Why are the stock dunlops not liked?

You made a wise choice! I've been so impressed with the Road Attack that I had a choice between the Corsa 3's and the Road Attacks for the same price and i choose the Conti's because of the extra mileage. Here's a couple of paragraphs that I coped and pasted from a article that all tire noobies should read...





Street riders will get a greater level of traction and more life out of a street tire that is designed to withstand hundreds of heat cycles and operate at a lower temperature. And in fact, most modern "sport-touring" tires will providea better level of grip for 90% of all street riders than sportier counterparts. Only an elite few, and they are probably not reading this anyway, can use the full potential of a Michelin Pilot Power.



The moral of this story is not to be so afraid of riding on tires designed to last a bit longer. Honestly evaluate the type of riding you do and make your decision based on that information. If you mostly drone up and down the interstate on your way to work with an occasional weekend jaunt up the canyon, you probably don't need as much tire as the rider does lots of high-speed track days, and has never worn out the center of a tire. Most of us will never be able to over-ride a modern "sport-touring" tire during very spirited street riding unless we are using incorrect riding form and style. I have seen all of these touring-based tires on racetracks and on colder track days, the touring tires came up to temperature quicker and provided MORE grip than the race tires. So much so, that after a track session, the race tires were, literally, cold to the touch, while the touring tires were nice and warm. Plus, you get the huge benefit of not having to change tires every time you change your oil.

Full article

.: Motorcycle Tire Tips | Canyon Chasers Motorcycle Sport Touring :.​

 

Granted I have a 1985 700 and I don't ride very aggressively, I will still pay to have good rubber. I have always run Metzeler but they have stopped making my rear (I have bumped up to a 150/70-18). Avon Storm-ST comes in my rear but not front. I can get my front and rear in Avon Roadrider. Can anyone give a thumbs up or down on this make and model?

I know the standard answer to this, but what if I keep my 70% new Metz Laser Comp K up front and get a Storm for the back. Has anyone tried mismatching and thought it worked okay?

After reading all the treads here, I’m going to research available sizes in the Conti Road Attacks. Seams like everyone here likes them. My next try after that will be Pilots. I have also considered Battleaxes. What do you all think of those?

Thanks,

 

Ha, tire threads. ya gota love em, say what you want about your Contis RA if those that went Dunlop to Contis and thought those where a huge improvement, then go one up again and try on a set of Corsas. There, I said my piece.

 

I'm going to get lynched for reviving a year old tire thread, but I can't help it, I have to share.

I got my new VFR just a couple weeks ago and had the EXACT same experience that KC-10 FE explained. I was talking to my brother about it and he mentioned he had tires do that before when they were too low.

I checked mine and they were at about 30 front and rear (which would be close to my typical setting, mind you.) I bumped them up to 36F 42R like the manual suggests and the bike was instantly "normal" with an extremely neutral steering character.

Thought I'd mention that to anyone with the D204K's left on their bike.

 

kc I thought you now have the pirelli on there now ?? are they good ?? i have metz on mine and really can't complain what ever tire i have i can spin it in wet or slide it braking to hard on street but I have had dunlop 208 love them and michellins and love them as well...and have made all fronts cupped thats to much hard breaking and not keeping up with tire pressure, but stock dunlop i have had those and yes as stated they are just rim protectors..myself put a good front on the back should wear 2 times the front...If possible always match tires accordingly but I have ran a bais ply in front and a radial in back it worked but it does have a wierd roll in or lean over feeling but hell i got the tires for 50 bucks..

 

Don't feel bad about reviving an old thread, if you have a question, that's what a web forum is. I am fanatical about my tire pressure. I check it no less than it once a week.

Dude... That post was over a year ago. I do indeed have Diablo Corsa III's on the bike currently. No doubt, there are a great (& I do mean GREAT) tire. Pretty much the only bad thing I can say at the moment is they aren't as good in the rain as the RA is.

You are also the first person I've ever heard that loved D208's. I think they suck too. The D220? Crap. The SportMax? Crap. The Qualifier? It's OK but I think Pilot's or Diablo's or the BT016 are all better tires.

In the end, it doesn't matter what I or you think about our tires. If person X likes his tires & can ride his bike just fine, then those tires are the tires for him. If person Y say person X's tires are crap, does that really matter or mean anything? Not really, now does it?

