| Author | Message | |||
     Lothodon |
don't shoot me, i'm really lazy and thought a new discussion of tires was in order. i don't want dunlops, they are out. i'm leaning toward the pirelli diablo's as of now, but i'm open to suggestions. really dig the look of the metzeler sportec m-1's too. but i KNOW looks aren't as important as performance. for what it's worth, one year on my stock dunlops and only a paltry 3000 miles. too bad the "good" roads are so far away from me. have to drive 100 miles to get to the twisties so the rear is so freakin' flat you could almost stand the bike up without the kickstand (not really, but you get the idea). edited by lothodon on February 20, 2004 | |||
| Xb9er |
I ordered a Diablo Rear tire and got the free front one. I also have a set of Metzeler Sportec M-1's. I'm still on a set of Dunlops right now and haven't ridden anything but Dunlops on my XB9R. I have heard from several people that the Diablo and M-1 share the same carcass. And also that the rubber compounds are similar and the biggest difference is the tread pattern. Not sure if it's true but I do know that Pirelli owns Metzeler and I checked my two sets of tires and the Diablo is actually made in Germany. I'm not sure if that helps much since I haven't ridden either type of tire. But if it is true, then your two top choices may come down to the best price?? | |||
| Lothodon |
i've also heard metzler = pirelli in a strange form, but the tread pattern is totally different. i'm not a track man, well, would be if there was one withing 500 miles, but i do ride aggresively. on the other hand, i really want a tire that will hold me upright on wet roads. wet roads suck but i'm not about to stay home when it rains or i'd never get to ride. | |||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Yes Guys pleas post... You could help me learn too. I recently replaced my tires and went with Dunlop cuz that's what it came with. I don't know much about the other choices. I'm heavy (215 lbs) so I've gone through a rear in just over 2k mi. I thought about going to a harder compound but don't want to sacrifice traction either. Our roads out here in Az can be slick (Road resurfacing due to extreme heat = tar which is quite slippery when heated in the summer sun, sand from the desert etc. Advice would be much appreciated. Charles | |||
| Uncbuell |
i like sportec m1's, but they'll only last 4-5k miles max. if you're not leaning the bike over enough for z-rated tires, metzeler has a new style for 04, the z6. harder than m1's, softer than mez4's. | |||
| Evil_twin |
I guess I just don't ride my bike as much or as hard as most of you do. I got around 2 grand on the clock now, and my tires still don't even look broke in. No chicken stripe either. I still haven't had a prob with my stock D207's though. I imagine when I need to get some new rubber, I will probably start the same thread, again. (someone remind me to write this stuff down.) Rich  | |||
| Frankenstein |
Here we go: The stock Dunlop's D207 were done after less than 1400 miles (sides of the rear had no more thread). The D207 is too soft if you start pushing the bike at 60-70 degrees. It just peeled of and the symmetry is wrong for the XB. Did some research and ran into that German tire test on an XB9R. They tested 10 different tires including the Metzler M1s and the Pirelli Diablos. They rated the Metzlers the winner and off I went and got a set. The Metzle Sportec M1 is like made for the XB. The standup while trail braking is gone. The bike turns quicker into corners and the bike has a more stable line when you lean deeper into the corner (good bye chicken strip). I have put about 1000 miles on them so far and have not seen them peel a single time. The compound is harder but full throttle 2nd gear out of an Apex is still no problem (as long as you can keep the front down and the road is dry). Hope this helps! | |||
| Brucelee |
Interesting. I had the same experience with my dunlops. Started to shred once I started taking the turns harder. Thanks for the info on the metzlers. | |||
| Lothodon |
that diablo free front is almost too good a deal to pass on though.....GRRRRR!!! i'm looking at $209 for a set of metzelers (without shipping) and $117 for the rear diablo ($20 shipping from pirelli for front, not sure on rear). so price isn't that big a deal since it's your life and your bike's life on just two tires. | |||
| Tucsonxb9s |
I just printed the "Coupon" for the free Pirelli front. I'm thinking you can't hardly go wrong! My stock 207's didn't last worth a damn...barely 3000 miles! Hopefully the Pirellis last longer. I've read some good things about them so we'll see! Lothodon- don't forget the cost of mounting your tires. The whole thing can get pricey! | |||
| Lothodon |
oh i've got a close friend that has a harley performance shop so mounting isn't really an issue. plus i used to work at a tire shop so i do it myself at his shop. | |||
| Reepicheep |
