New tyres make a huge difference.

[notbike]

Warning, coolstorybro thread.

tl;dr I'm a believer, rubber actually make a maaaaaaassive difference.

I had my new tyres fitted today. Went with pirelli diablo rosso 2's. My old tyres were "IRC Road Winners".

What a bloody difference! I thought it was bollocks to be honest. Not bollocks exactly, but I thought tyre technology was way over-hyped.

Immediately after they were fitted I thought there was something wrong with the bike or the mechanic mis-aligned my wheels because (bare with me, very difficult to explain) it felt completely different. The bike reacts totally different to the same handlebar input I'd given it before.

Few quick differences I found are:

The new tyres feel planted, they hold an angle and don't seem to want to twitch or lose grip mid corner.

I can actually change direction mid-turn (this sounds weird) but it feels like if I push the handle bar more it actually seems to respond with "oh you want to turn more? ok no problem" whereas before it felt like it would get a bit wobbly or start slipping.

Where I'd feel like I'm fighting the bike to turn more and losing grip, it turns more without any resistance, which is strange to me because it feels like I can push it further.

It turns in SO quick. It feels like I'm at the lean angle I need to be at before I thought I'd be at it, if that makes sense. So on my ride home I ended up turning way too early on roads that I usually turn into later just because I'm used to the bike taking longer to hit that line.

The rosso 2's are softer. Bits of grit actually get stuck on the tyre at low speed, they seem to be stickier whereas the old tyres nothing would stick on them even at low speed.

Also I compared the two rear tyres together when he took it off, and the rear on my old one was SO squared off than I first thought. You don't realize it until they're side by side but a good chunk of the top was flat, and the profile looks different.

The weirdest part is they're the same exact size tyres as my old ones. The wheels are balanced and everything, could see chalk and new wheel weights on the bike. I told mr mechanic to keep the pressures the same as well, 28 front 32 rear like the handbook says.

Anyway. I'm super happy with these tyres and can't wait to ride again all day tomorrow if the weather permits it like it did today. I actually feel like I can lean so bloody far over without worrying, it's insane.

I'm totally sold on the idea that tyres make a massive difference now.

[Pete.]

New tyres always feel good. I like new tyre day.

If you buy exactly the same tyres to replace the old ones on your bike, when you remove the old tyres take an old and a new one each in a hand you'll feel the difference in the carcass. A bit like replacing old trainers for new you can feel that the carcass is worn out.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[notbike]

[Ribenapigeon]

I'm getting new tyres come payday. I have Michelin Roadpilots. Thing is there's now Roadpilot II and IIIs now so I'm wondering if the more pricey newer versions are worth the extra cash? Anyone know?

[Old Git Racing]

I've got PR3's on my beemer, never used 2's but with PR4's on the market you can get good deals on 3's. Good enough for how I ride, decent life and good grip wet and dry.
Seems like the tyre companies bring out a new version every year, 'adding value' or in other words justifying charging more for what is basically the same product.
What bike are you on? The PR's have quite stiff construction and were primarily designed for heavier bikes.
The only tyre I can think of that has not suffered from the marketing bollocks of tyre companies is the Rosso Corsa Pirelli. They daren't change it cos it keeps winning tyre tests.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[talkToTheHat]

Sticky rubber is nice. I've gone from metzler me77s on my 125s through a few mile sof disintegrating old tyres on the 535, endured the life of conti milestones which were the best thing i had ever tried at that point and notaby squirmy upright in the wet to being blown away by how good an avon roadroider felt on the front.

I think i will have killed the bridgestone 010s on my bandit by the time winter retuns, i dont know what mileage one can expect to get out of them but by the time autumn comes i will have put 10000 miles or so on them and i suspect they had a good few thousand on them before i got let loose. They feel amazing and i suspect pilot roads will be a whole new world of all conditikn grip. But yes, picking the gravel out of tyres after a ride is a nice hobby to have.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[chickenstrip]

[kramdra]

Roads are getting warmer, can feel a big difference on the cbr6 this week.. my old tires feel very different Steering much lighter, more feedback, more fun, but square tire..

Have several spare sets of 110/140 DR2's because they are so cheap as scrubs, less than 6 month old date code and full tread. They have a nice profile for small bikes. Even have them on my 125... with a top speed of 50

[talkToTheHat]

[Jayy]

Road Pilot 3 & 4s are probably the best tyres I've ever had the pleasure of ruining... until I tried Supercorsa SPs, pricey though @ £320 fitted

[G]

As above; new tyres even when they're replacing the exact same ones tend to feel nicer regardless - they're likely a lot rounder and more likely to have a shape that matches front to back.

At my last trackday I stuck some slicks on and was immediately signficantly faster. I suspect for the most part I could have gone just as quick on the tyres I was using previously, but barely-used vs near dead 'felt' a lot nicer.

[Ribenapigeon]

I just checked and I was completely wrong. My tyres are Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart, dohh.

[Silver_Fox]

Not Sportsmart?
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CBR600 F3 FV
CG125

[Supermoto_Fan]

In the same boat as it seems a lot of people. Going to change my tyres for Rossos 2 aswell next month. The powers on there now aren't bald st all but quite squared off from my 800 mile return motorway journey during last summers trip.

There ok for the odd blast in this weather but want a fresh set of boots for summer use
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Yamaha MT-09 - Triple powerrrr

[rubyhorse2]

new tyres for me soon too.

usually go for super sticky ones but planning more touring this year so any advice on some longer lasting beauties?

[chickenstrip]

[Dave V4]

Went to get the bike out this morning to find a flat rear, turned out there was 3 " nail in there. So now I have some new rubber to play with, I replaced the rossos with pp3's, bought new front and rear as it was still the original front from new. As others have said the difference is night and day compared to the old square ones

[Beehive Bedlam]

Boring.

[wristjob]

[Dave V4]

[techathy]

[notbike]