I have been thinking about the long and on going debate on tyres as to what's best ECT.
So here's my thoughts
I think that pretty much all the newest and last models of nearly all the top manufacturers tyres(sports-touring) are actually very good when fitted to our bikes.
We all have our favourites as to what we think (you will all know mine)
I would love for one that one the popular bike mags to do a tyre test on all the currently available tyres when they have several 1000's of miles on them when they are getting towards the ends of the tyre-life.
As we dont all buy brand new tyres then ride around on fantastic smooth race tracks and ride on them for a few 100 miles then change them.
we do mostly between 4000-8000 miles on normal public roads .
This would give everyone a better informed choice in what we buy in the future.
I know this will never end the tyre debate but just what I think.
:cheers:
I quite agree with you
@seth . We all have our favourite tyres. I chose to use Metzeler Roadtech Z6 mainly due to the rear tread pattern. Most of my riding is commuting on the motorway and the tread pattern on the rear Metzeler means that I can do a lot of very fast "upright" miles before it starts to square off. I find them good in the wet too. I get approx 10k miles from a front and 5k from a rear.
I did try a Maxxis on the rear and killed it in 2k miles :shocked:
The Metzelers from Oponeo are cheaper than UK supplied Maxxis too. And just in case you didn't know..Maxxis are made by Cheng Shin of China!
As you can see in the photo, there is very little tread in the central part of the tyre, so it takes a while to square off.
Here's my Pirelli Angel gt2's with 2000 miles on them still looks like new
:cheers:
@seth Any word yet on liking the GT2 better than the GT?
I have been mostly riding Metzeler. Last was the Z8. They worked well 'till the end. Now got Michelin Road 5. Can't say much of them as I have ridden only a couple 100 km on them and not yet on the more demanding rounds in the Eifel. Have to wait for it to get warmer. As I only ride when it's warm and dry, I can't say anything about cold and wet performance on Z8 and Road 5.
@Andre To be fair I don't notice much difference in feel in either dry or wet riding between these gt2's and the previous gt's.
They still feeling like new good tyres at the current 2000miles
I'm hoping that the longer useable miles is the big pay off against the price they haven't flattened off at all yet and I've done a fair few of the miles so far on motorways .
(I did these on a deal so were the same price as std gt's )
:cheers:
Quote from: seth on Thursday, 23 May 2019, 12:21 AM
Here's my Pirelli Angel gt2's with 2000 miles on them still looks like new
:cheers:
Hmm, that's because they are as hard as rocks ........ I've lost the front end four times with the Angels, who I almost met personally, because of them.
Mine will be coming off soon. Value that bike and my life too much.
Yep, they have been reported to be "hard as wood" many times. The GT2 is much ("normal") softer.
Usually tyre debates are just a can of worms, now upgraded to woodworms. :)
Quote from: grog on Thursday, 23 May 2019, 05:40 PM
Usually tyre debates are just a can of worms, now upgraded to woodworms. :)
Tyres, oils and exhaust systems, etc., everything we can easily change.
+ dyno results of course.
A perfect tyre to suit everyone, bit like having good pollies.
Bake your own pollies :coffeescreen:
Yesterday, when I met those motorbike cops and they inspected my tyres etc., I asked their opinion about tyres and what they are using.
The cop said that the best combination in their use between grip and wearing is Michelin PR 4 GT.
They have tried Michy 5's and Angels but are now back in PR 4 GT's. 21 000 km front and 16 000 km rear.
They have also noticed the slippery of Angel in cold weather.
Guess im just lucky we dont have real cold. Ill be wary thru Winter, never below 6 degrees. Im no expert but have never had any probs with Angel, if i did would ditch them immediately. Thanks for the heads up.
I've not used the gt2's in very cold weather tho did use them in February in Scotland when it was low single figures °c with no problems.
I did ride on the older gt's and even st's in below freezing temperatures with no problems either .
