Tyre advice please

[Eric GSX1400K3]

I went from PR2's to PR4's - MUCH better. I'd recommend them.

The GSX1400 is not heavy enough to need Michelin's GT version so ignore that.

Spoke with my local tyre bloke - pricing between the Michelin PR and Angel GT's is bugger all - 500 bucks for new F+R fitted and balanced.

No price difference either for the "A" rated (heavier duty) variant on both, the Angel GT's are available in a 50 AND 55 profile for the rear, which I thought was interesting, the 55's will give you a (minor) large wheel rolling diameter, but the 50's look better and are the "standard" tyre fitted.

He said that while the GSX1400 is not classified as a heavy bike, but considering a ~230 kg dry weight (say 260-270kg wet, then add rider / pillion and/or luggage, you are hauling 350-380kg around.

My understanding is the A rating is to do with the number of plys in the side walls / ply rating to give the tyre stability and load carrying capacity.   

I've currently got  Michelin PR2's on, the rear tyre is from 2011 (!!) and the front is from 2012 (look at the side wall, there should be a 4 digit number inside a raised oval area.  The first two digits are the week of the year they were made in, the last two digits the year of manufacture).  Again the tyre bloke said anything past 4-5 years old should be replaced due to the ageing of the rubber.

I will be going with the Angel GTs, and most likely the "A" rated version, 70 profile front and 50 profile rear.

[Irish in Oz]

All the tyre blokes now say anything over 5 years old should be replaced. I just recently blue slipped a 4WD and he told me he could pass it because the tyres where 7 years old (he also sold tyres). the vehicle was laided up for almost 4 years and perfectly good tyres, I said show me the cracks on the rubber and now show me where the RMS stipulates age of a tyres.
All rubbers will cure over a period of time but that depends on the acceloraters and other additives that are added during manufacture.

[grog]

i do rwc for cars, 4wd etc. they do get perish marks. i reckon 5 to 6 yrs should be limit. should have use by dates on them. have a look at blown tyre bits on highways. caravan people the worst. not for me, replace for safety i reckon. theyre only bloody rubber n glue. as far as using A sec tyres on 14, i actually wrote to pirelli in italy. no one in oz could give definitive answer. they wrote back, was amazed, just use standard was answer. i did and have for 5 yrs. A spec is for big bmw, gold wings etc. same price i know but not needeed. my answer came from world manager of pirelli tyre recos, i was impressed.

[Andre]

In most countries there is lack of info and confusion in regard to bike tires. All the tire manufacturers who market their products in Germany are bound by law to certify their tires for each bike model. The tire shops will not put a non-certified tire on a road bike. You shouldn't either! There might be a tire that is not certified and still do a good enough or even better job for your riding but you are on your own. The manufacturers do as many certifications for as many models as they can - they do want to sell as much as they can. There are a great deal of tires for the 14 that are approved by them.

The certifications are not just something a picky German government has decided for no reasons. The main reason is that bikes have to be safe on the Autobahn at high speeds. Can't think of any other country where you can ride legally as fast as here.

I believe these approval documents are only available in German. I'll post them on a separate thread for all the major brands soon.

[Mick_J]

GT tyres are heavy duty tyres designed for heavy (heavier than the 14) touring bikes and have stiffer side walls to cope with the loads.  This will have an effect on the feel of the tyre as it will be less compliant than a standard tyre so will affect the handling.

[Irish in Oz]

theyre only bloody rubber n glue

The main agents in tyres are Natural rubber, carbon black, oil, and curing agents.

[Eric GSX1400K3]

i do rwc for cars, 4wd etc. they do get perish marks. i reckon 5 to 6 yrs should be limit. should have use by dates on them. have a look at blown tyre bits on highways. caravan people the worst. not for me, replace for safety i reckon. theyre only bloody rubber n glue. as far as using A sec tyres on 14, i actually wrote to pirelli in italy. no one in oz could give definitive answer. they wrote back, was amazed, just use standard was answer. i did and have for 5 yrs. A spec is for big bmw, gold wings etc. same price i know but not needeed. my answer came from world manager of pirelli tyre recos, i was impressed.

Thanks Grog,  that makes sense to me, so I will still go with Pirelli Angel GT's just not the "A" spec.

[Bundy07]

Just to throw a curve ball  . After reading road tests from Europe and Aus, giving the new Conti Road Attack 3 a big wrap, I've fitted a set to my K3. Early days, but being new to a 14, I'm impressed so far. The bike feels lighter and steering nicely neutral, compared to the Brigestones that where previously fitted. A short trip through the curvy old Pacific Hwy and felt very confident with nice change of direction. As I said, being new to the bulk of the 14 , I felt very comfortable with the tyres.

[Andre]

Thanks Bundy for your impression. This is the first I have found for the CRA3 fitted on a 14.

For a guy who tests tires on youtube this is his Top tire.

His number 2 is the Pirelli Angel GT. He said that this one was punished like no other tire he tested. It held up extremely well.

Number 3 is Bridgestone S21.

His tests are limitied to his personal riding taste, which is lots of curves by dry roads in the Black Forrest. No tire lasts more than 3000 km for him. All of the 3 made it close to that.

As I am pi..ed at Conti for reasons I ranted on in another thread and have nothing to do with the tire, I am going to switch to the Angel GT. More "objective" reasons for this choice are the good experiences of many mates on the 14 here and that the before mentioned tester did not punish the CRA3 as much as the Angel GT (Angel GT may have been his top choice if he had done so).

[KiwiCol]

@Bundy07   is that a 55 profile rear?

[Irish in Oz]

Oh my I'm in big trouble I have an A spec Angel on my 14. I suppose it won't flex like the MotoGP bikes.

Think I would be better off with a Michelin M38 like the good old days in the early 80's on my GPZ's GSX's, with about 70 profile and 115 wide lol.

[KiwiCol]

Don't be too hard on yourself Irish,    Just buy the right one next time! 

[Kiwifruit]

Geez Irish .....if you want flex maybe just run it at 18psi 

[rekib]

After the tyres which were fitted as new wore out, BT 020, Ive fitted Pilot Roads 2 or 3 ever since.

[Bundy07]

Hey KiwiCol. no, its stock standard 50 profile. They also come with what they call traction skin which is a slightly roughened finish for better run-in grip.