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Hoops, hides, skins or just plain tires. Tire reviews and experinces

173K views 589 replies 150 participants last post by  turboLT 
#1 ·
Had to break down and get a new set yesterday and went with the Metz Z6's. Heard good things about them so thought I'd give them a try. Will let you know how things go. So far just the long way home from the dealer initial impressions are. These are comparing to the BT57's.

Only have 15 miles so far and not scuffed in but turn in seems a bit harder but once in is stable and stays to a line. Where the old would fall in and I'd have to counter-counter steer to hold the same line in the same corner.

Doesn't seem to "track" or follow road imperfections.

Today they will get their wet test.

Don
 
#483 ·
I'm at 4k miles on the bridgestone S20's. I'd guess that they are at about 2/3rd's of their life, but steering is starting to get a little heavy, from some flattening in the front. I did not have that with the Q2's. My ride so far has been just commuting with a few bends, and lots of highway miles. I have pushed them where I could, and they are very much confidence inspiring. I really much more enjoy riding on tires like these, then I do on your ordinary ST tire.

I think in the dry the Q2's have the edge, in the wet, the S20's may be slightly better. Both of these tires do transitions real nice, and it's pretty easy to go deep.

Mileage wise, the Q2's actually may fare a bit better, but right now, the S20's are still slightly better priced.
most importantly, from what I recall, the Q2's handle better throughout their lifespan.
Interestingly, the Q2's started cupping very quickly to the eye, but it never seemed to affect handling at all.

All this puts me in a bit of a pickle. I'll need to buy tires in January, but that will also be the start of the more rainy side of the year here.

i think I may buy another set of S20's, since what is in my future is wet and straight, and towards May, when more mountain riding in the dry is expected, switch back to Q2's

BTW, I always run 36F, 42R. (That's psi...) (No, I'm not from around here, but when in Rome...)
 
#487 · (Edited)
Count me as another fan of the PR3's. I have them on both bikes and as I have a 100 mile round trip commute I have gotten to test the longevity of these tires. For a little background, I weigh 250lbs plus with all of my leather and my VFR is a bit of a heavy beasty at over 500lbs wet.

As my RS has been taken apart, I have my VFR and that is what this review is based on. I LOVE THESE TIRES!

I have ridden rain, cold, hot. Canyons, freeways and street. I implicitly trust these tires. I have gotten 9800 miles out of this set and while the rear was worn almost smooth in the middle, I still found that they gripped. I have ridden these tires harder than any set prior and they have never given me pause.

As stated before, I have varied my rides as much as I could and I haven't babied them. I have accelerated as hard as my bike can, I have hit the brakes as hard as I dared. I have done 300 plus miles in one day and short two mile rides. Wet or dry, hot or cold, these tires were there for me like a lifelong friend. I have scraped the footpegs on both my RS and my VFR, both times on rough old pavement and these held the road. They grip more than I am currently capable of pushing them and that is nearly knee down on the VFR. I have had them at high speed and slow speed. I can ride my bike at 1 mph ( I love seeing how slow I can go and keep the bike up without putting my feet down) or track speed. The little extra that I pay for this peace of mind and just plain fun is totally worth it to me.

Now, as to how they lasted for me. At about 7000 miles I pumped them up too much, about 38 front and 40ish back, PSI of course. I rode about a week this way and this squared them off. I dropped the pressure and hit the canyons as much as I could and this helped re-round the rear, but the front stayed squared, though not as sharply. Both the front and rear wear was fairly symmetrical, but of course the rear did have the lion's share. The reason I say it was fairly symmetrical is that on previous tires the wear rate of the front was much less than the back. Interestingly enough, the middle sides of the front were actually worn more than the middle, but again, I was pushing them pretty hard at times.

I have BT016 Pro tires slip the front, but never had I had that happen with these. I have had the confidence in these tires to increase my lean angle as well as exit speed and they just stick. I have gunned it on corner exits, while leaned over and nothing but the rush of acceleration.

At times, they do feel like they wander a small amount on the grooved California concrete freeways, but it is such a minor thing it is only something I occasionally notice, really it's really a non issue.

I have skidded the front tire at the end of a hard stop, but it always tracked straight. I even lifted the rear a little on one of my practice hard stops. Again, no drama.

Michelin has my money with these tires. I'm hooked. I do wish I took pictures of them before I had them changed, but I only had my 3Mpx phone camera and it wouldn't have been that great of photos.

If you are debating these over something else, don't. Just buy them, they really are that good.

