Best tire for VFR 1200?

on a VFR12 ??

 

Yes. 2010 VFR1200 DCT. I've got a Dunlop SportMax RoadSmart 2 on the front now. Still have the PR3 rear tire on the back and figure I'll run it until it's done. I got almost 9,000 mi from the original SportMax tires that were on the bike from Honda so I'll probably go with them again when I get new tires.

It could have been a setup problem but a friend of mine also had cupping problems with the PR3 and he is on a Bandit. The dealer said that they are seeing that a lot with the PR3 but it's really hit or miss. Some last and are great while others are cupping really bad after only a couple thousand miles. It was a new tire last year so maybe they were having problems with the consistancy of the compounds they are using.

 

Well,I just got back from a trip to Deals Gap, tires worked very well. I got a chance to test them out in some heavy rains,worked very well. I can only hope they last longer than the Dunlops they replaced.

 

I am going to boldly proclaim the Bridgestone BT 014-015-016 and especially the 016 Pro tires to be the best there is if performance is the requirement. I've tried lots of tires, raced on many brands, and Bridgestones stand above the rest. If mileage and longevity is your thing, then the BT series is probably not for you. But I will gladly sacrifice mileage for performance any day. Always have.
Although, the newest 016 Pro is said to have 30% more life, and I have a set on my VFR and at 1100 miles still no flat spot. That's a good sign, and grip is amazing...even on the coldest mornings you don't worry like you do on some other over-priced brands.....

 

Oh you lucky dog. Last year was the first year in many that I didn't make it to the Gap, but my daughter got married last summer, so riding season got shot to hell. I really wanted to hit route 555 this weekend (Ohio's Dragon), but the wife poo-poo'd the idea since our landscaping really fell by the wayside last summer, due to the aforementioned wedding. So I'll probably be gardening all freakin' weekend instead of riding (BIG sigh)! Glad to hear the PR3s performed well for you. The Gap is certainly a tire torture test fest. My bike feels sooooo much better since fitting them, but I also added Ohlins springs at the same time, so hard to know how much improvement to attribute to one vs the other. But it's certainly a more confidence inspiring bike now. So how does the wear look after a thrash at the gap?? Did you get to do much dry pavement riding in between the showers?? Inquiring (and envious) minds want to know. :biggrin:

I agree completely about the tires you've mentioned. I have BT-016s on my 125 now and absolutely love them. Unfortunately, the 1200 would destroy them VERY quickly due to weight and torque.

 

I had 016 Pro on my '07 FZ1. Great tire. However, SS tires like the 016 will wear rapidly on heavier bikes like the 1200. Ask me how I know... I had a chance to buy a Diablo Corsa front and a Metzeler M5 rear on clearance dirt cheap, so on the Viffer they went. Superb traction, but the Diablo Corsa is already wearing down and cupping on the soft shoulder compound. I really cannot complain as I knew this was gonna happen going in. Plus the sticky tires gave me a baseline to evaluate other sport touring tires.

Just picked up a set of RoadSmart II for the VFR1200. I was gonna get the tried-n-true PR3's, but I figure I would give the new Dunlop a try. We'll see.