Need to replace the tyres on my Gen 1 since both the back and front BT021s are really squared off i.e. the tyres almost have a V cross-section now!. Annoyingly the tread itself has still got loads of life left.
A few questions:
- will it fail an MOT on squared off tyres?
- the squaring off is presumably a result of the dual compounds in the tyre - are these the norm now or can you buy uniform compound tyres?
- can anyone recommend a good replacement tyre for my riding style - 95% commuting 10 miles each way, the odd fun weekend jaunt - no scratching / track days etc. - around 4000 miles/year. Am more interested in a good wear / price relationship than ultra sticky tyres. Thanks.
(02-08-13, 01:16 PM)chriswarren link Wrote: - - will it fail an MOT on squared off tyres?
- - the squaring off is presumably a result of the dual compounds in the tyre - are these the norm now or can you buy uniform compound tyres?
- - can anyone recommend a good replacement tyre for my riding style - 95% commuting 10 miles each way, the odd fun weekend jaunt - no scratching / track days etc. - around 4000 miles/year.
- No, but if there are properly squared off you will get an advisory.
- BT's are famous for this kind of bollox. Yes continental road attack's or Conti motions are good.
- see above, I have Conti motions on the FZS1000 atm as at the time they were cheap, conti are getting to big for thier boots as the RA's have shot up in price..
(02-08-13, 01:16 PM)chriswarren link Wrote: - the squaring off is presumably a result of the dual compounds in the tyre - are these the norm now or can you buy uniform compound tyres?
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]Other way around I think. Dual compounds are softer at the edges so will where faster there - when you use them. I fund Avon Storms to be pretty good - they will square if you're commuting but not nearly as bad as the BT's. They are also very god when cold and have a decent life[/size]
Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool.
BT021's havn't been made for 5 years or more which suggests you don't ride that much, and when you do, most of it is spent at moderate speed on main roads. BT021's were pretty bad for squaring off anyway, and most newer tyres will wear much more evenly. Newer tyres, because they have better grip and give more confidence will let you ride with higher corner speeds which will also help prevent squaring off.
I recommend the new T30's but there are lots of other good tyres out their and these days, there are very few bad ones.
Finally, if you don't ride that often, pay more attention to your tyre pressures and that will help improve your tyre life.
BT020's are still available, never mind 21's.
Should pass MOT fine.
The idea of dual compound is to reduce the dreaded squaring off. Hard rubber in the centre, soft on the edges.
I used BT020's then the 21's, much better than the ME4's the bike came with, but yeah the rear would always square off bad.
On my second Michelin PR2 rear, done 2500 miles on it, still loads of tread left and the profile is nice and round.
The first PR2 lasted an amazing 6000miles.
Though at 8500 miles my front PR2 is just legal, not sure I'll get much more out of it. Nice eve wear again though.
Oh, ME4 was slow to turn.
BT20 and 21, the bike tended to drop in, which was welcome after the reluctant ME4.
PR2 I would describe as neutral, best tyres I've had yet.
Looking forward to trying the PR3's.
(02-08-13, 06:26 PM)VNA link Wrote: BT020's are still available, never mind 21's.
Should pass MOT fine.
The idea of dual compound is to reduce the dreaded squaring off. Hard rubber in the centre, soft on the edges.
I used BT020's then the 21's, much better than the ME4's the bike came with, but yeah the rear would always square off bad.
On my second Michelin PR2 rear, done 2500 miles on it, still loads of tread left and the profile is nice and round.
The first PR2 lasted an amazing 6000miles.
Though at 8500 miles my front PR2 is just legal, not sure I'll get much more out of it. Nice eve wear again though.
Oh, ME4 was slow to turn.
BT20 and 21, the bike tended to drop in, which was welcome after the reluctant ME4.
PR2 I would describe as neutral, best tyres I've had yet.
Looking forward to trying the PR3's.
+1
MEZ4s were shite, barely gripped in the dry, never mind in the wet.
Never had square-off with PR2s, despite mixed mileages including motorways. I don't think my riding is going to be getting any faster, and I'm happy with wet weather grip as well as dry weather handling of the 2s, so I'm just sticking with them.
Just a thought , what tyre pressures are you running?