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

Thanks KC...good feedback. I'd really like to dump the OEM Metzlers from my VFR. I knew they were fairly cheesy before but after riding my Daytona with the Pirelli Super Corsa SPs I am very interested in the Pirellis (or the Michelins) for the VFR. Thanks!

 

Super Corsa's come stock on your 675?Please take that thing to the track now!

BZ

 

Yes! I know what you mean...they are begging to be set free!

 

Are your Daytona tires extremely tall & peaked? The Daytona I looked at in the dealer looked as if the tires were installed on a rim that was too narrow. That's what I was referring to in my Corsa III review. The Super Corsa has a very strange looking profile.

KC-10 FE out...
lane: :usa2:

 

From memory (bike is not in front of me at the moment) I don't recall them looking peaked (Vee-shaped). The main thing I feel when riding is that any steering inputs are transmitted quickly and smoothly. No resistance or difficulty getting them to turn or respond back when straightening out. But, they do not feel twitchy at all. To me, the combo of the steering geometry and the tires on the 675 seems perfectly matched. (The combo of my OEM Metzlers and the VFR makes it feel odd when coming out of a turn. It seems to suddenly "sit up." I assume it is the Metzlers...it makes me think I am on an old Schwinn bike that has an odd rake/trail combo...)

 

My bike came with the Metzlers but they sucked. Basically Dunlop is not bad just the OEM tire is. Honestly of the OEMs offered on the 6th Gen the Bridgstones were the better of the three but that is not saying a whole lot. The thing is that the OEM tires are a hard single compound good for standard everyday driving. Other Non-OEM tires offer more a lot more than standard equipment. Most people can't believe how well the bike handles after they put a new set of Non-OEM replacement tires on the bike.

Once you switch off to any of the Non-OEM tires you will be satisfied. they are softer or dual or even triple compound. Specialized touring, sport tour, sport or even hyper sport.

Continental Road Attack / Sport Attack
Michelin Power Pilot 2ct / Power Road 2ct
Bridgestone BT021 / BT014 /BT015 / BT016
Metz M3
Avaon Storm
Pirelli Diablo Strada / Corso III
Shinko Raven

After about 3K or 50% tread life on your Stock tires switch off. Those tires lose capability as they wear.

Good Luck

 

I believe they shape the profile that way to lay down more contact patch at high lean angles for better grip. I remember a very fast club racer telling me that was a difference between Michelin's Power Race PR1 & PR2 fronts versus the slightly newer PRC front, the PRC being more triangular and the formers more round.

KC, regarding your very closely monitored tire pressures that you mentioned while using the stock dunlops, were you running 36F 42R like the manual suggests?

 

Yes, profiles make a huge difference. In the bicycle world, the older sew-ups were very round and the clinchers often had a more Vee-shaped profile. Like lots of things in life, one can maximize certain characteristics by using different equipment. Tires are the contact with the ground so they are extremely important. So many choices!

 

I love my RA's my second set.. my only problem is I put on over 10k miles per year.
And I'm too cheap to change them twice a year.. lol.
Any suggestions??

 

Try Pilot Road 2's or use less throttle.

 

I've had my bike for 3 weeks and 3 days at this point, I've put just shy of 1800 miles on it(will be over 1800 by the end of the day). The stock sportmax's are definitely not a very good tire. I don't think they suck enough to replace prematurely but I have felt them get shady around a few turns. As far as wear, they arent showing much wear after only 1800 miles. I expect them to go at least 5k which I will hit by August. Will I replace them with the same? NO WAY. Last bike had Shinko Ravens which I think were better than the Sportmax's. I will likely throw on RA's or PP 2Ct's

 

Pirelli Diablo Stradda.

 

My stock dunlops are way harder than all the cool fellas I ride with. They slip on lots of different surfaces but they are taking the mileage. If all I did was commute I would get them again. Judging by the numbers I'm seeing I would be changing good aftermarkets out twice every 3 seasons. I'll be looking for a good quality tire that will give me decent mileage. Don't know what that will be but have the rest of the season to decide.

 

I still have the stock Dunlops on my bike and they are terrible. I will be replacing them by September just because. There is plenty of tread left on them but at the same time they keep breaking loose on me.