Pilot Road 2s or Avon Storms?

**jrandom** · 11th January 2008, 09:23

Betty's BT020s have to go.

I've narrowed the replacement choice, by reputation, down to the PR2s or the Storms (or perhaps a Storm/Viper combo).

I've noted plenty of recommendations for both, here, but no direct comparison.

Has anyone tried both the Avons and the Michelins on the same bike? Can you comment on the difference?

Also, can anyone comment on the merits of running a Viper front and a Storm rear, as opposed to Storms front and rear?

[Edit: Cue everyone who's tried one but not the other chiming in with a recommendation for the one they've tried...]

**vifferman** · 11th January 2008, 09:30

A wee comment:
Both are excellent tyres, so I don't reckon you will regret either choice, ergo it doesn't really matter. However, (but!) there was a sport-touring tyre comparo recently (I'll see iffen I can dredge it up) and the Michelins scored much higher than the Storms.

If you like to change your tyres as a set, I believe the Viper front will give you slightly more grip and wear out at the same time as the rear, rather than perhaps slightly later.

**ManDownUnder** · 11th January 2008, 09:33

What size are the 020's? I love the things... and if they happened to fit the RF I could take 'em off your hands for a fair price...

**vifferman** · 11th January 2008, 09:34

Here's a thread about the tyre comparo.

**vifferman** · 11th January 2008, 09:36

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I love the things...

Even the front?

Does it not wear all mental on the RFbeast?

**jrandom** · 11th January 2008, 09:36

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

What size are the 020's?

120/70/17 and 190/50/17

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I love the things...

I was going to use the rear for a burnout, being as that's all they're good for in my books, but if you want them when they come off I'll refrain and they're yours for a box of Steinlager Pure.

It's surprisingly good beer, isn't it?

I've done 5,000km on them, by the way. The rear's starting to square off.

**jrandom** · 11th January 2008, 09:38

Originally Posted by vifferman

Here's a thread about the tyre comparo.

Bingo.

Ta.

**jrandom** · 11th January 2008, 09:51

Right, phone call made, one set of Pilot Road 2s on the way...

**ManDownUnder** · 11th January 2008, 09:53

Originally Posted by vifferman

Even the front?

Does it not wear all mental on the RFbeast?

To confirm - we're talking about Bridgestone BT020s? Not at all... I get great mileage from them.

Originally Posted by jrandom

120/70/17 and 190/50/17

I was going to use the rear for a burnout, being as that's all they're good for in my books, but if you want them when they come off I'll refrain and they're yours for a box of Steinlager Pure.

It's surprisingly good beer, isn't it?

I've done 5,000km on them, by the way. The rear's starting to square off.

The rear doesn't fit but if the front's ok (half life or more...?) I'll give you that beer for the front anyway.

Looks like your burnout wishes are coming true.

**jrandom** · 11th January 2008, 09:58

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

To confirm - we're talking about Bridgestone BT020s? Not at all... I get great mileage from them.

Yes, Bridgestone BT020s.

And your great mileage will be because as far as I can tell, they're made of plastic!

Still, if they work for you on the RF, all good...

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

The rear doesn't fit but if the front's ok (half life or more...?) I'll give you that beer for the front anyway.

Sweet.

Woohoo, burnout!

**terbang** · 11th January 2008, 10:09

Good choice, the Pilot Road 2CT's fitted to my Nav have taken a horrendous beating and can absorb a hell of a lot of power right to the edge and even beyond, they tell you when they are about to slip (which is rare and generally only in the wet) and are wearing nice and evenly. The Nav, being a big traiilie with no ground clearance issues, has on a couple of occasions (with 33 psi), inadvertantly tucked the rear sidewall under onto the road as well..! And they still didn't let go!

**NZsarge** · 11th January 2008, 10:22

Honestly either of those two choices would be fine I think but if you want a choice.....PR2's.

Edit: teach me for reading to the end of the thread eh....

**Blackbird** · 11th January 2008, 10:24

Vifferman is right on the money with his comments and you've probably seen my Storm evaluation report. I'll be replacing the rear Storm with another one shortly and putting a Viper Sport on the front as it happens to be a combination which works pretty well with the Blackbird.

Now here's the kicker!! It's become pretty clear that certain tyres work better with some bikes than others due to overall weight, front/rear weight bias, steering angle, power and anything else you care to name. To give an example, the Viper Sport soft compound is great for the Blackbird because it has a solid carcass construction which means it doesn't deflect and produce triangulation/cupping. However, if you had a lighter bike such as a 'blade, there are soft compound tyres which would work far better.

What I'm saying is there is no such thing as the "best tyre". What type of bike you fit it to and how you ride it has just as much relevance.

**Hitcher** · 11th January 2008, 10:26

Originally Posted by jrandom

Has anyone tried both the Avons and the Michelins on the same bike? Can you comment on the difference?

Also, can anyone comment on the merits of running a Viper front and a Storm rear, as opposed to Storms front and rear?

I've run both on the FJR. Storms, then PR2s and now back to Storms.

I know there has been much discussion about "wobbly tyre syndrome" about the new Storms from some Blackbird owners. I can't comment on this as I've never experienced it on the FJR and I understand that Avon has now remedied whatever it was that contributed to this phenomenum.

The two tyres are both dual compound and vastly superior to the old breed of sports touring tyres. I would go so far as to say that they have redefined that class of tyre, leaving some manufacturers (notably Dunlop but also Bridgestone -- even with the new Battlax 021) stumbling in their dust.

Both are outstandingly great handling tyres. Based on my experience, my preference is for the Avon Storm. I find they handle better in the wet than the PR2 and are slightly sharper steering than the PR2, which I like in a front tyre. I got over 14,000km out of my first Storm rear. I don't know what the rear PR2 would have run out at finally. It had done 11,000km when the front PR2 wore out -- the first time I have ever worn out a front before a rear. This underwhelmed me significantly, although I had decided prior to that to return to Storms on my next change, which I now have.

On the subject of Storm front or Viper front?

Just because it's a "sport touring" tyre doesn't mean that the performance of the Storm should be underestimated. As I mentioned earlier, the Storm and the PR2 have redefined completely this class of tyre. Discard and expunge all of your prejudices about what sports touring tyres can and can't do compared to their "sportier" cousins.

I know it was on a different bike and that I am not Aaron Slight, but Mrs H's Bandit 650 runs Storms, and we gave this combination significant stick around Manfeild and in the process completely removed any evidence of chicken strips on the rear. The bike never gave any protestations other than the usual when its pegs carved a swathe around a couple of corners.

And I don't always nana around on the FJR. I've never had a moment when I've thought "Hmmm, maybe I should be running a stickier front wheel."

I'd go Storms front and rear. You will notice a quantum difference in the performance and handling responsiveness of Betty, in all weather and road conditions. Yes, they are that good.

**NZsarge** · 11th January 2008, 10:26

Originally Posted by jrandom

120/70/17 and 190/50/17

I was going to use the rear for a burnout, being as that's all they're good for in my books, but if you want them when they come off I'll refrain and they're yours for a box of Steinlager Pure.

It's surprisingly good beer, isn't it?

Personally i'd hold out for a box of Heineken.....but that's just me