Tyres for bigger Supermotos

[Gremlin]

Yeah... a tyre thread. I am in need of advice.

I need tyres in 120/70/17 and 180/55/17. I have run through two sets of Pirelli Scorpion Syncs, first set lasting 8500km, 2nd set will last 7500km and be totally knackered. Except I have now found my price (ie, not even retail) for them is around $700 a set, and then fitting on top. Suddenly its rather expensive considering the current set has been on the bike for less than a month

So, a road based tyre, the edge solid so the tread doesn't distort, needs to withstand:
- Hot summer days being a general hooligan in the country
- Pissing with rain in the middle of the night
- Perform ok on gravel, as I enjoy finding forestry roads... or a bit worse. Not serious off roading tho (mud, keeping up with traillies etc)
- Being that it weighs around 190kg, at the least, a dual compound, otherwise the middle of the rear gets killed.

Tyres under consideration are:
Avon Storm ST - no knowledge of them
Dunlop D221 - don't seem to review very well
The likes of Distanzias and Tourance don't appear to be in my sizes, so they are out.
Normal sport touring tyres (Pilot Road 2, Z6, Strada) are out, I've ridden them all, and won't suffice for all purposes...

Anybody got any other options? Ideally the performance of the syncs, but with more life and less cost I know... the normal, everything for nothing...

[gijoe1313]

My my my, Gremlin is stumped for ideas ... I think he has found his traction limits!

C'mon people help this poor lad out, before he starts considering Shinkos!

[Jantar]

..
Anybody got any other options? Ideally the performance of the syncs, but with more life and less cost I know... the normal, everything for nothing...

So far I've found the Scorpions to give the best life for their price and performance. Good on the seal and reasonable in the gravel, even though I do ride like a nana.
Slightly better road performance, but less life and much more expensive would be the Bridgestone Battlewings. I got around 6000 kms out of a rear and the grip was just the same as a Battleaxe on my GS1200SS.
The worst I've found were the Bridgestone Trailwings, but even they weren't too bad. Similar price to the Scorpions, but didn't last as long.

[discotex]

BT-016 might be worth a look....

Apparently better wet performance than PP2ct and stunning dry performance. Rides like rails but still reasonable turn in speed.

I've got 6000km (half commuting on motorway) on mine including a trackday and think I'll make another trackday and still get to 9000km without them squaring off too bad.

The rear is 3 compounds so nice and hard in the middle.

Cost me far less than $700 from Cycletreads for a set in those sizes.

[Devil]

Metzeler M3's.
Or the BT016's. $599 fitted or so from 'treads.

[The Stranger:Me]

How about this?

[Jantar]

How about this?

I like. Does anyone have any reviews, data, indication of life etc?

[The Stranger:Me]

I like. Does anyone have any reviews, data, indication of life etc?

Doh, just noticed the sizes, no good for OP.
Came to my attention as someone was raving about them on the XT forum. The size would be fine for them.
There are some pretty good reviews out there.

[Gremlin]

Doh, just noticed the sizes, no good for OP.

Yeah, thats the issue I ran into, as people were mentioning Distanzia's, Tourance etc.

The 016 seems very much like a sport tyre, yet you guys reckon it gives good life, and would perform on gravel fine? If so, it seems like I should try a set...

Jantar: Yes, I found the Syncs to be an excellent tyre, and I was against them in the first instance, but gave them a shot. Disappointing part is I expected a 100hp ish bike to get closer to 10k on a set, and not to retail at $760 ish per set (excluding fitting)

[discotex]

I've done a 10km stretch of windy gravel roads up north and the 016 was no better or worse than any other tyre on a sports bike that's out of it's element. They're certainly not knobblies but they didn't pop

Interested to see how you go if you do get a set.