The tires on my VFR are from 2007, which put them 7 years old, and after 5 years you are risking it riding on dry tires. Some people like to take this chance, I don't considering how cheap it is to buy new tires.
On my '07 VFR800, I had ContiRoadAttack 2s, which were fantastic. Only problem is these have gone up in price a lot since i last purchased them, so I'm not as eager to buy them again.
Bridgestone now has the S20 which seems to be a hypersport street tire, like the RoadAttack 2s. Has anyone used these? I have read that these have a very short tread life, however.
I also see the new Bridgestone BT-023s, which seem to be well rated, but When I think of Bridgestone sport touring tires, I remember the BT-020s that were on my Triumph Sprint ST, and they were horrible tires. I'm sure these have improved a lot since 2006, however.
And of course there are the Michelin Pilot Road 2, 3, and now 4 tires. I don't need super wet grip, as the only time I ride in the rain is if I get stuck in it, so picking up the Road 2s at a good price may also be something I'd consider.
Any other tires I'm missing?
- Anthony
Pirellies and Metzlers are great tires as well depending on how hard you ride the bike , also don't discount some off brands like Maxiss very good all round tires for the price .
If you have 7 year old tires you must not put on a lot of miles. In that case, maybe you can tolerate a low mileage pure sport tire like the S20 since sport touring tires may age out before they wear out. However, if you plan to ride more, definitely go sport touring. I really like the Bridgestone BT-023. I'm currently running the Angel GT and like them as well, but withholding judgement until I see what kind of mileage I get. I prefer both of these over the Road 2, but I haven't tried the newer Michelin sport touring tires.
Glad you brought this up actually, as my '07 needs new tires as well I noticed today. I currently have Pilot Road 3s on it, but since I bought the bike used I have no idea how many miles are on them.
Not to hijack this thread, but personally I am most concerned with high mileage above all else. I'd pay more if I got more miles.
Oh....answer me this if you can: can I put a 170/60 ZR17 on my rear wheel that currently runs a 180/55 ZR17? I have a 170/60 unused on the shelf.
EarthshakeIf you have 7 year old tires you must not put on a lot of miles. In that case, maybe you can tolerate a low mileage pure sport tire like the S20 since sport touring tires may age out before they wear out. However, if you plan to ride more, definitely go sport touring. I really like the Bridgestone BT-023. I'm currently running the Angel GT and like them as well, but withholding judgement until I see what kind of mileage I get. I prefer both of these over the Road 2, but I haven't tried the newer Michelin sport touring tires.
I probably should have clarified. These tires on the bike were replaced by the original owner back in 07 and he put about 1000 miles on them only. As such, they sat a lot and the front tire is badly flat spotted.
I usually ride 2-3k a year, so super high mileage isn't that important, but I don't want anything that will wear out in 3k miles.
How long did you run the BT-023s?
wgregt
Glad you brought this up actually, as my '07 needs new tires as well I noticed today. I currently have Pilot Road 3s on it, but since I bought the bike used I have no idea how many miles are on them.
Not to hijack this thread, but personally I am most concerned with high mileage above all else. I'd pay more if I got more miles.
Oh....answer me this if you can: can I put a 170/60 ZR17 on my rear wheel that currently runs a 180/55 ZR17? I have a 170/60 unused on the shelf.
Theory says you can run any tire size you want that will fit on your rim, but the way it sits on the rim may affect the handling, sometimes it sharpens things up, other times it slows things down. I would imagine the narrower width of the 170/60 on th rear would mean you would reach the edge of your tire much sooner than the 180/55 when leaned over. How this feels to you May or may not be an issue. My Duc came with a 170 on the rear but now I run a 180 and I really can't tell much of a difference in handling.
I am also shopping. what shall I put on the RC51? (of course the most expensive size in all brands is what I need: 190/55/17)
Thinking Pilot Power 4
I don't that've much experience with different tires except the OE dunlops & the metzler m5's. I really disliked the dunlops. I love the m5's. I only have a little over 1k on them but there great.
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Edited February 26, 2014 by Grayv3I thought the RC51 was stock with 190/50 size (like my FZ1)? Do you like the taller rear for better turn in?
timmythecop
I am also shopping. what shall I put on the RC51? (of course the most expensive size in all brands is what I need: 190/55/17)
Thinking Pilot Power 4
adg44How long did you run the BT-023s?
Here is a summary of tire life of the various tires I've used on my Multistrada. I was getting similar mileage on the VFR.
PR2: I wore through two sets with front and rear wearing evenly. First set gave me 3,400 miles and second set 2,800 miles.
While I am normally a fan of Michelin, on the Multi they start to feel a little greasy to me in the last few hundred miles.
BT-023: I wore through two rear tires and one front. Rear tires gave 2,500 to 2,900 miles. Front gave 4,000 miles.
I really liked the BT-023, they gave consistent feel throughout the life of the tire[image: icon1.png].
S20: I wore through two sets. Rear tires gave 1,400 to 1,600 miles. Fronts gave 1,800 to 1,900 miles.
A good tire, but too short a life. Granted, it's a sport[image: icon1.png] tire instead of sport-touring, but the extra grip is not worth the reduced mileage for me.
Angel GT: Currently running and they feel as good or better to me than the BT-023. We will see how they fare over the life of the tire. I currently have approximately 2,000 miles and they are showing wear. Will probably last similar to the BT-023.
Dunlop Q3. Made in 'Merica!
tcooperDunlop Q3. Made in 'Merica!
