Boosting confidence: HyperSport/Sport vs SportTouring tyres.

[JonnyFoxtrot]

Hi all,

Before I start I'm not asking a which brand of tyre is better than the other tyre, I could search for hours for that and stilll find a hundred different answers (though feel free to recommend specific tyres if you think I'm going completely wrong). More specifically I'm asking which TYPE of tyre is the best given my situation.

Let me give you a quick rundown of my situation:
1. Recently on a first proper big sports bike - ZX6R.
2. Bike needs new tyres front and rear.
3. Want a tyre that will give me the best grip in wet and dry and give me the most confidence.
4. Used for weekend hoons and commute to work a couple days a week mainly along twisty back roads.
5. Not bothered about milage.

Ok so with that laid down which type of tyre is going to give me what I ultimately want? Confidence, and specifically in the wet/rain and other crap conditions. While I realise that seat time and learning the proper techniques are much bigger factors (inb4 "More Seat time", "Man up" and "Read and Watch Twist of the Wrist II) the tyres currently on the bike need changing and I want something thats gonna let me start to push my confidence and get going faster otherwise I'll always be holding back.

I know a Hypersport tyre like the BT-016 or the Pilot Power 2CT is going to wear faster and obviously give better grip in the dry but what about when it comes to the wet (which unfortunately is more often that not in England). Will a SportTouring tyre like the BT-023 or the Pilot Road 2 start to outperform them in shite conditions or are the sporttouring tyre specifically there for their lower wear factor and the hypersport tyres actually give better grip in all conditions for the sacrifice of wear? Wear isnt important to me, I'd rather pay out for new tyres over a shorter time if it means I've got the best grip available to me.

I also realise that both types of tyre will probably far outclass my skills and anything I'm going to do with them, but I'm particuarly indecisive so its always nice to have a recommendation

Choices currently are then (taken from lids-direct which seemed to be the cheapest for a pair deal, feel free to recommend something else):

Hypserport - BT-016 Pair = £179
Hypersport - Pilot Power 2CT Pair = £199
SportTouring - BT-023 Pair = £199

TIA

P.S Please feel free to chime in as well with personal reviews of those tyres if you have them. Tyre builds change every year and it can be difficult to find up to date reviews of them vs the other ones
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'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[Acemastr]

See, I loved my old Michelin Power Pures, but a lot of people on here are skeptical of Michelin as they tend to let go suddenly (i didn't find this, but i don't race)

Dunlop Sportsmart are apparently very good, roadsmarts for a compromise, I may be going for Sportsmarts next (as these Bridgestone BT21's are terrible)
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2017 KTM 350 XC-F - 2014 Yamaha R6 - 2005 Yamaha YZ125
2016 Toyota Tacoma Limited

[CaNsA]

As you are trying to build your confidence on the bike i would advise a sports touring tyre.

You will not be leaning as much, so a harder middle would save you a fortune.

Dunlop Roadsmarts kick ass and are great in the wet and dry.

I had balls on the zxr400, but when i got on the cbr i had less
Roadsmarts have given me the confidence to get edge to edge on the rear tyre.

HTH

[MarJay]

There is only one choice IMO. Pirelli Diablo. Not Diablo Corsa, not Supercorsa, not Angel ST but plain Pirelli Diablos.

They are a sporty road tyre, and so they give loads of confidence in many different sorts of conditions. IMO, the Supercorsas et al have a profile which is just a little bit too sharp for the road and can make the bike drop into corners. The Diablos have a nice profile which allows quick turning when required but doesn't feel like you're dropping off a precipice when you turn in.

They are good tyres. Other makes don't really match up to them IMO. I used to get on with Bridgestone BT010's for example, but since they stopped making that they haven't made a tyre which gives me the same confidence. Pirelli on the other hand do.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F; Cheap project: CBR900RR FireBlade
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Acemastr]

[MarJay]

[Alex A]

I don't know where you get your categories from, but BT-016 and Power 2CTs are not exactly 'Hypersport' tyres. They're just pretty average 'sports' tyres really. By that, I mean to say they're as sporty as most manufacturers would go for an OEM tyre (there are exceptions).

For outright confidence, there's nothing better than a pair of road legal 'track' tyres. My personal favourite is the Metzeler Racetec Interact K2. But the Pirelli Diablo Supercorsas are also extremely confidence inspiring. I haven't used Micheling Power Ones, but I believe they're also similarly good. On a 600, you're probably looking at 2000-3000 per rear, and 5000 per front tyre with moderate road use.

If you literally want the most confidence, any of those tyres will deliver. Just don't lean it right over in the wet, as there's no tread at the edge.
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Current: Ducati Panigale R / Ducati Streetfighter S / Suzuki GSX-R1000 L5

[JonnyFoxtrot]

Thanks all for the advice, I decided to go for the BT-023's in the end given how there will probably be a fair few rainy days coming up.

Didnt think I could go wrong with £199 for the pair either!
____________________
'89 Honda NS125F (SOLD) -> '92 Suzuki GS500E (SOLD) -> '03 Kawasaki ZX6R B1H (SOLD) -> '96 VFR 750 RC36 (SOLD) -> '02 Honda CBR1100XX Blackbird

[TheDonUK]

Just get Pilot Road 2's, you can thank me later.
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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]

[Seb]

[JonnyFoxtrot]

[c_dug]

I paid £250 including fitting!


Good choice though, you will not regret it
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[photoscubaman]

any body thinking of the road pilot 3's?
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Kawasaki ZX-6r f3 Ninja

[Seb]