| Author | Message | ||
     Rpm4x4 |
Im having a hard time making this decision. My bike is my daily rider. Im not a racer but I do love the twisties. I have the syncs right now and they have done well but I dont want to purchase again due to the fact that they were lumpy/cupped for the last couple thousand miles. I am down to the Metzeler M-3 Dunlop qualifier radial sport Corsa III Bridgestone Battleaxe 021 The battleaxe 021 is a dual compound. Im leaning twards this tire because of that. It sounds good on paper but I dont know how it will work in the real world. | ||
| Krassh |
Michelin Pilot Road Or Michelin Pilot Power 2CT Good wear, excellent handling | ||
| Bill0351 |
After 1,000 miles, I really like my new set of Continental Road Attacks. Bill | ||
| Cyclonedon |
you might want to take a look at the new Dunlop "Road Smarts". I've heard some good things about them. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I had the Bridgestone Battlax 021. They worked fine... but then I traded them in for Perelli Diablo Strada's and LOVE THEM! If you're thinking the Battlax 021's... skip right ahead to the Diablo Strada's, you'll be very pleased. They are the 'touring' varient, so mileage is good, and I've done a track day (and another in less than a month) and a dragon day on my set with plenty of knee draggin, and I've had no traction issues whatsoever. Plus they have good wet and cold traction. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
I have been using the Dunlop Qualifiers since they came out, and have been extremely happy with them both on the road on for track days. Now that I am retired from doing track days, the short wear of the Qualifiers has begun to seem a bit unreasonable, and I too am looking at the "Roadsmarts". Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any good reviews of them, nor have I had any first hand reports. Can anyone on this board compare the two Dunlops? | ||
| Vortec57 |
Sent out a lot of Michelin Pilot power 2 and Dunlop Roadsmart this season. Haven't had anyone back in to complain about them. Also have a customer running Continental road attcks and really likes them for commuting in the week and canyon on the weekend | ||
| Lemonchili_x1 |
I'm about to replace a set of Battlax 014's, so I'm in the same boat. I've been extremely happy with the 014's, grippy with lots of feel, lots of feedback from the front tyre, but I don't do as much "sport" riding as I used to, and haven't done a track day for years, so was thinking of going to 021's too. Talking to the guy at my usual tyre shop (very helpful folks) he spoke highly of the 021's, but also said they were getting lots of good customer feedback about the Roadsmarts. Sorry I can't give any more specific info than that. His overall comments were that both the 021's and Roadsmarts would be a good tyre for fast road riding, and ok for track days as long as I don't forget they're not a super sticky tyre. In all honesty I'm not that fast so I doubt I'd find the limits of either. I never found the limits of the 014's. He also said that the 021's and Roadsmarts would warm up quicker than say 014's or 016's. The other suggestion was Battlax 021 on the rear and 014 or 015 on the front, but I think I might go with 021's front and rear. cheers, chili | ||
| Jonzin |
+1 Michelin Pilot Power 2CT I am really impressed with the handling. So far I have a little over 1,000 miles on them. | ||
| Igneroid |
Im like you, RPM, I love the twisties too. Im thinkin any of the tires you mentioned would do you well. That said, I do like the idea of dual compound tire. I bought a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2's and just installed them. They were kinda pricey up here. With these tires, I feel more connected to the road than I did with the Dunlop Sportmax's but they were worn out. Mebey its just a mental thing(Im opening a door here.... heh)but I am noticably quicker along my favorite road since I installed the new rubber. | ||
| Brinnutz |
Gentleman_Jon, I've had Qualifiers on my bike for about a year now...Got about 8-9,000 miles or good hard riding (a couple of burnies here and there) out of front and rear (front's still on) just replaced the rear the day before I left for Homecoming. What kind of mileage are you getting out of them? Granted, I rode the rear until it was bald/just started showing belt... | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
+1 on the Continental Road Attacks. they roll from side to side incredibly smoothly and they are great in the rain | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Pirelli Rosso! | ||
| Djkaplan |
I use the Metzeler M3. I've used Metzelers since the M1 and like the way they consistently react at the limits of adhesion when cornering, both front and rear. They are not mileage tires, so expect wear rates to reflect that. | ||
| Hooligan620 |
A vote for Michelin 2CT. I rode a track day when they were new then put over four thousand miles on them in all kinds of weather 100 degree heat to pouring rain with standing water on the road, they stuck like glue all the time. I'm not to the wear bars yet but close, they have squared off after a trip from Seattle to Utah for the WSB. I'll replace the rear and ride the front until they both need to be replaced. | ||
| Ducxl |
I have been running Corsa-III on all my bikes.I just got a deal on a set of Michelin Pilot Power 2CT and am running them on my X1..VERY impressed | ||
| Etennuly |
Michelin Road Pilot II, I've sworn off the Syncs for these. They cost a little more, but it looks like I will make 8,000 on a rear verses 6,000 on the last four Syncs. Handling = better Wet = same Touring and two up = much better Slab = better Lasting = quite a bit better Price = $40 more and well worth it | ||
| 4cammer |
