Tyre Help needed asap, please bear with me :S

[StoneChucker]

I know this has been discussed, and after a BRIEF title search for tyres, I cant find what I'm looking for. I have to tell my mechanic what tyres to stick on my bike, and I have no idea. I was pretty happy with what was on my bike (I ASSUME some dunlop 20-Something), but I've heard good things about others like Corsas, M1's, etc... (Other suggestions welcome, but I'm a bit on the conservative side, I prefer well known, trusted brands)

On the dunlop site I see Radial and crossply options, any suggestions?
What I'm looking for mostly, is grip. I'm not too fussed about replacing tyres regularly, if they stick to the road like superglue! That, and handling, I don't want anything which is too different to what I had. Even just taking into consideration Dunlop's, there are about 4 options I see (D208RR, D208GP, GPR70SP, D220ST, etc...)

I would really appreciate some pearls of wisdom.
Thanks heaps,
Dave.

[Cajun]

Okay dunlop say OEM tires are dunlop 218 and Recommended replacement are dunlop 208.

I say don't believe anything what other people say about tires, trust yourself, if you like a type of tire, stick with it, if you are happy with it on your bike thats all that matters.

Personally i don;t like dunlops, but thats why we are different, wife loved them on her vtr1000f so shrugs, its all personal, if you only replacing one tires or both, if replacing both could try something new, if only needing to replace one, get something to match it

[Motoracer]

Metzler race techs. It will stick to the road like superglue and it is desgined for high powered bikes, like yours. It'll last approximatly 1500kms if you cane it or about 2500 - 3000 if you nana around in them...

[StoneChucker]

Had a look on the Pirelli site, at the Diablo Corsas, they look quite enticing. Something about first tyre with some new technology, and offer good grip when cold, etc...

I guess I'd like to try a new brand, after loosing grip on the dunlops, not that it was the tyres fault necessarily, but who knows. I might try a new brand each time after I bin... I reckon I'd get through all the brands in a year or two

[StoneChucker]

Metzler Race Techs, is that the exact brand name? Sounds great, but 1500kms is a leeeetle to often. Then again, I am a nana, so 3000 is do-able. Thanks all, keep suggestions coming

[Artifice]

new fangdangled dunlop tyre chooser thingy
check it out mate.

[Blakamin]

Had a look on the Pirelli site, at the Diablo Corsas, they look quite enticing. Something about first tyre with some new technology, and offer good grip when cold, etc...

I guess I'd like to try a new brand, after loosing grip on the dunlops, not that it was the tyres fault necessarily, but who knows. I might try a new brand each time after I bin... I reckon I'd get through all the brands in a year or two

I love my 1 pirelli... and svs runs pirelli on his race bike...
when you have decided on the best brand to bin with, remind me not to get them!

[750Y]

bro, get some of those M1s from WMCC before it's too late. Did i mention they're a bargain?

[Motoracer]

Metzler Race Techs, is that the exact brand name? Sounds great, but 1500kms is a leeeetle to often. Then again, I am a nana, so 3000 is do-able. Thanks all, keep suggestions coming

Metzeler is the brand name which is made in Germany and Racetec is their latest model made for racing. K0, K1 or K2 indicate their compound. You should go for K2. Just bare in mind that this will be more grip than you'll ever need since these tires are made for racing. But if you can pay the $$ for it, they are literally the stickiest rubber you can buy right now for a street bike.

K0 Supersoft/Soft compound

• Tarmac: Abrasive/Smooth
• Temperature: Cold

K1 Soft compound

• Tarmac: Smooth
• Temperature: Normal

K2 Soft/Medium compound

• Tarmac: Abrasive
• Temperature: Warm/Hot

[That Guy]

Not having a 150HP missisle, I really like my GPR70SPs on my RGV250 race bike, although I reckon an R1 would stuff them on the road pretty quick unless they change the compound for all that extra power. As a rule I've always liked Dunflops 'cause they wriggle about a lot before letting go completely, giving you plenty of warning before they do. Only other brand I've had a reasonable experience with is Michelins - which compared I found gripped and gripped and then let go all of a sudden, without the nice Dunlop talking to you that they're thinking about letting go.

[vifferman]

Isn't there some R1 site/forum you can look at to find out what is de rigeur for R1s? That worked for me with my VFR, but with the FahrtSturm I ignored what everyone else said "were mega" for VTRs, and did the trailblazing thing, trying a non-recommended tyre and trusting instead the goodly Kerry at Motohaus.

Generally, if you read all the things other owners say, and then read between the lines to try and work out whether they're poseurs/going along with the crowd/telling the truth, and also how other owner's riding compares to yours, you can get a pretty good idea.

I just did a Google search using "Yamaha R1" tyres OR tires, and from that I got:
"The riders choice seems to be Michelin Pilot Race (although road compound is equally as good). Second appears to be Dunlop's 207 GP-RR, which are grippy enough to keep your R1 stuck to the black stuff, and in third came the Avon Azaro 2, a suprise choice, but there you go."
That gives you at least 3 choices. I've got the new Azaros on my VTR and love them, but then again, it's got less power than an R1. And then again again, what would I know.

[Coldkiwi]

Well, I've used Diablo corsas, Rennsports RS 2 and SC1 supercorsas and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of them. Don't know anything about other metzeler, dunlop, bridgestone types cause i've never felt the need to change from Pirellis - read between the lines what you will!
(P.S. pretty much all race grade tyres will give you more than enough grip for the road but if you're planning on using all the R1's grunt out of corners, the extra stability will probably be appreciated!)

[StoneChucker]

Thanks for the help, but as I thought, I'm no more the wiser But, I do like That Guy's post:

I've always liked Dunflops 'cause they wriggle about a lot before letting go completely, giving you plenty of warning before they do

I know what he means (from the tyres that came on the bike), thats exactly what happens. They give you heaps of warning, letting you back off a little before you loose all grip.
I guess in the end, cost to some degree will come into it. Having read the replies, I doubt I'll get any full race tyre types.

PS: That guy, it's 180

[pipeman]

new fangdangled dunlop tyre chooser thingy
check it out mate.

Hey dude thats cool got anymore like that

[Two Smoker]

OK here goes,

You probably dont want Race techs, because you have too ride like MR or WT to keep them hot, plus they cost HEAPS.....

Diablo Corsa's ARE AWESOME, i have used Diablo's on my old man's CBR1100XX (similar power to the R1, but more weight) and they didnt move around at all when i gave it shit (including scraping the hero blobs) also good grip when cold and really good grip in the wet.....

Other tyres you can look at are the Metzler M1's, Dunlop 208GP, Bridgestone BT-014's or 012's, Avon Azero AV49/50, Pirelli Diablo's, Michillen Sport Tech are all very similar tyres and most people wont see the difference in them (unless you go balls out all the time) so take your pick, and get the best deal