The M6 (replacement for the M4), also called the road tech, claims the same wear life as the M4, but with better wet performance. They have something called a "radar map" on their website that does a nice job comparing them. Just put one on my cyclone, so I don't know long term, but the profile makes the bike handle very nicely. And grip wise, don't discount the sport touring rubber. Even though it is made to last longer, there is still a ton of grip in there. Don't think I would use them on a track day, but there was nothing at Deals Gap that they could not handle... (ummm sorry, the above are all Metzler tires, the MeZ4, and the MeZ6, also called the road tech). edited by reepicheep on February 21, 2004 | |||
| Coyote_xb12s |
I'm due for new tires myself. I got just a tick over 3k out of my Dunlops. I am considering either the Diablos, with the coupon or, the Michelin Pilot Sports. I have heard, read those are pretty good performers. I have had good grip from my dunlops once they came up to temperature and got the back to about 1/8 of an inch from the edge. Gotta love the XBs and ride them hard! | |||
| Lothodon |
i saw the michelin's myself, but the price is out of hand. seems that they are nearly twice any other comperable tire. i'm no closer to a decision than when i started which leads me to believe either is a good choice. | |||
| M1combat |
I believe that (as stated before) that the Diablo and Sportec M1 are the same carcas with only a different tread pattern. I seem to remember when I was doing research that they are made in the same plant. My tires will be shot by about 3200 miles I think (2400 now) and I'm going to make sure I have two sets of Diablo's by the time the free front deal runs out. The way I see it, either of the sets are going to be a whole lot better than the D207's and if I can get the Diablo's for around half the price I'm going to. | |||
| Prof_stack |
Hasn't the D207 been replaced by the 208 now, which is supposed to have a longer tread life due to having more tread to start with? Question for anyone: When would a sport-touring tire be preferable to a sport tire? Real world experience answers, please. Prof | |||
| Lothodon |
funny you would ask that, i was actually looking more for sport touring tires but i'm having a hard time finding one's i trust (company rep) that are available in the 180 rear size the xb requires. metzeler has nothing in the 180 series at all, only the sport tires. since a majority of my riding isn't aggressive twisties i was considering them for longer wear. if you find some, lemme know who makes em and where you found em. (online of course.) | |||
| Captainkirk |
Geez, maybe I'm not much of a sport rider... I got almost 10K out of the stock Dunlop D205's so I ordered up a new set. Chaparral Motorsports had BOTH for under $200 bucks! | |||
| Stoobr2 |
The inital OE 207's on my 9s lasted about 2.5k,when I changed then to Bridgestone 010's which I found give excellent grip/feedback,even in the wet (it rains alot here in the Southern UK) the Brigdestones lasted 2.8k and had gone "square" mainly due to motorway miles and not getting the bike so far cranked during in the winter months. I have just fitted Michelin 'pilot' Sports,and I still am undecided about them,they don't seem to warm up as quick as the 010's but they are fine on smooth tarmac.I've also revised my suspension setting from Shawn Higbees table,to some Marcus McBain (I think it was) recomended,and it has totally transformed the feel of the bike (for the better)+ obviously the fact I have a fresh tryes,and the 'pilot' sports are more pointed in profile than the Bridgestone 010's. edited by stoobr2 on February 22, 2004 | |||
| Downundabueller |
In Australia Bridgestone has a dual compound sports tourer tyre the BT020 (battalax) I dubiously got one of those put on the rear about 4,000 klms ago, its going great the soft shoulders stick well in the twisties and has not worn much in the centre. About 2,000klms ago I matched it with a BT012 front(soft sticky sports) This combo works really well.I expect front and rear to expire about the same time somewhere between 12 and 14,0000klms. BTW- I left the tyre shop with my lightly pre-scrubbed front reminding myself to take it easy around my favourite snake like mountain roads on the long way home till it was properly scrubbed. I could not believe the difference this front made over the dunnylop, it dropped down into corners and held its line better,it flipped from side to side much faster and more easily.And late braking into a corner no problem the bike stayed down not launching me upright like before. 30% faster around the bends than before and more confidently. I had heard bad things about the dunny before and thought that level of difference would only be noticeable to the seriously quick guys out there, not the average slow joe like me.I was so wrong,so glad to leave the Dunny 207's behind. Just goes to show ya, 'tires aint tyres' | |||
| Tucsonxb9s |
I hope I'm not breaking any protocol by posting this link to another forum, but they had a pretty thorough review on the Pirellis. http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=372&Page=1 | |||
