PR2/RA question

[Owl]

The Avon Storms they replaced lasted nearly 13,000km of mostly two-up fully laden riding across some suboptimal North American roads.

Interestingly, the single compound Avon Storms (in my experience) handle just as well as their dual compound cousins and last considerably longer on big torquey bikes.

My Storm lasted 6200km Hitcher! Trying the PR2 now!

[MSTRS:Me]

That's a lot of thinking going on there ! Here are some facts to help you along. The Conti Road Attack is single compound - you don't see continuous compound until Sport Attack. Road Attack is designed as a high milage sports touring tyre, and (in my expereince) behaves just like that. The front tyre is designed for stable handling, the compound will give excellent grip from almost any temperature. The "Micro porous" compound is better in the wet than anything else out there.
Durabilty from these tyres comes from having a very thick layer in the Zenith area ( centre) of the tyre. They are a 0 degree steel belt design, which means no bad handling from the carcase (standing wave stuff) You would normally expect tyre pressures to be 36/42 on a large sports bike, although we sometimes get better bump behaviour with a couple less in the rear. The catch with that is that (as with all tyres) you give away tyre life with the lower pressure ( more heat/more wear) - as much as 7% for a two psi drop in pressure.
If you want to compare to another tyre, then the type of tyre you should look at would be the MEZ4 or Z6 you talked about. Road Attack is a much newer design in all areas, and will be a better bet because of that. The design target is very similar though, just more advanced, so I'm picking it would suit you. I have consistantly seen milage up around the numbers you have mentioned out of Road Attack rears, and the design brief for these tyres showed that Conti aimed for a lot more dry and wet grip than the Z6. I've spent a lot of time talking with the head compound engineer at Conti, and he's seldom wrong.
I saw a comment describing Road Attack as "fragile" - i can't imagine what this would mean.
Hope this helps with your thinking

Not at all. If you were paying attention, you would have noted that I tried MEZ4 and Z6 (on a much heavier bike) and Pilot Sports...and moved on. After an excellent trot with Pilot Road 2 (dual compound) it is that tyre that I was trying to compare with the Conti Road Attack. I had been told they were dual compound, but you are saying I'd have to go to the Sport Attack? I am not a particularly aggressive rider and have no need of a tyre that will grip to the edge and beyond only to need replacing not far into 4 figures of mileage. But in saying that, I still aim for a tyre that will let me have full confidence to the edge, in good conditions. Seems to me that harder in the centre for extended life is way better than thicker in the centre, which is likely to lead to more squaring-off. With that lovely transition lip happening every time one leans over.

[MSTRS:Me]

I've just replaced my PR2 rear with a Diablo Rosso ...
I never lost confidence in the PR2

Neither have I. Seems the Diablo is mispelt (diabolic)!!
I'd call that tyre in the photos futterly ucked...if I keep running my current PR2 until it reaches that state, I suspect that 20,000kms will not be an impossibility.

[Mishy]

Not at all. If you were paying attention, you would have noted that I tried MEZ4 and Z6 (on a much heavier bike) and Pilot Sports...and moved on. After an excellent trot with Pilot Road 2 (dual compound) it is that tyre that I was trying to compare with the Conti Road Attack. I had been told they were dual compound, but you are saying I'd have to go to the Sport Attack? I am not a particularly aggressive rider and have no need of a tyre that will grip to the edge and beyond only to need replacing not far into 4 figures of mileage. But in saying that, I still aim for a tyre that will let me have full confidence to the edge, in good conditions. Seems to me that harder in the centre for extended life is way better than thicker in the centre, which is likely to lead to more squaring-off. With that lovely transition lip happening every time one leans over.

Understood The dual compund thing is a good idea, but not an absolute must, and yes - the Sport Attack would be inapropriate for more general use on the rear of a bike that expects big mileage. The thicker compound in the zenith area of Road Attack has been very successful at providing long life, and is there to overcome that flattened and square edged result which is so bloody ugly to ride. pilot road is an equivalent to the Conti Motion, which is a step lower than Road Attack, and which does not share the same compound.
The Road Attack will provide considerable grip at lean angle - perhaps more than most people would think, and certainly will be a match for the pilot road in this area.

[Max Preload]

I'd call that tyre in the photos futterly ucked...if I keep running my current PR2 until it reaches that state, I suspect that 20,000kms will not be an impossibility.

I'm not actually sure what mileage I got out of it but I wasn't keeping it on there for longevity at that stage - I wanted to replace it with the another PR2 but there were none in the country and I kept holding on eventually having to bite the bullet and swap to an unknown quantity, the Diabolic as you call it .

The PR2 actually started cupping like that shortly after purchase - probably a couple of months.

[MSTRS:Me]

Understood ... a match for the pilot road in this area.

Point of order...the Pilot Road is NOT the same as Pilot Road 2. Different compound/s and different tread pattern. I would not put a Road on a sprotbike.