This is a sport only tire and might be great for "play time" but not sure for sport touring. What kind of mileage have you got out of them or currently getting. I had the Q2 on my Duc and they barely lasted 3K miles, had great grip though!
timmythecop
I am also shopping. what shall I put on the RC51? (of course the most expensive size in all brands is what I need: 190/55/17)
Thinking Pilot Power 4
I tried the Bridgestone BT 003's on my CBR when they first came out. I loved them, also ran them at the track and they slide and spin up very predictable. A friend was running them last year at Jennings on his RC 51 and loved them. Had decent lap times.
Duc2V4
tcooperDunlop Q3. Made in 'Merica!
This is a sport only tire and might be great for "play time" but not sure for sport touring. What kind of mileage have you got out of them or currently getting. I had the Q2 on my Duc and they barely lasted 3K miles, had great grip though!
Mileage can vary a lot depending on your riding style and what pressures you keep them at. I can't say for sure how many miles are on my Q3's (they were on it when I got the bike) but I've put about 3k on them so far and there's still plenty of tire left. The way it's going, I expect another 3-4k at least out of the rear. A lot of my miles are commuting at the max recommended 42psi and a couple weekends lower around 36psi.
OP is not putting a lot of miles on his tires anyway, and the Q3's have great grip, stability, decent wear, are great in the wet (if he gets caught), warm up quick, etc. They're also trusted by the YCRS for all of their bikes, which is not only a testament to performance, but also to their cost effectiveness.
tcooper
Duc2V4
tcooperDunlop Q3. Made in 'Merica!
This is a sport only tire and might be great for "play time" but not sure for sport touring. What kind of mileage have you got out of them or currently getting. I had the Q2 on my Duc and they barely lasted 3K miles, had great grip though!
Mileage can vary a lot depending on your riding style and what pressures you keep them at. I can't say for sure how many miles are on my Q3's (they were on it when I got the bike) but I've put about 3k on them so far and there's still plenty of tire left. The way it's going, I expect another 3-4k at least out of the rear. A lot of my miles are commuting at the max recommended 42psi and a couple weekends lower around 36psi.
OP is not putting a lot of miles on his tires anyway, and the Q3's have great grip, stability, decent wear, are great in the wet (if he gets caught), warm up quick, etc. They're also trusted by the YCRS for all of their bikes, which is not only a testament to performance, but also to their cost effectiveness.
Wow , perfect timing guys, shop just called -out of P3 set , but offered a new Q3 for rear knocked 40.00 off and thru in install . Jumped on it based on what you mentioned , thumbs up.
So I can get the BT-023 for $239 shipped through Amazon sold by motorcycle superstore, I think I may just do that. Pilot Road 4s seem nice but are considerably more expensive. It's also a Japanese bike so I should put Japanese tires on it. ;)
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The consensus of RC51 guys is the height is good. 190/55 wasn't an option in 2001, so it came with a 50 profile. Some go with a 180/55, but it isn't optimal
I have a set of Q3's on my cbr and I really like them. The rear only last about 1500 miles but I did two track days on them. One of them be Talladega which is super abrasive.
I have road 3s on the VFR and my next set will be Q3's. They're super light and turn in and traction is great.
Edited February 26, 2014 by MeyekulBayrdEarthshake
adg44How long did you run the BT-023s?
Here is a summary of tire life of the various tires I've used on my Multistrada. I was getting similar mileage on the VFR.
PR2: I wore through two sets with front and rear wearing evenly. First set gave me 3,400 miles and second set 2,800 miles.
While I am normally a fan of Michelin, on the Multi they start to feel a little greasy to me in the last few hundred miles.
BT-023: I wore through two rear tires and one front. Rear tires gave 2,500 to 2,900 miles. Front gave 4,000 miles.
I really liked the BT-023, they gave consistent feel throughout the life of the tire[image: icon1.png].
S20: I wore through two sets. Rear tires gave 1,400 to 1,600 miles. Fronts gave 1,800 to 1,900 miles.
A good tire, but too short a life. Granted, it's a sport[image: icon1.png] tire instead of sport-touring, but the extra grip is not worth the reduced mileage for me.
Angel GT: Currently running and they feel as good or better to me than the BT-023. We will see how they fare over the life of the tire. I currently have approximately 2,000 miles and they are showing wear. Will probably last similar to the BT-023.
Similar to what I have found for each model listed Bill though I never got used to the 023's lack of grip after I tried the S20s. I was most impressed with the Angel GTs and I eventually hit just over 3K with them but they did feel a little strange after 2,500 miles. Just to see if it was me I did one semi-crazy Dragon run on them at 3K and they didn't throw me off the mountain so I give the Angel GTs my top sport-tour rating of all the tires i have tried. To me they have better grip and wear than anything else.
I don't rate the 023's with the rest because I figured they lasted only because they didn't grip well enough to really stress the rubber. I never did try the 023 GTs which may have been better for the big boned VFR. I tried the new T30s last month in Florida and they felt an order of magnitude improved over the 023's. I was the only one not slipping on wet roads. I will be giving them a proper mountain test soon but I have to wear out this stack of M5s I picked up last year. (great steering sport tire on the VFR btw)
KEB
And for the record my only issue with Michelin tires is they only work well for about 75% of their service life. They just stop sticking when they get down near the wear bars. They slide really well which makes them fun and they never get dangerous they just force me to slow down which is not really that bad...until I'm chasing Matt down some Gawdforesaken goat trail someplace.
