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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Fellow riders
I realize there are a number of posts and other tire solutions on the forum but I haven't come across discussions on issues with the E3 in wet conditions. On 2 occasions I've had my front tire break away while riding 2 up. Both times took place in light ran, wet road and at slow to moderate speed. There wasnrt any oil slicks and I didn't cross painted lines. I was able to keep control but I have lost all confidence when it comes the E3 in wet conditions.
Has anyone else the same type of experience? The chief mechanic is a very strong advocate for the Avon Cobras.
All thoughts and input is greatly appreciated. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Happened to me as well on my 2008 vision on I70 in ohio.. scared me so bad I pulled over to calm down.... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 752
Broken Arrow, OK | tar snake? A little rain on a tar snake can = butt puckering!
Other than that, I have a feeling whatever happened would probably have happened on any front tire with comparable wear and tear.
Edited by okie vision 2013-09-25 4:20 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 251
Mechanicsville, VA United States | I not saying your doing this but when the road is wet I slow down as nothing can save your butt when conditions are right for a crash except you.
Never follow to close either... |
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Tourer
Posts: 599
New Mexico | Happened to me, but was painted arrow sign. Otherwise front E3 has been rock solid (ct on back).
Just got back from a 4k mile, 9 day trip. Hit rain almost every day - had no issues with my brand new front E3.
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Visionary
Posts: 1365
Central Maryland | I have about 15k on my E3's and during a wet ride; I too felt my front end break loose a little as well. I hardly ever ride in the rain and this is really the first time; out of many bikes that I had (and have) that I felt this sensation.
The incident above actually happened at slow to moderate speed in a parking lot. And it hadn't rained for long; so quite possibly the road surface was not washed and free of contaminants? i don't know... but I hope not to experience it again.
At any rate, I do still plan on installing E3's when these wear out. If I did a lot of wet weather riding; maybe not. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| I had exactly the same experience with the E3 more than once. I won't run them again for just this reason. I'm running Cobras now. The rear lasts less than half the mileage of an E3 but they stick like glue, never howl like the E3 does when its half worn out and turns in the same when they're new as when they're worn out. I'm up in Canada now on a 12.6K mile ride with rain and snow yesterday between Banff and Jasper and the bike was rock stable. There is a big post on this subject if you do a search on Cobra. BTW, you'll find a bunch of guys that never have problems with E3 and swear by them. Go figure...
Marc |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 691
Manchester, CT | Thanks guys
My speed on both occasions was around 20 - 35 mph. No road snakes but I can't speak to contaminants. The tires had appx 8k miles on them.
Even though the cobras don't get the same mileage as the E3, having peace of mind out ways everything |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Street Eagle - 2013-09-25 9:02 PM
Even though the cobras don't get the same mileage as the E3, having peace of mind out ways everything
EXACTLY!
Marc |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | You definately should go with what gives you peace of mind. I don't blame you for that at all. There can be an uneasy feedback from the E3 in adverse conditions but 200,000+/- on dunlops riding 12 months a year, 5-6 days a week obviously seen rain , paint lines and tar snakes. Being careful/mindful in less than perfect conditions and be prayed up is where I get my peace of mind and a fat wallet from half the tire changes.  |
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Tourer
Posts: 482
Beer Collins, Colorado (there is no fort) | I just returned from a Fall color mini tour and it was pouring rain in Deadwood Monday morning when we headed out and rode in heavy rain through the twisting Black Hills and through wet windy Wyoming without any traction issues. I have an E3 on back & a Cobra on front due to having to replace the plugged back Cobra on tour with what was available. All of my wet riding issues over the years have been with the surface not the tire. The best tire will still slip on a wet cattle guard,metal bridge expansion joints,railroad tracks, and painted lines/arrows/crosswalks. Get what tire you want & be aware of the surface, approach angle, lean angle, braking & acceleration, as long as you have some tread depth & take it easy you'll be OK.
Edited by ByteN2it 2013-09-26 7:04 AM
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 13
| I have had this same problem on my RSV with a new set of E3's. It has started to stabilize were I can go in steady and even moderate rain without that uneasy feel of the tires coming from under me. I think it was just miles. It took close to 9K miles before the tires felt planted in rain. It wasn't that normal 500-1000 mile break in. This all happened this year. I run about 20-22k miles a year. I got this set in Feb and It was down right scary the first few months. The RSV and the vision are pretty close in weigh about 890lbs here. I also don't think the tread pattern is the best for dispersing water even though they claim to be industry leading, I was more comfortable on metzlers with cruiser and avons tread pattern. With that being said after this long break in I'm now pretty satisfied with the E3's especially since I put so many miles a year on my bike.