Have a set of Corsa III's on my '07 XB9R. Love them. Have never made me question spooning them on. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Nutz, I usually change them when I get into the wear bars. I used to go a little further, but I finally realized that the handling was so compromised, that it really wasn't worth it to get the last ten bucks out of them. I am astounded to hear that you got eight to nine thousand miles out of them. I usually change at around three thousand. I run factory pressures, no burnouts, lots of twisties, and the odd track day. I always change pairs, even though there is lots of rubber left on the front, the profile has changed and handling suffers. Even though nobody is more of a cheapskate than me, I have finally realized that compared to the total investment in the bike and maintenance, anything less than the best rubber is a false economy, if you like to work the bike out in the twisties. | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I had not read the specs on the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT but it does look impressive. I think I will give them a try. Thanks for the help guys.  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
What ?!?! No Mt-60s? They are just great for cornering, provided it is in off pavement, hooks up good in chunky mucky dirty thick gloppy ploppy MUUUUUD. | ||
| Paulxb12r |
Pilots 2CTs are great tires but your looking at 4 to 5k on the rear but it will be the same story or worse on all the tires your looking at. But you could not ask for better tires for the twisties | ||
| Rpm4x4 |
I will leave the mud to my off road buggy  | ||
| Thumper74 |
I went with the Stradas after Mike's recomendation and found that they are killer wet weather tires, work well at low temps, and I've got around 8,000 before I got cords Thursday. I'll be throwing on another one tommorrow! | ||
| M1combat |
I'm with DjKap on this one... The Metzelers seem to have outstanding predictability near the edge. They may not be capable of that last 0.05% of overall grip levels (That I don't even use on the track...), but they give excellent feedback near the edge of the envelope. That edge isn't razor sharp like it is with some tires and I assure you that the first time you save a high side because you had a bit of extra notice you'll appreciate it  . The M3's are dual compound for the rear tire, single compound for the front. I got over 5K out of my last set but that included about 1000 or so miles of twisties that I consider relatively free. The sides still had at least a trackday or two or another 2000 miles of twisties in them. The other thing about the Metz sport tires is that they have very good grip on a wet road. With the bike stood up I can't break the rear free any more in the wet than in the dry. I'm sure it's a different story leaned over but I refuse to ride the twisties hard in the rain... too many guard rails  . I would love to do a rainy trackday. That softer edge to the Metzeler's envelope doesn't allow that last hundredth of a second on a racetrack maybe, but it allows you to draw nice long curved black lines around corners . That's more fun IMO. I run the front at 28-30lbs, and the rear two pounds higher than that. If it's a hot day I set the front towards 30, on a cool day I set it towards 28. Always with the rear 2lbs higher. Of course that's with my setup and style... YMMV. (Message edited by m1combat on August 03, 2008) | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
I am close to needing tires myself. That last trip I did squared the hell out of my syncs. Now they are not exactly confidence inspiring. I was leaning toward the Road Pilot 2, and after reading Etennuly's comments I think I am sold. I usually end up commuting to much for anything sportier. | ||
| Crusty |
Pirelli Diablo Stradas. | ||
| Etennuly |
The way the tire guy explained the difference between the Road Pilot II and the Pilot power II, is that the dual compound of the Road Pilot will last about 20% longer than the Pilot power. The Pilot Power is more for track guys and twistie pounders, with its softer compound. Did I mention that the Road Pilot II is quite a bit better in corners than the Syncs were? It carves the corners like the fillet knife has been sharpened. I have a still new Sync on the front. I will be putting the Road Pilot II there also. And my scoring for rain above is excellent! A friend of mine put them on front and back of his Uly and is about five mph faster through twisties without even noticing it. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"The Metzelers [M3] seem to have outstanding predictability near the edge. They may not be capable of that last 0.05% of overall grip levels (That I don't even use on the track...), but they give excellent feedback near the edge of the envelope." I often wondered if the predictability of the M3 at near breakaway was at the expense of ultimate traction. The feedback from the front is so consistent, I feel confident when the front end starts pushing (drifting) through corners. It's the only tire I've consistently enjoyed that confidence on. If I'm not getting the last .05% grip now, I'm not so sure I'd want it anyway. Your description of the handling characteristics and mileage expectation is absolutely reflective of my experience with the M3 for the last two years and 3 sets of tires. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"The other thing about the Metz sport tires is that they have very good grip on a wet road. With the bike stood up I can't break the rear free any more in the wet than in the dry. I'm sure it's a different story leaned over but I refuse to ride the twisties hard in the rain... too many guard rails . I would love to do a rainy trackday." Another interesting characteristic of the M3 is a fairly consistent and predictable breakaway in wet conditions. I've been able to do some pretty lurid slides in the rain with these tires. The 'window of opportunity' for a powerslide to turn into a broadslide is much larger of course. I stopped messing around in the rain when I found out how big the window could get. |
