Recommended Tyres?

[taksi]

Just coming up to 9k on my PR3's and I commute daily and like a blast at weekend. Need changing pretty soon though and will probably go for Z8's to see what they're like. Heard good things about them.


Taksi

[PaulSmith]

... as they're really not helping my confidence ...

I have known people feeling the same way about brand new tyres and yet still saying 'I will wait until they wear out before I change them.' WTF?

If you had a pair of shoes that pinched your feet, you wouldn't wait till they wear out before changing them, which is just as well because they never do! You leave them in the back of the cubboard until you throw them out. Bad shoes will make you walk funny and hurt your feet, bad tyres will make you ride funny, and if you are unlucky...

[pitternator]

I just put a set of PR3 on my GS. TBH they are now about average price on the web, even cheaper than 023...(maybe they werent selling, as last year they were £20 at least dearer than 023) ! Anyway I want to see just how well they do perform next to 023 and roadsmart which are my favourites to date. So far its unconclusive as little dry weather to test grip as such, and roads too muddy to scrub in edge of tyre ...but feel is very good,  very stable and  feel very measured rolling side to side  and so far seem good in the wet.Too early to say if any better than 023, certainly no seachange...
I do think the fazer needs at least decent modern sport touring rubber.Its still a high power bike, carries a fair weight etc, and will get used hard in corners. I dont have faith in the cheaper brands of tyres.Maxxis for instance have never been popular. If they were any good, we all would be using them!  :\

[smegfish1]

just had a set of Z8's fitted this morning and went for a good run to bed them in. so far I'm liking them very much! :lol

[pitternator]

Interesting as I have just put a part worn Z6 front ( about 500miles only) on my fazer with a Z6 rear( new). The Z6 cost about £100 fitted to a loose wheel, about £30 less than say an 023. I had the z6 on my speedtriple, which ran very well on them. So I will be keen to see if the z6 is comparable to an 023. I also have a part worn set of 021s in my shed, will fit a fazer , dont know if I will ever get round to fitting them. I also still have a 020 front and a 010 rear too...lol

tbh in their time, all were bloody good tyres for a fazer ...grip wise I think the more modern tyres are better in the wet, and will do more miles though.

[kitcrazy]

im in the same boat not had my fz1 long and it came with  new 023.but my last bike had dunlop roadsmart tyres which i thought were great tyres felt great in the wet and dry.and i just cant ride with anywhere near the same confidents so think there have to go.

[PaulSmith]

...I have just put a part worn Z6 front ( about 500miles only)...

Did you ever find out why the previous owner took a Z6, with only 500 miles, off their bike?

[bri h]

i have had dunlop roadsmarts on my fz1s for four years now (3 rear and" front) and dont seem to have had any of the problems you have. not cheap but for me they work well.

[JoeRock]

Well got myself a new set of hoops this morning, and the bike already feels so much better. Went for Michelin Pilot Road 3s, as I'd had them on my ninja and really liked them. Cost £250 fitted, which wasn't too bad, I'm hoping to get a few quid back from the old tyres on eBay as they've still got about 4mm of tread left. They're not worn in yet, but initial feeling is v. good, they already seem more grippy than the Maxxis ever did, and they've certainly increased turn-in speed a bit which I also like. Shall be taking the extended route home from uni today to get them properly scrubbed in 
Had a little bit of a test at a set of traffic lights I came to on the way to uni, gave it a bit of a handful coming away and rather than spin (which is what I was expecting from brand new tyres at about 5 degrees, and instead the rear just hooked to the ground with no fuss and sent the front skyward, reckon I might get on with these 
All I've got to do now is get the suspension sorted, get a set of clipons fitted and get an Ivans kit for the engine, and I'll have a properly riding bike!