Hunting For Good Tires

I do a lot of highway riding back and forth to school. 500+ miles a week to be exact. but on the weekends, i try to get on the winding backroads and enjoy myself. I love my bike. I need a new front tire(currently have the metzler z6). On the hind-end I'm running the Continental Contiforce. I think that my rear is to wide. It is a 170/60/17, and it seems that there is about 2 inches on each side of the tire that don't get used(I am not a very agressive rider in the corners and more than likely never will be). the highway back and forth to school is an interstate, so the center of my tire takes the brunt of pain. Just looking for some good pointers on where I can find some tires online and what a really good back tire for the interstate is. Thanks in advance for any replies.

As far as strictly commuting, the D220 did last me quite a while. I'm pretty sure it lasted me at least 10k miles. Bought the bike at 8k, replaced the rear around 10-12k, and I just replaced it at 22k. And while you're not going to be going fast through the curves with them, they will do alright. But pricewise there should be something better out there, and I would recommend getting that other tire.

I don't have a suggestion for which tire you should run for your application, but as far as where to buy them online, I just had a pretty positive experience with Dennis Kirk. They had the best price on every tire I was considering by a healthy margin, even beating out my "I know a guy" Guy. Shipping used to be free, but now it's $5 per tire on tires specifically...still a pretty good deal.

Tomahawk T3 Sport Mile Compound

Shinko Raven 009

Both of these are about $145/set and should be more than sufficient based on the description of your riding you provided.

You might also check out the local club racer set - often these guys have street tires with low mileage they don't want at bargain prices. I bought a set of Dunlop Qualifiers for $100, along with 2 Bridgestone BT-014 rear tires and a BT-014 front tire for $200 recently. All with only a few hundred km on them. Should be even cheaper in the US, as new tire prices are ridiculous here.

Michelien Power Roads would be a good bet.

Thanks for the quick replies. I will give a good look at all of these options. It seems that the michelin has the best reviews all around from every website that I have seen, but I will look at the others as well. Anybody have any thoughts on an o-ring chain? Where to get one? How much to expect? Are they the best way to go chain wise?


thanks, E :laugh:

[image: View Post]Gap Trash, on Jun 23 2009, 09:46 PM, said:

Michelien Power Roads would be a good bet.

He means Pilot Road 2's. :blush:

[image: View Post]pearlwhite93, on Jun 24 2009, 07:49 AM, said:

Thanks for the quick replies. I will give a good look at all of these options. It seems that the michelin has the best reviews all around from every website that I have seen, but I will look at the others as well. Anybody have any thoughts on an o-ring chain? Where to get one? How much to expect? Are they the best way to go chain wise?


thanks, E :laugh:

Use the search function on chain & sprockets(or anything) works great and there's usually a dozen threads on the same subject! :blush:

Well, as for the tire situation, today I got out on the Freeway and might front end went into a serious vibration/wabble. I immediately got to the shoulder to see what was up. It appears that my metzler z6 has had it. It looks like all of the belts in it have broken down(at least thats the conclusion that I have come to). I putted it on in to my pops shop about 5 more miles. I'll be ordering something new this week. I was fixing to tear it apart tommorrow anyways to put on a new rear rotor and brakes, but now I can start tonight. Had another guy look at my chain today, says that it is ok. I'm not sure what the heck to think. :dry:

[image: View Post]pearlwhite93, on Jun 23 2009, 04:09 AM, said:

I think that my rear is to wide. It is a 170/60/17,
It is a 5.5" rim, a 170 or 180 rear is what you need.
:+1: on the Pilot Road 2

[image: View Post]pearlwhite93, on Jun 24 2009, 05:23 PM, said:

Well, as for the tire situation, today I got out on the Freeway and might front end went into a serious vibration/wabble. I immediately got to the shoulder to see what was up. It appears that my metzler z6 has had it. It looks like all of the belts in it have broken down(at least thats the conclusion that I have come to). I putted it on in to my pops shop about 5 more miles. I'll be ordering something new this week. I was fixing to tear it apart tommorrow anyways to put on a new rear rotor and brakes, but now I can start tonight. Had another guy look at my chain today, says that it is ok. I'm not sure what the heck to think. :dry:


On chains, seeing the Red dust of Death is a tell tail sign of a toasted chain, the red dust starts appearing as the lube built into the chain(between O-rings) dry and it's metal to metal.
look for wear on sprocket teeth.

Not to start a war or anything, but on the Chain issue...I'd always heard that O-ring chains were a mistake...that X-ring are far superior, and that even plain ole NON O-ring chains last as long if you lube them regularly.

Just my two cents, but if you do need a new chain, I'd think about something other than an O-ring one.

I have a 97 with a 5in wheel and use a 170 tire. Go with the Dunlop Roadsmarts or PR2's. Roadsmarts will be a lil bit cheaper

Vince

well, as impatient as I am, I went ahead and ordered the PR2 for the rear and the Shinko 009 for the front. they will be here early next week, can't wait to get them on and break them in. I will do somemore research on the chain. I can't explain how invaluable all of the replies have been. This is my first bike and I want to keep everything in good running order so that I can stay safe. After all, that is the point right?


Eric

Pilot rear and Shinko front :laugh: Gentlemen, break out the shishkebab...