I run Pirelli diablo's and only run 38psi in the rear solo riding, I shot a dual compound Diablo corsa in 2500miles using 39psi, it did square off , but had done a lot of two up riding.
The current tyre is a standard Diablo and still 4mm of tread in centre after 2k miles at 38psi
021's were terrible but they more than made up for it with 023's.
Mickey.
Sent from my villa in the South of France.
![[Image: 73337.png]](http://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-uk/73337.png)
03-08-13, 01:40 PM
(This post was last modified: 03-08-13, 01:41 PM by Camshaft.)
Rosso II's square off badly but they have soft rubber and good grip as a trade off.
1.5K miles on Conti RA2's and very hard to see any evidence of squaring off but could be a bit early though :\
where does the muffler go?
(03-08-13, 10:25 AM)fireblake link Wrote: 021's were terrible but they more than made up for it with 023's.
Mickey. Not a fan of the 023s myself they didn't last very long whilst I used them and handling is uninspiring, I much prefer the new Avon Storm 3D-XMs.
I'm fast coming to the conclusion that it's pointless asking for tyre recommendations as it's so subjective and there are just too many variables between bikes and riders. I think all you can do is try different ones until you find something that you are happy with, then stick with those. That's where I'm at now 
Do a search for tyre recommendations, there is plenty of info already on the forum. Your tyre dealer is the best person to ask...
Although I recommend the Michelin PR3's they do not square off like Bridgestones.
You're probably aware that squaring off is the result of uneven tyre wear due to only riding in an upright position, so get out on those twisty country lanes :-)
(03-08-13, 10:25 AM)fireblake link Wrote: 021's were terrible but they more than made up for it with 023's.
Mickey.
The new BT 023's are a far better tyre,, more milage and good grip on dry and wet
Many Thanks
Davie
Thanks for the replies gents - I'll think I'll look at the BT23s or the Avon Storms. Tyre pressures are as recommended (36/39).
My back tyre is squared off (motorway mileage) and passed the MoT with an advisory (provided yours isn't on or past the wear limit, yours will pass, mine were getting near the limit, fitter reckoned about 500 miles left on mine when it went in).
Dual compounds are harder in centre and soft on the edge to be more wear-resistant in the centre.
Probably any sport-touring rubber will suffice for what you want (I'm planning Conti RA2's to replace the Battlax 020s once I get all the other jobs done); Pirelli's Angel ST is being replaced by the Angel GT ( ST's prices will probably drop a bit and they're probably worth a punt anyhow).
(03-08-13, 08:47 PM)nick crisp link Wrote: I'm fast coming to the conclusion that it's pointless asking for tyre recommendations as it's so subjective and there are just too many variables between bikes and riders. I think all you can do is try different ones until you find something that you are happy with, then stick with those. That's where I'm at now
I've come to that conclusion too.
I've also come to the conclusion that people dont read all peoples posts as he said he does 4,000 miles a year and someone guessed he doesn't ride that much :lol
(07-08-13, 05:53 PM)Phil link Wrote: [quote author=nick crisp link=topic=9202.msg92308#msg92308 date=1375559256]
I'm fast coming to the conclusion that it's pointless asking for tyre recommendations as it's so subjective and there are just too many variables between bikes and riders. I think all you can do is try different ones until you find something that you are happy with, then stick with those. That's where I'm at now
I've come to that conclusion too.
I've also come to the conclusion that people dont read all peoples posts as he said he does 4,000 miles a year and someone guessed he doesn't ride that much :lol
[/quote]
I came to the conclusion that it's as well not to read all that people post… the concept of a squared-off tyre having a V-shaped profile is still puzzling me. 
The centre tread (c. 2 inches) is squared off i.e. sits perfectly flat on the road, whilst the sides have lost all curvature. Therefore in cross section looks like a V with a flattend base.
The bike got through its MOT with an advisory and the mechanic saying the pitch in on the turn was really bad. I've still got another 2K on the back I reckon, so will put a PR2 or BT023 on the front and see how I get on. I don't do many miles in a year, but I commute in all weathers every day.
Storms are good but a noisy tyre pr2 good life
I run maxxis luv and there cheap
I stuck PR3's on mine.
They look a bit weird but the grip dry and wet is great, handling is nice and neutral, just a matter of seeing how long they last.
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