Which tyres?

[samgab]

I'm due for new TYRES! for the VTR250, and it comes down to 2 options:


Michelin Pilot Activ
Bridgestone Battlax BT-45


This limitation is due to availability, tyre size, and intended use (commuting)

So I'm putting the question out there:
Which would you buy, given those two choices?
The price is almost the same for each.
I prefer the look of the Pilot, just a better looking tread pattern IMHO.
But the Battlax is a dual compound, which is very good for commuting.
Having said that, The Pilot is supposed to have really good life anyway.

End of the day, I would choose the grippiest, if I knew which that was.

So what would you choose out of those two, and why?

<a href="http://two-wheels.michelin.com/2w/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=2092004104059&codePage=2092004104059_30092004085642&lang=EN">Michelin Pilot Activ website</a>


<a href="http://mc.bridgestone.co.jp/en/products/battlax/bt45.html">Bridgestone Battlax BT45 website</a>

[Gubb]

I had the BattleAx's on the Hyosung, and found them really good. Then again, the only comparison I had was with the stock Shinkos which isn't saying much.

[samgab]

I had the BattleAx's on the Hyosung, and found them really good. Then again, the only comparison I had was with the stock Shinkos which isn't saying much.

Cheers mate, so that's one kinda vote for the Battlaxs...

[klingon]

:bash: In New Zealand we call them TYRES! :hitcher:

Love from the BDOTGNZA
xxx

[klingon]

Oh I almost forgot to say:
I have the Battlaxes on my Volty and have found them brilliant commuting tyres. I think they'll do me for another 50,000k at the rate they're going!

Battlax on the road, Balttleaxe on the bike. Works for me.

[samgab]

:bash: In New Zealand we call them TYRES! :hitcher:

Love from the BDOTGNZA
xxx

Oh Good Lord, how embarrassing! :doh: I get so confused. Are they still the same color though? I'll do the honorable thing, jump on an (aluminum) airplane and head over to the States with my head hung in shame. :niceone:

No but seriously, I'm a grammar and spelling nazi from way back, can I join your group?

[MSTRS]

BT45 all the way. Dual compound. Great life. Brilliant performance wet and dry. Keep you upright at high lean angles. Readily available. Fair prices.

[klingon]

Oh Good Lord, how embarrassing! :doh: I get so confused. Are they still the same color though? I'll do the honorable thing, jump on an (aluminum) airplane and head over to the States with my head hung in shame. :niceone:

No but seriously, I'm a grammar and spelling nazi from way back, can I join your group?

You have redeemed yourself in the eyes of BDOTGNZA.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/group.php?groupid=10
We may let you join if you grovel enough.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Another vote for the BT45's from me. I had them on my GPX, alot more confidence inspiring than the stock tyres.

[samgab]

Oh Good Lord, how embarrassing! :doh: I get so confused. Are they still the same color though? I'll do the honorable thing, jump on an (aluminum) airplane and head over to the States with my head hung in shame. :niceone:

No but seriously, I'm a grammar and spelling nazi from way back, can I join your group?

Sorry, MAY I join your group?...

And it looks like a walk-over for the Battlaxs (not Battlaxes, cos it's a plural of the trade mark name "Battlax").
I wonder if that's because they're better, or if it's just because more people have experience with the Bridgestones.
The guy I talked to yesterday at Cycletreads also recommended the BT45s, he said he used to own a VTR250 and it's what he used.
Trouble is they're out of stock of the rears right now, and so is the NZ supplier. :(

[MSTRS]

Pirelli Sport Demons are also excellent. But you may be wasting them on commute riding.

[EJK]

Another vote for the BT45.

I can't critically say about the 45s but c'mon, MotoGP Ducati uses Bridgestone.

[samgab]

Alright, I'm convinced. BT45s it is then.
Now I just have to wait for more to arrive in the country!

[klingon]

...(not Battlaxes, cos it's a plural of the trade mark name "Battlax")...

LOL I look forward to slugging this out with you in the appropriate forum :girlfight:

[davebullet]

Actually, the name Battlax comes from the lack of recycled pink batt fibreglass traditionally found in normal compounds. Hence the tyre "batt lacks" or battlax for short.

[puddytat]

Ive had them both in the past & I found the Pilot Actives WAY better.....

[samgab]

So some people say that dual compounds are not great in the wet, due to the harder compound in the centre section of the rubber...

[MSTRS]

But some people hate Hondas. Did it put you off?

