Poll: Sport touring tires

Sport touring tires

I'm going to get new tires for my 5th gen next week, wanted to do a poll of riders using sport touring tires. So, guys, those of you that have experience with sport touring tires on your VFRs, please submit your responses.

Many thanks,
PC

 

I'm running the road attacks right now without no real complaints, they have never really let me down at maximum lean angle and I generally get 5,000 out of my rear and 9,000 on the front. I might be able to get a little more mileage but I generally run around 33.5 psi when the real riding season starts. The only complaint I have is a slight coast down wobble that I need to get rid of, I'm going to go with tapered bearing first and if that doesn't get rid of the low speed wobble I'm going to give the Corsa lll a try...

 

R-dub, thanks for the input. Appreciate it, buddy. I get the slight coast-down wobble, too...my understanding was that it was common to all VFRs when the tire gets some amount of wear on it, that is, you don't get it when tires are brand new, but as soon as the rear starts to get some wear, it returns. When you say tapered bearings are you referring to tapered roller bearings for the steering head?

 

I am referring to the tapered roller bearings for the steering head, the low speed shake is a known weakness for the 5g but everyone who has tried the tapered roller bearings has had at least better feedback. I still had the shake even when my Conti's were brand new on the front and back, so if the bearings don't take care of it, I'm going to give the Corsa lll a shot...



http://vfrworld.com/forums/mechanics-garage/3795-tapered-roller-bearings.html

http://vfrworld.com/forums/fifth-ge...d-roller-steering-head-bearings.html#post2988

 

I really like my Avon Storm ST tires. They are great all around tires. The Avon tires are great in rain and groved roads and traction on different road surfaces is excellent. I ride year round up here in NYC and I go all over during the winter (going to Boston today - was in Philly and NJ last weekend). The Avon tires warm up quiclky and great traction when I lay it down in turns. The Avon tires also carry a Road Hazzard warranty (for punctures) and I had no problem with a replacement when I got a screw in my rear tire. I originally had Bridgestone tires on my bike and did not like them at all because they did not work for me (lousy traction in rain - very unsteady on grated briges and groved roads). I like Metzeler also and the Diablo tires are also consideration for me. The road hazzard warranty on the Avon tires was the determining factor for me. I would definately buy them again. The Avon tires seem to wear very well (great in turns and great on twisties). I ride with guys who have a GSXR1000 and a Kawi ZX10. I can keep up by attacking the curves with full confindence. I love my Avon tires, but think the Diablos may be better for occasional trackdays. Not knocking any other tires.

 

I'm running the Pirelli Diablo on the front and a Diablo Rosso on the rear (just over 100 miles now on the rear). So far I'm liking them a lot, but it's much too early to tell how much mileage I'll get out of the Rosso. Most of my riding is commuting to work (5 miles) and some kind of "playing" on the weekends. This weekend I'll be heading out to Tortilla Flat's excellent twisties to give that rear tire a little workout.

 

I'm supprised the very best ST tyres available the new Michelin Road 2's aren't listed, just swapped my 5th set of Pilot Powers for Road 2's last weekend and after 3 days & 1000 miles of damp slippery twisties, very wet slippery twisties followed by some finally dry very tight twisties and high speed country road sweepers can only say how amazingly brilliant they are ...Apologies in advance for my unreserved gushing. :redface:

 

The z6's are pretty good for a sport touring tire.

Especially once they are warmed up.

BZ

 

For me, I do not want to skimp out on traction when comes to selecting tires. I would rather wear out a set or two of higher performance tires than use a higher mileage tires that do not offer the amount effective traction that I seek when roads conditions change.

I have used Metzeler Sportec's and found them to be effective for sport touring across the US. My last tour, I used with surprising results was Michelin Pilot Power over 4300 in ten days. Being shocked about the Powers longevity, I was really impressed with grip during the many harsh down-pour of rain.

I am still open minded about tires and yes, I have tried some that I will never use again that some people will swear by as being fantastic tires.

To each their own....

