| Author | Message | ||
     Interex2050 |
In case someone is interested... Here are some shots comparing the wear between the Pirelli Diablos and the Dunlop 207s after a spirited ride. Dunlop Front:  Dunlop Rear:  Pirelli Front:  Pirelli Rear:  Although the ride was more spirited on the Pirellis, they show less wear. My overall thoughts about the Pirellis is that they are superb tires (great for the street, rain, "cold", and spirited riding), and as a bonus they are lasting longer. My Dunlop front dunlop died at about 2000 miles and the rear had some life left in it (maybe another 200ish) replaced both. The Pirellis now have over 3000 miles on them, and the front is soon to be out (probably next 500-1000 miles) and the rear will be replaced with it as well. The next set I think will be the Michelin Pilot Powers that everyone is raving about, hope they live up to the hype. | ||
| Buellin_ri |
Nice side by side look at the two. Although everyone can agree the dunlops suck. | ||
| Glitch |
 Although everyone can agree the dunlops suck. | ||
| Xb9 |
What air pressure were you running and what was the ambient temperature, just curious. I can't say enough about the Diablo Corsa's - great tires. | ||
| Interex2050 |
The air temperature was probably on average about 80ish on both days (when I set out in the morning it was probably closer to 60-70). 207's where pretty close to stock spec (I tried to keep them close to 36psi front and 38psi rear) For the Diablo I went by Pirellis recommended settings which are the nearly the same as the stock(a hair over 36 front and a tad below 38 rear) | ||
| Xb9 |
Racing with the Pirelli Diablo Corsa's we run 32/32 - this was the recomended pressure I got directly from Pirelli (for racing) and they work very well at that pressure. I also run them on the backroads at that pressure. You might want to try it - will give you a larger contact patch, thus more grip. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Your getting me all excited! I have just under 3k the stock dunlops and the rear is starting to look like poop....I guess I have another winter project...but not untill I put the front tire against the garage door and get my moneys worth  | ||
| Interex2050 |
Xb9, I going to give 32/32 a shot this weekend and see how it goes. (Thanks for the idea) It should be interesting to add the Pilot Powers to this mini comparison, and see how well it stands up to a "spirited" ride. (Hopefully soon I will get a hold of a set, and make it happen) | ||
| Blublak |
Inter.. I've got the Diablo Corsas on as 'street' tires, running 32/32 and find them great on just about everything I've ridden on/through/around/in etc.. As for the Dunlops, I thought the 207's were ok. The 208's are better, had them on for a track day last year and as a track tire I can say they do great when new, held all the way to the point where I was knee down and didn't slide once. However, they still don't seem to have that much life in them (especially after that track day) .. They are supposed to have a new 208(or 209) coming out soon.. Just a few more thoughts for you to consider. | ||
| Interex2050 |
Two things about the 207's made walk away and and not look back... -Their life span (which may have been improved with the 208) -The main one is their profile. The Dunlops profile just doesn't seem to work well with the XB. They really love standing up while braking and just don't have the same planted feel as the Pirellis. On the other hand if the new generation of Dunlops remedy the profile issue I will give them a try. Even though the Pirellis are great, one thing that I don't like about them (although it's likely due to my riding style, and something I need to work on myself) is that I have no chicken strips front or rear. Which concerns me as to how much farther I can push them. (With the Dunlops I had maybe a 1cm or so on either side on the front with which I could have worked with) (Message edited by interex2050 on December 08, 2005) | ||
| Xb9 |
Been eye-balling the New Metzeler Racetecs: http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/en_85/tires/template_categorie.jhtml;jsessionid=U LWC4P4X1CNUZFYKJOPCFEY?catid=85RCNG&productid=16164&product_list=catid%3D85RCNG% 26productid%3D16164 They have a promo going; buy a rear and get a front free. Wonder if anyone here has tried these? Interex2050, if your wearing out the sides before the middle, the lower pressure might actually improve the mileage you will get out of a set. I know they would last longer for me on the track at 32/32 vs running 34/36. 32/32 is unique to the Pirellis with the steel belt. The Michelin TD 1200/1800 slicks I also run work best at even lower pressures, 29/28. They will all vary a little based on construction, but most DOT track day/racing tires will be in the 28-32 PSI range. The Michelin Pilot race rear tires run at a very low recommended pressure, I believe it is around 24 or 26 PSI. Best to talk to the specific manufacturer tire reps at the track for recommended pressures for racing or very spirited street riding. It makes a big difference when you find the optimal pressure. | ||
| Interex2050 |
