Sport Touring Tire Showdown - Poll

I'm trying to pick a new tire for my 5th gen VFR800. VFRs are on the heavier side and I'm just over 200lbs myself so need something solid. I know some tires are designed for light bikes and some for pigs.

I don't really commute on this bike so it does see a lot of side roads and twisties, even gravel at times but also a fair amount of hwy and city. Sometimes get stuck in the rain so wet traction is important. I would also prefer a long lasting tire. I've read a lot of reviews online but I'm wondering if you guys have some personal experiences or major disqualifying points about any of these tires listed.

I've omitted economy tires like Shinko Raven or Contimotion because even though they are half decent they are exactly what you pay for and I don't mind spending the extra cash for a top of the line product. Price wise, the tires listed are from ~ $270-$350 a set (Canadian pricing from Pete's Superbike, without taxes or shipping).

 

I have had michelin pilot road 2ct's on my previous bike (2003 Ducati Monster 620 Dark I.E.) and they were phenomenal! I know the Monster is a light naked bike, but the handling and longevity of the tire was top notch. Of the tire choices you listed, those are the only ones I've tried so far. When I bought my 2002 VFR 800 VTEC, the guy had just put on a set of Pirelli Diablo Stradas. I loved those tires, but they are discontinued now as the Angel tires have replaced them. I'd say the Pirellis, in terms of tread pattern, are most like the Metzeler Roadtec Z6. I'm sure they are a great tire. In my opinion, either go with Metezler, Michelin, or Pirelli. Read the reviews of the tires you are interested in and go with what your gut tells you. I hope this helps out in some way. Cheers and happy riding!

 

I have the road 2's & love them. Good life too. Have heard good things about road 3's. A mate has them on a street triple r & likes them a lot. Good luck.

 

Pirelli Angel ST's here...so far I like them quite a bit.

 

Have P3's on my scooter and couldnt be more pleased.

 

My VFR came with Battlax's and I'm not sure I'm a fan. They squirm a lot more than I'm used to and the rear spins real easy in the rain, though I've never had any other tire on this bike. My old CBR always had Pilot Power 2CTs and if I'd been the one to choose the tires for my VFR I would've gone with the PR3s, I hear they're magic in the rain.

 

I have PR3s on my VFR which i've had for ~2K miles so far. Before that the PO had put a set of 2CTs on. I have liked both tires. I'm not sure how old the 2CTs were when I got the bike (they were supposed to be "brand new"), but they seemed to have an angular profile, with an almost trapezoidal shape. The PR3s have been great and have a very smooth transition to me. If I were a better rider (and by better I think I really mean ballsier) I have no doubt they could offer enough grip to drag a knee. In the rain I haven't had any issues yet, but I do take it easy.

I'm not sure i'll get the mileage I was hoping out of the PR3s. I was hoping to get somewhere near 10k miles. But time will tell. I also haven't done the tires any favors by not always checking my pressures, so they have occasionally wandered down towards the 32/36 range as opposed to the 36/42 range i'd prefer. The dang psycho weather makes it hard to set a consistent pressure.

 

I have a 04 running Pilot Road 2's with 6050 miles on them so far and love everything about them. Looks like I should get another 4000-5000 miles out of them too. Before that, I put 9692 miles on Metzler Z6 Interacts. They were good tires too, but I ran thru to the cords on the rear because the solid center tread pattern is so hard to judge.

 

Looks like Michelin is still king. As for solid centre tires, I agree - they truly suck for measuring tread. I do have a Contimotion (solid centre) on the rear at this moment and PR3 on the front. I was already leaning towards PR2 or PR3, your guys vote and comments reassure me. I only wish I could test drive all these tires but I guess for that you need a job with a bike mag or a show.

 

I'm currently trying to kill a set of PR2's on my '09 I bought over a year ago, I've put slightly more than 10k miles on them and they still have quite a bit of tread left. But since this bike has been more for commuting than playing, that may be a reason for their longevity. I was planning on replacing them with the same or update to the PR3, but we don't see that much wet weather in So Cal to justify paying more for the PR3, that is unless the PR3 has more than just wet weather performance to offer, I haven't really looked into it. I did read on VFRD someone give a raving review of the new Pirelli Angel GTs but since they have not had them for that long, mileage report hasn't come in yet. The only thing they had to say there, is that after 1k miles, they still look new.

 

I've had two pair of shit Dunlops, one being original with the bike new. Both did not impress me. Then to Michelin pr2's for two turns. Then to a set of pr3's because II used to freeways commute everyday round trip 100 miles about60% of the time in driving rain. But went back this last time to the pr2's. I am totally satisfied with both the 2's and 3's but when I bought my last set, the 3's were more. They did not perform any better that the 2's that I could feel. In theory, the extra tread should make them better in the rain, but I can say with certainty, I did not notice any difference at all. If they are the same price, get the 3's, otherwise get the cheaper of the two. The other tires, I just don't know. On average, I was getting 20K miles on a set of tires. Probably better on the Michelins and less on the Dunlops.

 

My local Honda dealer maintenance tech recommended Metzeler Sportec. Any users of the Metzeler??

 

+1 on the pirelli angel ST's.I got about 5500 miles out of the rear , and at about 6500 on the front now with a little cupping. Very good grip dry or wet.

 

I run the Metzler M5 on the VFR but the FJR came with the Dunlop garbage. Typical cupping on the front at aboot 30% wear and cant wait to toss some Metzler Z8's on.

 

What is cupping?

 

I'm running a pair of Metzler Z6's right now. They're ok I guess. You can really put the miles on them ( had over 15000Km on my Bandit1200 when I sold it & still had a lot of tread left). Decent enough in the rain.
I might try a set of PR 3's next.

 

Don't confuse cupping with spooning!

http://www.chinajnbook.com/cupping/intro.htm

On this sight, cupping has nothing to do with that either.

But if you Google "what is tire cupping, you get tons of information. My first two sets of tire, Dumplots, both cupped on the front quite bad. Buit I didn;t notice its effects until I brakes from freeway speed. Even my Michelin's cupped a bit on the front. There are many suspected reasons for the cause, none of which I have been able to associate with mine cupping.

 

I just got 9000km from the PR3's, the last 1000 they've been squirming lots in the dry and having to be really cautious in the wet. I was expecting more, dropping the bike off tomorrow to get PP2 ct's put on, hope I'll get the rest of the season with them, got them for a decent price. Curious about trying Metzler's?

 

Pirelli Rosso IIs - OK so the're considered Sports Street rather than Sports Touring but have been much happier with their Dry/Wet Vs wear balance than the Michelin Road 3's or Dunlop Q2's I had the previous 2 sets.

 

Anyone tried out the New Pilot Power 3's ?

Regarding the Rosso IIs:
Had really liked the wet / dry / predictably linear turn in of the Pirelli Rosso IIs but the front was getting scalloped ( no front end vibration though ) and the rear was due for a change with cord just starting to be visible, as I only got 4000 miles out of them on recommendation of my regular tire shop replaced the Rossos with the New Michelin Pilot Power 3's.

New Pilot Power 3's ?:
The Tire shop says they have had customers getting between 5300 and 7500 miles out of the PP3s, has anyone tried them out with an opinion on their handling and verify their lifespan on a VFR ?