Uneven tire wear

[ChurchBuilder]

I have an '84 Vebture Royale. The front tire is wearing more on the right side than the left. This does not seem possible to me. I need a new tire but I don't want to replace it yntil I find out why the tire is wearing this way.

[BradT]

I am sure others will post but off the cuff I thought the forks or tubes could be bent ?

 

Brad

[buddy]

Several things would cause that, bearing going out - fork sticking on one side - more right turns than left turns-joking. lets see who has more to add?

 

Buddy

[pegscraper]

I told y'all to check the camber and caster adjustments on the bike this year as part of a spring checkup program before you start riding. Having the front wheel out of alignment will cause uneven tire wear.

[Venturous Randy]

Off ramps and on ramps?

RandyA

[Guest Bigin]

Crown of the road will wear the left side slightly more, all things being equal.

 

In this case, you must be in a foreign country, and riding on the wrong side of the road, switch sides, you'll be fine.

 

Serously, got me on that one.

 

Would think you could feel if alignment was that much out, don't know, have to think about that, never seen that before.

[Gearhead]

I vote for the on and off ramp theory (right turns).

 

Jeremy

[greg_in_london]

Hmmm - if the tyre's wearing badly are you sure that you want to keep it on the bike ? There's an outside chance that it's a freak tyre and you'll never have to worry again.

If you feel that there's something badly wrong with the geometry, why are you still riding it. If you feel that there's nothing wrong, double check everything that you've checked already (including the frame - some early ones broke/rotted away - can anyone say where) and if there's nout wrong change the tyre.

If the bike feels wrong, but you can't find anything and need to get to work, be very very careful, but wouldn't it be safer on good tyres ??

 

I'm presuming that the last tyre wore normally and the back tyre has even wear.

[yamahamer]

Could be brakes. Bikes with only one caliper were one side more than another bleed your brakes and see if there is any air in side not worn.

[Thistledown]

If you live where you ride on the right side of the road then the left side of the front tire will ware faster, not because of crown but because you travel more miles in left turns than in right turns and because the radius of the left turn is greater than the right you travel at higher speed causing more ware.

[greg_in_london]

Could be brakes. Bikes with only one caliper wear one side more than another bleed your brakes and see if there is any air in side not worn.

Hmm, can't say that I've noticed that, although I've had some bikes with pretty flexible front ends over the years. Left disc on the '84 is the linked brake, right only for the handlebar. I presume that you use both. (I junked the standard system ages ago.)

 

As to left and right turns, unless you turn several circles while you are out, there will be no difference in mileage - whereas the turn one way will seem longer, it will be a less acute turn - will be closer to a straight line. A turn the other way will seem shorter, but will be more acute - more of a bend and more strain on the tyres (and you'll lean further). It evens out.

 

I still say that he needs to check for problems - this isn't normal - and make sure his tyres are safe.

[friesman]

Ive just noticed today for the first time that my front wheel looks like it is in the forks crooked. I have room for a finger and a bit under front of the fender on the left side of the bike but on the right side of the tire it barely clears the fender toward the back of the tire.

Is there an adjustment for this. or is there something wrong with the bike. Ive only had the bike just over a month but havnt notices any strange tire wear and it doesnt feel spooky on the road. (but I am not sure what this bike sposed to feel like on the road either, as this is my first VR)

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Brian

 

PS actually what started this was looking at the bike to see what brace I had before I placed the order with Condor so this is all his fault, lol!

[Squeeze]

Where is the Cable to the Speedometer mounted ? On the left Side?

[SilvrT]

Might it be that one fork is higher up in the triple tree than the other... wouldn't take much at all to cause the front tire to be at a bit of an angle... one wouldn't think this possible because the axle itself should keep the tire in alignment but maybe not.

 

well, it's a thought....

[friesman]

Ive just noticed today for the first time that my front wheel looks like it is in the forks crooked. I have room for a finger and a bit under front of the fender on the left side of the bike but on the right side of the tire it barely clears the fender toward the back of the tire.

Is there an adjustment for this. or is there something wrong with the bike. Ive only had the bike just over a month but havnt notices any strange tire wear and it doesnt feel spooky on the road. (but I am not sure what this bike sposed to feel like on the road either, as this is my first VR)

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

Brian

 

PS actually what started this was looking at the bike to see what brace I had before I placed the order with Condor so this is all his fault, lol!

 

After looking at it again today and taking some straight edges and bubble levels outside I have come to the conclusion that its just the plastic fender that has warped over the years. It appears the fender has developed a slight twist to make the back of the fender almost touch the tire. that is a bit of a relief i can deal with that issue a lot easier that trying to figure out why a wheel isnt running true.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

[SilvrT]

After looking at it again today and taking some straight edges and bubble levels outside I have come to the conclusion that its just the plastic fender that has warped over the years. It appears the fender has developed a slight twist to make the back of the fender almost touch the tire. that is a bit of a relief i can deal with that issue a lot easier that trying to figure out why a wheel isnt running true.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

 

A classic example of " K.I.S.S. " .... here we all were... lookin for the worst scenario...

 

[Guest Bigin]

Originally Posted by friesman1

After looking at it again today and taking some straight edges and bubble levels outside I have come to the conclusion that its just the plastic fender that has warped over the years. It appears the fender has developed a slight twist to make the back of the fender almost touch the tire. that is a bit of a relief i can deal with that issue a lot easier that trying to figure out why a wheel isnt running true.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

 

 

 

I'm sooo confused. So the tire is not wearing on one side more than the other?

 

If it is how about a pic so we can start this all over again?

[hipshot]

Might it be that one fork is higher up in the triple tree than the other... wouldn't take much at all to cause the front tire to be at a bit of an angle... one wouldn't think this possible because the axle itself should keep the tire in alignment but maybe not.

 

well, it's a thought....

 

 

 

nice try, rick, but no cigar.

forks are NOT adjustable on first gens.

they have to remain at factory settings, or you cannot tighten the clamps down.

just jt

[SilvrT]

nice try, rick, but no cigar.

forks are NOT adjustable on first gens.

they have to remain at factory settings, or you cannot tighten the clamps down.

just jt

 

no Cigar??.... awwwwww ok... how about a joint then? LOL

 

:rotf:

[Guest Bigin]

Originally Posted by hipshot

nice try, rick, but no cigar.

forks are NOT adjustable on first gens.

they have to remain at factory settings, or you cannot tighten the clamps down.

just jt

 

 

After reading this post, has me wondering if it is possible to have moved your forks up or down and not have them tightened properly.

 

Can you elaborate on this please.