Now, for the funny part, at least to me. As all tires wear slowly and the changes in the profile of the tires is something you automatically adjust to, I literally was laughing at how different, actually weird in a fun way, it was to go from a squared tire to normally round ones. When I was coming home I was taking it easy but there is a sorta curvy road just before my house. I had been so accustomed to the hesitation and the sort of sudden drop into a turn that only a squared tire can give you, that it was a totally new sensation for me to be on a tire that just leaned over. I could literally feel the profile of the tire and it was such a cool, odd sensation that I was literally laughin in my helmet. I felt like I was on a ride!
 
#488 ·
Changed out my PR3's. I have no clue what the actual mileage on the tire is though. I had them on for a while, switched them out with Conti Motions after rainy season last year, then switched them back once the Motions wore out near rainy season. It was 16k miles total on both tires. I doubt the Motion's made it more 6k so that's maybe 10k commuting miles. Not too shabby. There were starting to get scary in the wet, the shoulder on the front wore off most of the tread.
 

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#489 ·
So I just picked up a Sprint with Pilot Sports on the rims, and while the rear is a bit squared off, they seem to grip fairly well.

However... I'm also partial to the Avon Roadriders on my K75, great tires for dry or wet streets even if their grip is a bit low for the Sprint. Any opinions on Avon tires as a whole, or specific makes for the ST?
 
#490 ·
Any opinions on Avon tires as a whole, or specific makes for the ST?
DeaconBlues,

From what I can mostly tell the majority of folks seem to be split between three (3) camps. Those being Michelin, Bridgestone, & Pirelli. Having previously been a Bridgestone man myself, I'll only way that I've seen the light and moved on. Not that they're bad tires, just not what I was looking for. Sure, maybe on a tourer, but not (imho) particularly well suited for a sport tourer.

That being said, I'm now running a set of Pirelli Angel ST's. Was originally a little intimidated with all of the talk about V carcasses and turn in, blah, blah, blah... Well, let tell you, these are the tires that I've been looking for all along! I've got a buddy that managed to get over 10k miles out of a set on his ZZR-1400, and he rides pretty hard. I've been completely impressed by their grip and handling in the wet, as well as in the dry.

Another tire that I'd strongly recommend is the Michelin Pilot Road 3's. While I haven't spent any time on these, I've heard nothing but great reviews. As a matter of fact, the only reason that I'm not running the PR3's is because in one
German online tire review the Angel ST is the only tire (and yes, that includes Avons, Metzlers, and a lot of other primo brands) that beat the PR3.

So I believe that if you go with either the PR3, or the Angel ST, you will be completely pleased with the outcome. Actually you may find yourself wondering why you hadn't done this sooner.

Either way, good luck with what ever you eventually decide upon
 
#491 ·
I don't ride FAR, but I ride FREQUENTLY. Tassie is a sligthly strange climate, in that it get rather warm in summer, but in winter is as cold as your mother in laws heart. And did I mention wet and slippery too?

The PR3's are very good for my daily ride. Confidence inspiring, no matter the weather conditions.

However - and this is rather unfortunate... I went on a lap of the state with some riding buddies. Pushed VERY hard on one particular road and the siping on the front tyre didn't handle it at all well. Cupped rather badly because the tread blocks are rather small, and they move around a bit.

I know, I know - they aren't a dry weather blasting tyre.

Would I buy another set? Yes, because on balance, I don't know of any better tyre out there.
 
#493 ·
Tyres

Hi all, speaking of tyres I currently have pr3,s front and rear on my 02 sprint st . approx 9000klms front is badly worn on the right side , my local motorbike Mech says its from road camber wear, the rear is going great a little worn in the centre , admittedly I have done about 5000 klms of main highway driving . I'm a bit concerned about the front wear . I am thinking of changing to Shinko 011 Verge Radials , ( dollar constraints ) any body out there ever had them ? the reviews I have read are all good , ( I probably do more long distance touring than thowing it around the hills on the weekends) Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Allen
 
#494 ·
Same here Allen. I seem to do the same thing to my fronts to an extenet that seems inconsistent with other forum members. My front is usually gone before my rear and once that camber wear starts on the front the bike doesn't want to turn in very nicely at all.
I think the best thing is to replace each tye when it needs it f the front & rear are out of sync.
Had no experience with the Shinko's but I think Beach has.
 
#495 · (Edited)
Thanks Phil, going to the tyre shop today see if they can cast any light on the wear. I went to my bike tyre shop today and the tyre guy says yes it is road camber wear , SA roads have a pretty steep camber of to the left , he also showed me a number of used tyres of various makes and all show the same wear . I am going to give the Shinko verve 011s a go on the bike will post some follow up on how they go .

