New Front Tire Feels Heavy

VEGASRIDER · May 23, 2008

So I had a new set of Michellin Pilot Powers put on my bike this week. For some reason, my front tire becomes real heavy and wobbly at slow speeds. I mean heavy as far as trying to make tight turns, and wobbly like it feels like I'm trying to control a gyroscope. I called Yamaha today and they told me to bring in the bike on Saturday so they can take a look. Any ideas. I checked the tire pressure, its at 32psi, a unit down, but shouldn't cause that kind of a feeling. Tire was balanced before being placed back onto the bike too. Weird.

christod1 · May 23, 2008

i would very carefull how I ride the bike if I was you untill I got it checked. Possibly the tyre is faulty or most probably it hasn't been put on correctly. Be very carefull..

oso2k · May 23, 2008

VEGASRIDER said:
So I had a new set of Michellin Pilot Powers put on my bike this week. For some reason, my front tire becomes real heavy and wobbly at slow speeds. I mean heavy as far as trying to make tight turns, and wobbly like it feels like I'm trying to control a gyroscope. I called Yamaha today and they told me to bring in the bike on Saturday so they can take a look. Any ideas. I checked the tire pressure, its at 32psi, a unit down, but shouldn't cause that kind of a feeling. Tire was balanced before being placed back onto the bike too. Weird.

PPs have this tendency until they're properly broken in. However, I would be a little concerned about the pressure. I thought standard pressure was 36 PSI and 42 PSI for heavy guys like me. Bump up the pressure when you can and make you do a thorough break in run.

VEGASRIDER · May 23, 2008

oso2k said:
PPs have this tendency until they're properly broken in. However, I would be a little concerned about the pressure. I thought standard pressure was 36 PSI and 42 PSI for heavy guys like me. Bump up the pressure when you can and make you do a thorough break in run.

Correct tire pressure according to the manual is 33 for the front and 36 on the rear. I'm not really a very big person, weigh about 150, maybe 160 with gear. I was wondering if the tire was placed on correctly as well, but it seems to look it's aligned properly and bolts intact. I was planning to take it in anyway for a 100 mile safety inspection torque check on the bolts.

wrightme43 · May 23, 2008

Is the little direction of rotation arrow pointing the right way?

DefyInertia · May 23, 2008

I run PPs at 36/36 on the street (and higher 2up), are you referring to the FZ6 manual???? I don't think the direction should make a difference in the dry and balancing shouldn't be an issue unless you're in the triple digits. Are you sure you're not just needing to get used to how a fresh new tire feels? Did you check over the entire front end?

32 psi on the front is getting close to race track pressure...i'd add 4 to six pounds and see how it feels.

VEGASRIDER · May 24, 2008

wrightme43 said:
Is the little direction of rotation arrow pointing the right way?

DefyInertia said:
Are you sure you're not just needing to get used to how a fresh new tire feels? Did you check over the entire front end?

32 psi on the front is getting close to race track pressure...i'd add 4 to six pounds and see how it feels.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will follow up on Saturday, including adding more preassure. I never recalled my front end feeling like that when I first got the bike and had the stock tires on. I would definately remember it. I had a chance to ride Idanny's FZ6 the other night, as we traded off bikes for curiosity sakes, and his were fine. Although he has the 2CT's, and about 700 miles on them, it was fine.

HavBlue · May 24, 2008

VEGASRIDER said:
Correct tire pressure according to the manual is 33 for the front and 36 on the rear. I'm not really a very big person, weigh about 150, maybe 160 with gear. I was wondering if the tire was placed on correctly as well, but it seems to look it's aligned properly and bolts intact. I was planning to take it in anyway for a 100 mile safety inspection torque check on the bolts.

I run 36 to 38 in the front on my Road Attacks. As DI said earlier, 32psi is pretty soft. In the times I was down there with the D252 tire the front felt very heavy at slow speeds

wrightme43 · May 24, 2008

Then I run 32 frt 34 rear but thats with Storms and it works well for me, feel is very planted with easy turn in and control. I guess its just different for each tire and rider. When I raise the pressure for 2 up and then ride alone with it, it feels very harsh and wierd to me.

Maybe experiment with tire pressures?

oldfast007 · May 24, 2008

VEGASRIDER said:
So I had a new set of Michellin Pilot Powers put on my bike this week. For some reason, my front tire becomes real heavy and wobbly at slow speeds. I mean heavy as far as trying to make tight turns, and wobbly like it feels like I'm trying to control a gyroscope. I called Yamaha today and they told me to bring in the bike on Saturday so they can take a look. Any ideas. I checked the tire pressure, its at 32psi, a unit down, but shouldn't cause that kind of a feeling. Tire was balanced before being placed back onto the bike too. Weird.

