I got chicken strips...and not the kind you eat.

[dutchy73]

So I'll admit it. My back tire has a chicken strip right down the middle. And it's getting flatter all the time.  However, this is the dilemma...

Most of my riding is in the form of commuting to and from work. That means, 40 minutes of straight up riding each way, mostly on the highway. And when I do hit the back roads during the commute, I am never in a position to hit the twisties in a way where I am getting good leans. Mostly because I am stuck behind people doing about 30 miles an hour.

When not commuting, my rides have been long treks (again on the highway). I am slowly realizing that my 696 might not be the right bike for the type of riding I am doing. But I do love her to death and not looking to upgrade/trade/buy another bike at this point. Financially, I don't think I can really do it right now.

So my question is, what are my options here, other then getting a new bike? Should I look at different tire set up? If so, what kind? Are there tips that you guys can share that might help me minimize the flat spots other then weaving in and out of highway traffic like some crazy squid? Or do i just deal with it and get new tires when it's appropriate?

thoughts?

[NAKID]

Just change the tires to something more of a sport touring tire. Harder rubber and won't flatten out as quick.

OR, you could change your route

[dutchy73]

for the commute, changing the route would make the ride a lot longer. And it's already 40-45 minutes each way. And I'd still be in a situation where I wouldn't be getting a lot of leans.

So a harder tire would help with the wear, but what about performance? Any precautions I would need to take when I do hit those on/off ramps at speed? How is it in wet conditions? Any specific brands/models I should look out for?

[Slide Panda]

Well you, me and most folks really aren't pushing the limits of sporting tires 99% of the time on the street anyways.  So the performance loss will probably pretty marginal and may not really go noticed the the great bulk of your riding.  And it's not like sport tour tires are circles of cement like the HD branded tires - it'll be cool.

Also, generally sport tours don't suffer as much traction reduction in the wet as the sportier tires.

[rockaduc]

Get the Michelin Pilot Road 2CT tires.  A hard compound in the middle and the traditional softer Pilot Power compound on the shoulders.

Just my $.02.

[Triple J]

Like others have said...get some sport touring tires.

I currently have Pilot Road 2cts...and like them a lot, but they're expensive.

Previously I had the regular Pilot Roads, and they did just fine, even when I was riding hard. They also saw A LOT of rain. Bonus is they are pretty cheap. I got about 10K out of the rear before it got really flat IIRC.

Any sport touring tire will probably be good though. 

[dutchy73]

Like others have said...get some sport touring tires.

I currently have Pilot Road 2cts...and like them a lot, but they're expensive.

Previously I had the regular Pilot Roads, and they did just fine, even when I was riding hard. They also saw A LOT of rain. Bonus is they are pretty cheap. I got about 10K out of the rear before it got really flat IIRC.

Any sport touring tire will probably be good though. 

So what made you get the 2CTS instead of the regular Pilot Roads?

[Triple J]

So what made you get the 2CTS instead of the regular Pilot Roads?

I don't honestly have a good reason. I just wanted the 2CTs when it came time to throw down money.  I almost got the regular Roads again.

[NAKID]

I think the regular Roads are on their way out, as in not making them any more...

[DucRS]

With my occasional commute 60 miles each way I also had to deal with flat spots. So I had the dealer put the 2CTs on my bike mostly because they looked good I didn't know about the hardened compound. Nice to know I may get a few extra miles out of them. They weren't cheap though, I think about $300 for just the rear 190/.

[dutchy73]

Fantastic. So this is what I am going to do. I'll most likely be putting on the 2CT's on the bike in the near future. I should be able to get a few more miles out of the current set, but will upgrade to new the tires soon. I'm sure the regular Pilots are OK, but I think it might be better to invest in the better set when it comes to tires. That's something I really don't want to mess around with, especially since it's the only thing that is keeping me glued to the road.

[yotogi]

+1 on Pilot Roads. Not sure if you would really get your dollars out of the 2CTs, but either way it should help with your flat spot.

[JEFF_H]

FYI-
I would consider 'chicken strips' the untouched rubber on the outside of the tire (implying you cant lean over very very), not the flat wear in the middle from straight roads 

[He Man]

the big difference between the road and road 2ct is the profile nad compound of course.
road 2ct is a lot more triagnular than road. plus its got soft edges!

[dlearl476]

FYI-
I would consider 'chicken strips' the untouched rubber on the outside of the tire (implying you cant lean over very very), not the flat wear in the middle from straight roads 

+1 on both that and the Pilot Roads.