, grip but I get an easy 40-50% more miles 40/40psi.
Oops, the reference to cupping was on fronts. Michelin fronts have far less cupping.
Victory Cross Country tour- Donlop E3 12k miles. 38 psi
2018 Goldwing tour- Donlop E4 10k miles. 38psi
Now running Bridgestone on 2018 Goldwing Tour only have 2k miles so far. 38psi.
I use rope plug to plug a tire and only ride on plug tire to get home. I personally do not like riding on plug tire and will replace both tires ASAP.
Was told the belt integrity of tire is compromised using any plug or patch.
Never a big fan of dark side because of my riding style and tire design. Sidewalk on car tire is not meant to be in contact with road. Motorcycle tires are designed to fit the rim (need) properly.
pogadał , pogadał, nic z tego nie wynika , strata czasu
Michelin tire’s on my Goldwing. yes they don’t make one specific for the goldwing but have tires close enough size that will make the speedometer closer to actual vs being off a couple MPH
Front tire 38psi
Rear tire 41 psi
tire plugs yes to get me to a new tire
are you using the Commander III?
i was thinking of getting the main video for my 2020 GL 1800 But I mine Triked will the videos still be helpful
About 25% of my maint video customers own trikes, so I assume so. Some of the videos won't apply, but many will.
I used to use Dunlop, but after 2 of the tires separating I switched to Bridgestone and have had 2 sets with no issues. I live in San Antonio and keep the pressure at 41 back and front because mechanic told me I’ll get better handling and longevity from the tires. I use no balancing as I don’t see a need for it.
Have you ever heard of a tire sealer product called Sahara tire management. They claim it does not pool like a Slime product, but coats the tire. Claim it can be used on anything from a tube bicycle to Semi trucks and everything in between. safe to use with TPMS and the tire runs cooler. Any info from anyone on this????
Never tried it. But one thing I failed to mention in my video is you never want to use a sealant on a bike with TPMS sensors.
2014 HD Ultra Ltd. On my 3rd set, all different brands. Getting 16-17K on the rears. Could have easily gone 2K more. Replaced front and rear each time. OE Dunlops, Mich. C2, now on American Elites. Looks like the Elites might exceed the others on miles. Had a nail once in the rear, replaced.
Best tire out is the Chinese cheng-fen tires only $95.99
Usually 20k plus miles. Harley ultra limited 40 psi rear 36 psi front. Dunlop
2012 GW- double darkside - so I get about 30k per tire. If I ran MC tires I would not run with a plug either due to the flex of the sidewall. I run the Battlax 45 on front with 40 psi and Pirelli P1 run flat and run that about 33. Great combination of tires. I can do everything on my darkside tires I could do with MC tires.
I just never understood tire manufacturers .. IF the customers are looking for tires that last longer, i.e. milage wise.. then why NOT making one. If your customers are switching to non-motorcycle tire then you losing money to those they may NEVER return to your product. Instead just make what they want and make the money.
2018 DCT Tour. 10,000 on first set of Dunlop’s. Just replaced with Shinkos. Got good reviews. Amazing prices! Engineered in Japan, made in South Korea. Check out the Motorcycle Men blog interview with a Shinko Exec. Impressed with their history and engineering. Would plug on a trip to be able to continue. Honda recommended pressures. How do Dynabeads work with the TPMS sensors?
Dynabeads work fine with TPMS. You just have to be careful when putting them in your tire.
Great vid. Thanks for shout out!
2007 Gl1800 Bridgestone have 11000 miles on them. Will be changing soon. Psi 38 front 38 rear
I'm riding a 2013 F6B and Double Darkside for 10,000 mi over last 4 months, most of those are towing my trailer. Both front and rear still look brand new! Rear- Bridgestone Dry Guard/Run flat 195/55 at 40psi. Front- Rear MC tire, Battlaxx BT45 at 40 psi. Love em!!!
Hey Cruiseman. Do you have a tire that you recommend for a 2021 Goldwing Tour DCT?
37/42 Yamaha FJR 1300 (mfr spec). I plug a tire and ride only to the dealer but it depends on the location of the puncture as well.
With the old wing my best tire mileage was with the Dunlop E3 on the rear and the Bridgestone G709 on the front..15k miles with that setup...with this 2018 I replaced the OEM Bridgestones 11k...went with OEM Bridgestone rear and went with the Bridgestone front from the old wing.. G709 front...Ive plugged rear tire with only 1k miles on them and rode til it was wore out...would only plug a front to get home and then replace the front tire.
Ive noticed no difference with the beads over stick on weight...Imo the beads are just more money being spent...you are already paying for a spin balance when the tires are mounted
I have a 2019 DCT Tour. Mine came with the Dunlaps and currently have 4,000 miles. I run 38/41 psi and they are ok. I have never used Bridgestone. I have seen that the Dunlap E4's now come in the correct size for the 2018+ Gold Wing. I had them on a Victory and loved them. I would like to try them when I need to replace the originals.
The manual says to run 36 psi in front and 41 psi in rear. Plug the rear tire and replace the front tire.
2014 wing average about 12, 000 miles on stones and run 36F/41R and nail in it I replace.
My 2018 came with Dunlops. At about 8k they had plenty of tread, but I picked up a nail so I replaced both. 6k so far on the new Bridgestones and I see very
little wear. As for pressure I go by the manual, but I don’t think two or three pounds is any big deal.
On my other motorcycles I use the Michelin pilot road five. Great tires.
Hew makes that jacket you have on? Where can I buy one please?.
2019 Tour DCT: 9,500-ish rear, 11,000-ish front, both Bridgestone and Dunlop.
No plug.
Hi Cruiseman and others. I have purchased (happy with all purchases) a few items from Max at Traxxion and would appreciate some feedback and experience with his upgraded shocks for a 2021 Goldwing to reduce cupping and extend tire life. Also what are reasonable mileages before tire replacement is needed?
Kevin, tire life is going to depend a lot on how you ride the bike. I am a pretty conservative rider and I can get about 11K out of a set of tires. I know some guys are comfortable going 15K, but my 11K mine always start to ride rough and I go ahead and replace them. Canyon carvers might only get 7K out of a set if they ride hard. I am not familiar with Max's upgrade for the 2021, but I did have his suspension on my 2007 Goldwing and it made a huge difference.
@@cruisemansgarage Thanks Cruiseman. What made you get Maxx's upgrade for your 2007 and why not on your 2019?
My 2018 DCT Tour has original Dunlops currently at about 7,000 miles. I run 36F/41R . Plug tire and replace it when I can. I ran several sets of Dunlops E3 on my 2003 Goldwing 36F/41R and road them down to the wear bar unless I had a long trip planned. Yes the E3 rear tire would break lose sometimes on wet pavement from a stop. The E3s did track well over metal bridges.
On my 2018 DCT Tour I get about 5,000 miles on rear and 9,000 front. Using B'stone and occasionally use a non-run flat Darkside on rear. I do not like runflats. Have my Darkside tire on a spare rim. The Goldwing rear rim bead seats do match auto tires. I install my own tires, piece of cake. I trust sticky rope plugs for like of tire IF toward center of tread and punctured, not cut. Some Darkside tires can really cut it up in the twisties (a good thing). I really don't give a flip about how far a tire will go, it is all about the grip for me.