I have a question about grip. When you guys say a tire "grips" better than others, are you saying that you feel some of the tires you are using "slide out" when street riding? I use pretty much all of my tire on the street, but I have yet to actually feel ANY tire slide out while cornering. That would scare the crap out of me!

Has any body used the dual compound tires/ if so what did you think of them?

I've used the Pirelli Corsa III and loved it. No longer sold under that name. not sure what they call it now. my new favourite is the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP. Sticks like sh!t to a blanket. It'll probably wear out real soon but that's ok. I also recommend a 180/55 profile on the rear. It transforms the handling, it will turn in at the mere thought of considering the possibility of entering a turn

Just ordered a set of PR 2s from Rocky Mt. 266.00 for the set.

I put my first set of pilot roads 2's on about three weeks ago as a result of this poll. Great tyres, much better than the bridgefoam I was wearing.

I don’t know the wear life on the road pilot 3’s because I just put them on but so far the best tire I have ever had they ride in the rain as if it were dry my new favorite tire. The rode pilot 2 would be my 2nd choice very good all around tire wet and dry I got 8,000 miles and still had probably 1,000 miles left but rainy season was right around the corner and i ride every day so id rather be safe than sorry.

* Last updated by: COOTER on 5/26/2011 @ 11:42 PM *

I do a lot of traveling on my bike for work. I've got over 6000 on my pilot roads and they stil look pretty good! I've NEVER got this many miles from a tire. I can't wait to see how many miles I actually get. I'll let you guys know when I get there.

my Michelin Pilot Power 2CT rear tire will make 3000 miles but I think that is it. The front tire looks great and is doing none of the head shake that my stock front bridgestone did at 1800 miles. I am running 40-42 psi in the both tires. I would like to try the Pilot Power Pure as the soft compound is over a much larger area of the the rear tire. The same longevity would be fine.

Has anyone had problems with the PIlot Road 2CT slipping because they are a harder tire? I am a bit concerned about using it but of course would like the increased tire life.

Is there many new contender tyres out there yet to do a new poll or are these ones still the most used/common?

just added my second pair of Pilot Power 2CTs, 3,200 miles on rear and it was at the wear bars. The front tire looked good however I replaced both. Looking forward to more fun.

I ran a couple of sets of BT16's on my older 636. Love the multi compound. I could actually wear out the outside of the tire before the middle. Love the feal of the sticky outside edge. It never worried going into a corner compared to the older BT14. I also love the price. They are much cheaper than the Corsa 3's or the Pilot Race that most guys are running here.

Just put on a set of the Pirelli Angel ST's. Trying to get a Lil more time out of a set. The stockers had a flat spot from highway riding..

my 08 ZX-14 came with BT 014L Batlax, got 4200 miles. Three sets of pilot Roads averaging about 11,500 miles per set. No longer available. Pilot 2CT 5,381 miles. Metzler M3 6295 miles. My new 2012 used a set of Metzler M5 in 4952 miles. I am now running a set of Pilot road 3 that I put on today. I always change tires in pairs. Both bikes total miles 54,294. All of the tires that I have used on these two bikes were more than adequate. Light years beyond the rubber on on my Triumph Cub 53 years ago.

* Last updated by: 21744 on 4/22/2012 @ 12:19 AM *

I have a question about grip. When you guys say a tire "grips" better than others, are you saying that you feel some of the tires you are using "slide out" when street riding? I use pretty much all of my tire on the street, but I have yet to actually feel ANY tire slide out while cornering. That would scare the crap out of me!

LOL very good question BcVulcan! I would certainly agree with you about the the 'slide out' factor. If that is happening to a pro racer, I'd say he has his hands full but he is pushing the bike to the limit like he needs to do to win. Most of the rest of us would be asking for a low side and it's gonna happen in short order. I think I had a couple quick slips turning a corner but nothing that I would call a true, continuous drift.

Grip to me is how well the tire hooks in straightline application a and I must say, I can't tell much difference between the tires I've tried. The stock BT-014 did slip a few times. Conversely, the BT-003 seemed to wheelie a little easy maybe. AFAIC, Grip under good riding conditions is something that is a bit subjective because I imagine it is pretty likely most of us lose the bike if we lose grip, especially front tire grip. I have only had the 14 slide around on a road course and that was in braking and hard downshifts. That was an extreme situation and I would never expect to have that happen on the street often enough to make any sort of tire grip comparison.