 

Edited some of your comment for my purpose,

But on what you said above, I don't understand why you don't use the Dunlop 616's

Hands down magazine & I can attest the best all weather high traction tyres made for ST's & naked bikes, with the only flaw of not being a high mileage tyre.
But as to your comment that doesn't matter & honestly I have to agree with that thought.
reason is, I prefer the rubber on the ground than the bike or me !:biggrin:

Closest tyre to the 616's is the Conti Road Attacks with great grip in dry weather (just as good as the 616's) & great wet weather traction but of course not in the same league as the 616's as well as the other manu's tyres for the wet stuff (this is where the 616's shine, as they grip about 90% as good in the wet stuff as Race rains do w/o the quick wear).

I've run the Dun's, Conti's pirellis, Chlins, & the Metz's, & can honestly rate them in that order for a ST tyres.

Remember I ride year round including many instances in rain & snow (not ice, I'm not that dumb) & put on as many miles on a bike in a year to what most people do in a life time.

Now if Dunlop just made the 616's in smaller rear sizes in 160 & 170's, I'd use them on my smaller rimed bikes ( SM's & Hawk, Saber, ect )

 

Every year, tire manufactors come out with "more improved" tires to inspire sales and ratings. It is hard to ride them all. Most people that find a good set of tires, will most likely buy another set when they wear theirs out. Just like wearing your favorite shoes, it is hard to try something else when your happy with what you are using.

I am sure there are some wonderful tires from all manufactors. Tire shape, construction, and rubber matrix which greatly affects the handling. There are tires for every type of riders.

 

Anyone see this review - intersting even mentions the VFR.

http://www.motorcycle.com/products/dunlop-roadsmart-tire-review-75375.html

 

Not on the list, but Im using the Michelin Pilot Road 2 and so far so good.

 

Thanks for the input, everyone. Didn't put the PR2 in the poll because at the time I didn't know it was an ST tire. Thanks Emon for the article on the new Dunlop. I am sure they are good, but I've never been a big fan of Dunlops. I've always liked Metzelers better. We'll see how the poll turns out. Road Rider in San Jose had a set of Avons Storm STs and I have read great things about them, so I may get those because they are available.

 

Just got new tires for the bike tonight. Based on John's comments here and what I have read online, I went for the Michelin Pilot Road 2's. It was between them and the Avon Storm STs; the price was pretty close on both tires, the Michelins were only $20 more per tire. I picked up both at the same time, and the Michelins were lighter, so I went with those. Will post a report on my impressions with them over the next few days after I get the wheels on the bike tonight.

Later,
PC

 

Based on other local riders that have had them for a while now and still rave about them and speaking to my local tyre place that fitted them their feedback including high milage repeaters has been all good and you should like them wet or dry. The only problem the shop reported was a corresponding drop in the sports based Pilot Power and Sportec M3 sales.

 

One tire and one tire only has worked very well for me Pirelli

Damn threads like this can cause so much trouble :wink:

 

PR2's- can't complain, once, much improvement over stock tires.

 

Well, the wheels are back on. While the front wheel was off, I took this excellent opportunity to install a fresh set of brake pads as the fronts were getting pretty thin. Also took the opportunity to clean the calipers with Brakleen, popped the new pads in, and torqued the pad pin to 13 ft-lbs. While the front tire was off, I also loosened up the bolts in the triple tree, took off clip-ons, and raised the forks in the triples 3mm from the stock 41 mm height. The fork tube ends now sit at 44 mm. This was to compensate for the front end being raised considerably from the higher rate fork springs. Dan Kyle recommended going in 2 mm increments, but I went a bit cavalier (what can I say, "I'm a wild and crazy guy..."-Steve Martin) and raised them 1 mm more to 3 mm as my buddy noticed when riding the bike back from Dan's shop that the front end was pretty high as the headlight was "aimed at the moon" (his language). I spent a lot of time with a micrometer checking that both the fork tubes were at 44 mm above the top triple. Torqued the triple tree and clip-on bolts to spec, and once that was done, got the front wheel mounted up. While the rear wheel was out, I also took the opportunity to use some good ole Honda cleaner on the wheel, and also cleaned the inside and top of the swingarm and stock muffler. A little Brakleen strategically applied took care of any caked on and dried bits of chain lube. Mounted up the rear wheel, and torqued the lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs. Funny thing, my '86 CRX Si had 4 bolt wheels, the same lug nuts, and also used a torque spec of 80 ft-lbs....some things never change.

So, the new tires look really nice. I checked and re-checked my torque specs on all fasteners, connected the horn, and the bike is now all buttoned up and ready to roll....commute ride report tomorrow.