New rear tyre advice [Archive]

bert_is_evil

29th January 2007, 09:32

I need a new rear tyre for the Thunderace, the shop have recommended a pirelli diablo at $325. Should I go for this tyre (after calling around for a cheaper price of course) or can anyone recommend a better/alternative? I've had a browse and found a thread on these but it's from 2005 so might be a bit out of date.

enigma51

29th January 2007, 09:41

What type is the front

The only reason I asked is that one should get the same type for rear and front. Diablo's have different profile to a michilen etc etc so in theory they should not work together but saying that I have had a avon rear and corsa front and it was not to bad but not ideal

bert_is_evil

29th January 2007, 09:53

jimbo600

29th January 2007, 09:56

Metzeler sportec M3 mate. Best rubber you can get.

Pixie

29th January 2007, 10:13

I can't remember what's on the front but it will be due for replacement soon I think anyway so I guess I'll match the new front to whatever I get for the rear. I'm after something for mainly on the road, occassional track day, and I'm not fast.

For what you describe you riding as,I'd try a Michelin Pilot Road or a Metzler Z6.
The Michelins are exceptionally good value.

bert_is_evil

29th January 2007, 10:14

Metzeler sportec M3 mate. Best rubber you can get.

Do you know how much they cost?

enigma51

29th January 2007, 10:16

There is so many choice out there at the moment its hard to say which is right and which is wrong (sorry I know does not help)

I have tried avons diablos bridgestones continentals and dunlops and each one of them have characters I loved and hated. Give an example the dunlops I hate but I know of a few people on hear that love them. So the best advice I can give is you is that if you like the current set keep to that brand or if you are in the mood to "experiment" conti's had a deal on a while ago try them for 500 km if you dont like they will give you your money back!

My problem was that I actualy liked them!

jimbo600

29th January 2007, 10:19

Do you know how much they cost?

You'll have to shop around but expect to pay somewhere close to $330 for a rear.

enigma51

29th January 2007, 10:28

You'll have to shop around but expect to pay somewhere close to $330 for a rear.

That seems to be the norm for tires at the moment

bert_is_evil

29th January 2007, 10:33

Cool, not too much of a shock on the price then. Can anyone tell me the difference between the Metzeler M6 & Z6? Their website gave me some words but nothing comparable or that I really understood....

Mental Trousers

29th January 2007, 10:51

Z6 is more a touring tyre. The M3 is for sports riders who do a few track days. I love the M3's on my YZF.

skelstar

29th January 2007, 11:00

I really liked my Conti Road-Attacks. Im not super fast but the deep-deep tread just looks yummy.

bert_is_evil

29th January 2007, 11:18

Hmm, yummy deep tread - I certainly can't find that on the Metzeler spec's

boomer

29th January 2007, 11:24

Z6 is more a touring tyre. The M3 is for sports riders who do a few track days. I love the M3's on my YZF.

I'm suprised you didn't go for the Z6's with your style of riding MT!?
All much of a muchness, all very much a personal preference.. try 'em all and then you'll know what you liek and don't like.

limbimtimwim

29th January 2007, 11:28

I'm quite happy with my Pirelli Diablo rear, it is wearing well. It played nice with my BT-014 front as well, much to my surprise. I was tearing my original equipment rear BT-014 up, but I can't ride for shit so I have no idea how that was happening. Maybe it wasn't getting warm enough and I was cold-tearing it. I am putting another Pirelli Diablo on the front. This is just 'Diablo' not a 'Diablo Corsa' and not a 'Diablo Strada'.

Depends on what you want to do with your bike really. But if you are kinda middle-of-the-road like me, the Diablo is all good.

skelstar

29th January 2007, 11:31

But if you are kinda middle-of-the-road like me...
Seen you ride buddy, you're more all-over-the-road.

limbimtimwim

29th January 2007, 11:36

Seen you ride buddy, you're more all-over-the-road.You should see me on the FJ1200!!

