I need a better tire. Suggestions?

I have an older Roadtec z6 on my front, was maybe 50% tread wear and evenly worn when I bought this bike less than 3 months ago. Now it's trashed.


My rear is a Battlax, and was brand new when I got the bike. It's probably about 50% tread now, and fairly evenly worn. I do a lot of riding in the hills and twisties, so I get plenty of edge wear, but I'm still a bit concerned about how quickly I'm wearing these out.

Overall I've been unimpressed with the handling characteristics, and the tires seem skittish, especially the front, though I feel like the rear could stand to be stickier, too, given how easily it will skip on bumps and tar snakes.

I've heard good things about the Pilot Power Road 2/Road 3 tires, but I'm a little bit concerned about tread life on something like that with the kind of spirited riding I do. What's a good compromise between sport-touring durability and sport performance? Are the PP Roads going to be them, or should I look at something else?

 

Hi there, I used to run Bridgestones BT021's on mine, they are real sticky and offer great feedback, probably good for about 4 to 5 thousand miles. However, I have had them replaced with the BT023, it a relatively new tyre, but the grip is out of this world for a sports/touring tyre and offer more mileage due to harder compounds on the rear. I recommend them. Have a look at their video, it shows you everything you need [video=youtube_share;YJ6fx-J04B4]http://youtu.be/YJ6fx-J04B4[/video]

 

The Michelin Pilot Road 2 / 3 is probably the best all around tire in terms of handling and mileage. I used to run them exclusively on both my bikes and they performed really really well but I eventually made the switch to the Pilot Powers since I like the more aggressive tire profile and softer compound. Just to give you an idea I used to get about 6-7k miles out of the Pilot Road 2 and only get about 3500 miles out of the Pilot Powers. I have my own tire changer at home so I am willing to sacrifice mileage for better handling in the mountains.

Rollin

 

Do you know what the difference is between the pilot power and the pilot power 2CT?

Also what tire changer do you have? I've been looking at getting one, but quality seems so hit or miss online, and I don't know which to buy. It would be really handy to have in our garage since we have 4 bikes here.

 

I have a tire changer too. 3 long tire irons and a bead breaker. Works like a charm. Lol

 

I really want a proper breaker/setter so I don't scratch up my painted rims any more than they already are.

 

I'm in the market as well, I'm headed to the Metzler Z8's that are fairly new. I do like the Michelins 2CT, but just pricey, and they cupped on me.

 

I use a cut up inner tube to place under the tire iron to protect the rim. I tried motion pro protectors but they were to thick . If you have ever fixed flat tires on a dirt bike then tubeless street tires are a breeze. I use a floor stand bead breaker from k&L also very easy. But I guess if you have the money an auto changer would be nice. I have found the 2ct to not last any longer than a regular pilot power. I average about 2000 on the rear and 4000 miles on a front pilot power. Which I consider not bad considering the grip they have. Iam wanting to give a pilot road 2 a try though since I read so many good things about them.

 

On my last bike (a 97 VFR) I rode for about 4 years (not one set of tires) with a Pilot Power on the front and a Pilot Road on the rear. The Pilot Power up front was a little more sticky than the rear but I found that both tires wore at about the same rate. My current bike (a 2000 VFR) is riding on a new set of BT023 that were installed early this year. So far I have only put about 1000 km's on them but they seem to be wearing fairly evenly (front to rear) and I think the traction is quite good for a harder compound touring tire. They seem to wear well and have a softer compound toward the outside edge for increased grip when cornering, and a harder compound in the center of the tire to help with straight line riding. The BT023 were also cheaper than the Pilot Power's and Pilot Road 2/3, so that was a bonus. Another thing I like about the BT023 is that they seem to heat up a bit quicker in cooler weather, whereas the Pilot's were a bit more skidish in the cooler weather of the late fall and early spring riding.

 

I have a Dunlop Q2 on the front and it's awesome. Look at all the reviews. If you want track level grip in a street tire, you can't beat the Q2's.

Jose

 

How long do the q2s last? About the same as a pilot power?

 

You should be able to get 5k out of sport tires like the Michelin power pilot 2CT or the Bridgestone BT-016. The dunlop Q2 is supposed to offer about the same but I havent ridden them but friends have. More important than the total mileage is how the tire performs throught its total mileage the three mentioned here especially the BT keeps performance throught the life of the tire. Again the Q2 is supposed to as well but I havent used it.

I replace about 2 sets a year, commute and ride the nearby mountains. Commuting is hardest on these tires. Id prolly get a few more miles if I didnt commute on them. They are all multi-compound tires. Harder compound in the center softer on sides and edges.