Allen
 
#496 ·
Shinko verge 011s

I have rehooped with Shinko Verge 011s , been on for a bout a week now only done 350 klms but so far the tyres are great , only dry roads so far but they turn in better than the pr3s and stick as good , don't know how they will wear , or what they will be like in the wet , but so far very pleased . $ 360 for pair fitted , is a great price . suits my financial situation . :)

Allen
 
#498 ·
Hi all,
I don't recall if I posted this or not, but this Spring I had to replace the PR3s on my 05 VFR. They had 9800 miles on them, a LOT of freeway, but hard in the canyons too. The front and back were pretty evenly worn down. The front had a little more tread than the rear, but the sides were nearly as worn as the middle. At no time during the 9800 miles did I ever wish for more tire. They gripped wet, dry, slow or fast and held curves well past my level of confidence. This included keeping up with a Ducati 848 and BMW S1000rr on some empty mountain roads and we were definitely running the tires hard.

I cannot recommend these tires enough. BTW the set I put on to replace the worn tires cost about $360, plus install of $75. I rode in and rode out with new shoes.
 
#500 ·
Currently have 15,000 kms on my second set of Pilot Road 3's and am very happy with wear and fell of these tyres. am thinking of trying Pilot Road 4 or Pirelli Angel GT next time , or staying with the PR3...
anyone have any advice or experience with these tyres ??
 
#503 ·
After using Bridgestone BT023 for some time, tried the Angel GT on dealer recommendation. Now on my 3rd set, really like them. Better feel, don't seem to follow road grooves like the BT023's, very even wear and best of all, went from a average of 7k-8k wear on the 023's to over 11k on the Angel's. My daily 40 mile commute consists of 30 miles of winding mountain road and 10 miles of freeway. YMMV.
 
#501 ·
Here in Australia the Pilot Road 4's only get released this month, so am wondering if anyone on the other side of the world has fitted them to their bike yet ?
 
#504 ·
i just got a michelin pilot 2 road front and pilot 4 road rear. (the 2 was on a great sale). how hard a time do you guys have getting the rear wheel balanced? do i need that crescent shaped tool to reinstall the rear wheel, or is that only to adjust the chain? my bike didn't come with the tool kit, sadly
 
#507 ·
Theotherdave. You only need the crescent shaped tool for chain tensioning. I find it pretty unusable & prefer to use a long screwdriver & a hammer. Overall this is a very poor design & is very prone to seizure. Pretty easy to work on though. Had mine to bits & greased it up. No problem.
 
#508 ·
Jumping into the tire can-o-worms (as bad as oil threads?).

I bought my '02 Sprint RS with Motion Pros on it and I haven't felt I could trust them. Most reviews of Motion Pros confirm this.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy Shinko Ravens for my '02 Sprint RS. Another cheap tire, but they get a lot of positive reviews (not here so much, but at Revzilla, for instance, lots of folks - 'confirmed customers' - are positive).

I read through this thread, and others here, and I see several of you are not sold on Shinkos. Fact is though I'm rarely on a road in these parts (NYC) that allows for much spirited riding ... and I've aged into a 'mature rider.' :( So I'll give 'em a try and see how they do.
 
#512 ·
I've ben using Dunlop Roadsmarts for the last few years. On an FZ1, Tiger 1050 and TL1000S. Had Roadsmarts, Roadsmart 2's and just fitted 3's to my newly aquired 2007 Sprint ST 1050. They warm up so quick and grip so well that I would be pushed to use anything else. My Tiger came with MP4's as did the TL and I found the feedback a bit lacking. I've done less than 100 miles on the new Dunlops and there are still hairs on them but I'm already confident to push to the edge of the tyre
And they last ages :)
 
#514 · (Edited)
Speed4Boy

The answer to your question depends on the brand and model and your weight. Also how you like to ride etc.

Michelin Pilot Roads and Pilot Powers seem to like to be for me around 34 front and 38 (solo) - 40 (pillion) rear on my 2011 Sprint GT. (heavier than the ST)

Some other brands and models seem to work better at higher pressures. I am built like a brick and weigh around 240 lbs or 110 kilos and generally ride just in the hills and in a pretty sporty manner with little or zero chicken strips on both front and rear tyres.

It really depends on a number of things what suits you and your ride best.
I hope that helps.

DaveM:smile2:
 
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