What tire to keep

[Dunewar]

The PO put two different brands of tyres on my 03 fazer 1000. The front has a pirelli diablo, the back a michelin pilot road II.
I don't like the idea of two different tyre brands at all, so one will have to go, but which one?

My riding is strictly pleasure, never longer than a day and about 3000 miles each year (i have small children that take up my time). I don't do track days, never two up and rarely have luggage with me. The exception would be when i take it for my monthly trip to our headquarters in germany instead of my car, a trip that includes the nurburgring in the morning...

I like a brisk pace and i do think tyres are crucial in that, so the pirelli's i would consider, but i'm confused as towhat tyre is now the equivalent of the diablo? There is no other name attached, no corsa, strada or anything. Am i right in assuming the diablo rosso is the successor to this?

Or would the pirelli be too much for a sunday rider like myself, and i should stick to the michelin? Mileage is clearly not an issue...

Some more info on me: i had a kawa zr7s before, loved the bike, hated the BT21s on that. Then i had a BMW R1100 gs, didn't like the bike, but the metzeler tourances gave me all the grip i needed. But of course that is a 80 bhp bike, the kawa was 75 bhp, the fazer is a different beast :-)

[nippykarl]

I would not worry to much about the mismatch the front is a stickier tyre and its usually the rear we all lose, but if you have the funds then replace them both, the rosso is a good tyre and you would not go wrong with a set of them, but lots of set ups to choose from and every owner here will have some input on this subject. I always ran pirelli,s but each to there own.

[ghostbiker]

Both are good tyres and if it feels good to you then carry on.

I like the pr2 but as the front lasts longer and you want to have a matching pair the replace the rear to match the front.

If it was mine and it felt ok I would use untill it needed replacement though. As rubber ain't cheap.

[Strifae]

My 08 FZ1 has a Metzler Supermax on the front and a Pirreli Angel on the back - total mismatch but is absolutely fine to ride so I would just replace when needs it

[Exupnut]

I agree with using the tyres u got on there first. rubber = money and as they r consumables u shud consume. however ...if money not an object(lucky foccer) then i would reccommend pirelli diablo sport. i have these on my bike and in the dry they r bloody good and warm up quickly. not as good in the wet as road pilots which my company uses on our company bikes but i dont ride my (own) bike when its pissing down, if ur gonna ride all weathers then road pilot  THE best all rounder imo.

[Dunewar]

Ok so i'll keep them on. Thnx guys for the great advice. Since the rear tyre will probably go first i will replace it then with pirelli diablo sport or rosso or whatever it is called.


Four wheels good, two wheels better

[Exupnut]

just pirelli diablo which is a sport tyre. :thumbup

[ghostbiker]

In the long term do you ride in the wet much? From what you said in op I would be led to think not.
But if you do then eventually I would lean more towards pr2/3 as its a better alround tyre. Don't worry to much about grip, I have used the pr2 and 3 on track days and never had a problem with grip wet or dry. Though in the wet it will give you enough feed back to tell you your being a tool

[Dunewar]

In the long term do you ride in the wet much? From what you said in op I would be led to think not.
But if you do then eventually I would lean more towards pr2/3 as its a better alround tyre. Don't worry to much about grip, I have used the pr2 and 3 on track days and never had a problem with grip wet or dry. Though in the wet it will give you enough feed back to tell you your being a tool

Almost never in the wet


Four wheels good, two wheels better

[JayB]

There is Diablo, Diablo Sport, Diablo Corsa etc, used to also be a Diablo Strada (harder then the normal Diablo) which they've replaced with the Angels.
I have a Diablo front and just fitted a new old-stock Diablo Strada rear, bike feels bloody awesome now, plus the Strada (same as a Metzeler Roadtec Z6 bar pattern) have extra deep tread from new, an extra 2mm I think it is, so they last ages , plus added ride height as a bonus.
I will find you a link to where I got mine from if you want it, as they are old stock they were cheap, like £75 delivered... 

[Dunewar]

I'm not in the uk, so it wouldn't make sense but thanks anyway


Four wheels good, two wheels better

[JayB]

Furry muff, just go for a normal Diablo rear then and put a Sport on the front next time...