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General => General => Topic started by: mouser on 25 July 2013, 06:29:56 pm

Title: changing tyre brands
Post by: mouser on 25 July 2013, 06:29:56 pm
Hi Guys,
Help, Newbie here, I have a 2000 Fazer 600 with Bridgestone Battlax BT021 on front and rear and I was thinking of changing them to another brand ,can I have some recommendations please.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: ChristoT on 25 July 2013, 06:45:16 pm
First - Maxxis Supermaxx are terrible. I had a set, kicked them off as soon as I could.

The Michelin PR3s I now have are epic though. Warm up fast, and grip like stink! Good reports of longevity too.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: adeejaysdelight on 25 July 2013, 07:13:47 pm
Not to start an argument, but I also have Maxxis Surermaxx sport touring and find them good value for money at £140 a pair. I actually bought another rear which is sat in the garage waiting to go on (before I head to the ring). I used to have BT021 and though they were terrible. But the Maxxis have served me well, and there are hardly any chicken strips on them. If you have an extra £100, go for the Michelin PR 3 though.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Yamazer-92 on 25 July 2013, 07:20:14 pm
I put Metzeler Z8 interacts on mine recently front and rear and there was a very noticeable difference handling wise. I have never scraped anything on the bike before or on any of my old bikes but now if I'm being a bit silly I scrape the pegs and have even scraped a bit off my side stand because my bike doesn't have the footpeg blobby bits. I would thoroughly recommend them, got tyre of the year 2012 and are great in the rain too. Cheaper than PR3.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: fireblake on 25 July 2013, 07:26:48 pm
I have Bridgestone 023's and they are perfect, I found the 021's wore very odd.


Mickey
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Punkstig on 25 July 2013, 07:28:18 pm
Unfortunately tires are a personal choice and it will take you a while to find your favourites.
I've been through Bridgestone, continentals and michelin's,
The Michelin pilot road 3's give ridiculously good mileage and very good grip but are more pricier initially, although for £'s per mile work out cheaper, in this heat they'll heat up too quick and are capable of going off too hot if you're going to thrash it about the twisties, so are good for winter use.
I'm currently on a Bridgestone s20 on front which I'm really liking, absorbs bumps well, gives very good grip- I had no issues with it at a hot track day.
I got a Michelin pilot power 2 on the back and they're very grippy with a decent mileage!
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: ChristoT on 25 July 2013, 07:39:48 pm
Unfortunately tires are a personal choice and it will take you a while to find your favourites.
I've been through Bridgestone, continentals and michelin's,
The Michelin pilot road 3's give ridiculously good mileage and very good grip but are more pricier initially, although for £'s per mile work out cheaper, in this heat they'll heat up too quick and are capable of going off too hot if you're going to thrash it about the twisties, so are good for winter use.
I'm currently on a Bridgestone s20 on front which I'm really liking, absorbs bumps well, gives very good grip- I had no issues with it at a hot track day.
I got a Michelin pilot power 2 on the back and they're very grippy with a decent mileage!

a) what's too hot, and:

b) what happens if they do get too hot? Worried now...  :eek
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: chaz on 25 July 2013, 07:40:25 pm
I changed from bridgestone battleaxe I was getting 3,700 miles out of a rear, to super maxis diamond the rear has done 5,000 miles and is ready for changing but has never moved an inch on the corners, I'll be putting another maxis on, cheaper and better in my opinion than bridgestone, but tyres are personal choice and the more confident you are the better they will be?
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Punkstig on 25 July 2013, 08:04:16 pm
Unfortunately tires are a personal choice and it will take you a while to find your favourites.
I've been through Bridgestone, continentals and michelin's,
The Michelin pilot road 3's give ridiculously good mileage and very good grip but are more pricier initially, although for £'s per mile work out cheaper, in this heat they'll heat up too quick and are capable of going off too hot if you're going to thrash it about the twisties, so are good for winter use.
I'm currently on a Bridgestone s20 on front which I'm really liking, absorbs bumps well, gives very good grip- I had no issues with it at a hot track day.
I got a Michelin pilot power 2 on the back and they're very grippy with a decent mileage!

a) what's too hot, and:

b) what happens if they do get too hot? Worried now...  :eek


Only if you're pushing it for a while and this is because of the extra sipes on the pr3’s (good in cold not so in heat)
There's a big misconception that hotter ='s grippier, it doesn't, if they get too hot they'll lose grip not gain it! These are road tyres remember, not sports ones,
in racing they have the hard and soft options partially for what the temperature is!
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Grahamm on 25 July 2013, 10:44:00 pm
I have a 2000 Fazer 600 with Bridgestone Battlax BT021 on front and rear and I was thinking of changing them to another brand ,can I have some recommendations please.

You can have a *lot* of recommendations (and it looks like you already have!)

