Slippy tyres

[c-m]

Any of you guys running Bridgestone BT020 tyres? I have a pair on my ZX9R with decent tread but I am finding them woeful.

So far I have had the front end slide out on me at reletively low speeds three times now. More recently I was overtaking a van at 60mph and the rear lit up, and today doing 90mph (on my works private road) I got on the throttle at 7.5k rpm in a straight line and back spun up and slid arround all over the place.

I used to have Pilot Sports on my ZXR750 and they gave a lot of confidence but with the BT020 i'm hesitating in corners and getting back on the throttle.

[Serendipity]

I ran with a BT020 on the rear of my Blade for the last three winters and pretty much experienced what you described. I just assumed that was normal for a powerful bike on greasy roads.

However this autumn I fitted Pilot Road II front and back. So far, though all this damp and chilly weather they've stayed stuck to the tarmac... touch wood.

I know that some of the confidence comes from having a nice stable new set of tyres with no wear. My last BT020 rear and BT014 front were heavily worn and made the bike handle terribly.

Anyway my commute includes lots of perfect places for back end slides. A series of small tight roundabouts near a couple of construction sites turn the road into a skid pan. That's where I normally have the back end step out. Maybe I'm getting older and more careful.

IF (and that's a big IF) I finally get my CBR600 back on the road it will be an interesting comparison. That has three year old BT020 boots with only a few hundred miles on them. Great tyres for longevity with a bit of a compromise on the grip, but absolutely dreadful handling when they square off.
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2007 CBF1000 & 2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[the grim reaper]

I've not tried the 020s on the Fazer Thou but I can thoroughly recommend the Pilot Road 2CTs. I rode on them last winter and never had a single slide or issue, the crappy MEZ4s that I have been financially forced to use this winter have seen the front end slide whilst braking and me drop the bike already. As soon as I have enough cash, I'm getting some 2CTs again.

Cheers

Grim
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[stinkwheel]

Comparing they tyres uyou have on now with the ones you had on a couple of months ago isn't really a fair comparison though.

It is colder and they've started shovelling salt onto the roads to keep them damp and slippy from now until spring. Not saying it isn't your tyres, just saying it could also be the roads.

[doggone]

Painful as it is consider changing them - nothing worse than wishing you had after a more serious incident.
You could put them on again in April?

[Barry_M2]

c-m,

What pressure are you running? You might want to reduce it a little to get a little more heat into them.

You'll always get a bit of spin and slip in the cold and damp weather. I used to like lighting up the rear when it was damp
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[Alex A]

I used BT020s for a couple of winters on a vfr750 and apart from the odd rear end spin up they seemed fairly decent on slippery roads. Last winter I used Michelin Pilot Road 2CT on a firestorm and this winter I am using Pilot Powers on the SP-1 and must say they're considerably more confidence inspiring than the BT020 in all weathers (but ware more quickly). Having said that, it's probably not worth changing when you have plenty of tread left.

As an alternative, I put a pair of Continental ContiMotion on the 'blade which I've been using as my main winter bike and done about 2000 miles on the past couple of months and as yet I've never found them wanting for grip or feel whatever the weather. These were recommended by the dealer and i was sceptical given that they're cheaper than the likes of bridgestone/michelin, but I'd say that so far they're as good as either on slippery/wet roads.
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[the grim reaper]

If you want to be hamfisted in the wet and cold then any tyre can be made to let go. I'm comparing the tyres I rode through last winter with this year and the 2CTs are excellent tyres in the wet or dry.

The worst tyres I had through winter were the Avon Azaros that were fitted to my old Blade, I once span the rear up for about 100 yards, patiently waiting for the temperature to go up before the tyre gripped and away I went.

Cheers

Grim
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Adverts don't always work: Remember that advert, where the army are running across the desert and they have a wounded man on a stretcher. They get to a ravine, the bridge is down and a caption pops up that says, 'What are you thinking?'. I don't know about you but I was thinking, 'Christ, I'm glad I'm not in the f***ing army'.

[G]

I've not been impressed by 020s. Sure you can ride down to their level, but it means an even higher proportion of the time you can't use full-bore breaking in an emergency and you have to tone down the riding even further.
I do prefer high-grip tyres and the fun that can allow.

As with the grim reaper, I've never had a good experience with Avons.