| Reepicheep |
Metzeler makes the Road Tech in a 180/55. They cost about $20 more then the 170/60's. Looks like they list it as a Z6, not an M6. It's a roadtech, whatever. http://www.metzelermoto.com/product_info/catalogo/scheda.asp?ID=316&imageField.x=22&imageField.y=13 For comparing the MeZ4 to the Road Tech (MeZ6), they have a flash site that hides some pretty good information under lots of annoying blinking lights and dancing animals. Anyway, here is the screen I found most useful... You can find it on the Metzeler site.  | |||
| Noface |
No question the stock 207's have NO longevity. The difference between them and the new 208's seem to be the new 208's actually have some tread on them. The stockers have little tread to make them lighter. The first replacement set I tried were the D220's because I wanted some longevity. Well, the old flat spot returned at about the same time on the odometer, they plow when you lean into a corner (almost knee dragging). If you ride what I call aggressive, I'd get the sport compounds and live with the fact you'll replace the set at 4k miles. The second replacement set, and those thereafter have been Michelin Pilot Sports. Awesome tires. Worth the $25 extra for a set IMO. Reepi mentioned that sport touring tires handled Deal's Gap well. I gotta wonder Reepi, is that dragging a knee? There's no way I would feel comfortable doing that with the D220's. I don't know jack about the Metzelers or Pirellis on the 9R, so take that fwiw. Maybe with this Pirelli free front tire deal I'll try a set.  | |||
| Reepicheep |
Depends on your definition of knee dragging. Around here I was riding one of my favorite roads and came across an R1 and a GSXR-750 riding aggressively. I did not know them, but decided to follow a little while to see how they did. They of course wicked it up as soon as they saw me. They would get to the start of the turn, lean waaaaay off the side of the bike, and reach their knee waaaaay down to try and touch the pavement. I, at the same speed on the same turn on my Cyclone, just stayed upright on my bike, leaned the whole thing over, and took what I considered a pretty conservative turn (just normal "ride the pace" type stuff). Did not even touch the pegs. On the Cyclone, hard parts start to touch before you get *that* far over. And I would not be inclined to drag a knee on the street (even deals gap) anyway, at least not until they install corner workers and airfence. What I meant, was that my Cyclone shod with Metzler MeZ4's / D205's has sufficient performance for anything I would consider doing on the street, and good enough performance to double the speed on every yellow "caution reduce speed" sign I have run across. If I am going so fast that I can't make a 12" correction in my line mid turn to avoid that rock or pothole, I am going too fast. So if you just want to ride aggressively, the sport touring tires are not out of the question. I would get smoked on the track of course, and crushed at battletrax. And this is on a Cyclone, though I would probably put the same tires on the XB9S I hope to someday own. If I went the firebolt route, you could probably make more of an argument for the bleed money race rubber. | |||
| Noface |
Sounds pretty aggressive to me Bill. I've dragged 9S footpegs on my 9R, but not with anything other than race type tires. I think I'll stay with the race spec stuff just to feel good about it.  | |||
| Charlieboy6649 |
Thanks for the posts guys. I'm better aware of my choices. I have to say, I like "sticky" and am willing to pay more/more often for it. I think I'll be taking advantage of the Diablo offer as well. Thanks, Charles P.S.- Reepicheep, I to like to follow and laugh at those sorry fellows "reaching" for the pavement with their knees. I just smile as I pass them upright on my 9r!  | |||
| Jasonblue |
Where do you get the coupon for the Pirellis'? And who have you guys been ordering them from? Thanx Jason | |||
| Chainsaw |
Pirelli's web site has the details, here's the coupon...
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| Jasonblue |
I got the coupon and ordered my rear Diablo yesterday. $136.00 with shipping, mailing my coupon off today. Thanx for the info guys. Jason | |||
| Fullpower |
lothodon: metzeler's are available in a 180 width. i just ordered a set of metzeler Z6 road techs. i like to have spares. need to make up a wheel balancing fixture. i have never changed any radial cycle tires... anything different than dirtbikes and harleys? any tips let me know. thanks dean | |||
| Rokoneer |
Lowest price I found on the Diablo's in a quick online search was at www.ronayersmotorsports.com Tire was $112 and shipping was $8.....Took a week to get mine from them. | |||
| Cowtown |
The coupon is for the "standard" Diablo tires. Is that the Sport or the Corsa, or is there a Standard I'm not able to find. Thanks | |||
| Xb9er |
The Diablo is the "standard" street tire. The Diablo Corsa is the track tire. | |||
| Two_buells |
I like the Bridgestone Battlax 010's on my XB9R |
Pirelli coupon