KEB
Sorry to hijack this thread , I need a new front tire not had my vfr long so need some advise I put a pr2 on the rear & was wandering should I put the same on the front or is there a better option ? I want something that will last thanks lads ps I live in so cal , don't ride in the rain so wet grip is not important
PeterConnorSorry to hijack this thread , I need a new front tire not had my vfr long so need some advise I put a pr2 on the rear & was wandering should I put the same on the front or is there a better option ? I want something that will last thanks lads ps I live in so cal , don't ride in the rain so wet grip is not important
I'd go with a PR2 if you're mostly doing commuting/touring, but if you like to dice it up maybe the Michelin PP3, that's what I have on my 6 Gen and I like the way it feels. I had a PR2 set on there before and got over 10K miles out of them, so I'm hoping to get at least the same out of the rear tire this time, we'll see how the PP3 last. It's supposedly an 85/15 (Meaning street/track percentage)
PeterConnorSorry to hijack this thread , I need a new front tire not had my vfr long so need some advise I put a pr2 on the rear & was wandering should I put the same on the front or is there a better option ? I want something that will last thanks lads ps I live in so cal , don't ride in the rain so wet grip is not important
A lot, and I mean a LOT of us ran the PR2 rear and pilot power front with very favorable results on the VFR. I wouldn't hesitate at all to go this route.
Duc2V4
PeterConnorSorry to hijack this thread , I need a new front tire not had my vfr long so need some advise I put a pr2 on the rear & was wandering should I put the same on the front or is there a better option ? I want something that will last thanks lads ps I live in so cal , don't ride in the rain so wet grip is not important
I'd go with a PR2 if you're mostly doing commuting/touring, but if you like to dice it up maybe the Michelin PP3, that's what I have on my 6 Gen and I like the way it feels. I had a PR2 set on there before and got over 10K miles out of them, so I'm hoping to get at least the same out of the rear tire this time, we'll see how the PP3 last. It's supposedly an 85/15 (Meaning street/track percentage)
:ohmy: 10K miles. How does anyone get that many miles out of a motorcycle tire? I"m lucky to get over 4K miles. Am I doing something wrong?
^^ Yeah Jeff, you and I are having too much fun for our tires to last 10,000 miles. :wink:
JeffInFranklinTN
Duc2V4
PeterConnorSorry to hijack this thread , I need a new front tire not had my vfr long so need some advise I put a pr2 on the rear & was wandering should I put the same on the front or is there a better option ? I want something that will last thanks lads ps I live in so cal , don't ride in the rain so wet grip is not important
I'd go with a PR2 if you're mostly doing commuting/touring, but if you like to dice it up maybe the Michelin PP3, that's what I have on my 6 Gen and I like the way it feels. I had a PR2 set on there before and got over 10K miles out of them, so I'm hoping to get at least the same out of the rear tire this time, we'll see how the PP3 last. It's supposedly an 85/15 (Meaning street/track percentage)
:ohmy: 10K miles. How does anyone get that many miles out of a motorcycle tire? I"m lucky to get over 4K miles. Am I doing something wrong?
In contrast I barely got 3K out my Dunlop Q2s! Most of the miles were slab, LA/OC traffic etc, so not a lot of "fun" miles. Yes, there were some, but not enough to make a significant impact on tread life.
CornerCarver^^ Yeah Jeff, you and I are having too much fun for our tires to last 10,000 miles. :wink:
LOL Over doing it with the engine braking I guess? I didn't think I was having as much "fun" as most folks I know. I consider myself scared and afraid of killing myself..... :goofy:
wgregtOh....answer me this if you can: can I put a 170/60 ZR17 on my rear wheel that currently runs a 180/55 ZR17? I have a 170/60 unused on the shelf.
Sounds like it's OK to use my 170/60 Dunlop D208 on the rear....any issues with putting a new Dunlop on the front? Any model Dunlop OK, I'm guessing? (Just trying to keep the brand the same in case there are handling issues...I'm assuming any Dunlop would be fine?)
Earthshake
PeterConnorSorry to hijack this thread , I need a new front tire not had my vfr long so need some advise I put a pr2 on the rear & was wandering should I put the same on the front or is there a better option ? I want something that will last thanks lads ps I live in so cal , don't ride in the rain so wet grip is not important
A lot, and I mean a LOT of us ran the PR2 rear and pilot power front with very favorable results on the VFR. I wouldn't hesitate at all to go this route.
That is what is on my 5th gen right now.
So if we are talking about hypersport tires like the S20, has anyone used the Pilot Power 3s?
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adg44
So if we are talking about hypersport tires like the S20, has anyone used the Pilot Power 3s?
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I'm sure there are others who have who will chime in, but I have PP3 f/r on my '01 and Duc. I have PP3 front and PR2 rear on my '09. So far I am happy with their performance on all 3 bikes. That being said, others have said that near the end of tread life, they become "oily". I still have a ways to go before I can say I have witnessed the same thing.
adg44
So if we are talking about hypersport tires like the S20, has anyone used the Pilot Power 3s?
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Have used both and the PP3 front has about 1 1/2" of shoulder with no siping. In the wet this was a direct contributor to a spill I witnessed (along with touching the yellow line at a moderate lean angle).
I think the S20 is superior in every way and I am a Michelin Man (not that I look like Bibendum).
The whole "good in the rain" thing I ignore on all the tire selling sites I see. I just don't ride that week.
wgregtThe whole "good in the rain" thing I ignore on all the tire selling sites I see. I just don't ride that week.
Sometimes when you are on a trip 500 or 1,000 miles from home, that isn't possible. I agree about commuting though, if it is raining, I just drive.
adg44
The tires on my VFR are from 2007, which put them 7 years old, and after 5 years you are risking it riding on dry tires. Some people like to take this chance, I don't considering how cheap it is to buy new tires.
On my '07 VFR800, I had ContiRoadAttack 2s, which were fantastic. Only problem is these have gone up in price a lot since i last purchased them, so I'm not as eager to buy them again.
Bridgestone now has the S20 which seems to be a hypersport street tire, like the RoadAttack 2s. Has anyone used these? I have read that these have a very short tread life, however.
