Triumphrat

Capt Willard

Just picked up my first Triumph, a 2004 Speed Four, but it needs a new set of tyres. Thought of getting a set of Pirelli Diablo Stradas, as I've read some good reviews. Can I get some views from other members - any good, or what tyres are you running???

cowboyplumber

Shaaaaaaaaaaaat it you faaarkin cockerny caaant.
battleax BT 016 are great.

Will

Pilot Powers are pretty good street tires. Diablos are good. So are Diablo Corsas. I have a Dunlop Qualifier on the back of the 675 for the time being, and it seems OK for the street.

I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the name brand tires if you are riding on the street. Chen Shins are something to avoid, and so are retreads, but otherwise, I doubt there are any truly bad tires these days.

For track duty, it's a little different, but if you are considering Diablo Stradas, I'm guessing it's not one of your major concerns.

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Will
It's a squid thing. You wouldn't understand.
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Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.

ncdave

If you're on the cost-saving side of things, I am currently running Shinko 005s on my TT600. I took them to a track day and they gripped the track just fine. The 003's are a bit softer and more sticky. I'm not sure on the long term mileage part, as I've just started running them on my TT and my Ninja 650R that I also have.

If you're only riding on the street, you should have no problems with their grip.

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NCDave
05 Kawi Concours, 03 Buell XB9R, 01 Triumph TT600,
99 Honda Superhawk
www.bikepics.com/members/ncdave

Will

BT003s are racing tires, if I'm not mistaken. I wouldn't run them on the street anyway. If you want sticky Bridgestones, go with BT016s. I have heard great things about them.

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Will
It's a squid thing. You wouldn't understand.
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Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.

ncdave

I was referencing Shinko 003s, not the BT003 Bridgestones. Yeah, I think you are right about being for racing. The shinko 003s are "sport" tires for street use. They are advertised to be softer than the 005s, so I'm assuming that would equate to better grip at my track days.

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NCDave
05 Kawi Concours, 03 Buell XB9R, 01 Triumph TT600,
99 Honda Superhawk
www.bikepics.com/members/ncdave

Yak

I've had good luck with Continental Road Attack's

Im on Pirelli Diablo Rosso's right now and they are great too. A little more harsh than the Road Attacks, but stick really well.

I didn't like the Bridgestone BT010's as much.

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2005 Triumph Speed Four - Yellow

Will

Funny thing about BT010s is people in northern climates liked them and people in hot places like Nevada liked Dunlops better, back in 2001 or 2002. I always liked BT010s, since they would go off predictably and slide really nicely when they were about done. I remember a huge, lurid two wheel slide on my TT600 about five years ago. It ended up grinding boot, knee slider, peg, sidestand, and caused me a big skid mark not on the road, but the bike stayed up and the whole thing was completely predictable and calm, in a heart stopping kind of way. More modern tires have more of a tendency to let go completely and far more suddenly when they are really done. The worst experience I had with cooked tires was with Pilot Powers. I ignored the warning signs, including a couple near highsides, and then had the bike just flat disappear out from under me in a high speed corner. This was all on the track, so the biggest damage, aside from plastic, was my ego. Even so, the predictable, forgiving nature of BT010s is why I have gone back to Bridgestones for track use.

For street use, round and black and reasonably new is probably pretty much OK if you aren't trying to get tossed into jail.

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Will
It's a squid thing. You wouldn't understand.
SponsorHouse profile

Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon.

ncdave

Yeah...what he said! Wil said it better than me, but I was trying to relay the same thing.

Wil is obviously far more experienced and skilled on the track than I am with only one track day under my belt (but a second at Road Atlanta next month!!!).

My point was just that on the streets, any reasonable tire is going to function just fine, as I find the tires far outpace the limits imposed by street riding.

For the track, being a novice, I find that average street tires really do operate just fine until you get enough skill to start pushing their limits. I spent an entire day at the track and didn't find any limits with the Shinko 005. However, my skills are not up to any type of advanced level.

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NCDave
05 Kawi Concours, 03 Buell XB9R, 01 Triumph TT600,
99 Honda Superhawk
www.bikepics.com/members/ncdave

Yak

I think that the BT010's were fine tires. The only reason I didn't like them is the front started to cup on me, so I didn't get a full life out of them.

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2005 Triumph Speed Four - Yellow