Sport/Touring Tyres

**T.I.E** · 21st August 2005, 17:10

yep got z6's on my cbr1000f (94 model) heavy. have to say that i have had the rear step out many times but never to the fault of the tyres. road condtions and a heavy wrist to get the old girl moving early. but when ever they could they have gripped for me. a few small tank slappers and its all good.
so i have nothing bad to say about them.

**Lou Girardin** · 22nd August 2005, 08:57

Originally Posted by mjvduc

No, they do run separate engineering departments, test teams and you won’t find any metlzers made in italy (so far). Pirelli and metzler merged back in 1986 to keep up with the japs.

mjvduc

Do you really think that they don't interchange technology?

**mjvduc** · 22nd August 2005, 09:21

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Do you really think that they don't interchange technology?

I'm sure they do, one of the reasons they merged. metzler was a leading tyre manufacturer, but simply to small and too expensive and pirelli wanted there technology.

life goes on, think both manufacturers are more than good.

mjv

**Groins_NZ** · 7th September 2005, 23:20

Latest update... see top-o-the-thread.

**Hitcher** · 8th September 2005, 13:05

An interesting wear pattern evident -- out to the edge (almost) on the rear but not so much on the front.

Also 42psi in the rear sounds a bit hard for a Hornet. Is that what Honda/Pirelli recommend, or are you experimenting?

**Groins_NZ** · 9th September 2005, 08:03

Originally Posted by Hitcher

An interesting wear pattern evident -- out to the edge (almost) on the rear but not so much on the front.

Also 42psi in the rear sounds a bit hard for a Hornet. Is that what Honda/Pirelli recommend, or are you experimenting?

An equally interesting point Hitcher. The wear pattern you mention, I thought, was normal, as the front has a much steeper curve - or is this something to do with how I ride? Any comments KB'rs?

Pounds per Square Inch - 1 pounds (square inch) = 0.000292639653 m2 kg

I don't know too much about what Psi I should be running. My Hornet manual advises 42 rear, 36 front (the same when carrying a pillion incidentally). Although, a couple of mechanics I've talked to in the past have suggested running 32ish front and rear. D'you think I could let a couple of 0.000292639653 m2 kg out?

**Sensei** · 9th September 2005, 08:51

Your trye's will gain approx 4lb when they get hot so just keep that in mind . 34-36 F / 34-38 R . Now Summer is here you could run alittle less with the roads warming up .

**Lou Girardin** · 11th September 2005, 16:52

Originally Posted by Groins_NZ

An equally interesting point Hitcher. The wear pattern you mention, I thought, was normal, as the front has a much steeper curve - or is this something to do with how I ride? Any comments KB'rs?

Pounds per Square Inch - 1 pounds (square inch) = 0.000292639653 m2 kg

I don't know too much about what Psi I should be running. My Hornet manual advises 42 rear, 36 front (the same when carrying a pillion incidentally). Although, a couple of mechanics I've talked to in the past have suggested running 32ish front and rear. D'you think I could let a couple of 0.000292639653 m2 kg out?

Set the tyres to factory specs stone cold, then recheck after around 50 k's riding. Pressure rise should be between 3 and 5 psi. If higher than this - raise tyre pressure 1 or 2 psi. If lower - drop the pressure.

**Zapf** · 28th October 2005, 17:27

How was the Strada's thru the GC Groins_NZ?

**Groins_NZ** · 29th October 2005, 11:31

29/10/2005: The Latest...

Diablo Strada Update… 8,121Km

Another chapter in the Diablo Stradas I had fitted to the Hornet a couple of months back. I've now done 8,121Kms on them, including completing the Rusty Nuts Grand Challenge - 1000miles in approx. 20hrs.
I've since equalised the pressure in the front and rear to approx. 32psi.

To date, I've had no major problems with them. There's been no occasion to 'soil my undies' due to the tyres slipping out from underneath me (tyres better than my riding ability anyway I think) and no punctures (god forbid!) although there are a good collection of notches in the rear from glass, etc (no worse than the Pilot Power I had before).

I've had plenty experience with these tyres in wet now. One night on the way home from Wellington was particularly memorable. Other folk from down this way may remember the recent storm that came through a few weeks back with torrential rain and wind. When I got to the Paramata roundabout the rain was 2 inches deep all over the road and water was spraying up, tank height, on both sides. Still with all this going on I didn't have any trouble, not even the slightest twitch.

Tread wear is evident now but it's not looking too bad still, considering the amount of kilometres. I was/am a little worried about the front wearing unevenly (see my other thread "Tyre Wear Question"), however, looking at it today it looks like it may of 'evened' out a bit, if that's possible. The concern I had was with the right side of the front tyre starting to wear at an angle rather than being rounded like the left side still is. I've taken a couple of profile photos so you can see for yourself, although I'm sure it doesn't look as bad as it did (after the Grand Challenge). Still waiting to see how the tyres fair on the hot seal once the weather really warms up.

Some more photos after 8000Kms. These are a thumbnail view, click on the image to open a bigger and more detailed version (some of them are 1.2Mb full size).

Cheers and ride safe to live another day!

REAR - Pirelli Strada

FRONT- Pirelli Strada

**Zapf** · 29th October 2005, 17:44

cheers for the update

will make a nice good review this one..

btw how did you find the factory BT54's that came with the bike?

**terbang** · 11th November 2005, 09:17

Great review I just put a pair of Strada's on myh 98 1200 bandit. Its had BT55's, Dunlop 204's, Dunlop 207's, BT 010's & Pirelli Diablo (last set) in its life from new. The Pirelli so far has been the best product and after a short fang the Strada is looking promising.

**Groins_NZ** · 23rd March 2006, 21:45

Just finishing off my review on the Pirelli Stradas.

I got another set fitted last weekend. Price had gone up about $100 since last year in November, although they were given at a very special price the first time. I would have put an additional months riding on them (approx. 1200Km) if it wasn't for loosing the licence to ride. There was still a bit of meat on them but needed a new set fitted before going down South this weekend. I didn't get round to taking any photos this time sorry.

Handling quality had obviously diminished but you tend not to notice that when you’re riding everyday. It’s only when the new tyres are fitted that you realise what you were missing out on! The rear had worn a little flat across the middle so cornering wasn’t so confidence inspiring and was also a little skittish in the corners too. I still had plenty of side-wall tread to burn, alas I failed to heat them up enough times (not enough twisty hill climbing!). The rubber got it’s fair share of nicks and cuts but most importantly no punctures. I think the tyre actually ended up being in better nick than the previous Michelin Pilot Power I had on, possibly due to the harder compound the Stradas have in the middle of the tyre?

The front tyre wore at an angle on the right side – probably due to road camber but did not get seriously bad. Some evidence of ‘scalloping’ in the tread pattern as well but nothing like the first tyre I had, a Michelin Pilot Sport – that got really knarly at the end of it’s life.

Tyre stats. as follows:
*** Pirelli Diablo Stradas ***
Tyre: Front & Rear
Brought: 20/08/2005 @ 23,163Kms
Approx. Usage: 39,955 - 23,163 = 16,792
Cost: $564.00
Rear - $286.00
Front - $238.00
Cost per Km = $0.034 (approx)

Cheers all.