I also see the new Bridgestone BT-023s, which seem to be well rated, but When I think of Bridgestone sport touring tires, I remember the BT-020s that were on my Triumph Sprint ST, and they were horrible tires. I'm sure these have improved a lot since 2006, however.
And of course there are the Michelin Pilot Road 2, 3, and now 4 tires. I don't need super wet grip, as the only time I ride in the rain is if I get stuck in it, so picking up the Road 2s at a good price may also be something I'd consider.
Any other tires I'm missing?
- Anthony
Anthony, besides the price deal w the Conti's do you have any other complaints? I have had my eyes on those for my next set.
Running a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
vfr350Anthony, besides the price deal w the Conti's do you have any other complaints? I have had my eyes on those for my next set.
Nope, they were the best street tires I have ever used.
zupatunRunning a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
I've never understood why people want to run mismatched tires. I understand you get a grippy front tire and then a rear tire that will last longer, but I've never run mismatched tires on my car; the last thing I'll do is run them on a motorcycle. Tires are designed to be run in sets.
I don't mean this in a negative way towards you at all, I'm just speaking in general.
- Anthony
zupatunRunning a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
I did get a weird front shimmy on braking and and at low speed with the Dunlop combo and Dunlops are slippery on tar snakes but it is definitely a decent wearing combo.
The Michelin PR2's front and rear are a good high mileage combo if mileage is your most important feature.
whitelightning
kebrider
And for the record my only issue with Michelin tires is they only work well for about 75% of their service life. They just stop sticking when they get down near the wear bars. They slide really well which makes them fun and they never get dangerous they just force me to slow down which is not really that bad...until I'm chasing Matt down some Gawdforesaken goat trail someplace.
KEB
Gravel, What gravel???
OK, I may have been taking it a little slow but at least I didn't put my foot down. :cool:
KEB
OK. Buying the Pilot Road 2's right now for mileage. Hoping to beat 10k on them. I've had many sets go 8k+ on another bike, so 10k is my mark to beat! Gauntlet thrown!
I've never got 10k... 9k is the most I've managed out of a set, they're always bald on the sides by then. There's always tread on the center though, so some highway would definitely get you to 10k.
Front tire made in week 22nd of 2006 just let me down yesterday.
To be more clear, I had not been ridden the bike for one year before I scratched the road.
So with an 10/2005 front and a 5/2006 rear I guess i should be looking. Had at rear flat in 06 nail straight in luckly i was slowing down for a stop but i had just noticed the bike was not leaning,know where i picked it up went down fast. Add in a few poor seasons and I'm left with a scalloped front and a flat spotted rear, but i just love a nice holeshot..
vfr350So with an 10/2005 front and a 5/2006 rear I guess i should be looking.
Really? See my thread: LINK
adg44
zupatunRunning a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
I've never understood why people want to run mismatched tires. I understand you get a grippy front tire and then a rear tire that will last longer, but I've never run mismatched tires on my car; the last thing I'll do is run them on a motorcycle. Tires are designed to be run in sets.
I don't mean this in a negative way towards you at all, I'm just speaking in general.
- Anthony
I run "mismatched" tires (sport front/ sport-touring rear) on my VFR because the way that I normally ride they now wear out as a set.
I wish I could find a similar setup for my M3, the camber has the front showing cords on the inside when the rears still have another half life left.
I'm not completely convinced that the born date on a tire would make me get rid of it. I have mounted and used some pretty damn old rubber now & then and if I have an unused set that I get on sale at some point I just keep them around until I need them. I'm pretty skeptical that the age matters at all. When I bought my two VF500Fs (2008 and 2009, I think), they each came with rubber that was decades old. Like OEM kinda old.
I rode the crap outta them until they were bald, then replaced them. No issues.
Same thing with my 1000R. Old tires, and never been an issue.
(and by OLD I mean, still really good tread, just a really early birthdate on them.)
You can get 10k easy out of PR2/PP combo if you don't do a lot of sport riding, I have a little over 10k and probably another 2k to go. My VFR sees mainly commuter duty with the rare trip to the countryside, but the roads around here just aren't very conducive to spirited riding. You can only run about 6/10ths since the probability of finding a pothole or the muddy tracks from a tractor in the middle of a corner are pretty good.
Don't know about your situation wgregt, but I know that on my Duc, the tires I had were pretty old and it took one turn on an "clean" uncluttered corner to convince me my tires had had it! That being said, from what I understand, as long as your tires are being used and not sitting around "aging", they will be usable longer. Something about them "moving" and "breathing" (for a lack of a better term) keeps the rubber "fresh". So if they're sitting on a shelf, their "freshness" would be suspect IMO. Of course environment has a lot to do with this as well I'm sure. I'd rather go with a fresh set and spend the money on new tires, vs. spending money on new side panels and other possible repairs. Besides, I have a tire changer now so even less money I need to spend on tire changes.
I've used Dunlop RoadSmarts (dual compount) - lasted 10,000 + mi but got loose near the end.
I had to buy a front tire on the road once; the only tire available was a Pirelli Diablo - which worked very well, never slid and lastet 10,000+ whether used with a RoadSmart rear, a PR2 rear, or PR3 rear. And I've run PR2 front and rear and PR3 front and rear. Also good for around 10,000 mi.
My favorites have been PR3 combo. I've averaged 18,000 mi/yr and ride in all weather and am frequently load with luggage. I usually do not do a bunch of railing on technical roads like The Dragon, but enough to keep life interesting. I do not drag knees.
18k. That's what I'm talking about! Nicely done!
I also will be spooning on some new rubber and something I have not seen brought up is tire "durability" or "toughness" and
is this a function of the tire weight?
I will be commuting (solo, no gear) more through the 2014 pothole capital of the world known as Detroit and need to make sure whatever tire I pick up is up to the beating.
