Stickiest Tires Available ??

There was a time I was very hip to what the different tire compounds were, stickiness vs. tread life, comfort vs. speed etc.

My current quest is for the very stickiest tire compound available regardless of tread life. If tire life were not an issue and you wanted the best, most "sticky" tire what would you choose?

I would also like something that could be relied upon in the off chance I have to ride in the rain.

Help an old timer out here, what is THE hot tire selection nowadays?

 

You will probably end up with more assholes, I mean opinions, than you could wag a slick at.

I have chosen the Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa and I just mounted a brand new set today. This tire is the next iteration of a tire that I have used exclusively, the Diablo Corsa III. The reason I have done this is because my chassis setup, which I worked very hard on, is centered around this tire profile and I don't want to have to go through another 2 months of figuring out new geometry, also, they have very good grip levels damp or dry. Confidence inspiring grip levels. They aren't cheap, but nothing good ever is.

Various tests of this tire indicate that is even better than the old Corsa III, I guess I will have to wait and see. The Corsa III's were a very good supersport tire that benefitted from Pirelli being the sole tire provider to the World Superbike Series. Decent pedigree concerning the weight and power of a current WSBK machine.

As far as longevity, I have averaged 2500 miles on a rear and 2500 from a front after going through three rears and three fronts.




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What do you consider the ideal sizes for use? I have a 6th Gen..

 

20/70-17 Front, 180/55-17 Rear

 

So is a 180 the widest that will work on the rear?

 

You could go 190. It will pinch the tire. I have a 190/55 on my CBR, but it has a wider rear wheel than the VFR.

My personal preference is to keep to the stock tire sizes. Others feel differently and that's Ok.

 

Take Deadsmileys advice, it really messes up the available contact patch when you start wrecking the tire profile by pinching it over. I doubt you will ever have a problem with the 180 concerning traction and the power of a non massaged VFR.




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my experiences point me to a few specific tires.

Michelin Pilot Power 2CTs, Pilot Road 2CTs (on my friends RC51 right now) or almost any Pirelli. Dunlop qualifiers are VERY sticky tires as well. all the above are pretty race oriented, aside from the pilot roads, which are more focused on long life than anything. all 2CT compound tires are dual compound with a softer edge and harder center for longer life, idea for a VFR's general use.

 

I ran the Pilot Road 2 (2CT) in the track and it was just fine. (<==== see avatar) That would be pretty hard riding on the street.

The Pilot Road 3 is out now. I just bought another Road 2 for the rear. I figure the front will be ready to replace by the time I burn through another rear and then I will go with the Road 3's. Some of the guys I ride with (ZX-10 included) ran the Road 2 on the street and I could no way keep up with them, even on my 954. They now run the Road 3's.

For the CBR, I have run the Pilot Power 2CT with great success on the street and track. I got a set Dunlop Q2 for $199 shipped so I went with those this time. I think they are pretty awesome. I rode them before when I took a track riding school last year so I felt pretty good about them.

Lot's of good tires these days. If I was strictly street riding I would get a sport touring tire. I don't think you can out ride it on the street.

 

For mainly road but some track the new Dunlop Sportsmarts ( the Q2s replacement ) are supposed to be the best compromise between brilliant dry, good wet and a good life with a quick warm up times.

As for Road 3s DON'T they are a great Touring tire that are ok for sport riding but with an even squarer H profile than the R2s not so great through dry tight twisties find mine have a imprecise feeling teetering point rather than the nice linear turn in on the Q2s I had before them, they're magic in the wet though.

 

Deadsmiley hit the nail on the head. Don't waste your money buying a supersport tire for the street that will only last 3500 to 4000 miles. Sport touring tires have all the grip you need for the street, have a more comfortable ride, are better in the rain, and tend to last 6000 to 8000 miles at least.

 

I've had 5 different tires on my VFR's:

Dunlop D204 = TOTAL GARBAGE. I freaking hate Dunlop tires.

Continental Road Attack = Great tire up to the point I became a Sport Bike Coach. After that, they simply did not perform at the level I needed them too. In the rain, they were amazing.

Pirelli Diablo Corsa III = Phenominal. I actually think I had unicorns flying in formation with me when I rode. I loved them up to the point I got a sheet metal screw in the rear.

Bridgestone BattleAx BT-016 = Best bargain for a super sport tire. I have nothing bad to say other than I like the Pirelli's better. Much better.

Metzeler Sportec M3 = Good tire but not to my liking.


So, if you're looking for a tire that sticks like fly paper & don't care about longevity = Pirelli Diable Rosso Corsa.

If you're looking for a tire that sticks very, very good but want good mileage and rain traction = Continental Road Attack 2.

The Continentals will probably last about twice as long as the Pirelli's. This is where you need to be honest with yourself. Do you ride in a constant Casey Stoner imitation? If the answer is probably not, get the Continentals. I will go so far as to say this should be the OEM fitment for anything that isn't a full on super sport. BMW uses them as OEM on the K1300 & now the new K1600.

I fully admit I ride super aggressive. I currently have Metzeler M3's. I got a smoking deal on them, $175 for the set. I think I will just be able to squeak 5000 out of them. They are a good tire but I simply do not like them as much as the Pirelli's I used to run. I am switching back to Pirelli's by the end of August & I'm not switching back.

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

 

One terrible night out with Susan Boyle doesn't mean all English girls are bad.

 

Hey MAC good to see you still have the bike and see that you are still around.

Honestly, I agree with most selections above. Milage is no object but money is to me. I ride and love the Bridgestone BT-016 sticky as shit. Good bargin. There is a new one soon to be available. I think it will be called the BT-016 pro. It is a bit better in all areas than the standard BT-016 but he new pro is substantially better in wet.
I have been caught in two downpours with them not an issue. As long as you ride like it is raining.

Good luck with whatever you choose.