Tyre options?

[brentmc]

I'm running a ZXR400 in the Pre89 Class, just a quick question to find out what tyres people are running on similar bikes, I'm running Pirelli tyres but keen to try some Metzlers.

Any feed back would be good.

Thanks.

[tigertim20]

I'm running a ZXR400 in the Pre89 Class, just a quick question to find out what tyres people are running on similar bikes, I'm running Pirelli tyres but keen to try some Metzlers.

Any feed back would be good.

Thanks.

lol you think the competition want to help you catch up to them?

[steveyb]

Bridgestone slicks are what you need.
Contact Eurotred NZ to discuss what options are available.
Then order through your local dealer, Street and Sport Motorcycles would be a good place (free plug there... in case you didn't notice).

[CHOPPA]

Tyre choice is a very personal thing. I cant comment on what would work on your bike but id suggest checking what the front running guys run in your class at the nationals

[codgyoleracer]

The Metzelers are excellent (although i am biased as i use them), they are also relativley well priced.

If you are just getting going in racing its best to trial all the commonly used brands & make a decison on whatever the stopwatch says is fastest.

Choosing a tyre is not all about grip:

Factors to be considered are: 'feel' upon turn in, "feel" under brakes, Side edge feel & grip, Price, Age & availibilty of stock from supplier, Sizes/Aspect thats suits the bike, Range of compound choices.

Also looking at what other riders use in championships around the world for similar bikes (the ones at the pointy end).

Cheers
GW

[Biggles08]

Choosing a tyre is not all about grip:

?????

grip, grip,grip... Price, Age & availibilty of stock from supplier, Sizes/Aspect thats suits the bike, Range of compound choices.

OIC.

[neil_cb125t]

Everyone has different bias' on what grip feels like, i know that Richard newberry who runs a very hot ZXR450 used to use MetZ, GW is pretty much MR F3 (Codgy) is running them now and used to run Dunlops.

My ZXR450 went best on dunlops, i still run the dunlops ( slicks ) which is what GW used to run. Personally i run Dunny slicks on my ZXR and im borrowing a CBR400 bike that got a CBR600 motor in it, and the 160 dunlop holds one just fine:-) even a 2 year old one.

[rustys]

"BRIDGESTONE's" way to go, not to expensive either.

[codgyoleracer]

Everyone has different bias' on what grip feels like, i know that Richard newberry who runs a very hot ZXR450 used to use MetZ, GW is pretty much MR F3 (Codgy) is running them now and used to run Dunlops.

My ZXR450 went best on dunlops, i still run the dunlops ( slicks ) which is what GW used to run. Personally i run Dunny slicks on my ZXR and im borrowing a CBR400 bike that got a CBR600 motor in it, and the 160 dunlop holds one just fine:-) even a 2 year old one.

Yip the Dunnies are excellent, especially the front. Bike set up wise they can demand a more "exact" set-up, but if you can nail that at each track in a short-time then they are hard to beat.

[CHOPPA]

Yip the Dunnies are excellent, especially the front. Bike set up wise they can demand a more "exact" set-up, but if you can nail that at each track in a short-time then they are hard to beat.

Provided you dont mind mortgaging the house....

[CHOPPA]

If you running pirelli already you would be crazy to swap

[scracha]

I'm running a ZXR400 in the Pre89 Class, just a quick question to find out what tyres people are running on similar bikes, I'm running Pirelli tyres but keen to try some Metzlers.

Any feed back would be good.

Thanks.

Dunlop supersticky slicks if you're wealthy or stickyish Dunlop GPR-A12's if you're not so wealthy.

Run a Honda if you wanna go really fast.

[hayd3n]

round black ones

[steveyb]

Yip the Dunnies are excellent, especially the front. Bike set up wise they can demand a more "exact" set-up, but if you can nail that at each track in a short-time then they are hard to beat.

As mentioned, Dunlops are also very good for smaller bikes. The Pirellis and the Metzelers so far seem to work really well with the heavier more powerful bikes, but the Dunlops and Bridgestones are proven for the smaller bikes.
Their 120 fronts and the 165 rears really are outstanding. On the 250GP bike, similar in many ways to the 400 F3 bikes, there is not so much performance difference between the Bridgestone and the Dunlop.
The Bridgestone YDC compound is to be preferred in Autumn, Winter and Spring, the YCX compound in Summer with YDC sometimes needed.
The Dunlop B compound seems to work well.
Also, the Bridgestone R003RS is a really good DOT tyre if you want to go that way and is available in 150, 160 and 170 sizes if I recall correctly. The new DOT tyres are not available in the smaller sizes as I recall.
But, and there is one, the supply of the Bridgestones is now pretty consistent and the prices in my opinion, far outweigh any perceived performance benefit of the Dunlop. The local Bridgestone suppliers are really going out of their way to promote their product and to supply product on time at a good price. Something that cannot be said for the Dunlop supplier.
If you are any rider but a top national level rider you will not notice any difference between the B'stone and Dunlops.
I cannot comment on Pirelli, Michelin or Metzeler other than that mentioned above.

[codgyoleracer]

As mentioned, Dunlops are also very good for smaller bikes. The Pirellis and the Metzelers so far seem to work really well with the heavier more powerful bikes, but the Dunlops and Bridgestones are proven for the smaller bikes.
Their 120 fronts and the 165 rears really are outstanding. On the 250GP bike, similar in many ways to the 400 F3 bikes, there is not so much performance difference between the Bridgestone and the Dunlop.
The Bridgestone YDC compound is to be preferred in Autumn, Winter and Spring, the YCX compound in Summer with YDC sometimes needed.
The Dunlop B compound seems to work well.
Also, the Bridgestone R003RS is a really good DOT tyre if you want to go that way and is available in 150, 160 and 170 sizes if I recall correctly. The new DOT tyres are not available in the smaller sizes as I recall.
But, and there is one, the supply of the Bridgestones is now pretty consistent and the prices in my opinion, far outweigh any perceived performance benefit of the Dunlop. The local Bridgestone suppliers are really going out of their way to promote their product and to supply product on time at a good price. Something that cannot be said for the Dunlop supplier.
If you are any rider but a top national level rider you will not notice any difference between the B'stone and Dunlops.
I cannot comment on Pirelli, Michelin or Metzeler other than that mentioned above.

Agree, The bridgstone are gaining in market share as they ease there way into the racing scene, Good on em!

Disagree on the promotion and supply comment, Forbes & Davies are the importer and distributer of both the Dunlop & the Metzeler brand. Their support into the road-race scene has been one of the longest in the industry - and have in the past committed very large budgets year-after-year to it & supported countless riders.
GW