Tyres - What do you fit??

Who runs what, just coming up on fitting a set to replace my 020s

I wont ever touch BT021's ever again

Michelin Pilot Road 2CT for me

SteveCat wrote:Michelin Pilot Road 2CT for me

I've heard nothing but good comments on these m8

robertcains wrote:I wont ever touch BT021's ever again

Why?, i've got a set on atm, they seem ok, but with all the salt etc on the roads and my lack of cornering ability its hard to tell how good they actually are are.

Pirelli Diablo Stradas, had a set of these on, but they didnt seem to last too well, and squared off pretty quickly (maybe it would be better all round if i learnt to corner!!)

Wiz wrote:

robertcains wrote:I wont ever touch BT021's ever again

Why?, i've got a set on atm, they seem ok, but with all the salt etc on the roads and my lack of cornering ability its hard to tell how good they actually are are.

Pirelli Diablo Stradas, had a set of these on, but they didnt seem to last too well, and squared off pretty quickly (maybe it would be better all round if i learnt to corner!!)

The front tyre has a known issue with really unusual wear problems (google is your friend) & I had one replaced under warranty & this one is now wearing the same.

The Stradas are a great tyre but some of my mates have worn out rears in 1k, Thats very hard riding though

robertcains wrote:

The front tyre has a known issue with really unusual wear problems (google is your friend)

Eeek, googles no longer my friend, dont like what it had to say!! oh well i've had 3000 easy miles out of them through the winter and they look ok atm so money not thrown away, but will need to keep a close eye on it now. I seem to remember people using BT020's on the rear and another softer Brigestone on the front, maybe BT01* ?? nobody seemed to be complaining about the rears so i wonder if thats the way forward?

Conti road attacks for me, love them to pieces. I get loads of grip in the wet and in the dry they are just superb. Tyre wear is no better or worse than what I've had out of others, about 5k off the back and 8 - 9k off the front. All depends on your riding, if you ride in all conditions go for an all rounder tyre, if you do dry days you can get away with a more track focused tyre? Ask your tyre fitter, he/ she might have an idea what's best for your style of riding?

Dunlop D207Es - i know some people don't like Dunlop but i get on ok with them.

I've always seemed to change one end at a time, so as the Cat came with Dunlops I've stuck with them, most recently D207s, but they've now been discontinued. Currently I have a newish D208 on the back and a worn D207 on the front. I get about 6K out of both ends.

The wear on the front is all on the shoulders, with a lot of feathering. For once it seems to be fairly even both sides - normally I expect more wear on the offside due to road camber. MAybe I need to look at the set-up as it seems to indicate that the front end is trying to wash out. I picked up another new front D207 in a sale recently so that's going on soon.

I've had BT020s on other bikes and the rears always seemed to square off a bit too quickly. I also had a nasty "fishtailing" incident in the wet on a half-worn BT020, so don't really recommend them. I've been told that Bridgestone have decided to continue producing the BT020 because the 021 hasn't been too successful.

I had the use of a FZS600 a while ago for a short time, fitted with Avon Storm STs, and that handled really sweetly. Other folks have also recommended these as a good all-rounder. I've also heard good reports of the new Dunlop Roadsmart.

robertcains wrote:

SteveCat wrote:Michelin Pilot Road 2CT for me

I've heard nothing but good comments on these m8

Another vote for these ones........Great longevity and I did a track day on them and round them to have excellent grip there too. Even managed to gather some snot on them.
I'll be sticking with these from now on.

Cheers
Rosco

Wiz wrote:

robertcains wrote:

The front tyre has a known issue with really unusual wear problems (google is your friend)

Eeek, googles no longer my friend, dont like what it had to say!! oh well i've had 3000 easy miles out of them through the winter and they look ok atm so money not thrown away, but will need to keep a close eye on it now. I seem to remember people using BT020's on the rear and another softer Brigestone on the front, maybe BT01* ?? nobody seemed to be complaining about the rears so i wonder if thats the way forward?

Your memory serves you well.

Back in the day, (tyre tech moves so fast), people did indeed seem to like the Bridgestone 020 rear & 010 front combi (Bridgestone never did recommend that mix btw). IMHO it gave a reasonable wear ratio front to rear as well as a slightly stickier front end to 'play' on.
Tyres have moved on a lot since then though, and as always tyre choice is a personal thing depending on the way and style of the indvidual rider.
The Michelin Pilot brand seem to be the ones these days that attract less (or no) criticism.

Thanks for the feedback lads. I had a BT21 on the back for a while and didn't like it at all.

I think I will go either Michelen or Avon...

I will let you know and write up a review on how they wear, feel etc

got conti on at the mo but going back to avon,s
good in the dry or wet get good mileage out of them to
but they melt if you do a track day lol

pete

Wiz wrote:i've had 3000 easy miles out of them through the winter and they look ok atm

Just had another look at them, did i say they look ok??, the rears fine, but the front is just about on the wear blocks!!, jeezs that mez m3 lasted longer!!!!

I use BT014 back and front - as many will know I'm not a high mileage rider so they last me well enough in terms of months/years and as I have a severe case of hydrophobia* they only need to work in warm, dry condition, for which I find them perfect.

*this isn't stictly true, as I do actually enjoy riding in the wet when I get caught out - I just choose not to go out in the wet in the first place. Call it poetic licence to make a point

weasley wrote:.... hydrophobia* ...

*this isn't stictly true, as I do actually enjoy riding in the wet when I get caught out - I just choose not to go out in the wet in the first place. Call it poetic licence to make a point

Now that's what I call the small print, maybe a contract hidden in there

SteveCat wrote:Now that's what I call the small print, maybe a contract hidden in there

Dunno what you mean...*

*By reading this reply you have entered a legally-binding contract to hand over your house, vehicles, bank account contents and significant other** to the forum member know as "weasley"

**Must be female and of reasonable and acceptable quality***

***weasley's opinion and decision will be final

I used to use 020 on the rear and an 014 on the front which worked well for me. Got about 5k out of a rear and generally two rears to a front. Tried an 021 on the rear and got not much more than 2.5k out of a rear before it was on the wear limiter. FJR Terry was slating them at last year's surf n turf too.

Now running road 2CTs front and rear and they are excellent, feel similar to the bridgestones but have had over 5k out of a rear and plenty of tread left

Diablos for me. Nebver used anything else since I had the bike.

Great in the wet, sticky in the dry, good alround wear. Not that expensive either.

I wouldn't fit anything else.

Now thinking about aa pair of these:

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Maxxis Supermaxx Sport £160

What are they like in the wet Tony, the lack of grooves would make me want a bit of feedback on that before I committed to them.

I've been looking at the maxxis supermaxx touring tyre, some great writeup's about, and also some not so great ones, but at £110 for a pair and me going through about 3 sets a year i'm very tempted to have a go.

Perhaps I will take a look at the touring ones, I will keep you posted, my current set of Bridgestones have perhaps 500 miles to go