[Flip]

I have 020's. Dreadful tyres, they don't like to grip, which is a shame as that's the point of a tyre. Last winter I managed a very nice skid around a mini roundabout which made my arse twitch. They just don't inspire confidence at all. I can't wait 'til I have the money to replace them with something better.

Probably the last Bridgestones I'll own.

[G]

TO be fair, I always found Bridgestone 010s to be very good, including in the wet and cold. If I see them second hand I'm still happy to buy them even though they are going to be physically a bit old.

[Dr. DaveJPS]

on my old fazer i had 021's which i found more than adequate for the bike, now on the KTM i've gone with 2CT's which i love.
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[Flip]

[LeeR]

Strange isn't it I fitted a BT020/021 combination to my DL1000 last winter (coldest and saltiest I've ridden in so far) and thought they were an excellent tyre.

I found the grip good in the wet or dry, in fact some days I had to slow myself down as they gave so much confidence I ended up doing licence losing speeds.

Horses for course I suppose.
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[Flip]

[funmonkee]

Wait till Hmmmnz seesreads this thread
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[c-m]

I rode the ZXR750 through winter and that had a Pilot Sport on the front and a ContiForce on the rear, and in cold damp and wet conditions i never had a problem with grip.

I then changed to a set of Pilot Sports as I couldn't afford 2CTs and they were great.

I wouldn't say i have been particulary hamfisted on the throttle I usually ride quite smoothly, but then of course the ZX9 does put out a lot of power through the rear. Still its the front i'm more worried about.

[garth]

Bear in mind the temperature and road conditions have changed alot, as has been said above.

I've got diablos and have really noticed the difference in the last month or so, I've been having quite alot of slides. It is quite good fun though if it's from the back
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[trevoriv]

BT014/BT020 all the way on my zx6r. Then again it has slid down the road a few times!

I get the front feel ready to wash out on slippy or very wet roundabouts and the rear spin up 1st through 3rd in poor conditions when its being nailed.

Just be gentle and smooth on the wrist
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[TheDonUK]

Years back i used to wax lyrical about 020's And i guess they are a good tyre, but they do definately go "off" more than others when worn.

And come to think about it the only major tyre "moment" i had barring the SHOCKING Dunlop 207's on my hornet was years back on my Bandit 6. Underneath Hanger lane on the A40 i went to overtake a coach and as i passed it the back stepped out what seemed like a massive amount, it went into quite bar shaking that somehow i managed to smoothe out. But yea that was on 020's...

I think the Dunlop RoadSmart, Pilot Road2's are better tyres for sure, witht he Dunlop edging it in the cold/wet.

Slightly Overlooked but the standard Pirelli Diablo is a bloody good tyre for mid ish bikes, never made the front slide when practicing stoppies on Diablo's have on both PR'2s and Roadsmarts.

I dont think the 020 is a bad tyre infact when new i liked the barge like turn-in, but there is probably better to be had for the same money...
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[Current Bikes - GSXR-750 K5 & C90-97 ] [Previous Bikes: Runner 125, YBR 125, GS500, Bandit 600, Hornet 600, ZX6R-99, C90-99, R1-99, XT600E-04, GSXR-750 K4, CRF250L '16]

[bunglehaze]

I could never get my head around my 020's when I had them on the 6R, they never seemed to grip in the wet particularly well and in the dry mediochre at best. Fitted Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's and had the total opposite though with superb grip in all conditions.

The odd thing I get with the michelin I didnt with the bridgestone though is that any inconsistancy in the road surface is amplified and feels as though the tyre is being moved around - never had a loss of grip as a result but just odd feedback.

I liked the Pirelli Diablo 3 I fitted but not as much as the michelin in the wet and hopefully shortly will have a set of Metzeler Z6 interacts to review.

leigh
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[hmmmnz]

slippery... not slippy, can you not speak your own language???
grrrr
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[chris-red]

I use Diablo Stradas on my TDM they are a good touring tyre.
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[kitty kat]

[SpicyBlimp]

They are the stock tyres on my bike, I've ridden all through last winter on them and had no problems, I think mainly due to 33bhp.

Annoying though that the restriction has not worn my rear tyre enough, still looks fairly new 8000 miles later, whereas due to alot of heavy braking the front is starting to square off.