29th January 2007, 11:37

I really liked my Conti Road-Attacks. Im not super fast but the deep-deep tread just looks yummy.
I might start another 'Conti Attack - feedback' thread because I've heard a couple of people say they're good. The price is best around at the mo at $259 for a rear 180. I'm getting a rear Conti Sport Attack fitted this week. Liked the ideal that I can return it within 500km if I don't like it. Cool, up the hill for a couple of passes to see how they feel then back to the shop at 499km. Then down to the next shop for another 499km then...Anyone have a list of all the Conti stockists? Preferably within 499km of Welly.
Shop said Jay lawrence is racing on them and I guess he knows a thing or two. They look more like a slick though with sweet stuff all grooves for water dispersement, which makes me suspect they might be useless in the wet?
They can't be worse than these BT014s I've been landed with. I wouldn't mind the pitiful tyre life if they had provided some confident grip when cranked over and atleast made a 20% effort to work in the wet.

edit- I see Limbitimwim also found the BTs wore too quick. You should try the Diablo Corsa sometime. I'm sure you will feel the added confidence it gives in corners. it might wear a bit quicker than a standard Diablo, but the extra fun and safety factor make up for it.

bert_is_evil

29th January 2007, 11:56

They look more like a slick though with sweet stuff all grooves for water dispersement, which makes me suspect they might be useless in the wet?

I don't like the sound of that, I had cheap awful tyres on my previous bike that gave me a fear of riding in the rain that I still suffer from

Fatjim

29th January 2007, 12:03

All of the Diablo range are pretty good tyres in my experience. Although I've never tried a strada on the Front.

If you're like me and not a balls out hoon on the bike, the Diablo is the way to go, if your even more sedate you can't go wrong with the Strada. I used to have to push the rear quite hard to get any movement, and it never slid far enough to worry me.

Mental Trousers

29th January 2007, 15:30

I'm suprised you didn't go for the Z6's with your style of riding MT!?

Get a job you free loader.

limbimtimwim

29th January 2007, 18:50

Depends on what you want to do with your bike really. But if you are kinda middle-of-the-road like me, the Diablo is all good.Okay, now I have Diablos at both ends, I can say I am very happy with them.

Heaps of confidence going over the hill this early evening, despite the wind. Much less standy-uppy when braking. If they wear well, I think I have found my tyre for this bike. BT-014, begone, and don't come back.

Clivoris

29th January 2007, 20:10

I might start another 'Conti Attack - feedback' thread because I've heard a couple of people say they're good. The price is best around at the mo at $259 for a rear 180. I'm getting a rear Conti Sport Attack fitted this week. Liked the ideal that I can return it within 500km if I don't like it. Cool, up the hill for a couple of passes to see how they feel then back to the shop at 499km. Then down to the next shop for another 499km then...Anyone have a list of all the Conti stockists? Preferably within 499km of Welly.
Shop said Jay lawrence is racing on them and I guess he knows a thing or two. They look more like a slick though with sweet stuff all grooves for water dispersement, which makes me suspect they might be useless in the wet?
They can't be worse than these BT014s I've been landed with. I wouldn't mind the pitiful tyre life if they had provided some confident grip when cranked over and atleast made a 20% effort to work in the wet.

edit- I see Limbitimwim also found the BTs wore too quick. You should try the Diablo Corsa sometime. I'm sure you will feel the added confidence it gives in corners. it might wear a bit quicker than a standard Diablo, but the extra fun and safety factor make up for it.

Hi man. Glad to hear you are loving the beemer.
I've just gone through two Conti Sport Attack rears on the Ape. I've been pretty disappointed with the mileage I got out of them but I am yet to see what the Ape and my hamfisted riding will do to another brand. I got 4,500km out of the rears (this is down to the steelbelting). They performed fine but the last third of their life went pretty quick. They were fine in the wet for a sport tyre. Will give something else a go when I can afford it.

skelstar

29th January 2007, 20:12

I got 10,000kms out of the rear with my Hornet. Pillioning without pumping up the tyres pretty much killed the tyre in the last 200kms.

29th January 2007, 20:42

... I got 4,500km out of the rears (this is down to the steelbelting). They performed fine but the last third of their life went pretty quick. .

