big day

[gilou]

nice day for me after lots of hours and BIG check up , the bike is riding again
just a little problem , a shimmy effect when the bike decelerate , a about 70 km/h
can you say something about this ?
i still have 16 wheels , but i have to change tyres,they looks good but too olds.
about tyres can you advise me ( in 16 )


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[FeralJuggernaut]

First guess out of of the box...  look at your front tire, I believe it is cupped.  Look at the tread patterns and you'll likely find that in the 'groves'  one side is a different height from the other.  If the tire has about 3/4 of the lifespan gone or not at proper inflation for a lot of km, it is a common phenomenon.   Start there, keep it simple and easy...  Let us know what you find!

[andyb]

Worn tires.  Fix tires, wobble goes away.  Not much tire in 16 for you.  Pirelli Sport-Demons or Avon Azaro-ST's are probably the best of the lot.

[gilou]

First guess out of of the box...  look at your front tire, I believe it is cupped.  Look at the tread patterns and you'll likely find that in the 'groves'  one side is a different height from the other.  If the tire has about 3/4 of the lifespan gone or not at proper inflation for a lot of km, it is a common phenomenon.   Start there, keep it simple and easy...  Let us know what you find!

it is a effect from the picture , the tires are perfectly circular ; i went to my dealer this afternoon, he had only bridgestone battlax b45 in stock what do you think about them ?

[Flyover Country Joe]

gilou,
  Have you checked your steering head bearings? Too loose, too tight, or flat spots on the races will all give you some weird handling.

[terryk]

I like my Pirelli Speed demons. Perhaps a bit wooden in tire feel but Bias ply so what can you expect, but predictable, no drama so far but only 1,200 miles in on this set of new tires.

[gilou]

gilou,
  Have you checked your steering head bearings? Too loose, too tight, or flat spots on the races will all give you some weird handling.

yes i have checked them , they needed grease but were in good conditions , there was no difference before and after their check

[gilou]

First guess out of of the box...  look at your front tire, I believe it is cupped.  Look at the tread patterns and you'll likely find that in the 'groves'  one side is a different height from the other.  If the tire has about 3/4 of the lifespan gone or not at proper inflation for a lot of km, it is a common phenomenon.   Start there, keep it simple and easy...  Let us know what you find!

what do you wan to say about "first guess out of the box ??" (i'm a french guy)

[FeralJuggernaut]

The tire is round, but is the tread 'flared'?   No experience with the BattleAx lineup, I am an Avon Azaro ST believer...   'out of the box'  is a slang for  "Start with..."   The next check items are FAR less likely to be your issue.   I find when I am looking for 16" tires it is almost always a 'we have to order that item', at least here in the states.    If you have the ability, I highly recommend changing the front and rear tire at the same time for best 'wow' factor of fresh rubber and handling experience.   My bike is extra delightful to ride when there is fresh rubber at each end and no worn flat spots to interfer with the corning.  YMMV

[andyoutandabout]

Thus far, all my handling woes regardless of wheel size have been cured by new rubber.
For the 16s I loved the Avon azaros
For the 17s I'm into the Michelin road pilot 2s
I couldn't really see this so called tyre cupping, but I could sure feel it.

[gilou]

i' have been riding this afternoon with new bridgestone bt 45 UNBELIEVABLE !! THIS BIKE IS FANTASTIC
shimmy effect disepear , the bike seems to be a bicycle , very very happy

[FJTillDeath]

i' have been riding this afternoon with new bridgestone bt 45 UNBELIEVABLE !! THIS BIKE IS FANTASTIC
shimmy effect disepear , the bike seems to be a bicycle , very very happy

The battle axes are quite nice indeed, never had a problem with them(but then again I have nothing to compare them to)

The only negative thing I have heard is they are not the hardest tire and therefore their life on the FJ is not very good(its not poor, but I hear the Avons are quite nice). Personally I havent seen THAT much tire wear in my FJ although the front is starting a very slight cup. I have ridden 4000km so far with them on, the bike had been standing about 4 months previous to me buying it and I have no idea how long they have been on the bike(the speedo only had 4500km on the clock when I purchased the bike, but when I think of a 26 yo bike, I dont see tires lasting that long...)

Great to know its fixed and keep enjoying the ride

PS the battleaxes dont seem to have any loss of handling due to cold issues(unless you are on some really smooth pavement and pulling off really hard)

[FeralJuggernaut]

There is a 'date code' usually on tires if you want to know when the tire was manufactured.   Doesn't say how long it has been on the bike and mileage, but at least you'll know the longest it could be.   

From my scratch files....
==========================
D.O.T. Number

The tire also contains a D.O.T. number. The last three digits show the year and week that the tire was manufactured. e.g., a tire stamped
324 means the tire was made in the 32nd week of 1994. Hopefully, it will not be too difficult to tell the difference in a tire made in 1984
from one made in 1994. Tires suffer from sunlight, ozone, and aging deterioration. You should choose the newer tire when the opportunity exists.
==========================

[FJTillDeath]

Sorry for the thread (no pun intended) Hijack, but then if my dots are as follows

Front tire: 1208 - That means 20th week of 98 or 08?

Rear tire: 171(0) - That means 12th week of 91 or 01? It cant be the 71st week of 2010 thats for sure

[grannyknot]

Sorry for the thread (no pun intended) Hijack, but then if my dots are as follows

Front tire: 1208 - That means 20th week of 98 or 08?

Rear tire: 171(0) - That means 12th week of 91 or 01? It cant be the 71st week of 2010 thats for sure

1208 = 12th week of 2008
2010 = 20th week of 2010