VFR tire experts needed

I have a 2005 with stock Dunlops
just laid 1700 kms on her this weekend Yeehaa
but now my tires are just about done.
I have another trip next week with that involves about 1500 km
and I think my tires will be completely done after that.....
dunlop tires are great and grippy but melt away to quickly.

I need expert advice to which tires I should get next..
I need:
- mileage
- performance in a wide variety of conditions from:
very wet to dry to gravel,
very hot to very cold,
straight to very hard lean
and of course from slow to VERY FAST hard mountian climbs>
- comfort factor?

Metzler ME Z4 seems like the best option so far??
or Bridgestone Battlax BT020 look alright??

Driving style:
- I ride FULLY LOADED 2up <350lbs +100lbs for gear approx>.
- Exposed to lots of rain where I'm from.
- Long distant windy sessions

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Hi Nevik001,

Not sure about their availability in Canada, but i have been running Mitchelin Pilot Roads (series 1 still on rear and now series 2 on the front). The Pilot Roads are the touring versions. I ride in similar conditions to those you have mentioned in your post. In my experience, the Pilot Roads have been outstanding in the wet, great for mileage and very good in the twisties. They will heat up and shed evenly with spirited riding, and yet still last the distance expected from modern touring tyres. The new series 2 i have on the front has softer compound sides and harder compound in the centre. The entire tread surface heats up very evenly, i am even more impressed with the grip and performance of this new version. They are not cheap (in australia anyway), but you get what you pay for.

For the company blurb, type in the following to google search "michelin pilot road 2 pdf"

stay upright

 

Hi mkbart. They sound like a really good combo tyre. What kind of dollars are they worth?

Thanks

 

hi the michelin pilot road2 work the best for me so far and in south africa we ride hard and far

 

ive got a set of metler Z6s and am thoroughly pleased with them. i wasn't comfortable the bt 020s, but these are great. with 2500 miles on them thier still going to be around awhile.

 

Try the "Conti Road Attack" as I have had great luck with them..Plenty of grip in the dry or wet roads and mileage I get out of them is high..

I now have 10,000 miles on the front tire and 3,600 on the rear tire ..My last rear tire lasted 6,800 miles.here is pics of rear tire and 1 pic of front..Date is wrong on pics /taken a couple days ago.

 

Just got back from a 400 mile day trip Monday running Avon Storms. The Avons performed well in a variety of conditions including dry, wet, torrential downpours, gravel, high speed, twisties(wet & dry), and interstate. The only time I had any loss of traction was an over eager downshift coming downhill into a switchback, and even that was predictible and gave me no concern of loss of control. I have 2000 miles on this set and they are finally showing some minor wear with other reviews saying to expect 6-9,000 miles out of a rear. IMHO the Avons are the perfect tire for an all weather all season VFR rider and a bargain at that, I ordered mine from http://motorcycleproshop.com/tires/avon/av5556_storm.asp and you can see a review at http://www.onewheeldrive.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=675&Itemid=130
Hope my opinion helps, Ride Safe!

 

Rear series 1 - $280
Front series 2 - $200

The series 2 are currently retailing for the same $ as the old series 1.

Stay upright

 

howdy,

i'm on my fourth set of tyres in ten months,

1st set gave my 10K klm Dunlop SportMax II

2nd set 16K klm Dunlop Roadsmarts - these have two compounds

3rd set 9K klm same tire - their first trip was a ride to Qld, long straight roads,
the rear was pretty much gone in the centre, the front lasted me another 1K, the centre was fine, it was the side were it wore past its wear indicators, [started folding back upon itself actually, dont know whether to be pleased or not ]

so i'm on my fourth set and once again I've gone with the Roadsmarts ;
these tyres are great in the wet. i've been caught in many showers and quite a few thunderstorms here in Canberra and without fail they've handled true;

they offer great grip and predictability when the roads are dry/wet allowing you to ride spiritedly :thumbsup: