Cheap tyres are more fun than sport compounds

[Mr. Peanut]

Tyre choice doesn't matter on the road - what are you trying to prove? Any tyre can go fast in a straight line and you'll have just as much fun trying to keep it together on a crap tyre as you would with a supersport compound.

Example, on my SJ125 scooter, I had crappy chinese tyres. I managed to wear them about 1 cm from the edges, learnt how to take a really good line not use brakes in a corner and use the roads camber ... and destroying the rear in 7000km! (on a 12hp on tap 125kg scooter)!!!

On my NSR250 I had a Diablo Sport compound, it was great, stuck really well never went loose, heaps of corner speed... But what if I had hit some gravel/oil? These are public roads remember, (theres no flag marshals to warn you is there?) A super sticky compound is gonna lose grip- slide and as soon as it hits clean tarmac BAM!!!! highside!

But lets say I was using less grippy compounds and keeping to a sensible corner speed - when the tyre regain its grip it would not do so as violently and I would have been given more time to react to the different road surface in the first place because of my lower corner speed. Not to mention the greater control over the slide I would have because of my less severe lean angle.

Also unless you're going to be putting your knee down every second corner super sport tyres have a nasty habit of developing flat spots, and when the tyre is unsafe, who is more happy to replace it? The guy with a $160 tyre lasting 7000km or the guy who 'needs' his $350 4000km super sport compound?

I have Shinko's on my NSR250 now, and I think they're great - I dont need all that grip on the road and where it would be sensible to travel fast on super sport tyres im quite happy to slide a bit.

I say, get a naked bike, crash knobs and learn how to drift
Keep super sport tyres for track days!

[Marmoot]

Also unless you're going to be putting your knee down every second corner super sport tyres have a nasty habit of developing flat spots, and when the tyre is unsafe, who is more happy to replace it? The guy with a $160 tyre lasting 7000km or the guy who 'needs' his $350 4000km super sport compound?

You should look at my last BT012 front... I'd rather go

[Jackrat]

I have a little more than 12 HP on both my bikes thanks.
I found out about crap tyres during the early 70's and can live without them.
I can spin both my bikes up on good tyres so why used shit.
On gravel I just give it more gas so what's the big deal there?
I know exactly how both my bikes are going to react when they lose traction,it happens every time I ride.
YOUR JUST NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH,PUT SOME MORE EFFORT INTO IT.
Oh yeah nice troll

[froggyfrenchman]

I have a little more than 12 HP on both my bikes thanks.
I found out about crap tyres during the early 70's and can live without them.
I can spin both my bikes up on good tyres so why used shit.
On gravel I just give it more gas so what's the big deal there?
I know exactly how both my bikes are going to react when they lose traction,it happens every time I ride.
YOUR JUST NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH,PUT SOME MORE EFFORT INTO IT.
Oh yeah nice troll

Well put, if you can ride... you dont need shit tyres to loose traction and slide! Just wait till one of your $80 tyres causes you to drop the bike, your opinion will change prety fast. When riding, there are two little strips of rubber bout an inch and a half wide holding you onto the road. Make sure that small bit of rubber has good grip!

[Two Smoker]

This must be a troll, because what i have just read is a load of shit... And I think i have a bit more knowledge and the use of tyres than you...

[justsomeguy]

So you own the local Shinko tyre dealership??

[Motu]

I don't think many riders would be happy with the tyres I use on the road,especialy in the wet.But I know my tyres and what they can and can't do...and if that makes me slow on the road,so be it.

[Mr. Peanut]

Ok, ok I see your point - and a highsid in that sort of situation is pretty unlikely- and if I was perfectly honest I wouldn't want to use these on a litre bike (or even a 600cc) But the handling characteristics I have described most certainly have been true for my bike.

And my point wasn't that I couldn't slide it, just that you can't predict what sort of road surfaces you're going to come across - How many times have you seen a big chunk of dirt littered on the road after a decent downpour? A less grippy tyre compound encourages more responsible riding, It doesnt matter how grippy your tyre is, what difference does it make when you lowside your bike on cowshit cause you had nothing left?

So I shit stirred a bit - isn't that what threads are for?

BTW descibe the term "troll" ?

[Mr. Peanut]

I know exactly how both my bikes are going to react when they lose traction,it happens every time I ride. YOUR JUST NOT TRYING HARD ENOUGH,PUT SOME MORE EFFORT INTO IT.

My point exactly... Is this really a responsible attitude?

[Hoon]

BTW descibe the term "troll" ?

From Wikipedia.

Intentionally posting an outrageous argument, deliberately constructed around a fundamental but obfuscated flaw or error. Often the poster will become defensive when the argument is refuted, but may instead continue the thread through the use of further flawed arguments; this is referred to as "feeding" the troll.

[Ixion]

In my misspent youth I spent a lot of time careering around sealed roads on bikes with off road knobblies fitted (cos the sealed roads led to the unsealed ones).

Now, I don't really give a stuff about tyres. You adjust your riding to what you've got. If the tyre doesn't have so much grip, just slow down a bit (radical concept I know).

Only thing I don't like on tyres is ones that don't grip in the wet under braking. I agree with Mr Peanut

[N4CR]

I had a discussion about this last night with Superdave. I think by using crappier tyres I have learnt more on my bike than if I would not have. It is easier to slide the arse out on these (Mt Edens generic protech sp-10) so you have to learn throttle control, lean angle/speed etc etc or else your arse is on the deck. The tyres themselves are very hard, you cannot make an indentation into them with your fingernail no matter how hard you try.

In a good way this keeps me from attaining more rediculous speeds but the downside is the whole 'crappiness' of the tyre. They are bad in the wet (terrible actually) and if the road is not perfect (read newly sealed ashphalt) then stuff gets tricky. I have got off the edge of the tyres many many times, they slide like hell then (no duuh..). One thing that suprises me is that I have never lost the front under heavy breaking in downhill twisties while going hard. Stoppies are hard as lockups are easy with these tyres though.

These tyres have copped over 16,000kms of abuse. They wouldn't pass a wof in their current state but they will be getting replaced soon. I will probably change my opinion then.

[Zapf]

A less grippy tyre compound encourages more responsible riding,

Use your head.... Mr Peanut

[Monsterbishi]

So the sum and total of this theory is that it's better to have a crap plastic tyre that limits you to a a narrower band of your own ability?

That's gay, I'll keep my sticky rubber thanks.

[marty]

i'll keep my sticky rubber thanks. it's my $300, i'll spend it how i want, whenever i want, and personally i'd rather spend it on rubber than fixing my fairings, or new undies.