So, as I narrow the selection, is it logical to go with the heaviest, best rated tire? Suggestions?
Or do you guys think that there is no durability advantage and I should stick with a lighter tire which I would prefer.
Thanks!!!
Jon
I would just spoon some PR2/3/4s or the Angel GTs and call it a day. I'm not really sure what you mean by lighter and heavier tires. It's just sticky sport rubber, or harder commuting rubber.
I think what he might be referring to is the "B" tires that are meant for the heavier touring bikes. I think the new PR4 has new naming classifications, I believe that the PR4 GT is for the heavier weight cruisers
I guess I was just curious if anyone has had any experience damaging tires and rims, and if a heavier tire was worthwhile.
I always thought heavier tires were for load capacity and not nessesarily impact capability, but logic would say that a heavier
tire will withstand impacts more than a lighter duty tire.
Does anyone have any experience whether one brand is more robust than another given same weight ect?
thanks!
Jon
Just make sure your tires have the proper amount of air in them and you should be fine.
+1 on pressures. The roads I drive in Milwaukee are probably very similar to those you will encounter in Detroit. The salt, ice, and plows continuously push chunks of road surface out, right now, they look similar to those you see in war footage. Sometimes I feel worried that I will rip the front suspension off my car.
CornerCarver
adg44
zupatunRunning a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
I've never understood why people want to run mismatched tires. I understand you get a grippy front tire and then a rear tire that will last longer, but I've never run mismatched tires on my car; the last thing I'll do is run them on a motorcycle. Tires are designed to be run in sets.
I don't mean this in a negative way towards you at all, I'm just speaking in general.
- Anthony
I run "mismatched" tires (sport front/ sport-touring rear) on my VFR because the way that I normally ride they now wear out as a set.
I wish I could find a similar setup for my M3, the camber has the front showing cords on the inside when the rears still have another half life left.
Sounds like you are running too much toe-in on the front. Have the alignment shop dial out about .5 degree the next time you get an alignment.
jlrotax583
I also will be spooning on some new rubber and something I have not seen brought up is tire "durability" or "toughness" and
is this a function of the tire weight?
I will be commuting (solo, no gear) more through the 2014 pothole capital of the world known as Detroit and need to make sure whatever tire I pick up is up to the beating.
So, as I narrow the selection, is it logical to go with the heaviest, best rated tire? Suggestions?
Or do you guys think that there is no durability advantage and I should stick with a lighter tire which I would prefer.
Thanks!!!
Jon
For pot hole combat, you need to keep the tire pressures on the high end of the recommended range. You need the air pressure to keep your rims intact.
wagzhp
CornerCarver
adg44
zupatunRunning a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
I've never understood why people want to run mismatched tires. I understand you get a grippy front tire and then a rear tire that will last longer, but I've never run mismatched tires on my car; the last thing I'll do is run them on a motorcycle. Tires are designed to be run in sets.
I don't mean this in a negative way towards you at all, I'm just speaking in general.
- Anthony
I run "mismatched" tires (sport front/ sport-touring rear) on my VFR because the way that I normally ride they now wear out as a set.
I wish I could find a similar setup for my M3, the camber has the front showing cords on the inside when the rears still have another half life left.
Sounds like you are running too much toe-in on the front. Have the alignment shop dial out about .5 degree the next time you get an alignment.
The guy that does my alignments is highly sought out by autocross enthusiasts. When the Porsche club have their southeast meeting in the area, he and his alignment rack get booked for days before and after the event.
He recommends aftermarket camber plates so he can fine tune it a bit more but I only put about 3-5K miles a year on this car. If the camber were corrected to eliminate the tire wear it would plow like a tractor when I push it hard into corners. Now it only does that when I don't get the rpm's high enough for the supercharger to "free up" the rear wheels and get the car to rotate in a U-turn.
In the North GA mountains my tire wear complaints disappear behind my huge grin. This car is the closest thing to a 4-wheeled motorcycle I have ever experienced! :cool:
wgregt
I'm not completely convinced that the born date on a tire would make me get rid of it. I have mounted and used some pretty damn old rubber now & then and if I have an unused set that I get on sale at some point I just keep them around until I need them. I'm pretty skeptical that the age matters at all. When I bought my two VF500Fs (2008 and 2009, I think), they each came with rubber that was decades old. Like OEM kinda old.
I rode the crap outta them until they were bald, then replaced them. No issues.
Same thing with my 1000R. Old tires, and never been an issue.
(and by OLD I mean, still really good tread, just a really early birthdate on them.)
This is a horrible idea. :)
As we know, tires are made from rubber, and rubber naturally dries out. The compounds in the rubber do need to go through heat cycles to fully maximize the tire life, but UV exposure also dries them out quickly. That's why on trucks with tailgate mounted spare wheels, the wheel/tire is always covered. Most people take these off, but they don't realize they are just drying out their tire.
When I was speaking with Continental a couple of years ago, they told me 5 years is max shelf life for a tire, and after that they should not be used. This is considering they are stored in a climate controlled warehouse and have good humidity and no UV exposure, so it's on the high end.
You can have a tire with still plenty of tread left, but it can be completely shot, even if it's not dry rotting. The compound can get hard and then it won't grip, and you know what happens next.
Don't risk it for what totals less than $300 for a new set of tires installed.
- Anthony
Fwiw, Michelin have been my tire of choice since around 2000 - first with Pilot Sport and then the various flavours of Pilot Power. Just last week I got another set of PP3, the previous set having lasted almost 12K km or ~8K miles.
Style of riding, temperature, rain, pavement, and of course the bike all affect your mileage. The long road trips which make up the majority of my riding lend themselves to longer tire life.
