VFR Discussion Group -> Help me pick my tires!

I've read through numerous threads here on tires with the single conlusion that I'm as indecisive as ever. :doh:

So help me pick my next set of tires for me.  Here's my situation:

- 2002 VFR
- Always ride my tires to the edge
- Only ride in the rain when I have to (ie. get caught in it).  So I don't ride in the rain often.
- I'll be running two rear wheels: one for sport riding, one for touring.
- I'll be running a sport compound on the front all the time.

Of the ones listed in the poll I have experience with the BT010s on my Busa.  I don't care for Metzeler at all (thus not listed).  I've heard that the Pilot Sports take a long time to warm up.  I've hear good and bad about the 207s.  Not enough info on the 208s.

Post your learnings for me.  Thanks!

I've only had experience with the D207's and they were great for sport riding, but if your gonna run two rear wheels I would go with the most aggresive tire for sport riding! :wheel:
D 208's I've heard good thing about this tire, they just don't last very long from what I've heard. Let us know what you get and why :idea:

I really liked my 020's.
The front did get cupped, but I got 6500 hard miles off the back.  I would use the 010 front.

By the way, I'll say it again  I really don't like these Avon ST's.
There are two carousel turns on my local road, and with the 020's, I could take them at 71, 72 mph and trying for more.
With the Avons, I'm chicken at 65 because the front tire feels so insecure. Boo.

Why the Bridgestones over the others?
Because I thought they worked very well, and they are cheap on top of it.

I'm not much help here as all my bikes over the last 15 years or so have always had (through choice) Bridgestones fitted. I guess I just trust the brand and feel confident when I'm riding on them. I know that there are no real "bad" tyres out there, but I suppose it's a mental thing. When my Vtec arrived at the house, the first thing I did was change the Dunlops for Bridgestones. That's how paranoid I am about my tyres.  :doh:

Smeghead, April 08 2003,15:54When my Vtec arrived at the house, the first thing I did was change the Dunlops for Bridgestones.

Smart move. Unless you're running sport tires (D207/D208) I dislike Dunlops and think they're crap.

D220 excepted because I haven't tried it yet.

Hav

So far ~2200 miles on my 208s - love em both in wet and dry. �These things have suction cups on the bottom of them. �Yes, pricy but given that they're the only thing between you and the pavement, I'd say well worth the price of admission.

Haven't tried the D220 but from others I've heard it holds up pretty well.

How're the 208s holding up wear wise?

UFO, April 08 2003,16:42How're the 208s holding up wear wise?

First of all, I'm probably not the best one to ask regarding tire wear.  My two previous sets of D204s and D207s both made it over 13,000 miles.  I've heard most others don't get that kind of tread life.  Cooler climate (similar to yours) means cooler roads means less wear.  Also I believe our road surfaces to be slightly differnt than yours (less abrasive).

As for the D208s...they're just starting to break in.  After a month of being locked away at the office, I finally got out and lost the strips when b'ham and GhostRider came up the other weekend.  Very confident inspiring grip on these suckers vs the two previous gen tires.  Again, cost wise they are pricier.  My set (bought at my shop) came to $498 CDN (includes taxes), or about $340 US.

I love the D208's. :D  They handle and stick so good.
The only downside is mileage. I tend to ride pretty hard, almost always in the dry, up in the canyons and twisties. My last set of 208ZR's lasted 3,000 miles front and 2,000 miles rear. No track days, just riding. Using the harder tire for touring is probably a good idea.  :goof:

CDN Interceptor, April 08 2003,18:43My set (bought at my shop) came to $498 CDN (includes taxes), or about $340 US.

:wow: Even average price mail order for a set is $200 US.  :wow:

Even average price mail order for a set is $200 US.

Don't forget the mounting and balancing. Shipping too maybe for mail order. In any case, KaChing.  :shake:

I had a set of Michelin Pilot Sports on my VFR and they turn out to be a poor choice for me.  They took a long time to warm up so early morning rides are always taken with caution.
The Pilot Sport rear was pointy shaped so the VFR banks over all by itself...

Then I switch to a set of Dunlop D207ZR's.  The rear is noticeably wider then the Pilot Sports.  They are more stable compare to the Pilots and wear very well.  However, they are a bit slippery in the wet.

