Pirelli Diablo Rosso II - the worst tyres I ever had

[Freza]

I've done over 35k miles with my Fazer and changed a lot of different tyres, including Bridgestone, Metzeler, Michelin, etc.
The last ones I had were Michelin Pilot Road 3 (I think it was 3). They were great.
I usually do 70% city and 30% open road driving, they were good because they lasted long and actually handled very well.
I ran them at 2.5bar front and 2.8 rear.


Then I had to change them. Visited a local bike tyre shop (guy specializes for bike tyres). After talking to him, describing my driving habits, etc. he recommended me Diablo Rosso II.
He said they were good all-around tyres and that they will last long.
On the first ride they handled like garbage, slippery, unpredictable. Very unreliable.
I thought it was because it's still new. Gave them a couple of hundred kilometers to "break in".
Nope, still garbage.
I've done ~1500miles on them by now, and they still suck.
They're good when driving straight, but once you start leaning through corners they start slipping unpredictably. They're very strange, in a bad way. It's like that they slip a bit each time you change tilt quickly.
They're also not very good for going fast through long corners while leaning. They constantly slip-hold-slip-hold-slip-hold.


Now, I read reviews on the internet and people seem to be really pleased with them, so I wonder who's crazy here?
I run them at the same pressure as I did Michelins. I found it provides for faster leaning.
They were new when I bought them, I checked the date.


I had to write this because I still can't believe how bad they are, and now I'm stuck with them, which pi**es me off.
They're so bad, that my friend told me he saw them bobbing (letting go) while he was riding behind me last weekend.
Sorry for funny words, but English is not my primary language  :rolleyes

[Fazerider]

Current tyres from reputable manufacturers certainly ought to give a better result than that.
I wonder if the problem is that the wrong size has been fitted on one or other wheel, or maybe fitted backwards?

[noggythenog]

Well ive heard mixed reviews but none so bad as that.




I had them on my bike last time & they handled really well, they get really chewed up but are very grippy & i could push them in the dry a little bit further than my current tyres.


My current tyres are pilot 3 and they are also very good...main reason i chose pilots was that they would last longer & are much better in the wet (shame really as with no more than 500 miles on them im now stripping the bike :rolleyes )[size=78%]........but for corners in the dry it is defo  the rosso for me.[/size]

[bigralphie]

they must be old stock or something I ran them on a Aprilia Dorsoduro and they were rock solid

[Freza]

They're not old stock and they're fitted properly.
Dimension is correct too.
Well, that's my experience with them.
I know one thing for sure, never again.
Next tyre is Pilot Road 4.

[alan sherman]

I get on with them.  Sometimes tyres don't work for people.  Some folk used to rave about some Avons for the Fazer.  I heated them, in the wet I thought they were always going to slip out.  Made for a harrible wet decent of the Col Du Galibier!

[ChristoT]

I feel the same way about the Maxxis, although Stevie raves about them!

[Jules-C]

Have you tried different pressures? I had Avon Storms which felt dodgy at standard 32psi/36psi I had used with other tyres but once the rear was pumped up to 42psi they were great. Avon Storm 2 when I got them I used 42psi in the back but felt horrible until I dropped it to 36 and they improved.  Most modern tyres have far lighter and more flexible construction compared to when Fazer was designed and seem to prefer running higher pressures

[Freza]

I haven't.
I'm running them at 36 front, 40 rear, which is not little.
Maybe I should deflate them, if so, to what extent ?

[JoeRock]

I haven't.
I'm running them at 36 front, 40 rear, which is not little.
Maybe I should deflate them, if so, to what extent ?

Check with the tyre manufacturer as to what pressure they should be run at with your bike

[Freza]

I got D.Rosso II recommended for my bike on their website. Weird.
Anyway:



The exact same pressure I use.

Maybe they need tyre warmers ?

[bigralphie]

Are they sliding on a dry road after riding a distance ?

[Freza]

Yes

[bigralphie]

They might be delaminating no modern tyre should slide like that  :eek 

[king1]

Hi
I need some help on this topic of tyres
I need a set but unfortunately I cannot afford a lot of money
any advise on what to get?
I was looking at nankings, then found out they sre teflon tyres, nonstick.

Thsnks
kelvin

[Freza]

They might be delaminating no modern tyre should slide like that  :eek

They're not delaminating, it's just that they suck.
Too bad there's no return policy for tyres if you're not satisfied...

[unfazed]

Not a tyre I liked either, but did not find them as bad as you say. :eek

I found the recommended pressure way to high and dropped them to to 2.2bar front and 2.5 bar rear as a start point to see if they improve if they do drop them to 2.1.and 2.4. Would not go lower than that.

Also found they took ages to heat up. :rolleyes

Finally dumped them and now use either Michelin Pilot Road 3 or Metzeler Interact Z8 with a slight preference for the Metzeler.

Crossans in Norther Ireland are the cheapest I have found for tyres delivered to your door. All you need is for someone to fit and balance them.

[Wookee]

How old are they? Have a look for the date code on them (a 4 digit number somewhere on the sidewalls).


As said above, I'd try dropping the tyre pressures too....if nothing else it'll help them heat up more quickly....do it a little bit at a time and ride the same bit of road to see if you get any improvement.

[Freza]

I'll try running at lower pressure and report back eventually.
I'll have to look up the code when I get back home.

[Yamazer-92]

Are you sure your rear shock isn't the problem? I also recommend the Metzeler Z8 interact, excellent tyres. My dad has Avon Storm 2's on his SV 650 and loves them, they are a bit cheaper but still perform great and have lasted ages.