I'm running continental road attack 2 GT tyres on the front and back on my 5th gen and really like them. They warm up really quickly and are super grippy and give me plenty of confidence in the front end when pushing fairly hard on the road through a national park near me. So far after 2000 Km's they haven't squared off in the centre and look pretty much like new. Sounds wanky but they are also a nice looking tyre due to the tread pattern. I've always been a Michelin fan but I'm a convert with these now.
The Angel GTs raised the bar a notch for me with grip, steering and wear. The consistency with which Bridgestone builds tires these days combined with excellent pricing makes them a solid choice so I will be testing the new T30s soon, their latest sport tour tires. My brief time on them in Florida say they could be special.
Will know soon.
KEB
As an update to this thread, Bridgestone is supposed to be releasing the S20 evo in March, which claims much better tread wear for the rear tire and more grip. And yes, the T30 is the replacement for the BT-023.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
adg44
As an update to this thread, Bridgestone is supposed to be releasing the S20 evo in March, which claims much better tread wear for the rear tire and more grip. And yes, the T30 is the replacement for the BT-023.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
The rear certainly has less grip than the S20 front but I still usually wear out the front a little bit quicker or at the same time. I buy the S20s strictly for fun not for durability. Consistent fun. The M5 Metzlers I picked up during the promo last year feel very similar with only slightly quicker turn-in. Best part of the S20s though is they may only last ~1,500 miles but they feel great right to the last mile. Not many tires have that quality.
KEB
Mikesmini080877I'm running continental road attack 2 GT tyres on the front and back on my 5th gen and really like them. They warm up really quickly and are super grippy and give me plenty of confidence in the front end when pushing fairly hard on the road through a national park near me. So far after 2000 Km's they haven't squared off in the centre and look pretty much like new. Sounds wanky but they are also a nice looking tyre due to the tread pattern. I've always been a Michelin fan but I'm a convert with these now.
ok so why the GT's over the regular ra2's? is there a need for the extra load factor or you like a stiffer tyre?
So I've found on Amazon through JC Motors the ContiRoadAttack 2s for $252.38 shipped, which is a fantastic deal.
The decision now is if I want to try a more sports oriented tire, or stick with these tires which I think are hands down the best tires I've ever used. My curiosity is telling me to try something else, but I could go for some Pilot Powers or Battlax S20s and then be pissed if they wear out in 3k miles.
I also looked into the Pirelli Angel GTs, and I had a good experience with the Pirelli Diablos that were on my K1200S, but they are over $300 for the set and I highly doubt they will be better than the Contis.
adg44
So I've found on Amazon through JC Motors the ContiRoadAttack 2s for $252.38 shipped, which is a fantastic deal.
The decision now is if I want to try a more sports oriented tire, or stick with these tires which I think are hands down the best tires I've ever used. My curiosity is telling me to try something else, but I could go for some Pilot Powers or Battlax S20s and then be pissed if they wear out in 3k miles.
I also looked into the Pirelli Angel GTs, and I had a good experience with the Pirelli Diablos that were on my K1200S, but they are over $300 for the set and I highly doubt they will be better than the Contis.
do you think one could get the supplier to give you the born on dates before purchasing? bike mechanic said they always have great deals on older stock tires.
vfr350do you think one could get the supplier to give you the born on dates before purchasing? bike mechanic said they always have great deals on older stock tires.
Hah - you are reading my mind. I was going to call them before I ordered to see if they had them in stock and could tell me the dates, or if these were being shipped from a distribution center (which is likely how most of these online retailers sell their tires), and in that case there would be no way to tell.
vfr350
Mikesmini080877I'm running continental road attack 2 GT tyres on the front and back on my 5th gen and really like them. They warm up really quickly and are super grippy and give me plenty of confidence in the front end when pushing fairly hard on the road through a national park near me. So far after 2000 Km's they haven't squared off in the centre and look pretty much like new. Sounds wanky but they are also a nice looking tyre due to the tread pattern. I've always been a Michelin fan but I'm a convert with these now.
ok so why the GT's over the regular ra2's? is there a need for the extra load factor or you like a stiffer tyre?
These tyres were on the bike when I bought it. The PO had just fitted them 5 days before I bought the bike and had only put 5kms on them riding back from the shop before I bought it so I had to scrub them in and from day one you could lean them over safely at decent speed without fear of coming off until they were fully scrubbed in. These were the first tyres I've basically never had to scrub in. Hope this helps
This is common among sport touring crowd who lean toward the "sport" side of the equation. For track days I run a matched set of supersport tires. I love the Dunlop Q's as well as Pirellis for the track.
I've run the Q on the front and a Road smart out back for street and commuting with nart a problem.
Matt in Haymarket Virginia.
adg44
vfr350Anthony, besides the price deal w the Conti's do you have any other complaints? I have had my eyes on those for my next set.
Nope, they were the best street tires I have ever used.
zupatunRunning a Dunlop Q2 on the front and a Road smart out back is a good combo as well...
I've never understood why people want to run mismatched tires. I understand you get a grippy front tire and then a rear tire that will last longer, but I've never run mismatched tires on my car; the last thing I'll do is run them on a motorcycle. Tires are designed to be run in sets.
I don't mean this in a negative way towards you at all, I'm just speaking in general.
- Anthony
Mikesmini080877
vfr350
Mikesmini080877I'm running continental road attack 2 GT tyres on the front and back on my 5th gen and really like them. They warm up really quickly and are super grippy and give me plenty of confidence in the front end when pushing fairly hard on the road through a national park near me. So far after 2000 Km's they haven't squared off in the centre and look pretty much like new. Sounds wanky but they are also a nice looking tyre due to the tread pattern. I've always been a Michelin fan but I'm a convert with these now.
ok so why the GT's over the regular ra2's? is there a need for the extra load factor or you like a stiffer tyre?
These tyres were on the bike when I bought it. The PO had just fitted them 5 days before I bought the bike and had only put 5kms on them riding back from the shop before I bought it so I had to scrub them in and from day one you could lean them over safely at decent speed without fear of coming off until they were fully scrubbed in. These were the first tyres I've basically never had to scrub in. Hope this helps
We don't need the GT tires on our VFR. The GT is for heavy touring bikes, which the VFR is not.
adg44We don't need the GT tires on our VFR. The GT is for heavy touring bikes, which the VFR is not.
This was my question regarding the Pilot Road 4 GT. Is a heavy bike like a 6th gen with touring luggage in need of a GT spec tire? Are there any disadvantages?
thanks for the clarification on the GT tires adg44. whats an example of a heavy touring bike, gold wing?
vfr350thanks for the clarification on the GT tires adg44. whats an example of a heavy touring bike, gold wing?
The Pilot Road 4 is the OEM tire for the 2014 R1200RT and that bike is ~55 lbs heavier (wet) than a 6th gen without any luggage. Add luggage and we're probably talking 40 lbs, the difference between a thin and a fat person.
It seems like the GT tire is a suitable choice for s sport touring bike of such considerable girth as the VFR is
Edited March 3, 2014 by DustinIn the Michelin PR4 video, they recommend the PR4 GT for the BMW K1600 and the FJR1300 but the standard PR4 for the VFR1200.
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/77129-michelin-pr-4/
Dustin
vfr350thanks for the clarification on the GT tires adg44. whats an example of a heavy touring bike, gold wing?
The Pilot Road 4 is the OEM tire for the 2014 R1200RT and that bike is ~55 lbs heavier (wet) than a 6th gen without any luggage. Add luggage and we're probably talking 40 lbs, the difference between a thin and a fat person.It seems like the GT tire is a suitable choice for s sport touring bike of such considerable girth as the VFR is
I am quite sure in BMW fashion that the Pilot Road 4 GT for that bike has a BMW specific compound. Most automotive manufacturers have specific versions of tires for their vehicles. Porsche has the N specification, Audi has AO/R01, BMW has their own, as well as Mercedes-Benz (and others).
Also, 55lbs is over 10%, which is substantial. Add on the weight of luggage and a rider (or two) and there is then a considerable difference. You need to go by gross weight fully loaded to determine how much the actual difference is.
- Anthony
So I went onto dunlop's website and put in my bike and let it select tires for me. First suggestion? Q3s. Second suggestion was the RoadSmart 2s.
For the month of March they are also running a $40 rebate in the form of a Visa gift card if you purchase a set of either of those two tires. This puts a set of Q3s in the $210 range, which is quite amazing.
This tire was recommended earlier, but has anyone used it as a weekend tire? I have a feeling that for any highway riding it may wear down fast. I did a search but can't find any real-life longevity comments on the tire.
Also, the RoadSmart 2s are ridiculously expensive. A bit over $310 for the set was the best price I could find.
- Anthony
Edited March 3, 2014 by adg44adg44
So I went onto dunlop's website and put in my bike and let it select tires for me. First suggestion? Q3s. Second suggestion was the RoadSmart 2s.
For the month of March they are also running a $40 rebate in the form of a Visa gift card if you purchase a set of either of those two tires. This puts a set of Q3s in the $210 range, which is quite amazing.
This tire was recommended earlier, but has anyone used it as a weekend tire? I have a feeling that for any highway riding it may wear down fast. I did a search but can't find any real-life longevity comments on the tire.
Also, the RoadSmart 2s are ridiculously expensive. A bit over $310 for the set was the best price I could find.
- Anthony
See this page post #16...
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php/topic/77191-its-time-for-new-tires/page-2
[image: 2013_METZELER_M5_PROMO_SPLASH_END.jpg]
Darn !!!
Q2 rear lasted me exactly 3500 miles...which is the ride from Portland to Virginia and a week of commuting from NOVA to DC.
FrontQ2 lasted about 7300 miles before I replaced it.
zupatun
Q2 rear lasted me exactly 3500 miles...which is the ride from Portland to Virginia and a week of commuting from NOVA to DC.
FrontQ2 lasted about 7300 miles before I replaced it.
I am picking up a pair of Q2's this year. I am willing to do two rears for one front. I hear the performance is great and I don't mind paying for a bit more grip. You liked them?
zupatun
Q2 rear lasted me exactly 3500 miles...which is the ride from Portland to Virginia and a week of commuting from NOVA to DC.
FrontQ2 lasted about 7300 miles before I replaced it.
This ^ is why so many people run sport fronts with sport touring rears on their VFRs...even with a new rear the front is half shagged. Nothing feels as good as news shoes for the baby.
adg44
Dustin
vfr350thanks for the clarification on the GT tires adg44. whats an example of a heavy touring bike, gold wing?
The Pilot Road 4 is the OEM tire for the 2014 R1200RT and that bike is ~55 lbs heavier (wet) than a 6th gen without any luggage. Add luggage and we're probably talking 40 lbs, the difference between a thin and a fat person.It seems like the GT tire is a suitable choice for s sport touring bike of such considerable girth as the VFR is
I am quite sure in BMW fashion that the Pilot Road 4 GT for that bike has a BMW specific compound. Most automotive manufacturers have specific versions of tires for their vehicles. Porsche has the N specification, Audi has AO/R01, BMW has their own, as well as Mercedes-Benz (and others).
Also, 55lbs is over 10%, which is substantial. Add on the weight of luggage and a rider (or two) and there is then a considerable difference. You need to go by gross weight fully loaded to determine how much the actual difference is.
- Anthony
Great info! Thanks.
Would you advise against a standard front and GT rear for the extended life they claim?
Thanks for this thread and the reminder. The RC51 has new shoes on the way from amazon 190/55 and 120/70 Pilot Powers for $259.93 shipped.
Always loved the Power front/Road2 rear, so prolly order up some of those for the VFR.
How do you guys get such HORRIBLE tire life?
The Roadsmart 2's on my 5th gen have quite a lot of kms on them. Front is at 15,000kms rear at around 12-13,000 and they both still have quite a bit of life left in them.
silverbullet132How do you guys get such HORRIBLE tire life?
By riding like this
[image: 40363d1113498459-anybody-ever-drag-knee-]
silverbullet132How do you guys get such HORRIBLE tire life?
A lot of people run track day tire pressures -- really low. It makes it easier to scrub off chicken strips and be the hero at Starbucks ;)
I can't fathom getting 3000 miles out of a rear tire. Replacing tires 8 times a year is not my idea of a good time.
Dustin
silverbullet132How do you guys get such HORRIBLE tire life?
A lot of people run track day tire pressures -- really low. It makes it easier to scrub off chicken strips and be the hero at Starbucks ;)
I can't fathom getting 3000 miles out of a rear tire. Replacing tires 8 times a year is not my idea of a good time.
You put 24k miles on a year? Damn! :beer:
I run 36/42 PSI and get anywhere from 2,500 to 6k miles out of a rear depending on the tire (sport, ST, etc). I was consistently around the 3k-3,500 mile mark even with Sport Touring tires until my GF got her own bike. The tire mileage almost doubled after that.
silverbullet132
How do you guys get such HORRIBLE tire life?
The Roadsmart 2's on my 5th gen have quite a lot of kms on them. Front is at 15,000kms rear at around 12-13,000 and they both still have quite a bit of life left in them.
In addition to riding like Freddie Spencer, part of it is location, specifically the texture and temperature of your road surfaces.
Kanadian Ken hosted me for a few days of riding in Ontario in 2006. I put on a new set of Pirelli Strada (same as Metzeler Z6) sport touring tires. They still looked brand new after 1300 miles. Here in TN, the rear would have been nearly to the cords (maybe 200-300 miles left) and the front would have been half gone.
Edited March 4, 2014 by tbzepWell, this thread has just confused me even more as to what I should toss on my 98 before TexasMac... My Conti's are looking a little worn. I was leaning towards the PC2 but I may consider the Angel GT now...
After experiencing more wear than usual on a recent trip through the Rocky Mts. I was told by the tire guy at a Cedar City Honda dealer that western roads use a more aggressive aggregate mix to improve traction in winter conditions. So, generally, tires wear out faster out west.
Dustin
silverbullet132How do you guys get such HORRIBLE tire life?
A lot of people run track day tire pressures -- really low. It makes it easier to scrub off chicken strips and be the hero at Starbucks ;)
I can't fathom getting 3000 miles out of a rear tire. Replacing tires 8 times a year is not my idea of a good time.
I can provide several links to pissing contests where I advocate 36/42 tire pressures for even the most aggressive street riding. I usually get between 3,000 and 6500 miles from a set of tires (3k from super sport and over 6k from sport touring tires.
At the Exxon at the end of our last Cherohala run on Sunday I did a quick mileage calculation ( I write the installed mileage on the sidewall in silver sharpie) and saw that I have 3,300 miles on my S20 from tire. The center still has enough tread for me to think about taking it to Nashville for our class the first week of April but the sides are done.
CornerCarverI can provide several links to pissing contests where I advocate 36/42 tire pressures for even the most aggressive street riding. I usually get between 3,000 and 6500 miles from a set of tires
I'm with you, I run stock pressures as well. I have experimented with lower pressures in the past but I find the bike unrideable. Even 5 psi is extremely noticeable
I just ordered my 3rd rear PR4 in the last 13k miles~
Got 5,000 out of the first, 8,000 out of the second.
TNRabbit
I just ordered my 3rd rear PR4 in the last 13k miles~
Got 5,000 out of the first, 8,000 out of the second.
PP3's on now . I am very impressed with them. Waiting on your feed back about the PR4's.
Switchblade
TNRabbit
I just ordered my 3rd rear PR4 in the last 13k miles~
Got 5,000 out of the first, 8,000 out of the second.
PP3's on now . I am very impressed with them. Waiting on your feed back about the PR4's.
I really like them. EXCELLENT wet traction, no complaints on dry pavement at RIDICULOUS cornering speeds~
TNRabbit
I just ordered my 3rd rear PR4 in the last 13k miles~
Got 5,000 out of the first, 8,000 out of the second.
Do PR4's still have the more U shaped profile compared to the PP more V shape?
Just got back from the shop after getting PR4s shoed. Looking forward to getting through the break-in period.
Metzeler Z8 for me.
Great tyre for sport touring if you also do a lot of sport.
I get about 12000km out of the rear, and around 15000km from the front.
I do however run 38/34 pressure on my own as I find this better for even wear and grip
Two up I run the standard 42/36
I don't commute.
Edited September 9, 2015 by VFROZAlright gang just completed 3300 miles on set of PP3's and was absolutely impressed with the tire . The Q3's are good for the price but the PP3's are a much better tire .
[image: PP3]
[image: PP3]
What did they do better? What did the Q3 do poorly?
Rain for one and I only get 1500 -2000 miles out of the Q3's verses 3300 miles out of the PP3's.
Love my PR4GT thus far with 1000 miles on it
Another vote for Metzeler Z8's. Good grip in both dry and rainy conditions, and handling ability is great also.
pirelli diablo are the best tires I ever put on my bike, got almost 5,000 miles on my the rear each time and they work in all weather conditions very very well. Hit standing water a 70 mph and all it did was slow the bike down about 2 mph....