Edited by orlean1 2013-09-26 10:25 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 178
LaGrange, GA | I'm on ME880s and the front is rock solid in wet conditions, from light film to heavy rain. The back is a freaking wildcat, though. It's a lot less scary to have to rear slide around than the front, but it still isn't fun (unless you're doing it to have fun.) |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Google this tire and the conditions you described.. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Google this tire and the conditions you described.. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1308
Sand Rock, AL United States | they can't put anything that isn't true on the internet.  Perception I think is key here. What someone thinks is a big deal , others don't. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 160
Camas Washington | Never had an issue with the E3s in the rain and I live in the PNW where all it does is rain. Riding in the rain is common here. Expecting 3 inches of rain this weekend I would ride in it with the comfort that the E3s will perfom. What you dry weather folks are probably having is the oil build up on the roads and after a light rain they become very slick until a good rain washes off the oil build up. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 281
| I never had a problem in the wet until last year. I had to make a panic stop on a wet road at about 30-35 MPH and the Vision came out from under us like it slipped on a banana peel.
Thankfully, all that happened was we slid down the road on the tipovers and the Vision kept us safe. My wife's boot had a small scuff on the toe. The bike was badly banged up but rideable, and fixable.
Turns out it was the ROAD that was slick. As while we were collecting ourselves a number of cars skidded when braking hard in the same spot. They all had the benefit of ABS.
Ride safe folks. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 880
Orlando, FL | I always love these debates. Here's reality in the world of tires. Softer compounds are "stickier" and do not last as many miles. Harder compounds last longer but do not stick as well. Not opinion, just fact. Track tires don't last long at all but stick like glue.
Then there are the riders and the riding conditions. Did you ride in the middle of the lane where all the cars drop oil making your tire less effective? Here in Florida we realize that a light rain is more dangerous then a heavy rain. The light rain just brings the oil to the top of the road, but does not wash it away. A heavier rain washes away the oil. We call it Florida Ice when it's a light rain.
Did you lean properly giving you the best possible traction? (Most do not) Proper air in the tires? Were they at least 100 miles old and did you wear off the film on those 100 miles? Blah, Blah, Blah.
Bottom line. Pick the tire that works best for you. For some it's Dunlops, for some Cobras, for some a CT. Me, I ride on tires from Fred Flinstones car. They don't stick for shit but they will last forever! LOL LOL LOL
Edited by MaddMAx2u 2013-09-26 5:42 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 162
Extreme Southern, AZ United States | My issues areon the rear of the bike when the road is damp. The rear wheel breaks loose very easily and when riding in a pack this can cause some consternation. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| I'm not trying to be a smartass here, but are you who are having trouble with losing the front keeping the rear shock pumped up properly for the load?
Edited by lowtone9 2013-10-01 10:54 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 494
Akron Ohio area | 60,000 miles on E3's.
This last set included the new E3 MT rear tire that doesn't sing in the corners and most certainly will give me several thousand more miles of use over the old E3's.
I often ride in the rain while on cross country trips and I can't fault the E3's.
Tar snakes can be unnerving at times.
Wet tar snakes can product sphincter tightening moments.
If you're looking for a new tire for the Vision and wish to stay with the higher load limits and pay attention to tire manufacturers recommendations, I'd suggest you first try the new E3 MT rear tire.
I think it's a big improvement over the older E3 rear tire. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 271
Belding Michigan | Well darn I thought it was me but others are having the same issue. I have E3's on my Vision and my buddy has them on his V92 cause I put them on before I sold it to him. That said we have over the last few Saturdays ran into some wet roads in Michigan. I have never had anything like it happen to me before and I was not sure I was going to get out of it. we came around a 35 MPH curve at about 25 with the wet road and My back end headed for the ditch. I caught it and saved it but was dicey for a minute. Russ slid about 2 feet farther than I did and his pucker factor was 10 plus so I know it was not just me. I went back and checked the road surface for oil, tar, gravel, sand or anything else it was just wet and that is not a fun way to go. I will see what other tires are out there but wonder if the compound has changed on the E3's as I have had them on my GW's for the last 15 years at least and never had this happen. Archie |
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Dunlop E3 breaking loose