Thanks Clive. 4,500km is not what I want to hear! I'll give the rear a go just out of curiousity

Clivoris

29th January 2007, 20:46

Thanks Clive. 4,500km is not what I want to hear! I'll give the rear a go just out of curiousity

Others have got better mileage, but I think Darkman got even less on the R1. Curiosity is worth feeding when it comes to tyres eh? Only way to find out what suits. I was told to run a couple of PSI more than I usually would but didn't seem to make much difference.

BarBender

29th January 2007, 20:58

Others have got better mileage, but I think Darkman got even less on the R1. Curiosity is worth feeding when it comes to tyres eh? Only way to find out what suits. I was told to run a couple of PSI more than I usually would but didn't seem to make much difference.

Have you tried the Stradas Clive?
You're Ape has tons of torque so may need something a little harder.
Currently running Strada rear and a Diabolical front on the 12. I use the bike everyday and have been more than happy with them...Fantastic in the wet.
I may be a little "daring" and try a Corsa on the front next time.

Clivoris

29th January 2007, 21:08

Have you tried the Stradas Clive?

Good idea. I'm trying some supercorsas on the racebike this weekend. If I like the feel of them I was gonna give some Pirelli road tyres a look. Either that or some Metzeler SPortec M3's. Will see what the prices are like once I've paid for all this racing related stuff:gob:

Madness

29th January 2007, 21:20

Clivoris

29th January 2007, 21:23

I got around 5000km out of a set of Road Attack's on the Zed, they were shot for about 1000k before I took 'em off. They don't seem to take the punishment that the Diablo's seem to be loving. I won't be changing from the Diablo's in a hurry, they're delicious!.

So much for the Conti' claim to be high mileage. Mmmm Diablo's. I was told my bike would prefer Italian boots.:love:

Madness

29th January 2007, 21:27

I think it might be a case of "high margin" the way the shops are pushing them. The front had made in Korea stamped into it from memory, probably made by Shinko under licence.

A friend with a ZX12 has sworn black & blue on the Diablo's to me for years, I resisted trying them coz he was pissing me off with his ranting. Now I've tried 'em I see where he was coming from.

madmal64

29th January 2007, 21:38

I just love these black rubber round things threads!
So many different views on different brands.
Im running Pilot powers and think they are the dogs nuts on my bike for my riding style (or lack of) and type of riding.
I have a dislike for Dunlops. Think the Avon Azzaros are damn fine tire and good value for money. Got 10,000 ks out of the last set on the old bike.
At the end of the day they are the things that keep you upright and on the road. I stick with something I trust and to a point fuck the cost. Its all thats keeping shiny side up.

Paulus

29th January 2007, 21:41

I find I get about 4-5000km out of a rear Diablo on my R1. Strada will give about 30-50% more mileage and doesn't seem to have a heck of a lot less grip. The transition from grip to sliding is pretty smooth on these tyres making it pretty easy to control when it starts to slide (always a nice feature). I like them a lot. Diablo front and rear or Diablo front, Diablo Strada rear are a couple of combinations that work well for many people. If you're pushing hard enough to need Corsas maybe you should be on the track.

Clivoris

29th January 2007, 21:45

If you're pushing hard enough to need Corsas maybe you should be on the track.

I agree. The Supercorsas are for my race bike. I don't think I will run them on my road bike.

BarBender

29th January 2007, 22:16

If you're pushing hard enough to need Corsas maybe you should be on the track.

I agree. The Supercorsas are for my race bike. I don't think I will run them on my road bike.

I wouldnt run Supercorsas on my bike either. However - I wouldn't mind trying a Diablo Corsa front.

Pixie

29th January 2007, 23:09

Z6 is more a touring tyre. The M3 is for sports riders who do a few track days. I love the M3's on my YZF.

The Z6 is sport/touring. Lou had a customer who previously only used sport tyres.On the track he said the Z6 was as good as anything he'd tried.
The Pilot road is sport touring too.
Most riders overate their ability to use a high spec tyre's performance capabilities.Sometimes they don't even get a sport tyre hot enough to work properly and would get better performance from a touring tyre.

biggles1

30th January 2007, 07:17

I've just had 10,000 km out out of the rear on my first set of Road Attacks and although I replaced both have an estimated 3-4 thou left on the front.They are superb for the "yawn" but are running them at 5-6pounds above recommended pressure.