:cheers:
My local bike shop owner just telling me, they serviced 1250 BMW, He rides to Brisbane and back each day, guessing around 170ks, straight highway. 40 k service and tyres still ok, Michelin 5. Just on 12 months. Bike has never had a problem.
My original point at the start of this thread wasn't to start yet another "what tyres best" debate
I was just making the statement that all the latest tyres are actually very good when new but I was wondering what they are like when compared after doing a good mileage (5000miles+)
As I buy our tyres based on how long they last almost as equally as how well they grip in most conditions though that is always just the top priority.
:cheers:
I have Michelin road 5s on the CB500 and plan on putting them on the GSX when it needs new shoes.
A lot of actual r&d went into the Road 5s to make them better then then PR4s, Michelin spent real big developing them and by their account, a used Road 5 (3000 miles) has better grip then a new PR4 in wet conditions.
@Masterbates I'm totally sure that all the companies spend a fortune on research and development .
In fact Dunlop Pirelli/metzler continental and Michelin have research Centers at the nürburgring .
I would never go by what a tyre tester has written they are paid to say good things about all the latest tyres.
I do trust the things that fellow owners write as they have real world experience and rode real miles on real roads .
I have said many times that I have never tried any other of the latest tyres but I'd suspect that all latest tyres will be very good in all conditions and that was my whole point of me starting this thread .
It wasn't to say this is better than that just to say that I was wondering how tyres fair once they are worn compared to when they are new .
:cheers:
Quote from: Masterbates on Saturday, 25 May 2019, 01:52 AM
I have Michelin road 5s on the CB500 and plan on putting them on the GSX when it needs new shoes.
A lot of actual r&d went into the Road 5s to make them better then then PR4s, Michelin spent real big developing them and by their account, a used Road 5 (3000 miles) has better grip then a new PR4 in wet conditions.
Gotta agree with the Road 5's and there quality. Good solid strip down the middle for endurance AND great sidewall contact area for lean angle connection. Sidewall has great flex when going over those ruts and corrugations through some corners. Feels well planted to me.
Anyway .... :cheers:
Sheepie, everyone seems to like them. Maybe after my wooden tyres wear out ill try them. Was happy in past with Michys, except they tram tracked, only thing i didnt like.
My Angel GT has 2mm left after 14 000 km (~8700 miles), still good to ride. No intentional burn outs,
but our very rough tarmac in springtime, after studs used in car tyres in wintertime, is poison to any tyre.
Angel GT seems to last the same km's as Pilot Road 4 GT.
Quote from: seth on Friday, 24 May 2019, 07:51 PM
My original point at the start of this thread wasn't to start yet another "what tyres best" debate
I was just making the statement that all the latest tyres are actually very good when new but I was wondering what they are like when compared after doing a good mileage (5000miles+)
As I buy our tyres based on how long they last almost as equally as how well they grip in most conditions though that is always just the top priority.
:cheers:
A Tyre lasts 5000 miles!!!!????? :shocked:
But
@Big Geordi your mental :doh: :facepalm:
I get 5000 mile out off the sides of Angel GT's and there's still tread in the middle.
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Monday, 27 May 2019, 04:27 AM
I get 5000 mile out off the sides of Angel GT's and there's still tread in the middle.
You only get that because they're "A" spec. :onya:
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Monday, 27 May 2019, 04:27 AM
I get 5000 mile out off the sides of Angel GT's and there's still tread in the middle.
@Irish in Oz, Can you add a picture of that Angel?
I recall seeing pictures of Irish's tyres on here, worn ragged they were, on the edges only though, middle still had tread.
Yeah , remember that pic.of Irish tyres. This morn was our first cold one. Took notice of you guys saying no grip on Angels in cold, was 8 degree C. Nothing wrong i could notice. Been using just on 6 years now, really no complaints.
@grog Both are good tyres, Angel GT and PR 4 GT, no doubt.
But there can be also some minor differenses in tarmac quality and the torque.
