Winter tyre choice...

Damon · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Aug 2007 Karma :

Hi all, I know this is a boring thread but as winter is here, I think its time to change the piss poor dunlops on the R1 to something more suitable. The dunlops really lack any confidence and grip, not to mention that they were made/fitted in 2001 Rolling Eyes

I am after something that will work for winter. I'd like them to be able to offer fairly good levels of grip from the off and be able to stand winter hoons. They only need to last for winter as I have a set of racetechs to go on when summer arrives. Thumbs Up

Whats are people's views on this subject.

Thanks all, karma given

Mungel · Scooby Slapper Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Karma :

Had a set of Corsa 3's on my ZX9 through summer.
Had no issues with them, so stuck with them and got a new set fitted recently.
Good in the wet, take but a few minutes to warm up (which allows for some nice rolling burn outs leaving the works car park in the morning Smile

)

Lots of people rave about Pilots, bloke in shop recommended Conti's.
I stuck with what I knew. £210 from eBay. £20 fitting. Looking for 5k from the back... Simple!
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ZZR600 (dead) - ZX9R (sold) - FZ1S

the grim reaper · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

Pilot Road 2CTs, no question at all. I had a set on the Fazer (1000) all through lasat winter and never had a single slide, unlike the crappy MEZ4s I've had to use this winter, which have seen me drop the bike once already Evil or Very Mad

As soon as I have the cash, I'll be going straight back to the 2CTs.

Cheers

Grim
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sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

Bad riders blame their tyres.

Just fit a set of 021's.

kitty kat · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Karma :

with ^ 021s work well all year on my Fazer
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mr.kris · Traffic Copper Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Karma :

021 are fine choice front wares a bit quick andel st also are grate racetec's will struggle to keep any heat id go for angel st thats what i use all year round only time i would change is on track hope that helps
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neatbik · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Karma :

BT021's are good all round tyres. Ive used them through some shocking weather and never once did they feel like they werent gripping.
Although saying that, from personal experiance and comments from friends, the BT016's are very good in the wet/cold.
Thumbs Up

LeeR · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Karma :

I used a BT020/021 combination last winter, nowt wrong with 'em in my opinion, only lasted 6,300 miles though (obviously not on an R1)
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Reppyboyo · Nearly there... Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Karma :

Dunlop Roadsmarts.

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

BT45s on the DRZ, Roadsmarts on the Superfour.

Previously had no complaints from Diablos on my R6 and CBR.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

You can only ride to the levels of grip your tyres allow.
In winter I'd want a tyre that offers good grip from cold. Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean a touring tyre specifically.
In fact, one of the tyres I've found have best grip from cold is the Supercorsa (more than some touring tyres have when warm)- that's not to say all race tyres are good in this manner, the Pilot Race's I had were absolutely terrible.
This often seems to go well with good wet weather grip.
I always found the 010s to be good from cold and good in the wet, while I was always a little disappointed by the 020.

Anyway, I was a lot happier with my front supercorsa last winter than my rear d204 - and that includes riding through the snow.

I find tread is rather over-rated for moving water as the low contact area of a bike means aquaplaning is pretty unlikely anyway - generally I reckon they start to slide from lack of adhesion.
What tread can help to do is warm up the tyre as it allows the rubber to move more.

the grim reaper · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

the grim reaper · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

ER6F has the MEZ4 front tyre so a lot lighter and a lot less power, less ability to keep heat in a tyre.

Same bike usually has 021's on it. The next front tyre it gets will be a part worn Avon of some kind off of one of my GSXR's.

The Blade which I haven't used in a year or so has an Avon Storm ST front on it and I think a Konkorde remould rear. Good for silly high speeds in the wet or dry.

the grim reaper · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

the grim reaper · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2005 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

One thing I wondered upon reading G's post - and this is a technical question rather than a debatable issue - but if wet weather performance is mostly down to a tyre's compound rather than amount of tread, why do race bike wets have grooves in them?

As mentioned, bikes don't aquaplane that much - are the grooves to make sure race wets don't get too hot?

sickpup · Old Timer Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

magpiemale · Traffic Copper Joined: 04 Feb 2006 Karma :

Well I am gonna go back to conti road attacks for my Fz1 I find the roadsmarts not grippy enough in the corners,I had road attacks on my last bike kawa Z750S and they were brill from cold to warm.So for the Fz1 i figured going back to them for a try.

I bought the roadsmarts after alot of press feed back but I am not confident in them maybe if I had a bike that I didnt mind finding the limits of them I would test them more but I just feel they slide in the wet.If I bin the Fz1 I would cry so no testing to far on that bike lol
magpiemale
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craigs23 · Mr Muscle Joined: 08 Jun 2005 Karma :

Are you certain it's sliding? Seems to contradict what you said about finding a bike's limits. Sure, any tyre slides around a little - mostly are exaggerated shimmies though, especially in winter - I find the best approach is to expect it, ride according to the situations, and carry on.

However, I did get shot of the D207s on my DRZ - even the cross ply BT45s offered an ample confidence boost when the conditions were bad.

I find my Roadsmarts fine, albeit on a less powerful bike - but I'd rate them over Diablos that I used on my 600s for all round use/durability.

Don't forget, we're talking winter riding hear - conditions are never going to be as good, and grip levels are never going to get near the fun super-sticky times we have in the summer months.