What are the characteristics of a 'good'/'better' tyre?

[mynameis]

Chisanga mate, tyres have been discussed to death on KB. To help you out try reading through these two threads here.

You will surely be enlightened, some top riders have posted in these in there. Check them out and give us your opinion.

And as "cjade1" said Dunlops are the shiz, and you can't go wrong with them but look through the threads it's kinda like an experiment and results.

Before and after results but in my opinion it all boils down to YOUR PREFERENCE

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=45346

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=45055

Good luck !!

[Swoop]

...what characteristics would better tyres have...

#1:Round.
#2:Black.
#3:Grippy.

Indeed - I can't have nagged enough!! Either that or I am just too patient...

Should have served up mashed potato night after night... presented in a circular fashion and having a hole in the middle, with dark gravy all over. Nothing else on the plate!

[ynot slow]

i've just put pirelli sport demons on front and rear,they feel good,my range of tyre was limited due to sizes .i.e 16front,17 rear,instill confidence for me although haven't gone far yet on them.

[Bonez]

The best way I would describe it is that with good rubber on you are going faster but it doesnt feel faster. Sport demons are great. I run them on the 600f that I had. When they are new the bike feels more stable and you find yourself cornering a heap better/smoother/faster. Then it could just be the mind thing.

What was the wet weather handling of the sports demons like?

[Chickadee]

I have been told by a number of people whos opinions I respect (e.g. M1cro & McJim) that my confidence will increase dramatically if I get some new rubber put on..

M1CRO I can understand - he gives good advice but McJim?!?

McJim had a set of Bridgestone BT45 tyres on his VTR250 - he seemed happy with them.

[cowboyz]

What was the wet weather handling of the sports demons like?

they were ok. I dont like the rain anyway. the tyres definitely felt less stable in the rain but I never lost the bike and there was a fair bike of wet weather riding going on while I had that bike.

[Coyote]

Bad tyres wheelspin in the wet and send you flying into buses

[cowboyz]

well there is that

[Krayy]

...The tyres I have had recommended from my LBS are Pirelli Sport Demons.

I have Sport Demons on my VTR250 and would highly recommend them. Once you scrub them in, you can get a feck load more lean on than on the stock rubber and just wind it on even before your apex with confidence.

You can even get your knee down in the right places like up the hills headed to Whitianga at the Coromandel Town turnoff, a few places on SH16 and at the entrance to my work carpark if a cager has already raised the security gate

[Squeak the Rat]

Describing the characteristics of good tyres may be a little meaningless unless you can interpret that with real world experience.

So the best bet IMHO is to get some quality rubber put on. This will:

a) Give you confidence that the tyre will do about as well as anyone can reasonably expect it to,

and

b) It will demonstrate the difference between your current blacks and some quality rubber, allowing you to gain experience and further evaluate other tyres when the time comes.

[Forest]

Since I'm interested in long-distance touring, I like tires which don't wear too quickly. Especially on the magnificent coarse chip South Island roads.

Unfortunately you usually have to trade-off other useful properties to get an increase in tyre life.

[Griff]

I had a few sets of Bridgestone BT14s (OEM Tyres and they were shit in the rain,took ages to warm up & crap at retaining heat). That translated to it feeling like you were riding on plastic tyres on cold wet days. Moved to Pirelli Diablo Corsas and they are superb! Grippy, last reasonably well.

[Bnonn]

How are your Corsas in the wet?

[Griff]

Still sticky and give plenty of feedback in the wet. No Worries.

[Chisanga]

Well I just got back from seeing Kerry at Motohaus and following his advice got myself a set of Avon Roadrider's for the VTR.

I must I was VERY impressed with Kerry and the service he gave me, no looking down his nose at me when answering all my stupid questions. I would recommend him highly to anybody looking for tyres in Auckland.

Now begins the scrubbing in process

P.S. May be back to see Kerry for a Ventura packrack too

P.P.S. Can see tyres here for those that are interested.