The PR2 actually started cupping like that shortly after purchase - probably a couple of months.

By cupping, I take it you mean the slight uprise on the trailing edge of a groove and rounding off of the leading edge? I've never found a tyre that doesn't do that to a degree.

[MSTRS:Me]

Just to clarify, here are the tread patterns of the types in discussion

[Max Preload]

By cupping, I take it you mean the slight uprise on the trailing edge of a groove and rounding off of the leading edge? I've never found a tyre that doesn't do that to a degree.

Yes - the formation of the lip on the trailing edge of the tread and rounding of the leading edge. The PR2 is the worst one I'e ever had for it - normally it's just a slight bump.

[stormy1]

Just going through the pros and cons of tyres for the VTR. Currently have a Diablo Rosso on the rear with plenty of tread and a standard Diablo on the front which is getting reasonably worn. I was talking with the Pirelli distributors and he thought that the Rosso's in the rear would probably be overpowering the front so suggested the Rosso in the front as well. In the future maybe matched to a Diablo Corsa III rear in the future to stop squaring off (is this a problem and would it affect my Rosso rear)? Now, having said all that, I do like the sounds of the Continentals and from the people who I have spoken to who have them (including another VTR owner) they perform as well in the wet as the dry. If I was going to go this way would fit a Sport Attack to the front followed later by a Street Attack in the rear.

Any thoughts on any of the above most appreciated.

Cheers
Dale

[discotex]

Now, having said all that, I do like the sounds of the Continentals and from the people who I have spoken to who have them (including another VTR owner) they perform as well in the wet as the dry. If I was going to go this way would fit a Sport Attack to the front followed later by a Street Attack in the rear.

Any thoughts on any of the above most appreciated.

Cheers
Dale

It might just be me but I really dislike the idea of mixing tyres as you'll get the best performance from a matched pair.

Mixing models within a brand is probably not so bad but mixing brands could mean you end up with tyres of different profile/construction...

If I were you I'd put on a Rosso front then change later. Apparently the Rosso's are designed so a front and rear last similar distance.

Considered BT-016's?

[Mishy]

Now, having said all that, I do like the sounds of the Continentals and from the people who I have spoken to who have them (including another VTR owner) they perform as well in the wet as the dry. If I was going to go this way would fit a Sport Attack to the front followed later by a Street Attack in the rear.

The Conti tyres will all work fine with one another. It's VERY common to fit a Sport Attack on the front to get sporty steering ( different carcase to the Road Attack) while still using a Road Attack on the rear to get acceptable mileage. In fact, Conti's desing brief was to have the rear tyres an acceptable mix with ANY other front on the market ( except Jap Dunlops - don't ask me why !) because It's normally the rear that gets replaced most often. So as long as you choose tyres with a similar target - ie Touring, Sports Touring, etc - you should be fine. It would be normal to choose a more durable rear than front, just because that kinda makes sense on the wallet

[stormy1]

It might just be me but I really dislike the idea of mixing tyres as you'll get the best performance from a matched pair.

Mixing models within a brand is probably not so bad but mixing brands could mean you end up with tyres of different profile/construction...

If I were you I'd put on a Rosso front then change later. Apparently the Rosso's are designed so a front and rear last similar distance.

Considered BT-016's?

Mmmm heaps to think about. I have read a few threads re mixing brands etc and think that the jury is still out? I do know that you must have radial with radial and also 0deg with 0deg?

No I havent thought (yet) about the BT-016's?

Quite happy with the idea of the Rosso up front have no idea what they are like in the wet and would appreciate any comments.

Cheers
D

[discotex]

Mmmm heaps to think about. I have read a few threads re mixing brands etc and think that the jury is still out? I do know that you must have radial with radial and also 0deg with 0deg?

No I havent thought (yet) about the BT-016's?

Quite happy with the idea of the Rosso up front have no idea what they are like in the wet and would appreciate any comments.

Cheers
D

I'm sure the Rosso is ok in the wet. Probably won't last over summer anyway

The BT-016 is a triple compound rear and dual front. I've got 1000km on mine and so far they're making great road tyres. I'm less worried about wet performance as long as it's reasonable. Don't plan on getting my knee down in the wet...

Jury is out on trackday performance. Search for BT-016 and you'll find a thread with links to reviews etc.

[pritch]

Search for BT-016 and you'll find a thread with links to reviews etc.

You shouldn't have to look far to get the basic idea...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=85203

[yod]

I finished off a 170 PR2 rear on the RF (with 90% 2-up riding) in about 10-12000 km, (front still had a thou or so left in it)

Am about to finish off a 180 RA rear on the bird (with 90% 1-up riding) in about 7-8000km

the bird must be putting 25-35% more rip at the rear then the RF but the difference in 1 and 2-up riding could be seen to counter that (but i'm no expert by any stretch)

I found both tyres had plenty of grip for me so I'll probably throw a set of PR2's on the bird when the RA's are done and see how they go.