I am confident you are not going to like them, take them off and send them to me now! I will send you mine in exchange, problem solved...j/k

Have you tried the simple method, put the bike up the center stand, manually rotate the tire check the for proper bead seating, weight placement, slightly mis molded tire etc??

VEGASRIDER · May 24, 2008

Well I bumped up my front tire pressure up to 36 psi. It helped a bit, but still thought the front end was still heavy at slow speeds making tight turns. The guys at the Yamaha shop rebalanced the tire for me. I will wait and see if I feel any changes as the tire breaks in. It could be that the tire is just more stickier, causing the heavy feeling. Going have to ride Idanny's FZ6 again and compare, or let him ride mine and see what he thinks.

HavBlue · May 25, 2008

VEGASRIDER said:
Well I bumped up my front tire pressure up to 36 psi. It helped a bit, but still thought the front end was still heavy at slow speeds making tight turns. The guys at the Yamaha shop rebalanced the tire for me. I will wait and see if I feel any changes as the tire breaks in. It could be that the tire is just more stickier, causing the heavy feeling. Going have to ride Idanny's FZ6 again and compare, or let him ride mine and see what he thinks.

This is meant to be a joke...

My bikes are like an extension of my soul and to allow another to ride my bikes would be like letting somebody ride my wife so either ain't happening.....

Nelly · May 25, 2008

VEGASRIDER said:
So I had a new set of Michellin Pilot Powers put on my bike this week. For some reason, my front tire becomes real heavy and wobbly at slow speeds. I mean heavy as far as trying to make tight turns, and wobbly like it feels like I'm trying to control a gyroscope. I called Yamaha today and they told me to bring in the bike on Saturday so they can take a look. Any ideas. I checked the tire pressure, its at 32psi, a unit down, but shouldn't cause that kind of a feeling. Tire was balanced before being placed back onto the bike too. Weird.

Lots of interesting sugestions Vegas, could it just be that you are not used to the profile? Back in the day when the first BT's came out I thought that my bike was going to fall over when I tipped into a gentle bend. Have you run pilots before? I know this is daft but also has to be asked, are you running the same brand of matching tyres front and back?

Nelly

wrightme43 · May 25, 2008

I just took my new avon storm frt out for a spin. Tip in, stand up, braking, and all feels almost the same, Just not whump whumpa whump whumpa over 100 any more. You can really see the cupping when the tire is removed from the rim.

This new tire took zero balance wieghts when the low wieght dot was aligned to the stem.

The rear took 1.5 oz on each side in the exact same place.

VEGASRIDER · May 25, 2008

I got a new set, front and back. Verified correct tire size, direction, and psi. Took in for rebalance and the front end feels still heavy. Like I said, it just that the tire is just that more sticker. It's my 2nd set of tires, 1st being my stock Dunlops 252's which I got about 13,500 (21,600 km).

As far as letting someone riding my bike, I'm never that selfish. What wrong with swapping? People swing all the time? What do you think that Deals Gap meet next week is all about? It's going to be a massive FZ6 orgy.

wrightme43 · May 25, 2008

You just made me laugh untill my lungs hurt. LOL

I am going to see if I cant work in a threesome. You know

Red, Silver and Blue. Oh hell yeah!!

VEGASRIDER · May 25, 2008

wrightme43 said:
You just made me laugh untill my lungs hurt. LOL

I am going to see if I cant work in a threesome. You know

Red, Silver and Blue. Oh hell yeah!!

Foursome, you forgot the black one. Don't forget the pics... LOL........

wrightme43 · May 25, 2008

Right Right.

Black and Cobalt
Red and Blue
Silver

and a Euro orange one.

Then I would be cool.

I just look at my bike as a machine. I like it, I work on it, I care about it, but she is a machine to me.

DefyInertia · May 26, 2008

I'd still probaby go up to 38 or so unless you're out carving up the mountain roads. It's a much stickier tire than those wooden Dunlops and any difference you're feeling should be making you smile, not worry...brand new pilot powers FTW!!!!

New Front Tire Feels Heavy

VEGASRIDER

100K Mile Member

christod1

Just a member

oso2k

Member

VEGASRIDER

100K Mile Member

wrightme43

DefyInertia

Former '04 FZ6 Rider

VEGASRIDER

100K Mile Member

HavBlue

wrightme43

oldfast007

Thread Killer

VEGASRIDER

100K Mile Member

HavBlue

Nelly

International Liaison

wrightme43

VEGASRIDER

100K Mile Member

wrightme43

VEGASRIDER

100K Mile Member

wrightme43

DefyInertia

Former '04 FZ6 Rider

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Online statistics

Newest members