Clivoris

30th January 2007, 12:39

crash harry

30th January 2007, 22:06

I've been running a diablo front and a diablo strada rear, and had quite good wear and performance. I think I got nearly 10,000 off the rear on the 9R, mainly commuting, and it didn't square off too badly either.

1st February 2007, 20:36

Well I got a Conti Sport fitted to the rear today. Just got back from a quick squirt up Piecock hill and back to scrub it in. First impressions so far, it seems to grip fine but not too sure about how it handles wet roads. I was thinking how this might just be a wise choice as I swung around the last corner I could attack with a bit of pace, when all of sudden I hit a wet patch and the rear squirmed more than I expected, for what wasn't much speed or lean. So that last corner has left a seed of doubt. The previous 200 were handled well. I will clock up another 2 weeks of riding before deciding whether to replace the front BT014 with a Conti or go back to a Diablo Corsa (excellent in the wet).
Verdict- the jury is still out.

Clivoris

1st February 2007, 21:00

Hey MD. That aint so bad. I put an ex race dunlop 208 on my Ape last nite. Bit worn on the edges but 3/4 of the meat still on the middle. Tried to spit me off under hard acceleration (on my private closed road) at around 130 kmh. Not what I would call a tankslapper, but invigorating never-the-less. I will play with pressures etc but untill I can afford new tyres I guess I will ride more carefully.
Hope the confidence with that Conti improves mate. I'm not a huge fan of wet riding anyway but I quite liked the feedback from the Contis.

madmal64

1st February 2007, 22:02

Hey MD. That aint so bad. I put an ex race dunlop 208 on my Ape last nite. Bit worn on the edges but 3/4 of the meat still on the middle. Tried to spit me off under hard acceleration (on my private closed road) at around 130 kmh. Not what I would call a tankslapper, but invigorating never-the-less. I will play with pressures etc but untill I can afford new tyres I guess I will ride more carefully.

Mate you holding out on me. I thought I had the only private closed road in the area.
I would blame the nearly tankslapper on the 208's, they cant handle THAT much hp!:Punk:

3rd February 2007, 15:36

Well for those wondering I'm warming to these Contis. Doesn't hurt that they're a fair bit cheaper at the moment either. About $40-$50 a tyre below the rest of the pack.
Did a fang up the windfarm behind Martinborough last night and just returned from a rain-soaked ride through Piecock Hill. This time I had no wet moments.
The Contis have heaps of profile/contact patch on the sides for leaning. You would have to be really keen to get the rear wearing right up to the edge of the riding patch (the edge where it changes to the sidewall section)
They handled some hard pushing in the bends yesterday. Had a few moments when both tyres slipped suddenly, but I think that was brought on more by the crap BT014 still on the front.
So, I'll get back to the shop asap and replace the front with a Conti-Sport to see how a pair work together.

Clivoris

3rd February 2007, 19:26

Good news there MD. Missed you at Manfield today.

15th February 2007, 16:03

Good news there MD. Missed you at Manfield today.
Well I got the front Conti fitted today. So all go well I should get to the Manfeild track day in 2 weeks to really test them out.
And I'm not going to play with you big boys with 120, 150, ..180 + horsepower.
I'll spit the dummy and go play in the medium sandpit.

Clivoris

15th February 2007, 18:46

Well I got the front Conti fitted today. So all go well I should get to the Manfeild track day in 2 weeks to really test them out.
And I'm not going to play with you big boys with 120, 150, ..180 + horsepower.
I'll spit the dummy and go play in the medium sandpit.

Know what you mean mate. I tend to play in the mediums anyway cos that's where I've been comfortable. The last time out on my CBR tho I was thinking about moving up to fast or race cos my cornering pace was improving so much. Not getting carried away though cos there's a long way to go. If you're throwing the Beemer around like I think you might be, you'll be more comfy in the fasts still. One way to find out man.