[samgab]

But some people hate Hondas. Did it put you off?

lol, yeah but that hatred is motivated by jealousy, whereas the concept of harder rubber in the centre not being as grippy in the wet makes some sense... ;)

[MSTRS]

Theories are...just that. If one or two say they have a problem with a particular tyre, then that is unfounded theory. So many parameters come into play to get optimum performance in a variety of conditions that there will always be exceptions to a rule. It may be that BT45s really suit the VTR250 - I know they performed exceptionally well on a Spada and a Kawasaki GPX250. I would be putting those tyres if I had your bike.
I run the PR2s on the 750 - 17000kms and the only time they didn't stick like glue was in winter, late afternoon, damp shadowed sections of the Napier/Taupo. But to be honest, I never realised...I thought my pillion was fidgeting.

[davebullet]

Seriously samgab

My riding instructor for BHS highly recommended the BT45 for the VTR250.

[samgab]

Well, I bought some new tyres!
I know most of the responses suggested the BT-45's, but the sad fact is, there are none in the country at the moment. Cycletreads have fronts, but no rears, and the supplier has no rears either. There's some kind of supply issue.

SOOOO, I bought the Pilot Activs.
OH... MY... GOSH!!!

They finished fitting them, and gave me a warning about taking it easy because they're not properly grippy till they've been worn in, or something.
So I took to the road very gingerly - since it was raining, and the road was soaking wet and oily - for the ride from the North Shore back to Mangere Bridge.
Immediately they felt better, and grippier. The difference was instantly noticable. As I rode, I cautiously tried swerving a bit, and braking harder and harder. The improvement is incredible. I wish I had these tyres on during the Coro loop last weekend!
In the last couple of Kms from home, on an empty road, I tried the front brakes out properly: Stoppies, no problem. Fronts didn't even feel like letting go. On a wet road. There is no WAY the old, hard, cracked Dunlops would've done that, even in the dry (and yes, I've tried it at the NASS sessions in a controlled environment).

So, end of the day, I am VERY impressed with the new Activs so far.
I already feel much safer in the wet -- haven't ridden them in the dry as yet.

Yesterday I was riding home from Auckland city at about 7pm in the heavy rain, and the bike was slipping and sliding around all over the place, it was a terrifying experience in the heavy traffic. Today it was fun.

[Hiflyer]

Cycletreads have fronts, but no rears,



uuummm maybe you have different size tyres (look i used a y haha) but i just put a rear and a front on hold at cycletreads. pick them up on saturday

[samgab]

uuummm maybe you have different size tyres (look i used a y haha) but i just put a rear and a front on hold at cycletreads. pick them up on saturday

Yeah, they have some sizes, just not my size. But this thread is all about tyres for my bike, so that's what I meant. ;)

(Hyo takes 150/70-17s and the VTR takes 140/70-17s.)

Let's test the two kinds out and have a "whocanstopthequickest" test on the new rubber?!

[Hiflyer]

Yeah, they have some sizes, just not my size. But this thread is all about tyres for my bike, so that's what I meant. ;)

(Hyo takes 150/70-17s and the VTR takes 140/70-17s.)

Let's test the two kinds out and have a "whocanstopthequickest" test on the new rubber?!

haha if you want? dry conditions from 70kp/h to 0 kp/h? altho i do have 2 front discs and will have better tyres so i might not have to try as hard haha :laugh:

but i do have a hyo. :doh:

never done a stoppie

never done a wheelie (but want to do both in a safe environment if anyone wants to teach me) anyway :Offtopic:

we shall see after my tyres are fitted

[samgab]

haha if you want? dry conditions from 70kp/h to 0 kp/h? altho i do have 2 front discs and will have better tyres so i might not have to try as hard haha :laugh:

but i do have a hyo. :doh:

never done a stoppie

never done a wheelie (but want to do both in a safe environment if anyone wants to teach me) anyway :Offtopic:

we shall see after my tyres are fitted

Oh, it's so on. Come to NASS some time. :D

[Hiflyer]

might have to.. ive been meaning to for a while now, tyres have been holding me back. . . hahaha watch yo'self.

kidding im not that crazy but it will be interesting to see what happens

[musicman]

Let's test the two kinds out and have a "whocanstopthequickest" test on the new rubber?!

But will it be a fair test considering the GT250R is a fat whale about 10x the mass of the VTR??

[samgab]

But will it be a fair test considering the GT250R is a fat whale about 10x the mass of the VTR??

Shhhh! I wasn't going to mention my unfair advantage there. He reckons he has the advantage with twin front discs -- like that'll give any advantage from 70KpH. ;)

[pritch]

MotoGP Ducati uses Bridgestone.

MotoGP uses Bridgestone - full stop.