| Author | Message | ||
     Westmoorenerd |
Hey guys, I was just wondering what tires people ran in rainy areas of the world. It's about time for me to get a new set of tires and I'm undecided between Dunlop Q2's, Pilot Powers, and Dunlop D616. I've read great reviews on all of them, but the D616 seems to be the best rain tire out there. Anyone ran these at high speeds? I know they came stock on early Ullys so I figure I'd ask here. I've never really had any issues with the stock Corsas in the rain, but I figure since it's about to be typhoon season here might as well prepare. That and it rains everyday SOMEWHERE on this island. (Message edited by westmoorenerd on August 01, 2010) | ||
| Jng1226 |
I had the D616s on my Ulysses since they came OEM. I didn't ride that aggressively on those tires in the wet but I did do some highways miles in Florida "monsoon" weather. They never let me down and were confidence inspiring enough to not pull over during some 3"-per-hour rain storms. I heard that their tread design was a modified version of the Dunlop racing rain tire so that would make sense. I don't know how aggressively you want to ride in the wet, but I can definitely vouch for the Bridgestone BT-016. Looking at the tread you wouldn't think they'd be spectacular in the wet but last spring I was in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the MV Agusta and they made me feel like I was riding on a WSBK with rain tires. That time of year it is usually dry on one side of the mountain and drenched on the other so it can make for a challenging sporty ride: Jeff | ||
| No_rice |
the ones on the bike...  | ||
| 07xb12ss |
I'm on my third set of Pirelli Angel ST's between both 1125s. Very good grip with cold/wet conditions and I have yet to have them slip when I'm riding hard when it's dry. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I do find myself riding in the rain quite often. I have had very good luck with the Michelin 2CTs but I may give the pilot road 2s next. They visually look like they would be even better in the rain. | ||
| Dktechguy112 |
i have used metzlers on my other bikes, they are amazing in the rain. They are planted wet or dry. When my tire wears out on the 1125, i will be switching to metzlers. | ||
| 1_mike |
I've used the Pilot Powers for the last 8+ years on different bikes. This includes times of wet weather. Now here in So. Cal. our normal wet time admittedly isn't that long. But with the way the roads are (aren't !) kept up, the car oil, grease and antifreeze left on the roads...makes the first coupla days of any new rain....well...interesting. The Power's have worked well. I'm now using the newer Pilot Pure. So far, they seem a bit better going thru wet intersections... We'll see. Mike | ||
| Zac4mac |
D616s get a big  on the Uly board for wet riding. Doesn't get very wet here so no personal opinion, but overall I like Pirelli's tires lately. Been thinking about putting Scorpions on the 1125, I love them on the Uly. They have handled very well in the little rain I've had to ride through. That might be due to the Uly being a couple hundred pounds heavier than Loretta too. Loretta's tires are new C-IIIs but the Scorpions have less chicken strip as of now. I need to take a mountain trip next week and address that. Z | ||
| Westmoorenerd |
I think I'm going to get a set of D616's then....I think they'll look pretty sweet on a CR also. They're more expensive than the Q2's though =/ | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
Jeff, Nice clip. A fee questions: What camera where you shooting with? How did you have it mounted? Curious why the vertical view shifted a few times during the video. What kind of mileage (wear) did you get out of the BT016s? Greg | ||
| Jaimec |
I have no problems with the stock Corsa tires in the rain. I also found the old Metzeler Sportec M3 tires to be phenomenal in the rain. | ||
| Jdugger |
The Bridgestone 016 are really good tires, but I have two issues with them, personally: 1. All Bridgestone tires have a very stiff carcass, and they are a *bear* to spoon on. Hey, I do my own tires (and half the tires on my buddy's bikes, too!) and those things are a bitch! 2. The 016 has a really round front tire profile that slows down the steering on the 1125r. Some like it, I hate it. | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
