Tyres: Feedback

Can anyone with feedback about the different tyres they've run on their bikes post some info here. I dragged 6000km out of the originals but should've chucked them at 5000km. They seem to go good then all of the sudden start falling apart...

I put on a set of Michelin pilot road 2's (front and back) and they seem pretty good. Unfortunately I already got a puncture after only about 1000km and had to get it repaired. It was a big hole (part of a hacksaw blade went through the rear) and the repair job is good but it losses a few PSI each week.

Pilot powers...brilliant tyre.
Has loads of grip, and still feels pretty good in the wet.
Im only on the first set, so not sure on how many kays ill get, but im very happy with them so far.
Especially since i only got just over 3k on the original Dunlops.

I fitted PR2's at both ends. (6000 R / 8000F)
Very happy with the wear. Rear has done 8,500km (with 1 puncture) and looks about half way gone
I'm thinking powers next time for that little more cold/painted line grip and if they do 10,000km thats about all I need.
If I was planning a long around the country tour it would be PR2's again though. They are sensative to pressure changes. I run 40psi rear and 38psi front (cold) and I can tell when they're down by 3psi.
Having said that there are a couple of other brands I may investigate when the time comes.

My originals were replaced at the 6,000km service. Rear was stuffed. Front had a bit left.

Fitted Bridgestone BT021s.

Rode around Tassie and commuted on them for 9,000km before needing to replace the front (it went from getting worn to very worn in one week ). The rear probably still has about 1 - 2,000km in it before it is shot. Another BT021 will replace it until the front goes again.

I think that I may try the Continentals next up...

Replaced my originals at 5000 km, as soon as the wear bars came up at the rear... I was itching to get rid of them as I found that they were really bad at low temps, like the sort you get around Canberra in winter. Now have a PR2 on the back and a Pilot Power front, only a bit over 1000 km into them, but I love them. At this point cant see myself using anything else, but will need to see how they last,

Cheers Peter

My original Dunlops gave up at around 4,500.
I opted for Metzelers (front and back). Bike feels and handles so much better.
Unfortunately got a puncture only 250 km in.

This was the state of my last Pirelli Diablo after an afternoon on the Alpine way near Cooma.




Great tyre but they go from the wear indicator to steel belt pretty bloody quickly...
The by far best tyre I have put on the Bandit is the Avon Viper. Tons of grip when cold/wet but it wore out just by looking at it.

I've found the Metzler's to be pretty good. I ran M1's on the front and got roughly 10 to 15 thou out of them. But the M1 was superceded by the m3 and I don't like the look of it. I found the 02b12 to be sensitive to tyres with a centre groove. So now I've got an Avon Storm on the front. Not a bad tyre, but it does take a little while to warm up (in comparison to the M1).

I put an M1 on the back, once, and only got 6 thou before it needed replacing. But it was an extremely fun 6 thou.

I've got a Roadtech z6 on the back and it seems fine. Before that I'd had ME4's.

I dont reckon you can go past Pilot Road 2's.

They are the most comfortable and confident hoops Ive had on. Good wear and sweet in the wet and dry.

The front I would have about 8-9k by now, the rear I couldnt tell you, Lets just say I enjoy smoking.

Have had Metzler Roadteck on, found them twitchy when cold but ok when some heat was in them, not as good as the PR2's tho. Once again I couldnt speak of the endurance, see above.

Mind you the Metzlers smoked up better than the Pilots, but the Pilots scream better.

I have only ever used Bridgestone BT020's..........and love 'em. I have used them in weather ranging from -5degC, to 35deg, in rain and well past the used by date and they always seem to work. I think my next will have to be the BT021's as I think the 020's are obsolete, ah well, all good things must come to an end.

gotta start thinking about new tyre[s] i was considering the angel st but then i am leaning toward the michelin road..........wot would you pick of those two [otherwise i will never make up my mind if i look at too many options!] i was going to get just a rear, but i might go the whole hog and replace the front too

Id go michelin for sure. My brother gets alot of kays from that tyre. Commuting to work everyday, the rear didnt go to flat in the middle.
But then again, ive never spoken to anybody who runs the other tyre.

