Tire degredation
 

So on several of my more recent rides I've noticed when going into a corner the back end seems to feel loose. It almost feels like the ass end is sliding out but the bike never feels completely out of control. The tires are Dunlop Q2's I got a year ago and are about 700 miles from needing replacement. I was wondering if this was enough time for the compound to start to harden. Or maybe if I'm just noticing the transition from the flat spot to the rounded edge a lot more in a hard lean. It's become quite unsettling and in a few instances have caused an "Oh sh*t!" moment. The bike's an 01 F4i with 19k miles. The suspension is all stock settings since that's what works for how much I weigh. I rode on the tires in the same condition when I first bought the bike but I'm riding a lot harder now so maybe I didn't notice it before because of that. Thanks for any suggestions.

After a year the rubber is not the problem. however, the flat spot is. As it rolls through the ridge, the contact patch is changing and getting thin. Ive ridden on tires like that before, and never again! It makes the bike totally loose and unstable in turns.

Yeah that's what I thought. I'm gonna buy a new set here within the next few weeks. Thanks.

I guess I was way off on the 700 mile estimate. Rode 16 miles today and have threads showing.

need them now. choose wisely for your type of riding. it's nice to have super sticky tires, but if you ride in a straight line a lot, you will have flat spots like you have now. perhaps a dual compound or sport touring tire in the rear, or just turn more!

I buy dual compounds. And I turn as much as I can haha. Even on the straights I weave back and forth if possible. I got almost 8k miles out of the back tire, pretty happy with that. The front is still ok but I'll be replacing that within the next two weeks probably. Hopefully one of the shops has the rear dunlop in stock tomorrow and is willing to mount it. Either that or the Michelin power 2CT's, going to be absolutely beautiful this weekend.

I threw a set of Pilot Road 2ct's on mine as it is a commuter and I like them as I do alot of all weather riding and they are great in the rain, highway and the twisties.

I'm running Pilot Power 2ct's and love them. They wear extremely well for such a sticky tire, plus they have a much sharper profile. Even as they wear, the flat spot they get is not as dramatic as other tires I've run. I will be running these tires as long as they make them.

Yeah I know they're great tires, only real reason I prefer the Dunlops is because that's what the front tire is and I've got OCD with keeping things the same haha. But since I plan on swapping out the front soon anyways if I can't get the Dunlop today I'll just go with the pilot powers. They usually keep them in stock at my local shop so either way it shouldn't be a problem.