I bought a set of Bridgestone BT010's a couple of months ago.  I have put about 1,500 miles on them.  They are simply the most fantastic tires I have had on my VFR.  Grip every where, whether dry or wet,  and warm up very quickly, so I can start having fun in no time at all.   They were also the lowest cost compare to the Pilots and D208/D207/D220 etc.

So, thumbs up for me for the 010's....just like the vote!

Plastics
95 VFR 750F (Red, of course!)

I have been buying my tires from Starcycle for almost 2 years, and they have raised their prices. I told the owner over the phone that I was a local, and he said the price was higher for walk-ins. I replied that he always gave me the internet price, and he responded that this year they plan on making some money, so 2 new Metzeler M1s cost me $260 otd including balancing and tax. The internet price including shipping was $230, so I guess it's not too bad. That works out to $212 for the tires, $17.49 for tax, and $30 for mounting and balancing. Not cheap, but that's the best I could do on short notice.  :D

Thanks for all the replies.  I think I've ruled out the Pilots.  Nearly everyone says they take too long to warm up, and that's bad living in the PNW.

I'm leaning towards the BT010 or D208 setups...I should probably just go for the BT010/BT020s.  I have experience with the BT010s and everyone says the 020s are a great ST tire.

I just ordered up the 010s and a 020 rear.  I almost went with the Dunlop combo just to try something different�but decided to play it safe with the excellent and trusty Bridgestones. :beer:

Can't wait to get my powdercoated 8 spoke rear back from the shop. :bow:

A bit late to help you UFO - but I am on my 2nd set of D208's and they are a great sticking tire (canyons/twistees - no rain experience though) EXCEPT for the low mileage.....I've been averaging 2600 miles on the rear and about 4500 on the front.  But, from what I've heard lately the M1's. B010's and other Sport performance tires - don't really do much better either.   The Sport Touring will give you more miles and the Dunlop 204's are a pretty good one for that.  Bones's '03 came with those and he rides agressively and they are holding up much better than the D208's - he will probably get double the miles out of the D204's compared to the D208's......

BTW I have been getting the D208's for $243.00 set (mounted) out the door.

Lewis - how are you liking the new M1's??  I'm going with either those or the Avon SP49 (front) / SP50 (rear) next.

I have BT020s front and back and love em. I am gonna go with the 010s next. I am tempted to get the 010s front and back but I don't want the back tire wasted after 3k miles.

the basic difference is the BT020's wear longer, and the BT010's are stickier?

trip.

In a nutshell...yes.

Interceptor, April 14 2003,15:29Lewis - how are you liking the new M1's?? �I'm going with either those or the Avon SP49 (front) / SP50 (rear) next.

I haven't even put 1 mile on the tires yet. I got them mounted Friday, and haven't ridden since. How much is HOPS selling the M1s for? They are slightly higher than the Dunlops. Starcycle have raised their prices on tires, so I will start looking for alternatives. Mail order is probably in my future and I will start mounting my own tires.  :p

I love my stock D204's.  So far I have 6200 miles on the rear but I plan on replacing it before heading to South Dakota in June.

UFO, April 14 2003,13:00I just ordered up the 010s and a 020 rear. �I almost went with the Dunlop combo just to try something different�but decided to play it safe with the excellent and trusty Bridgestones. :beer:

Can't wait to get my powdercoated 8 spoke rear back from the shop. :bow:

Where did you order the 010/020 from & how much? �I'm looking at either the 010/020 combo or the Dunlop 220's. �Thanks.

I rode the bike to work again today, and took my usual racetrack home (Bouquet Canyon). The new M1s are fantastic! I don't think I have ever been happier with a tire. The turn-in is quick, but doesn't fall into the turn. After working a full day and then riding in the cold, I almost got max lean out of the tires. Confidence galore! If these tires don't make you a better rider, than nothing will!~!! I guess you could say I like the tires! Now for the endurance test, more to come. :D  :wheel:  :beer:

