Tyre advice please people who ride in the wet and have been thru a few...

**Pancakes** · 6th November 2007, 18:23

Any thoughts and opinions will help, what won't is posting "why bother on a Hyosung" thats so last year.

I ride 98% of the time everyday rain or shine wearing a big flat spot in the centre of my tyres splitting the 70+K's round trip up the northwestern. I do however enjoy a good cane taking the long way home sometimes and on night rides etc. I've also explained to my wife that I need more "fun time" on the bike and she's finally seen the light. (Well, maybe some of the light!).

I've ridden quite a few bikes over the years and some had real nice handling (RGV-R, NC's and RC's etc) so even though my bike is slow and on the porky side I get it near enough to the edge of the stock tyres (that everyone says are crap) regularly that I'd like a bit more feel from some better built tyres and some more wet grip. These std ones have slipped in the dry for me at times when I've gone in a bit hot and just trusted throwing them down. Sometimes just the back and twice both of them and I did like that they didn't just let go, it was progressing and predictable and I caught it easy both times.

I had my heart set on some Pilot Power 2 CT's but have been told today by the tyre shop I like that they barely every come in in my size (110/70 17 F & 150/70 17 R, pretty common sizes I would have thought?) He suggested the Pilot Road 2, the Diablo's or Bridgestone BT 45's (cross-ply).

So, any thoughts on these or other tyres and radials v.s cross-ply. Dual compound preferably. The last time I rode on Bridgestones it was a pair of Battlax's on a CBR-250 RR and they were wooden and yuck, they look very square also. My Shinko's now inspire more confidence. Diablo's are soft and not dual compound so might dissappear too fast in the centre fo me too?

**jrandom** · 6th November 2007, 19:22

When you say 'disappear fast in the center', how many km are you talking before your rear tyre becomes squared off to the extent that it fucks up handling?

Pilot Roads and Diablos are both very good tyres; the Michelins are probably better in the wet. Certainly either one would be more than enough for anything you could throw at them on a Hyosung 250.

**James Deuce** · 6th November 2007, 20:04

Bridgestone BT45s are the shiznit. Pirelli Sport Demons work well on porkier bikes and I get good mileage out of them both. Both work really well in the wet for me. The tyre sizes are common to mid capacity Sport Tourers, not Sportsbikes hence the struggle to find a sporty dual compound radial.

Don't worry about carcass construction with a 2fiddy.

**jrandom** · 6th November 2007, 20:19

Originally Posted by Jim2

Pirelli Sport Demons work well on porkier bikes...

Oh, yeah, what 'e said.

I got a solid 10,000km out of a set of Sport Demons on my Zeal, with never a hint of traction issues in the wet. In fact, I think I reviewed them after they went on. Try searching my threads. They'd be a good match for a Hyosung.

**Swoop** · 6th November 2007, 20:27

Currently running pilot road (std - not 2ct) and I am most impressed.
All weathers and has been upand down the Nth Western all winter, without anything resembling a "non-confidence-inspiring moment"!
Sticks like guano in the twisty stuff as well.

Edit for Jim2: Bother! A great tyre. Why do dealers not import a better range of sizes!
Cycletreads had sets of these, fully fitted for $450 a couple of weeks back. Total bargain!!!

**xgnr** · 6th November 2007, 20:31

Have had a set of Pirelli Sport Demons on the K75 and so far so good. Done 6k (1.6k during the Grand Challenge) and am well impressed with them in the wet and dry.

Even chasing Puddy (well, trying to catch him) they performed well.

Cheers

Stu

**James Deuce** · 6th November 2007, 20:34

Originally Posted by Swoop

Currently running pilot road (std - not 2ct) and I am most impressed.

Can't get Pilot Roads in his sizes unfortunately.

**white belt** · 6th November 2007, 21:03

Bridgestone's (cross plys) was recommended to me for my hyosung. They said because of the chasis, crossplys would be the best.

They were great, I really noticed the difference. They were meant to be quite hard in the middle and soft on the outers.

I actually sold the bike after doing about 3-4,000km on the new tyres so can't say much about the wear, sorry.

It was cycletreads that gave me the advice on the Bridgestones.

They were Battleaxes.

**Pancakes** · 7th November 2007, 08:33

Originally Posted by jrandom

When you say 'disappear fast in the center', how many km are you talking before your rear tyre becomes squared off to the extent that it fucks up handling?

Pilot Roads and Diablos are both very good tyres; the Michelins are probably better in the wet. Certainly either one would be more than enough for anything you could throw at them on a Hyosung 250.

I started noticing it sqaring up at maybe 12,000K's and replaced the rear at 18,000K's when it was well and truly fucked and the centre was so thin a tiny bit of metal gave me a leak.

By porky the bike is (supposed to be) 170Kg's dry but I think the weight is fairly high too cos it feels like 220Kg's by my bum-o-meter. Does like the corners though (steers nice and this is compared to similar spec bikes of course, I'm not lining up R6's in the twisties!). Even though I personally didn't like the Battlax's some people I know like the BT 45's for touring and I guess what I do is closer to touring spec than sport.

Any comments on the feel when laid over from the cross ply's v.s radials? The cost of the BT's is fairly attractive too truth be told.

**jrandom** · 7th November 2007, 08:45

Originally Posted by Pancakes

I started noticing it sqaring up at maybe 12,000K's...

Dude, seriously, that is what I would call disappearing very slowly in the center. You won't get that kind of rear tyre mileage if you move from your 250 to a proper sprotsbike.

The BT45s will certainly do the job very well, as will all the other tyres you mention. Price should probably be your main consideration.

**Pancakes** · 7th November 2007, 08:55

Yeah it's not fast but cos I don't go on fun rides much it is really noticable compared to the worn in but no tread loss on the outsides. Thats why I's thinking dual compounds. Is quite good mileage tho a. Thats where choosing this over something more fun/grunty has paid off $$-wise. The std tyres are hard tho, doubt I'd get those K's out of a softer tyre and I don't think I'd get the bike over much further either but who knows? Just want some more feel and confidence in the corners.

**marioc** · 7th November 2007, 09:06

I have BT45's on my bandit,no complaints seem like a solid tyre.

**James Deuce** · 7th November 2007, 09:11

Originally Posted by jrandom

Dude, seriously, that is what I would call disappearing very slowly in the center. You won't get that kind of rear tyre mileage if you move from your 250 to a proper sprotsbike.

The BT45s will certainly do the job very well, as will all the other tyres you mention. Price should probably be your main consideration.

What he said. That's MASSIVE mileage. Let me know how you do it!

Crikey. 18000kms!

**vifferman** · 7th November 2007, 09:37

Avon Storms - they come in your size, they're a good price, wear well, and are great in the wet.

**Pancakes** · 7th November 2007, 09:38

Um... they don't have enough traction to wear out? hahahah. Ther front has done 20,000 now and has 15-20% left! I want to do the front now and the rear later since I have just got the new std rear, the profiles should be ok ish eh? I know I should do them together but I'm not gonna throw out a new tyre.