[Iggy]

I suppose this is just as good a thread as any to post this. For anyone interested in this sort of thing, here are test results for a half dozen sports tyres ( PDF file ).

[Iggy]

ramjet, on Jul 27 2009, 08:08 PM, said:

I buy tyres that suit the way I ride and what is suitable for the bike. If you have experience of a particular trye and I mean the exact tyre (model) and not just the make and what ever is the flavor of the month then share the info but remember you ride diffrent from the next man, and what you find to be a good atribute of the tyre someone else may not. To completely out of hand discount a particular brand or model of tyre with out using them first is like saying I dont like Italian food or indian food, Im mean with all the diffrent variation there's bound to be one that will suit your taste's.

I rode a bandit with Pirelli diablo's and found them great for what I wanted them for. The 020's where good to on the bandit as well. I bought the Blade with Dunlop 208's on it and never had an issue with them but alway's felt that they where a bit to hard, I stuck with the Dunlop's and now run the new Qualifer II and I have been in all weathers and on all surfaces as the lads who came to Achill will vouch for. I have probably ridden the bike harder than I have ever have and the confidence I have in them is unshakable. But as I said each to there own. I will give people the benifit of my experience if they ask and that's that its my experience. I have never ridden the DC111 or the 021's, 016's or 014's or the strada angles so I will never say that there a bad tyre cause I dont know either.

Probably some of the most sensible comments ever posted regarding tyres on any forum from a member. The blanket condemnation of a brand or type of tyre is nonsense. For instance, I consistently hear from customers that " Dunlops are sihte ". Which, of course, explains why the Gardai accepted Dunlop Roadsmarys for use on the FJRs and why Dunlop tend to top the podium in road racing, etc.
The same comments apply to Continental particularily the Road Attack. I have in my possession a set of R/Atts which recently came off a BMW R1200GS, sizes 110/80/19 & 150/70/17. If anyone thinks that R/Atts are " sihte ", I suggest that they come and see these tyres. The customer, Connor,
( whom some of you may know as a marshall in the beginner and intermediate classes in Mondello ),
put up 6,500 klicks ( 1000 on track and rest on road ) and refuses to use anything else. I have recently read a disparaging post re : Pirelli Diablos albeit from a guy who apparently runs on race tyres ( cut slicks I assume ). Yet Diablos were the " flavour of the month " a few years ago.
Last year, BT 016s were the " Best " tyre out there, this year it appears that Michelin are the new flavour. Yet both Micheln and Bridgestone tyres co-existed last year. So what's different now ? I also note that Pirelli Stradas have become popular recently. A bit late given that they are on the market about 5 years and are now replaced with the Angel Street.
In this month's Bike Buyer's Guide, a reader asks a question about winter tyres for his R1 and if a full blown sports tyre would do the trick. I wondered what the reply would be and was pleasantly surprised when I saw the reply and explanation. It was suggested that he run a sports touring tyre for cold winter months. Read the full article on the letters page and see why.
Ramjet makes the excellent point that riding styles differ from indvidual to individual. I would suggest that if in doubt talk to your dealer. And this is where I get very generous : Both myself and Paddy O'Donnell of Paddy's Pitstop ( the generous bit, giving a plug to a rival ) deal in all brands of tyres. Therefore niether of us have a drum to beat about any one brand of tyre and will generally be able to offer a choice of tyres to suit your needs. We have fitted 1000s of tyres through the years and without going into a load of old technical xollob, can usually steer you in the right direction from all perspectives ( including price ).
Reality is that there are really no " BAD " tyres out there anymore, just different requirements from riders or, dare I say it, " sihte Riders ".
And thanks to Ramjet for injecting some commonsense into the continual debate about tyres.

[Aussie]

I just buy the tyres that Iggy tells me to!!!

Well, except the Viper's that was my own mistake. Wont do it again Ig!!!