Jdugger, That is good to know. I recently bought a NoMar and intend to start mounting my own tires also. What machine/method do you use? How do you rate some of the other popular tires as far as ease of spooning them on? | ||
| Jng1226 |
Greg - The camera in the clip above was a Tachyon XC. It was the memory-card waterproof sports-type camera before the GoPro's came out. I rigged it up on a GPS suction-cup mount and mounted it to the flat top of the MV gas tank just in front of the IC. LOL - The reason the camera tilt changes is because when I finally worked up enough nerve to let it rip down the straight, I instinctively went into a tuck position and hit the camera. I noticed I hit it a few moments later and slowed down to reposition it. Regarding the BT-016s, I get about the same as most other multi-compound, performance-oriented tire, which is about 3,000 miles before their at or very near the wear markers. I can't speak to experience on the 1125R as Jdugger can, but when I put the BT-016s on the XB9S, it sharpened up the responses and the steering considerably over the OEM Pirelli Scorpion Syncs, with far more grip. The Q2's are an even better tire, IMHO, as they should be since they are Dunlop's latest/greatest supersport street tire. Sportbiketrackgear.com has a smokin' deal at $209.95 delivered for a 120/180 set: http://stores.sportbiketrackgear.com/Detail.bok?no =7780 Jeff | ||
| Jdugger |
> I recently bought a NoMar and intend to start mounting my own tires also Best thing I ever did! I love my nomar and get a TON of use out of it. Michelins and Pirellis are relatively easy to mount. Bridgestones are a total bitch! In general, "race" tires tend to be softer carcass than "street" tires. The easiest are something like an SC1 16.5 slick. Those just kinda push on with no effort at all. The Power Pure are pretty easy, too, so far as street tires. The new Diablo Rosso Corsa are totally reasonable. Just remember: if you are having to force it, you aren't using enough lube. | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
Jeff, Thanks for the info. I am getting ready to purchase a Driven HD video camera. New to it, so it should be something "fun" to play with. Editing... etc... I am interested in the Q2s but haven't heard much about them. As for ordering tires, I am at a Military APO address and very few online retailers ship to APOs and most that do charge crazy rates. | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
Jdugger, Good to know. Thanks for all the tips. I'll leave it at that so as not to jack the thread further. Greg | ||
| Fastrichie |
I been at speeds over 130 in the rain on my 1125r on the stock tires with no problems. It does get a bit tricky taking the corners but thats the fun part. I have a xb12r with 2ct and I have had it over 100 with good traction in heavy rain. I like the 2ct all around better. Im on page 14 of the 2008 fall fuel magazine. | ||
| Westmoorenerd |
Crazyhawk....STG.com ships tires to FPO/APOs for $50, so you can get a set of Q2s shipped for $260. Kneedraggers.com ships to FPO/APO also FWIW. | ||
| Ccryder |
Pilot Roads 2. Great all around. | ||
| Westmoorenerd |
Alright well I ended up going to Pilot Powers 2CT actually.... $239 for a set shipped to an FPO/AP address was just too hard to pass. | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
West, Did you end up ordering them from STG? Greg | ||
| Westmoorenerd |
Actually I ordered them from KneeDraggers.com shipping was only $18 =) Good deals on shipping to us... -Alan | ||
| Crazyhawk99 |
Alan, Thanks for the info. I had a horrible experience ordering parts from Kneedraggers a few years ago. I can't even begin to explain how messed up it was, but it was so bad, I have vowed to avoid them, even if I have to pay a bit more elsewhere. I usually go with Dennis Kirk. They do charge everyone (not just APO) a $10 per tire surcharge, but ship to APO free. Let us know how you like the 2CTs. My CR doesn't need tires yet, but I am considering them for my SV650. Greg | ||
| Westmoorenerd |
DK is even cheaper than KD, but they didn't have the tires in stock at the moment...Would have saved about $20 though. I figured I'm still 500 miles or so out of needed new tires, so they should get here just in time. |