Personally I've got Bridgestone 023s on my FZ6 Fazer and they've stood me in good stead, the rear lasted about 9,000 miles and I think the front did about 14,000 with a mix of motorways and putting it through the twisty bits :)
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Dead Eye on 26 July 2013, 09:07:16 am
BT023s for me as well :)

Second pair that I've had but might opt for something different on my next set, probably be S20s :lol
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: bigbluebear on 26 July 2013, 11:46:38 am
Just bought Dunlop Roadsmarts....not fitted yet but were recommended....will let you know when scrubbed in
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Arfa on 26 July 2013, 12:51:14 pm
I put Metzeler Z8 interacts on mine recently front and rear and there was a very noticeable difference handling wise. I have never scraped anything on the bike before or on any of my old bikes but now if I'm being a bit silly I scrape the pegs and have even scraped a bit off my side stand because my bike doesn't have the footpeg blobby bits. I would thoroughly recommend them, got tyre of the year 2012 and are great in the rain too. Cheaper than PR3.


I'm on the Metzeler Z6. Front one went on last Autumn, matching rear last month. Would have liked to try the Z8's, but weren't in stock when I recently had a puncture (and were an extra £30 for the rear).
Found them great, much better than the old Dunlops that were on before (but they came with bike, so were getting on a bit). Well worth checking out either way.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: JoeRock on 26 July 2013, 02:00:16 pm
Unfortunately tires are a personal choice and it will take you a while to find your favourites.
I've been through Bridgestone, continentals and michelin's,
The Michelin pilot road 3's give ridiculously good mileage and very good grip but are more pricier initially, although for £'s per mile work out cheaper, in this heat they'll heat up too quick and are capable of going off too hot if you're going to thrash it about the twisties, so are good for winter use.
I'm currently on a Bridgestone s20 on front which I'm really liking, absorbs bumps well, gives very good grip- I had no issues with it at a hot track day.
I got a Michelin pilot power 2 on the back and they're very grippy with a decent mileage!

a) what's too hot, and:

b) what happens if they do get too hot? Worried now...  :eek

To be honest Christo at 33hp nothing is going to happen, you won't be able to push a tyre hard enough with that for it to get too hot - I would seriously doubt that with that much hp even slamming the throttle wide open in the wet would be enough to get it to spin up properly!
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: stevierst on 26 July 2013, 07:27:26 pm
Got maxxis Supermax on my 600. Its my third set now, and for the money, they're brilliant! But then again, so were my bt020, bt023, dragon EVO's, contimotions, etc, etc. ..
I've edged each set of Supermax with ease, been on thrash-outs with litre bikes and kept up with them.
Ignore the tyre snobbery, its all in their heads. If you can out ride modern s/t tyres on a fazer 600 (not many will!) then you need to go to sports tyres or stop bullshitting.
 For your average road rider most of the s/t tyres will do the job, admittedly they do behave slightly differently (021's :o ) but it depends mostly on how skilled a rider you are, and how deep your pockets are!
Bottom line is, you can't go wrong with most of them ;D
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: ChristoT on 26 July 2013, 07:36:52 pm
Unfortunately tires are a personal choice and it will take you a while to find your favourites.
I've been through Bridgestone, continentals and michelin's,
The Michelin pilot road 3's give ridiculously good mileage and very good grip but are more pricier initially, although for £'s per mile work out cheaper, in this heat they'll heat up too quick and are capable of going off too hot if you're going to thrash it about the twisties, so are good for winter use.
I'm currently on a Bridgestone s20 on front which I'm really liking, absorbs bumps well, gives very good grip- I had no issues with it at a hot track day.
I got a Michelin pilot power 2 on the back and they're very grippy with a decent mileage!

a) what's too hot, and:

b) what happens if they do get too hot? Worried now...  :eek

To be honest Christo at 33hp nothing is going to happen, you won't be able to push a tyre hard enough with that for it to get too hot - I would seriously doubt that with that much hp even slamming the throttle wide open in the wet would be enough to get it to spin up properly!

Don't underestimate it. At low speed, I get as much torque as a stock bike, and BECAUSE of the restrictor, I'm very hard on my accelerations etc. I have locked up the rear wheel a couple of times on engine braking (or at least felt it slip!  :eek ).

Got maxxis Supermax on my 600. Its my third set now, and for the money, they're brilliant! But then again, so were my bt020, bt023, dragon EVO's, contimotions, etc, etc. ..
I've edged each set of Supermax with ease, been on thrash-outs with litre bikes and kept up with them.
Ignore the tyre snobbery, its all in their heads. If you can out ride modern s/t tyres on a fazer 600 (not many will!) then you need to go to sports tyres or stop bullshitting.
 For your average road rider most of the s/t tyres will do the job, admittedly they do behave slightly differently (021's :o ) but it depends mostly on how skilled a rider you are, and how deep your pockets are!
Bottom line is, you can't go wrong with most of them ;D