The cheapy tire changer base from harbor freight has a bead breaker and it works well. I think I paid under $50 for it. I use a couple long motion pro tire irons $16 ea. and I change my own. Link- Portable Tire Changer There is a motorcycle wheel attachment for it as well.

You will need a valve core removal tool. Get them for like $2 bike shop or they sell them at motorcycle superstore.

The balancer is where yer gonna find issue if you have the single side swingarm. Harbor frieght offers a balancer for $50-60. I use that. They used to have and sell an adapter for SSSW VFR. But im not sure its available.
Link- Motorcycle Wheel Balancer w/ Stand

Marc parns has a nice balancer and you can use it with a pair of jack stands . I think it runs around areound $119.

$12 gets you a boat load of stick on 1/4 oz motion pro wheel weights from motorcycle superstore.

There are a few tricks to putting the tire on. Each trick can be found on youtube in a variety of videos. Ill look and see if. Can find them.

Use a air compressor to set the bead. You will hear two good loud pops when it is place. Then check yer tire preassure.

Tire change video links
SCUDMAN Balancing - YouTube
SCUDMAN How to install a motorcycle tire - YouTube
SCUDMAN How to remove a motorcycle tire - YouTube

 

The only difference between the 2CT and the regular Pilot Power is that the 2CT is a dual compound tire which means the edges of the tire are made from softer rubber compound than the center. The average rider probably couldn't tell the difference between them but if you ride in the tight twisty stuff and use your tires from edge to edge you will probably notice that the 2CT are stickier in the turns.

As far as tire machines goes, I bought and have been using the Cycle Hill tire changer for the past few years. It is sold by Nomar and quality seems decent. Purchasing a tire changer was probably one of my best motorcycle related purchases since I have 2 bikes and numerous friends with motorcycles. Overall I am happy with it although I think the trailer hitch attachment was poorly designed.


Rollin

 

Here is a tire shootout with all the big names.

2010 Street Motorcycle Tire Comparison - Motorcycle USA

This kind of article is why I went with a Q2 front. As soon as my Pirelli rear wears down, I will change that out to a Q2 as well. What I have noticed is that while my Pirelli rear has less than 1/4" worth of chicken strip on it, the Q2 has more than 1/2" on it. I am no speed demon, so I was surprised to have used so much of my Pirelli. The usage of the Q2 tells me that the profile of the Q2 is indeed more aggressive and will give more cushion room at any lean angle. So maybe something to take into consideration is that if you really don't ride sport side of your bike's spectrum, something like a Pirelli Diablo, Bridgestone BT016 or other tire is the best value. Mileage from a Q2 seems to range from lows of about 3000 to high of about 6000.

The confidence of having the stickiest street rubber I can get is important to me and since I don't put huge miles on my bike right now, the price/mileage of the Q2's works for me.

Jose

 

I don't know because I have never tried them but as far as high mileage tires I have read that a shinko raven is one of the best for that. But I'm with some of the others I feel a lot better knowing I have the stickiest tires I can get or close to it anyway. How someone on a vfr could even come close to 6000 miles on a sport tire I sure would like to know how. I doubt I could get that many miles riding in my front yard.

 

I thought 6000 sounds way too high, but I find posted reviews claiming that kind of mileage.

Jose

 

I sure would like to know how they get that kind of mileage. Not that I want to ride that way because I assume you would have to ride like you have a cop behind you all the time.

 

I get good mileage out of my tires and dont ride like a gramma or lke i have a cop behind me (Well the one time a cop was behind me, he pulled me and my buddies over) 4-5k easy. I ride either michelin PP2CTs or Bridgestone BT-016s. This current set are BT-016 pros. Im not sure about the mileage on this set but there seems to be a good bit of life left. Ill get them again.. Prolly need a set around october.

Oh these are great in wet as well.

 

You can get 4 to 5k easy on the rear? Do you balance them yourself or does someone else do it? I can get 4 on the front but never the rear

 

Yeah I change and balance myself. My front usually looks good but they are usually shot when the rear is. I swap at the same time. The front usually looks fine but if you ever see them off the bike deflated you will see they're worn. A slightly different wear pattern than the rear and in a way that isn't good. I have a suspension that is set for my weight which helps too. Also it depends on road surface and riding temps. I don't get the same mileage when i do a lot of riding in high 90s low 100s hot pavement and all. I get the best in fall temps 70s. Also some road surfaces just eat tires. I run -4 PSI from oem recommendation. 32f-38r.