PR2 and you wont run out of grip on the Bandit

PR2...just heard to many good things about them.
As soon as i go for my 6,000km service(??)....I'll be ordering both back and front.
Thats if the stockies last that long.

Is there still a 'supply issue' with PR2's?

Yeah there is a bad supply issue. Some shops cant get them till atleast the new year. Not sure about everywhere.

Cameron wrote:Yeah there is a bad supply issue. Some shops cant get them till atleast the new year. Not sure about everywhere.

No supply issue in this town. Both shops have a few in the Babdit sizes as of last weekend.
They were hard to get 12 months ago though.

Cameron wrote:Yeah there is a bad supply issue. Some shops cant get them till atleast the new year. Not sure about everywhere.

that's actually why I didn't get PR2's last time, I NEEDED a new front tyre, and the Avon was in stock, and the right price. I'm actually thinking of getting the AVON Storm ST for the rear when it's time.

2wheelsagain wrote:

Cameron wrote:Yeah there is a bad supply issue. Some shops cant get them till atleast the new year. Not sure about everywhere.

No supply issue in this town. Both shops have a few in the Babdit sizes as of last weekend.
They were hard to get 12 months ago though.

There you go, it isn't bad enough that Sale has more bike shops than Wagga, but they get better tyres too.

b12mick wrote:

2wheelsagain wrote:

Cameron wrote:Yeah there is a bad supply issue. Some shops cant get them till atleast the new year. Not sure about everywhere.

No supply issue in this town. Both shops have a few in the Babdit sizes as of last weekend.
They were hard to get 12 months ago though.

There you go, it isn't bad enough that Sale has more bike shops than Wagga, but they get better tyres too.

That ride for the service is looking better isnt it mate

2wheelsagain wrote:That ride for the service is looking better isnt it mate

I mentioned that to my wife, and after she stopped laughing at me she she said that riding down to Sale (or at least Gippsland) would be a good holiday.

Here's a question for you all, is there any such thing as a 'bad' tyre anymore? Or, is it that some tyres suit some bikes/people more than other tyres?

For example, I know a few people who can regularly get 20,000km out of a rear tyre on the bandit 1200, yet the best I've EVER got from a rear is 15,000, and that was pushing my luck. Even when I had the 600 I NEVER got more than 20,000 from a rear.

b12mick wrote:Here's a question for you all, is there any such thing as a 'bad' tyre anymore? Or, is it that some tyres suit some bikes/people more than other tyres?

For example, I know a few people who can regularly get 20,000km out of a rear tyre on the bandit 1200, yet the best I've EVER got from a rear is 15,000, and that was pushing my luck. Even when I had the 600 I NEVER got more than 20,000 from a rear.

Mate I reckon these days it comes down to how much grunt, weight and speed we're asking the tire to handle.
A tire on a 50hp Bonneville will last a lot longer than a sports bike simply due to the forces exerted on it (and a few other factors)
My rear PR2 looks like it will do 14k + and the will be a record for me.

Not sure if antyone makes a "bad" tire but there are a couple I would want someone else to try out before me. Mainly out of China.
Of the "good" tires it mostly comes down to personal choice.

Just got them put on today and put 70 clicks on them.....so not much, although i went down thru coal and candle creek and around there to bed them in a bit.....and they seem to be fine - steering seems rather more accurate then it used to be, and will let you know how they go

Just had a set of the Pirelli Angel STs fitted up as well.
Felt fine on the way home, turn-in is positive and they hold well, even before they have settled in properly.

Tomorrow will hopefully see a "proper" ride to scrub them in fully.

They are replacing a set of Bridgestone BT021s that were great tyres. I have run the BT021s for the last 15,000Km with no problems (except for the front chewing out...)
Trying the Pirelli's as I do not like the way the front BT021 chews out on the RHS where the different compounds join together.