Yet another tyres thread

[Dead Eye]

I'm going to support the maxxis, as I've had a few sets of them, and been off the edge of each rear easily in the dry (i ride like a wuss in the wet). I do mostly commuting miles on the boxeye, but there definately ain't no chicken strips on them! My ride to work is 20 miles each way over a good set of twisties.
I'm no cornering god, but they feel no different to the bt021's that were on it before I got it, or the various other brands and styles I've used on fazers over the last ten years of ownership. I've chased bigger bikes on these tyres, my bro-in-law has ridden it, and he rides fairly hard. He said it felt fine to him.
I think a lot of the tyre choice is advert driven, and tbh most of us 'average' riders wouldn't know the difference between an expensive brand and a maxxis if side by side tests were done without knowing what they are.

I think its all in yer head, just like people who use posh sports tyres for the road, it doesn't make you any better/faster, just costs you more money!

Ill put the soap box away now and take my beating. :

I will defend the Maxxis slightly as well as my opinion is based on the set I had. The problem with that is the crazy ass previous owner stuck a 120/70 on the front and a 180/55 on the rear which he failed to tell me had a nail through it so would slowly deflate itself. Maybe the proper sizes would have felt better, unfortunately I'm not willing to spend the money to find out

[JoeRock]

Tried the Bridgestones and the Road 3s.
Personally I prefer the Pilots, they tip a bit faster into a corner which I like, and feel a bit more stable in the corner, and also seem to have a bit more wet grip. However if you're doing a lot of motorways, you may prefer the more "planted" feeling of the bridgestones when they're upright, and just live with the slightly slower feeling turn in speed.

Personally though, next time I come round for tyres I'll be checking out the new angels. Supposed to be extremely capable tyres, and you can ride them almost as though they're proper sports tyres apparently, as compared to the others where you can't take the piss outright.

That said, on standard footrests I imagine any of them will be enough to comfortably ground the pegs out!

[ChristoT]

I do like the look of the Pirellis, just not sure what they're like in terms of longevity...  :rolleyes

Does this look like a decent price for them?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110-70-17-160-...46029d01ab

[Dead Eye]

You know those are H speed rated right? Should be enough but just so you are aware this means they are rated up to 130mph - just something to bear in mind

http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating

Edit: Price seems about right - Black Circles has them for about £155 a set

[ChristoT]

On 33hp, I max out at 110 anyway. But true, something to bear in mind.

Any more info on the Metzelers?

[Motorbreath]

Diablos are sporty and sticky, but wear a lot faster than sport-tourer tyres. I found them a bit unstable. They caused handlebar wobble at 80km/h too (Although my bike is not standard). On road I lean sharper with tourers BT021s now due the superior stability. I have even scrubbed a crash bobbin. On track I would stick to the Diablos.
H rated wouldn't pass Spanish MOT, as the original mount was W. Check your country's law. I think they will wear faster too. The codes are intended for only 10 minutes of use at that speed.

Next I will try BT023, the newer T30 or the Pilot Road 2. I've been told the PR3 works worse on very hot asphalt.

[Slaninar]

I got some H rated Diablos - cheap. They wear fine. I almost never ride faster than 180 km/h. Highest steady speed I do is 160 km/h (motorway). Guess W speed rating is just Yamaha's safety margin. Though, I'm not heavy and neither is my pillon.

[Motorbreath]

It is good to know, incase economy becomes tighter and radars continue spreading over here. On the other hand I wouldn't consider W rating as safety margin. Fazer's top speed is way higher than H can endure (210km/h during 10 minutes).

[ChristoT]

By the bye, how about the Contimotions? The ones I had on when I bought the bike were rubbish, but partially because they were very, very knackered. Any one got any inof, good or bad on 'em?

[Slaninar]

It is good to know, incase economy becomes tighter and radars continue spreading over here. On the other hand I wouldn't consider W rating as safety margin. Fazer's top speed is way higher than H can endure (210km/h during 10 minutes).

Yes, agreed.

The only situation where, at least for me, it is safe to go over 200 km/h is the track. Apart from track, even on motorways, over 150 is dangerous, other drivers don't pay attention, move left without noticing you if you go much faster and you slam into them. Not to mention other roads (animals, careless drivers etc).

By the bye, how about the Contimotions? The ones I had on when I bought the bike were rubbish, but partially because they were very, very knackered. Any one got any inof, good or bad on 'em?

Not very good.

[ChristoT]

Right, thanks.

I've found Diablo Rosso IIs at W rating though, so all is good. My final lineup is:

Bridgestone BT023        £183
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II    £187
Michelin Pilot Road II    £200
Metzeler Roadtec Z6    £154

Those are for bundle deals I've found on Ebay, all from the same shop to give a comparison.

Any thoughts about these 4? How do the Metzelers fare against the Maxxis?

[Punkstig]

I don't know about what equipment you have to hand but do t forget you'll be paying more to get them fitted if you can't do it, it sometimes doesn't work out cheaper buying online then getting them fitted tbh, easy enough to shop around your local garages for prices too!