I will definitely play around with tire pressures this weekend. That promo sounds very tempting, might be worth buying and saving till the summer, or using it for race school/track days which I can hopefully get done this winter. The only issue is that, I can't afford to get new tires mounted all too often ($140 per set, bloody painted rims), and it would be a shame to waste the race tires on the street (the xb is my only method of getting around). Although at that rate it might be cheaper to buy a used set of rims... I do have one question about track tires and heat cycles... How many cycles would I be able to get out a track tire before it hardens on me? | ||
| Chadhargis |
I did a track day on my Ducati and was running Pirelli Diablos (not the Corsas...just the standard Diablo). They worked like a charm! Seem to be wearing great too. My friend had Pilot Powers on his ZX-6r and commented that he slid the front when it was still cool in the morning. I never slid the Diablos. If it would have been 80 degrees instead of 60, that may not have happened with his Pilots. I've also run the Diablo Strada sport touring tire. It's AMAZING. I swear the thing is dual compound because even doing long trips, the center didn't wear flat. I think Pirelli has their act together. I've heard good things about the Scorpions too. | ||
| M1combat |
Are the "new" racetecs actually "new"? As in new compound/construction technology or are they the same Racetecs that have been on the market for a couple years? I know Pirelli/Metzeler MUST be engineering a new tire because Michelin (Pilots) and Dunlop (Qualifier) have come up with some VERY good rubber in the last year or so. | ||
| Coyote_xb12s |
I have Metzler M1's on my 12R and have been pretty happy with the way they have worked out. I had Diablos on there before that and thought those worked out really good for grip and wear, almost 3 times than the dunlops as far as wear goes. | ||
| M1combat |
The Diablos and Sportecs are the same tire with a different tread pattern. | ||
| Daveinm |
I've had the Diablos on my bike since about 2 months after I got my bike. Been through 5 rear tires and 2 fronts. Amazingly, I get about 4-6K miles out of the rears and 10-13K out of the fronts. I do live in South Florida though. We don't have twisties like you guys have up North. Just on and off ramps  | ||
| Xbolt12 |
M1-they are close, but I don't think they are the same compound and there may be some subtle construction differences. Also they feel different-the Corsas are way more stable, but a little harder to turn-in. Also while the front will wear triangular on the Corsas, it doesn't seem to do it to the extent of the M1's. Of course that difference could be due to my riding changing as I gain more experience (maybe I'm pushing the front less). The chart for Diablo Corsas has them at 36 rear and 34 front (compared to 207 Buell at 38/36). I have been running them on the track on both the xb12r and the 749 at about 31 front and rear cold. However, the Pirelli rep at WSIR told me a few weeks ago that Pirelli did a study at WSIR and found that 33/33 was ideal and going lower accelerated wear with no gain in traction. (Well that's what he said anyway) I still played it safe first time on the big track and first time with the 749R on a cool day. Next time I will probably try 33/33 though as my rear tire is almost gone now on the 749 with only 1600 miles. | ||
| Starter |
I don't think the M1s are the same as the Diablo Corsa, but they are the same as the Diablos. | ||
| Diablobrian |
My understanding is the m1 sportec is the alternate of the diablo. the racetec is the same for the diablo corsa. | ||
| Daveinm |
That sounds correct Brian. My bro had the M1's. The only thing that I noticed different was the tread pattern. | ||
| Snackbar64 |
Let me ask a few crazy questions. Don't they (Buell) test ride these bikes for months on the tires that are recommended for them? If there were a better tire out there within the same price range wouldn't that tire be on the bike? One thing that Buell has prided himself on is producing a great handling motorcycle and to make that possible he would have to have the right rubber on it. If there were a better tire out there wouldn't they know about it and recommend it to us, or are they bound by Dunlop to market their tires? In the article that solidifies the Firebolt as the top cornering bike, I'm sure they came to that conclusion on a Firebolt that had stock tires. | ||
| Diablobrian |
snackbar64, H-D and by extension Buell has a contractual obligation to use Dunlop tires. They had to get permission from Dunlop to use the Pirreli's on the cityX and only got it because dunlop had no suitable tire available. I'll have to check and see about the Bike magazine test, but most enthusiasts change the tires out pretty quickly and the magazines are even more prone to tire swapping than the average rider. | ||
| Xbolt12 |
I asked Erik about tires in '04 and he told me the problem with 208's was weight and that they were working on something. I've noticed all the newer Firebolts come with Dunlop 208's, so the the old issues with 207's are probably gone for the most part as 208's have a more rounded profile-although I've never ridden a bike with 208's on it. BTW, I certainly never had a complaint about the 207's grip, which I think was pretty close to as good as it gets. | ||
| Interex2050 |
Finally got a chance to get out and try the different pressures. The only problem is that the results aren't... conclusive. Today was the first warm day (upper 70's) so it was hard to judge wear. But overall it was a fantastic ride, so nice to get out. Not to mention... my front tire is simply crapping out on me but the rear still have "plenty" or life. Tire time... |