This post has been edited by Aussie: 28 July 2009 - 07:02 AM

[ramjet]

rubber56, on Jul 28 2009, 06:52 AM, said:

Probably some of the most sensible comments ever posted regarding tyres on any forum from a member. The blanket condemnation of a brand or type of tyre is nonsense. For instance, I consistently hear from customers that " Dunlops are sihte ". Which, of course, explains why the Gardai accepted Dunlop Roadsmarys for use on the FJRs and why Dunlop tend to top the podium in road racing, etc.
The same comments apply to Continental particularily the Road Attack. I have in my possession a set of R/Atts which recently came off a BMW R1200GS, sizes 110/80/19 & 150/70/17. If anyone thinks that R/Atts are " sihte ", I suggest that they come and see these tyres. The customer, Connor,
( whom some of you may know as a marshall in the beginner and intermediate classes in Mondello ),
put up 6,500 klicks ( 1000 on track and rest on road ) and refuses to use anything else. I have recently read a disparaging post re : Pirelli Diablos albeit from a guy who apparently runs on race tyres ( cut slicks I assume ). Yet Diablos were the " flavour of the month " a few years ago.
Last year, BT 016s were the " Best " tyre out there, this year it appears that Michelin are the new flavour. Yet both Micheln and Bridgestone tyres co-existed last year. So what's different now ? I also note that Pirelli Stradas have become popular recently. A bit late given that they are on the market about 5 years and are now replaced with the Angel Street.
In this month's Bike Buyer's Guide, a reader asks a question about winter tyres for his R1 and if a full blown sports tyre would do the trick. I wondered what the reply would be and was pleasantly surprised when I saw the reply and explanation. It was suggested that he run a sports touring tyre for cold winter months. Read the full article on the letters page and see why.
Ramjet makes the excellent point that riding styles differ from indvidual to individual. I would suggest that if in doubt talk to your dealer. And this is where I get very generous : Both myself and Paddy O'Donnell of Paddy's Pitstop ( the generous bit, giving a plug to a rival ) deal in all brands of tyres. Therefore niether of us have a drum to beat about any one brand of tyre and will generally be able to offer a choice of tyres to suit your needs. We have fitted 1000s of tyres through the years and without going into a load of old technical xollob, can usually steer you in the right direction from all perspectives ( including price ).
Reality is that there are really no " BAD " tyres out there anymore, just different requirements from riders or, dare I say it, " sihte Riders ".
And thanks to Ramjet for injecting some commonsense into the continual debate about tyres.

Cheers Iggy

[Hellraiser]

rubber56, on Jul 28 2009, 06:52 AM, said:

Probably some of the most sensible comments ever posted regarding tyres on any forum from a member.

Fair play that man!!

rubber56, on Jul 28 2009, 06:52 AM, said:

Ramjet makes the excellent point that riding styles differ from indvidual to individual.....

Reality is that there are really no " BAD " tyres out there anymore, just different requirements from riders....

Also agreed. Different horses and all that. Through experience, I know what I like, I know what I hate, and I know what I'll never put on any bike I own. Some great points there Iggy.

[fatso]

How much did you pay him Ramjet?

[Hellraiser]

fatso, on Jul 28 2009, 10:03 PM, said:

How much did you pay him Ramjet?

f**ker!!!

[the black celt]

Hellraiser, on Jul 28 2009, 10:07 PM, said:

f**ker!!!

Hello--wow! Now I'm really confused. Want to put new set on bandit 12--last time put on diablos. Great handling but lousy miles. I don't ride hard so want tyres that will last longer than diablos. Do about 4k miles a year in all weathers but mostly rain--this is Ireland.So, any ideas? Help much appreciated.

[Hellraiser]

the black celt, on Sep 15 2009, 02:38 PM, said:

Hello--wow! Now I'm really confused. Want to put new set on bandit 12--last time put on diablos. Great handling but lousy miles. I don't ride hard so want tyres that will last longer than diablos. Do about 4k miles a year in all weathers but mostly rain--this is Ireland.So, any ideas? Help much appreciated.

Mate, if you do very little miles, then you don't necessarily want a dual compound or a hard tyre. Bridgestone BT-016's are the biz, but like the Diablos, they don't get great miles. The Pilot Road 2ct's I put on the bike at the beginning of June are now nearly gone and ready to be changed. I WILL be getting the same again. I got nearly 4 months out of them!! That's good as I was only getting an average of two months with the Diablos. Bear in mind though that I commute every day (100 miles ish) in all sorts of weather. So if you want tyres that will last longer than the Diablos, your best option is Michelin Pilot Roas 2 or Bridgestone BT-021. Let me know how you get on.