I was given a set of contimotions for free to do a video for them (continental) and got on with them well, but they only lasted 6000 miles, which in my experience was'nt that good, they're branded as sports touring but with that mileage? and the rear constantly stepped out on me but in a controlled manor tbh, so not so much sport either! For free I was happy with them but personally I wouldn't buy them!


Tyres are very personal, if you have the extra money pr3's are the best wearing, but as far as I'm aware the compound is supposed to be very very similar to the previous pr2's, the main difference being the extra water dispersing sipes on the 3's

[ChristoT]

I don't know about what equipment you have to hand but do t forget you'll be paying more to get them fitted if you can't do it, it sometimes doesn't work out cheaper buying online then getting them fitted tbh, easy enough to shop around your local garages for prices too!


I was given a set of contimotions for free to do a video for them (continental) and got on with them well, but they only lasted 6000 miles, which in my experience was'nt that good, they're branded as sports touring but with that mileage? and the rear constantly stepped out on me but in a controlled manor tbh, so not so much sport either! For free I was happy with them but personally I wouldn't buy them!


Tyres are very personal, if you have the extra money pr3's are the best wearing, but as far as I'm aware the compound is supposed to be very very similar to the previous pr2's, the main difference being the extra water dispersing sipes on the 3's

Well, for my own budget, I'm adding about £50 for fitting down my local bike shop, and I'll get my carbs balanced at the same time.

Chatting to the bloke down the shop, he said the Michelins were sharper at tipping you in, and that they "fell" into the corners rather than going fluidly. Any comment?

I'm still trying my hare-brained attempts at knee down, albeit with a knee a good foot (maybe?) off the tarmac!

[Slaninar]

Roadtec are too slippery - but I heard from several different folks that roads in England are more grippy and wear tyres quicker. For Serbia, I'd avoid Roadtec and rather go for Sportec model, but then again, sport tyres last long on our slippery pavement.

[Punkstig]

Knee downs a different topic, don't force it!
All those tyres are more than capable, michelin's have a lovely feel to them, as with any tyre after you've scrubbed them in and start pushing more and more you get used to whatever their particular characteristics are so I wouldn't over think what anybody says about things 'tipping in' etc


My new Bridgestone S20 front was £80 fitted, that's why I mentioned asking around shops what they charge instead of the hassle of buying on line, waiting to be delivered then having to carry the tyres down the shop to be fitted!

[ChristoT]

Knee downs a different topic, don't force it!
All those tyres are more than capable, michelin's have a lovely feel to them, as with any tyre after you've scrubbed them in and start pushing more and more you get used to whatever their particular characteristics are so I wouldn't over think what anybody says about things 'tipping in' etc


My new Bridgestone S20 front was £80 fitted, that's why I mentioned asking around shops what they charge instead of the hassle of buying on line, waiting to be delivered then having to carry the tyres down the shop to be fitted!

Do you prefer the PR2s or the PR3s? And what about those Metzelers? The price is certainly attractive, but not sure about grip and longevity... Any takers?

[unfazed]

Had PR2s on the 600 once and removed the front before it was fully worn. I could not trust it on very fast cornering, it always felt like the front was going to slide, it felt even worse on the 1000 and we took it off also before it was fully worn. The PR3 are miles ahead by comparsion in every way.
the Michelin 2CTs and Dunlop Sprotsmarts felt good, but do not come in the 110 size. I found the Roadsmarts good, but slower to warm up in comparsion the the PR3 and the M5s
The only bike I rode with Diablos was a Gisxer 600 and I stopped to check the tyres as I though they were down in pressure as it was very hard to  turn in to the corners witout some serious counter steering. It was like riding a completly different bike when he fitted M5s to it. It was effortless dropping into the corners and felt like it was on rails.
A few post here are discussing different speed rating, I wonder about the insurance implications and  possible MOT failures for fitting tyres below the recommend manufactures specifications.

[ChristoT]

Had PR2s on the 600 once and removed the front before it was fully worn. I could not trust it on very fast cornering, it always felt like the front was going to slide, it felt even worse on the 1000 and we took it off also before it was fully worn. The PR3 are miles ahead by comparsion in every way.
the Michelin 2CTs and Dunlop Sprotsmarts felt good, but do not come in the 110 size. I found the Roadsmarts good, but slower to warm up in comparsion the the PR3 and the M5s
The only bike I rode with Diablos was a Gisxer 600 and I stopped to check the tyres as I though they were down in pressure as it was very hard to  turn in to the corners witout some serious counter steering. It was like riding a completly different bike when he fitted M5s to it. It was effortless dropping into the corners and felt like it was on rails.
A few post here are discussing different speed rating, I wonder about the insurance implications and  possible MOT failures for fitting tyres below the recommend manufactures specifications.

Thanks for that Unfazed!

All the tyres I've found (and all the prices above) are for W or better speed ratings. What brand are the M5s - Metzelers?

Has no-one ridden with Z6s fitted?

[Slaninar]

Yes. SWEEET. 

http://www.metzeler.com/site/com/product...tecm5.html

[unfazed]

Yes the M5 are Metzelers. I did try the old Z6 and it was good, but road to the edge to easily, its limit ran out before my did .  :lol  I have not tried the new Z6 Interact.