Modern Vespa

So I got my tires sent from the UK (thank god Brexit, they have a demand issue while we have a supply issue)... but the thing is...

The front end behavior I felt was weird. The MP3 500 fights tight turns and oddly drops into them sometime, for now I don't get the feel I was used to. Anyone has experienced that? Tires are Mich CG2 so basically the same I had before. They have now 30 miles on them... I know that's little. Just asking.

Which UK vendor did you order them from? I see a number in the area with decent prices but the shipping will be the painful part.

I just put a fresh pair on but given the long lead time I generally purchase them a few months ahead of when I think they'll be needed.

To answer the question.. I'm not really sure. Ive had several sets of fresh front tires including the City Grip 2 series. Other than being a little more slippery (expected) I haven't noticed the handling change much.

I did notice that the shop had over inflated the front tires a bit. This made them feel like riding on ice whenever the road surface was smooth. Lowering the PSI just a touch solved that and made the front feel more firm and reduced the feeling of riding on ice.

is the rotation correct??? arrow pointing to the front?

Also, check the pressures in both front wheels. Even if they are a few pounds different you can get that behavior.

Sounds like a bad tire install (pretty common) or possibly a bad tire (rare on Michelins).

Also make sure the lug bolts are tighened properly (in a star sequence) and to the correct torque setting.

Overtightened or undertightened can affect handling

Thanks for the comments. It seems to be coming together, just taking more miles than I am used to. Guess *2* front tires break in more slowly. It was a long trip for them, packaging didn't seem optimal (there was none, really, they were just wrapped).

It seems now the tires are starting to be more available in the US, and at a more reasonable price, but hey, I *needed* them.

Lesson: I'll keep them in store. Already ordered my next rear tire from Revzilla, it will arrive next week. I will probably not need it for another 2k miles or more.

Errr. . . . maybe I misread something but only 2K out of a set of front tires???

I would hope not!

I replaced the first rear tire when the bike had about 4k miles. I just replaced the front tires at 7.5k miles.

So I assume the current rear tire will give out in another 2k miles or so (although it still looks quite good), hence I ordered one to be ready.

The front tires should be good for a while.

If your front tires are wearing out in 7.5K you need to get the front alignment checked. I get around 15K out of a set of front CG2's

I always get weird steering feel when new tyres are fitted.
Once you have a few miles on them thye will be fine.

I put ~22,000 miles on my first set of fronts and currently have ~13,000 miles on the second set.

And yeah, when I change tires I tend to have a sense of easier turning. Probably due to the flat profile I wear on tires; most of my riding is on the slab....

New city grip 2 on bike front and rear, the rear was down to limit after only 4700 kms obviously due to air pressure was low, shocks where set for 1 up and old owner always was 2 up and not light, so shocks set to 119mm instead of 100mm original settings, handling and feeling is night and day, bike rolls nicely into corners now and the bumps in the road although a tad harsher, bike feels more planted, mp3 500 2020 hpe sport.

Same for me new tyres are weird until you have a few miles on them.
The feeling is like it trying to track straight down the road

I still do't have the dull feel, so I'll go back to the shop to get them to check it out while it also gets an oil change and some checkups in another 1k miles or so.

I've no idea why other's CG2 last that long, my rear tire will probably need replacement in another 1k miles or so, which would mean it lasted about 5k miles - i don't like to ride on tires without a profile, but that would probably up it another thou miles. The MP3 500 are heavy bikes so it's definitely not awful tire life, it's about the same with my other, more powerful bike but with sportier tires (but larger tires, so I think that helps tire life rather than the smaller ones on scoots).