Make a test:
Take the 4th gear and 120-140 km/h on cold tarmac and open the throttle.
=> rear wheel will slip = Angel
=> front wheel will rise = Michelin
There are no differences on warm tarmac.
Think l will get some black tyres next time.
They look cool. :hat:
Quote from: T 24 on Wednesday, 29 May 2019, 12:47 AM
@grog Both are good tyres, Angel GT and PR 4 GT, no doubt.
But there can be also some minor differenses in tarmac quality and the torque.
Make a test:
Take the 4th gear and 120-140 km/h on cold tarmac and open the throttle.
=> rear wheel will slip = Angel
=> front wheel will rise = Michelin
There are no differences on warm tarmac.
How much difference do you think a turbo makes in the above test? Unofficially, I would appear to undertake this test on a fairly regular basis, never had slip or the front come up. We must have good road surfaces in NZ I guess.
Quote from: T 24 on Monday, 27 May 2019, 06:59 PM
Quote from: Irish in Oz on Monday, 27 May 2019, 04:27 AM
I get 5000 mile out off the sides of Angel GT's and there's still tread in the middle.
@Irish in Oz, Can you add a picture of that Angel?
My tyre pressures and suspension are probably set wrong, and I don't like roundabouts. Plus they are A spec not B as the bike is very heavy when I am on it. But it still goes round corners like feck.
@KiwiCol NZ roads are certainly better than Australia. Here, they're either concrete slab or straight tarseal. Very little gravel used. And if it is it's a fine chip. Not like the grippy coarse chip roads back home.
@Irish in OzMy first rear tyre in my 14 was Pilot Road 2, and I destroyed it totally by using tyre pressures from owners manual.
Those recommendations are made for midgets, and my tyre looked just like yours. That's why I asked the pick.
My owners manual says( auf Deutsch ), single rider 2.5 bar (36 psi) and with a passenger 2.9 bar (42 psi).
My weight was about 125 kg, and I used 2.7 bar (39 psi) and it wasn't enough.
My friend, old road racing trainer, said me several times: more pressure, more pressure, but I didn't believe him,
and the tyre was worn to change..
Now i'm about 105 kg and I'm using 3.0-3.2 bar ( 43-46 psi) in rear tyre now and I don't have that wearing problem any more.
So: Are you riding very fast on curves, make a lot of wheelies, how heavy you are, and what pressure you are using?
Quote from: Taniwha on Wednesday, 29 May 2019, 11:22 AM
@KiwiCol
NZ roads are certainly better than Australia. Here, they're either concrete slab or straight tarseal. Very little gravel used. And if it is it's a fine chip. Not like the grippy coarse chip roads back home.
I actually prefer hot mix asphalt or worn chip roads to a new coarse chip surface. Don't think we have any concrete slab roads in NZ, that I can think of anyway.
Coarser the chip, the better wet traction, but at tyre life trade off. I find I go 'just nicely' on a newish asphalt road - love 'em.
T24, no wheelies from me, spinning rear tyre that is. I corner as fast as i feel safe, usually almost wear to edges. Weigh 85 kg, always use 36f & 38 r. Tyre wear is good, very even. Use 40 in r with wife/ luggage on, shes only 45kg.
T24, tried your 4th gear test on 14 in cold, just accelerated, no spin , no front up. At lunch time, now 20 degrees , borrowed mates MT10, Angels on it. 5k revs in 2nd, front up. 5k revs in 3rd, same story, no spin just wheel stand and go. Quick bike that one. Would swap Diavel for it in a blink, really nice bike. Really bad fuel consumtion its problem, just terrible.
Watch that cold there
@grog . It is 16°C right now (05:26 your morning, your city) :happy1:
Actually a bit cooler Andre, my place at bottom of mountain. Yesterday was 4, today 6.
But then 24 - 25 deg during the day. I had A/C on in my truck today :stir: :stir: