Tyre choice

[Hitcher]

It's not just one attribute. I'm looking for all-weather performance, good handling characteristics, good wearing ability, ready availability and a reasonable price.

When I find a tyre that performs on a particular bike, I generally stick with it and recommend it to death for that style of bike.

[jtzzr]

Used to love the michellin macadams on the zzr, but they are so like last season ,when I bought the bird she had perelli diablo`s and they let go on me a couple of times , so now I have the pilot powers ( will have to wait and see how they go before passing judgement) , so I suppose I`m looking for grip more than cost , You get what you pay for and there are only 2 things between you and the road , can you put a price on that?

[BNZ]

the taste is a big one for me. And texture, hate it when they are too chewy.

[Quartermile]

To me its like leathers and protective stuff, so i't migh cost a bit more for a good tyre at least your going to stick to the road better

[mud boy]

Outright grip, it keeps me off the road and keep the bike on the road

[Madness]

Grip/Longevity tied for first
Price second

Availability does tend to cancel these out however. Wanted to put a Strada on the rear last weekend, shop didn't have one & would have been another week for the Strada to arrive/be fitted. Went with another Diablo, after all I was quite happy with 6000k, that's 2000k more than the Conti Road attacks gave me.

[Toaster]

Grip is good, lasting longtime is gooder. Good rubber sure helps.

[Horney1]

It's not just one attribute. I'm looking for all-weather performance, good handling characteristics, good wearing ability, ready availability and a reasonable price.

When I find a tyre that performs on a particular bike, I generally stick with it and recommend it to death for that style of bike.

Gotta agree with you there Hitcher.

I learned long ago not to rely on cheap tyres. It was a front end washout on a Goodyear (1981 - 2) that convinced me. The worst part was a mate came around the opposite corner to see me sliding forward on my chest then somersault onto my feet and proceed into some high speed (for a person) rather long steps across the road. He damn near p*ssed himself laughing!

So, go for grip. Go for longivity. Go for handling. There are enough unknowns when riding around that we can do without having questions about our tyres. You gotta know that they'll do it, do it well and do it predictably.

[BarBender]

Tyre choice is dependent on my riding style, bike use, NZ conditions and that can handle the torque of my bike.

I go to trackdays, drags, work everyday as well as do a bit of two up riding with my son. Rubber that can give me good handling, grip and longtivity given the above in rain, shine or hail is what I tend to go for.

[DEATH_INC.]

I ticked the grip box, but it's really the feel of a tyre that does it for me.....for example I've generally always liked dunlops even though some of 'em aren't the grippiest....but I like the way they feel, the characteristics of 'em suit the way I ride.

[Mr. Peanut]

Shinkos are a trustworthy budget tyre. Might try dunlop GRPs next, but I doubt they'll be noticibly better.

[Drew]

Shinkos are a trustworthy budget tyre. Might try dunlop GRPs next, but I doubt they'll be noticibly better.

In there Yokahama days, the 003 was renowned as one of the best tyres you could get, the 002, and 001 were sooo sticky they left a trail of rubber when you pushed your bike.

To my way of thinking, on a bike of that era, the 003 should stick well enough for a very fast rider with no hassles at all. As for the feel of 'em, I cant comment, cos whitetrash wrote his rgv off before I had my licence, and they didn't make them to fit a 1984 GSX 250.

[jade]

Shinkos are a trustworthy budget tyre. Might try dunlop GRPs next, but I doubt they'll be noticibly better.

Gprs.
Im a dunlop man and the gpr 70's can handle most of what my bike can throw at it, Ive lost the front 3 times knee down now but didnt go down on any of them, once on pukes hairpin, once at taupo track and once on a roundabout, like I said didnt go down on either of them, enough feel to give me warning I guess, quick warm up time is important to me as I often do short rides round the shore, and faith in that front as I practice stoppies,
currently have a pilot sport on the back but I spun the rear on a corner the other day which gave me a hell of a fright and bucked me airbourne.
in a few weeks ill be trying the latest dunlops for my size tyre, gpr 80's i think
if it aint broke dont fix it

[Drew]

Gprs.
Im a dunlop man and the gpr 70's can handle most of what my bike can throw at it, Ive lost the front 3 times knee down now but didnt go down on any of them, once on pukes hairpin, once at taupo track and once on a roundabout, like I said didnt go down on either of them, enough feel to give me warning I guess, quick warm up time is important to me as I often do short rides round the shore, and faith in that front as I practice stoppies,
currently have a pilot sport on the back but I spun the rear on a corner the other day which gave me a hell of a fright and bucked me airbourne.
in a few weeks ill be trying the latest dunlops for my size tyre, gpr 80's i think
if it aint broke dont fix it

I could be wrong here bud, but the front washing out, then being saveable is a sign that your tyre is shit, and your suspension is good, perhaps a suspension guru could enlighten me here...



SHAUN, ignorance and me are too familiar, part with the info pal!

[Hitcher]

Isn't it funny that Dunlop, a reasonably large tyre manufacturing company that makes motorcycle tyres, doesn't make a sports touring tyre that anybody seems to use? Or if they do, they keep mighty quiet about it.