A lot of riders claim to get 2000-3000 miles out of a tire and some drag race. Those owners prolly experience loss of grip enough to say which tire hooks and which doesn't. I will say this, the BT-016 190/55 sure feels good taking a corner. I think it has much to do with the neutral shape of the tire but it probably has good grip characteristics. I feel as though I get some sense of grip while cornering the bike but I certainly don't try to come back with actual test results! That is why I believe that tire grip is something that is subjective to most of us, We don't actually ever find out how well a tire grips.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/24/2012 @ 9:24 AM *

According to Bike Magazine, here are the best tires ranging from best to worst. The focus is on street tire and sport riding.
The main factors were: wet and dry grip, longevity and steering.
1. Dunlop Sportsmart (Good luck getting that one in US of A)
2.Bridgestone BT-023, Dunlop Roadsmart, Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SC, Pirelli Diablo Rosso Corsa.
3. Dunlop Q2, Pirelli Angel ST, Michelin Pilot Road 2, Michelin Pilot Power 2CT, Metzeler Racetech Interact (K2&K3)
Number 1 scored a 5 out a possible 5!
Number 2 a 4
Number 3 a 3
* I omitted tires that scored less than 3/5

I know it is all about marketing and magazines need to pay bills but after trying the Rosso Corsa I believe this rating to be pretty good. The michelin power pure scored really low a 2 if I remember so I canceled my order and ordered BT-023

I'm currently on my second set of Pirelli Angel ST's. I get excellent mileage from them (15,000Km) They are excellent in the rain and dry. Don't see me changing them for anything else any time soon.

I just put on a new Pilot Power 2CT rear tire. It went about 3,000 miles just like the last one. The front tire is still good so this time I decided it would be ok to leave it on unlike my last tire change. I almost never ride in the rain so I don;t know how it really handles. I run my air pressure at around 40 in the rear and 38 in the front.

The rear tire wore out in the center. The stock tire was below the wear bars at 1,800 miles and that was doing kaw's engine break in

* Last updated by: Fr8flyer on 7/23/2012 @ 7:56 PM *

Had an appointment to get a front tire installed this morning.Only problem was I looked at it very carefully over the weekend and there was nothing wrong with it.They wanted to sell me this soft Michelin that I didn't recognize.
It was $135 for the tire and $55 to install it.Homey don't play that.
Craig

I decided to wait and glad I am.Almost rearended a van last week and I hit my front break so hard the back wheel was airborne.The tire was a Pilot Power 2CT.It took the bike straight and didn't skid.The rest of the bike went straight.I had to let off cause I wasn't going to make it so I passed the van to the right hit them again going sideways in the dirt.This time I had both breaks and it stopped quick and straight up in the dirt.Man what a tire.Have no question what tire I'm getting next time.Don't care what mileage it get just traction baby.
Craig

I went to an independent shop today.Ma and Pa shop,good people.Wanted Pilot Powers.They wanted $315 plus installation.Told them I'd order them next year.They did tires and other work for me in the past.I only go though a tire a season.Have to burn this one up.
Craig

For commuting back and forth to work I'll take a set of Shinko 009's any day but for real sport riding so far it's neck and neck between pilot power and the regular pirelli diablos.

I got the crappy stock Metzlers...

Hi all, in the UK, most riders use PR2's-3's, BT023,both are fantastic on corners and mileage ware, a couple with road attack 2's or Angel ST's ,I have used attack 2's before, then changed to BT023's and on my 2nd pair at the moment , these were both around the 7-8000 miles when renewed ,

nick

* Last updated by: nick14 on 10/14/2013 @ 7:00 AM *

yep PR2s now excwellent grip all round, previously had a PR on the rear and it did about 8k miles on the back of the turbo. The PR rear used to spin up easily but the PR2 needs a bit of provocation unless its very cold or damp.
All round I make sure tyres are warm and then find these are the best tyre for my purpose and confidence so far.(thats what its all about dont you think?)
PR3s next time!

Grin

Got 700 miles out of the original BT,s horrible in the wet and just spun everywhere in the dry and felt like they were made of wood. Happy now with Dunlops.

* Last updated by: Blade on 1/3/2014 @ 8:44 AM *