Tyre change dilemma

[RantyDave]

So, the situation is this:

When I got my bike it had Pilot Powers' on. The rear was getting towards being shot, the front wasn't. Within a too short period of time and with the addition of some glaring from those more experienced than me I replaced the rear with another of the same and life was good. Expensive, but good. Except now, of course, the front is pretty well at the end of it's life and the rear is still good to go (with maybe 3000k on it).

Running with the assumption that you go through 1.5 rears to a front it would seem sensible for me to replace the front with another Pilot Power and expect it to wear out at about the same time that I get through another rear in, perhaps, a year and a bits' time.

I'm not complaining about the Pilot Powers', they've been great and just astronomically sticky. However, it's not like I really go hard often enough to make them worthwhile (other than the occasional track day) and I've heard reports of 13000k from a set of M3's. Basically it seems I would be better off with touring tyres and not madutternutter tyres. Hence my dilemma:

Should I get a Pilot Power front, leave the rear, and just continue wearing through these (known good) tyres ... at great expense.

Should I get a touring front and run for a while with it perhaps not being all that happy about being teamed up with a Pilot Power?

Should I swap both front and rear and try to flog the Pilot Power, bearing in mind I probably won't succeed and it will sit in the shed being a testament to my crapness at tactical purchasing decisions?

And what's the current thinking on tyres for 600's that are mostly nana'd but occasionally thrashed witless at Manfeild?

Cheers,
Dave

[Kwaka14]

Try the new Avon Storms, they're supposed to be the bees knees in terms of wear and handling and I have a couple of mates who have them and swear by them already....

[NinjaNanna]

It is very common for people to run Sports Compounds on the Front and Road/Touring compounds on the rear.

If you like the Pilot Power stick with them on the front and then when the time comes to replace the rear, put a road/touring type tyre on then, keeping the front as a sports tyres.

This should satisfy your riding style, and in all honestly front tyres are cheap its the rears that hurt the pocket.

[avgas]

I've never had any luck with Avons or Pilots. They ruin my groove.
But then again i found the Dunlops good. So im a sick puppy.

[Macktheknife]

I

If you like the Pilot Power stick with them on the front and then when the time comes to replace the rear, put a road/touring type tyre on then, keeping the front as a sports tyres.
.

That's what I would do.

[Babelfish]

I just did the change and went for pilot road on the rear with pilot power on the front as I've heard good things from the combo...if you wait a wee while I'll let you know how I found them in when its time for a new change....tick.....tick......tick

[Squeak the Rat]

In an issue of bike magazine a few months ago they did a blind test on tyres. (not sure from memory if it was the pilot range or not). Got a few riders of varying abilities, from noob to racer, and the sports compound was consistently worst. Most riders rated the sport-touring as giving the best handling and most thought the grip on those was better than the sports.

Just thought that was interesting. Cheerio what.

[RantyDave]

Thanks guys. I guess another sticky on the front then something a bit more restrained for the rear when the time comes.

[rustys]

Go for the" Pilot Roads" You will get good mileage out of them, price's on them are good, they take a little while to warm up if you want to push them, look at the tread pattern plenty of groves to pump the water out in the wet,they also hold there shape well. If you don't do a lot of track days, and don't ride the bike hard this is what i would opt for, also don't know what bike you ride.

[BNZ]

The new Pilot Power 2CT's are a dual compound tyre so you get the best of both worlds. Take a look at them.

[McJim]

they did a blind test on tyres..

How did they know when to turn the bike if they were blind?

[trumpy]

Get hold of Sensei, he has changed to a Pilot Sport (I think) on the rear of his Aprillia with a Power on the front.
My rear is will not last thru winter but I have a newish Power on the front so looking to do something similar myself.

[mouldy]

The new Pilot Power 2CT's are a dual compound tyre so you get the best of both worlds. Take a look at them.

I just put 2CTs on my Blade . Hell sticky but will not last longer then standaed Pilot Powers as the hardest bit in the centre of the rear is about the same as the standard Power , it's just that the sides are stickier , like you need that , but they are confidence inspiring

[imdying]

You're on the right track... there's a hell of a lot of over tyred bikes out there. Gotta do it if you wanna be one of the cool kids, but...