I commute 110 miles a day and ride home through a section of Mountains at 3AM. The stock Metzler ME4's on my 2002 were fair but got a little slippery when it was cold or wet. They reminded me of the Bridgestone 020's on my last bike (ZR7S). The ME4's lasted 9000 miles. I replaced the ME4's with Dunlap 208ZR's ($210.00 at Cycle gear in San Jose) and what a difference. These things stick like glue as soon as I leave the garage. These tires don't need any warm up and they changed the VFR into a new bike begging you to put it down to the pegs in the turns. The down side is they don't look like they are going to last long. I've got 4000 miles on them now and maybe I'll get another 1000. I commute 2000 miles a month year round so maybe I'll have to try the Bridgestone 010's next time and see how long they last. From the posts I've read on them they sound like a good tire.

ss167m, April 19 2003,02:32I replaced the ME4's with Dunlap 208ZR's. These things stick like glue as soon as I leave the garage. These tires don't need any warm up and they changed the VFR into a new bike begging you to put it down to the pegs in the turns. The down side is they don't look like they are going to last long.

I have had 3 sets of the Dunlop D208ZRs and was extremely happy with the performance. The only down side is the rapid wear rate. This is why I tried the M1s this time. If they last 3,000 miles I will keep buying them. Only got between 2,000 and 2,800 on the Dunies. How do you like the way the 208s fall into a turn? Probably a little spooky the first time after coming off the Z4s?  :D

Man, I don't know how some of you guys are getting the kind of mieage that you talk about with 204's?
I've got about 3300 on the rear and it's about ready to go :shake:
To answer the inevitable questions: I am religious about my tire pressures. Check atleast once a week. Running 36/42. Maybe I should check less :P
I have to admit that I've
never really gotten good mileage out of any set of Dunlops on any back that I've had them on. 3300 miles on a so called Sport touring tire?, that's rediculous. That's not a whole lot more than people are getting on the 208's.
And I am not THAT aggressive on these things.
POS 204's.  
How in the heck are you guys getting good mileage out of these tires?????????????
Going to order 010/020 combo and hope to do better.

ULEWZ, April 19 2003,09:17

ss167m, April 19 2003,02:32I replaced the ME4's with Dunlap 208ZR's. These things stick like glue as soon as I leave the garage. These tires don't need any warm up and they changed the VFR into a new bike begging you to put it down to the pegs in the turns. The down side is they don't look like they are going to last long.

I have had 3 sets of the Dunlop D208ZRs and was extremely happy with the performance. The only down side is the rapid wear rate. This is why I tried the M1s this time. If they last 3,000 miles I will keep buying them. Only got between 2,000 and 2,800 on the Dunies. How do you like the way the 208s fall into a turn? Probably a little spooky the first time after coming off the Z4s? �:D

Yep-the first time you experience the D208ZR fall in after being used to the ME4's you wonder just what the heck was that. Then after a few turns you realize it's supposed to do that and after a few more you start throwing the VFR down every chance you can just for the fun of it.

These are great tires but I still don't know if I want to keep buying new tires every 2 mos so I think I'll have to try the M1-s or the 010's next month....

Pulled my wheels off this weekend and took them to a dealer to have the BT010s and BT020 mounted.  I'm always amazed at how different a bike feels after putting on new shoes.  The MEZ4s were so tired�and craptastic.  Good riddance!!!

I have been riding with a couple of guys who have the OEM Metz MEZ4, they get the tire scrubbed all the way to the edge but dont come near the pegs?  Just how far do you have to lean the thing?  Not a big enough profile I guess.  Craig said they slip on him, I am just thinking they dont have as much profile as the Bridgestones to lean it over, or the Dunlop 208's.  

I sort of shift my wieght and hang off slightly so I dont get all the way leaned over lately I have about a 1/4 inch on my rear and a bunch on my front. I am not too far off the wheel of those guys, I hang back a bit to avoid a double spill.

I noticed the MEZ4 has a shallower profile than the Bridgestones too.

Miguel - good question - I lean edge to edge on my 208's and don't even get close to scraping the peg feelers....the '02 seems to have pretty good clearence.  Although, my boots do scrape sometimes on the outer edges - but I have never scraped a peg....go figure!

Edge to edge on the Z4s, never scraped anything�but I removed the peg feelers long ago.  I didn't care for the way the tires wore.  I think I posted a thread about it last fall.