Tyre advice please

[mattycoops43]

Hi peeps.

Sorry if it's been done to death, but I am looking for tyres for when I pick up my powder coated wheels this week. I am changing my riding as I won't be doing any commuting, so I am a bit lost. It's about what suits my style really?

I had PR3's on the fazer, and LOVED them, they were great and did everything. I got 9K miles before I sold it and the rear was just flatting off, but it was mostly motorway miles.

I am tempted by them for the storm, but they are getting very dear, I was hoping for something a bit cheaper, but I realise the miles pay for themselves.

I will be purely riding for fun now, I have never got my knee down, or done a track day, but I have been really trying to push my riding in the last couple of years after many years of wobbling round on decrepit ancient jap bikes that were slow and had sh1t tyres.

I got to the edge of the back tyre on the Fazer, just. I have come no where near on the storm, but then I had shite tyres on it, and no confidence.

I am planning on doing track days this year, and also getting my corner speed up. So I am wondering if I will find the temp limits on a track of the PR3s I have heard they don't cope too well with really being pushed?

I was going to try BT016 on advice of a friend, but have been reading up and been totally put off by crap reviews, someone else has said try pilot powers. I am a michelin fan, so quite like the look of these and they are cheaper than PR3s.

So, planning low mileage in the dry mostly, for fun on twisty roads and track days. but I don't want some race tyre that wont warm up and will be lethal if I do pop to the shops on the bike.

Help me Obi-Wan, you're my only hope!

Sorry for the waffle, but I need to order some tyres and I am a bit stuck.

[VTRDark]

was going to try BT016 on advice of a friend, but have been reading up and been totally put off by crap reviews,

I wouldn't let bad reviews put me off too much as they are usually only compared against more expensive later technology modern tyres. I bet the reviews when they first came onto the market where better. There's some bargains to be had purchasing an older style tyres.

Just to confuse you even more I have decided on getting some Dunlops next as as it says in the Honda manual, and after reading a thread over the pond on frame rigidity a recent link has verified it's the right move for me.

http://www.motorcycle.com/manufacturer/ ... -1454.html

Check out what the article has to say about OEM softer construction tyres. It makes sense...after all, tyres are part of the suspension system.

(:-})

[StuartWags]

I have done a few hundred mile on a well used set of PR3s. They on the bike when i got it. Well worn on the right side, but not flat in the middle.

On the track (my first), i was able to get them up to temperature when the ambient was in single figures. I.e. the rubber was starting to form sticky bits where it was curling off the edge of the tread pattern of the outer edges. I would say that they provided more grip than i could use and they were pushed harder than they had ever seen on the road (no chicken strip).

No issues with them on the road either. I do get rid of the chicken strip on the road but at lower speeds than the likes of Charlies, Park and Chris's Corners at cadwell.

However, I would not replace them with the same simply because i did not exceed the performance envelope on the track then they will be under employed on the road.

Personally, I am going to give some Maxxis sports ago for the road and if they are ok i would try them on the track as well.

But please remember this is a very subjective subject.

[8541Hawk]

Just to confuse you even more I have decided on getting some Dunlops next as as it says in the Honda manual, and after reading a thread over the pond on frame rigidity a recent link has verified it's the right move for me.(:-})

As a "Dunlop guy" I can say they work very well, most of them at least............lol

When you refer to the tires listed in the manual, I hope you don't try to source any 204s like the bike came with...... that is a total crap tire.
They are sketchy in the dry and down right dangerous in the wet.

I can go through the rest of their "sports" tires but to keep it short they work well.

The biggest difference between Dunlops and most of the other tires on the market is the front tire profile.
Dunlop uses a triangular profile (most of the time) and the others use a more round profile.

This causes the Dunlops to "feel" like the bike drops into the corners quicker.

So it depends on your riding style to whether you like them or not.

I will say the Q3s have amazing grip. Yes they wear out quickly but they are reasonable to replace, at least here.
I had a rear mounted this weekend and it was 78 pounds mounted on my loose wheel.

[lumpyv]

ive only ever had dunlops on my storm and never felt less than confident about their performance.

daughters bloke with the mille had brand new maxxix diamonds on when we went out the other day . they look really weird due to their shape and he said they felt totally different when dropping into a corner. but overall he liked them. they also have a close tread pattern on the outer inch and half of the tyre

[Stephan]

I did some track days with Michelin Power Pure. Is is necessary do adjust pressure (2.5/2.6 bar hot) and they are ok, but I found the limit of the rear at corner exits at lower pace than I expected. Michelin Pilot Power 3 should perform better, but it is still more street oriented tire. But I wouldn´t have problem ride them on track again.

I will try new Metzeler M7 and see ... :-) Next option is Dunlop Sportsmart 2 (Q3). It will be always compromise between track and street use, there are tires better on track (dunlop, pirelli), and better on street (michelin, bridgestone).

[mattycoops43]

Starting to think I will give Pilot Power 3 a go, they are getting good write ups.

[VTRDark]

When you refer to the tires listed in the manual, I hope you don't try to source any 204s like the bike came with.....

TBH I cant remember the exact ones in the manual without looking but yeh qualifiers I had in mind.

(:-})

[Jamoi]

Qualifier2's are great for me, the front warms up right to the edge very quickly and the rear offers great grip when warmed up and will 'let go' very progressively and predictably when provoked.

The only downside for me... the rears are dead after 2k miles and I'd probably be fine on harder tyres so, I'll be trying out either pr2 pr3 or pr4's next.

[StuartWags]

I have gone for the "classic" approach ........ Avon SM on the rear and Dunlop K70 on the front.

This allows me to use all the tread and they never go square !!!!..




Apologies to anyone less than 50 years old, as they will not have a clue what i am on about