Sorry, Stevie, but I'm going to call you out on this one. As the LoFos know, I'm no slouch when I ride my bike (33hp or not!). I corner very aggresively, and try to get the most out of my tyre. No chicken strips on the Maxxis when I dumped them! That being said, half worn, I found they squirmed waaaay too much for my liking in the wet. I lost all faith in them, apart from in perfectg conditions. Even then, the rear would give me the occasional sphincter-loosening moments as it lost grip for a half a second round corners!  :eek

Personal preference obviously plays a part - I've found the Michelins way nippier than the Maxxis, the bike tips much more readily. The Maxxis felt (in later, squaring days) like trying to lean a tractor over!! For my part, I'm never fitting Maxxis to a road bike again. But the key word is again. At least I tried the buggers, and unfortunately, trial and error is the only way to learn what tyres you like.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: stevierst on 26 July 2013, 07:45:00 pm
Stick some of the old square deaths on your bike, or the first macadms, THEN you'll know what slimy tyres are like. ::)
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 26 July 2013, 07:58:06 pm
Tyres have come a loooong way since I started riding bikes, the vast majority of them are much better than back then. These days tyres don't seem to be that bad that they earn nicknames, like Dunlop Ditchfinders and Avon Roadrashers! And I forget which tyre it used to be said of that were Slip On, Slip Offs! I like the PR2s on mine well enough that I have no real desire to look for anything else now, after all, I'm not getting any faster these days :\
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: kitcrazy on 27 July 2013, 02:14:34 pm
did'nt like the BT023s in the wet just got a set of road pilot 3 they seem great in the dry.
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: fireblake on 28 July 2013, 02:17:58 am
I might be wrong but I'm sure Ron Haslam uses 023's at his race school on his CBR600's and Fireblades.

Mickey
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Dave48 on 28 July 2013, 06:13:36 am
anyone had experience of those delightful Cheng Shins they fit as OE tyres to Yamaha YBR 125s? Sort of hard nylon sidewall-reasonable grip on a smooth dry road but in the damp :eek
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Hedgetrimmer on 28 July 2013, 07:46:21 am
Cheng Shins! My God, those things have been around for donkey's years! (Probably the same ones on the shelves now - been there for 30 years :lol ). I remember when Pirelli Phantoms were THE tyre of choice for larger bikes. I had one on the rear of my H2 - it just shredded them! After a bit of a blast, you could literally peel bits off with your fingers!
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: red98 on 28 July 2013, 08:05:41 am
Tyres have come a loooong way since I started riding bikes, the vast majority of them are much better than back then. These days tyres don't seem to be that bad that they earn nicknames, like Dunlop Ditchfinders and Avon Roadrashers! And I forget which tyre it used to be said of that were Slip On, Slip Offs! I like the PR2s on mine well enough that I have no real desire to look for anything else now, after all, I'm not getting any faster these days :\






ahhhhhhhhhhh....."AVON ROADRUNNERS".....i remember them well,the only tyre to have back in the 70`s 80`s




depends on your budget and what your doing with them when it comes to tyres.......dunlop, bridgestone if moneys a bit tight,good tyres at a good price....if you`ve got a bit more cash go for the pr`s......got them on the thou and very impressed  :) [size=78%] [/size]
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Punkstig on 28 July 2013, 09:24:55 am
anyone had experience of those delightful Cheng Shins they fit as OE tyres to Yamaha YBR 125s? Sort of hard nylon sidewall-reasonable grip on a smooth dry road but in the damp :eek


Cheng Shin are Maxxis tyres, same company!
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: fireblake on 28 July 2013, 11:27:23 am
Are Maxxis remoulds, i seem to remember being told this when they first came out?
Chen Shin, i put a proper Knobbly on the back of my XL250s. That bugger never worried me as i was to stupid to be worried. The liberties i took with it. The Knobbly cubes were all misshaped with bits of rubber hanging off. A mate following said the back of the bike was out of line with the front, i taught McCoy all he knew.


Mickey the bullshitter, well only the McCoy bit
Title: Re: changing tyre brands
Post by: Frosties on 29 July 2013, 08:04:22 pm
I put Metzeler Z8 interacts on mine recently front and rear and there was a very noticeable difference handling wise. I have never scraped anything on the bike before or on any of my old bikes but now if I'm being a bit silly I scrape the pegs and have even scraped a bit off my side stand because my bike doesn't have the footpeg blobby bits. I would thoroughly recommend them, got tyre of the year 2012 and are great in the rain too. Cheaper than PR3.


I'm on the Metzeler Z6. Front one went on last Autumn, matching rear last month. Would have liked to try the Z8's, but weren't in stock when I recently had a puncture (and were an extra £30 for the rear).
Found them great, much better than the old Dunlops that were on before (but they came with bike, so were getting on a bit). Well worth checking out either way.


Metzeler Z6 here also, can't fault them but like it's been said, everyone rides differently....


Had BT21's on when I bought the bike and will never use again due to the irregular wearing.


You pays your money as they say - good luck fella.