Favorite Tire Brand?

Pavdog

Just put a set of Metzeler Z3s on.. Rode it back from the shop and even with that short ride noticed a HUGE difference.. for the better. I no longer have to fight to get it down in the turns. I was nervous about the steeper tire angle but it's very even. Quick dip at first, then just carves up the corner.

Old tires were Battleaxes. Quite literally.

More reports later.

Lukeismetoo

Michelin Pilot Road 2CT's, massive difference from my Battlax's, corner like a dream, and stood up really well in the recent big wet

R1000

Thanks for pointing this out. I was now out checking in the garage and the front tyre batch no match the recalled serie Made in France 6UCW 980T and 979T . I've been driven through the whole Germany at an average speed of 178 km/h and then two track days on Nurburg Ring on the tyre

I'm glad I didn't put the same type on the Bird, it is now provided with Bridgestone BT021 that works excelent for commuting

John01XX

I have run Pilot Roads for the last few years now. Love them

I just ordered a pair of the new Avon Storm ST's as they are the shit according to the European Bird Riders for wet grip and high milage. Will let you know. I will be installing them for my trip to Pennsylvania in September, so will get a good test of the twisties on them.

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OZDave

I have ridden on the Pilot Road 2's for a couple of thousand K,s now and I love them. They handle like Powers (much faster than the standard Roads) and last like the roads. I won't be changing brands, or type for a while.

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later2day

I've been running the Dunlop Qualifiers since they came out. So far they have been fantastic for any riding I care to do, but slab riding will absolutely eat them up. I'm talking 3-4k and the back tire is toast. 6-8k for the front. So this replacement I am going with the Pilot Road C2 on the rear and am hoping for more longevity while still having the confidence while cornering at higher rates of speed and lean angle. I'll definitely post the results.

Birdman

im sure you will be more than happy, i am running pilot power front and road 2ct rear have 4,500 on the rear which is already more than i normally get out of a tire and its about 50% hasnt let me down one, wet, dry, cruising, balistic i love it

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blkbrdrydr

Although I have really enjoyed the Avon AV45/AV46 Azaros on my bike for the last 9,500 miles or so, I ordered another set of Pilot Roads after reading Dale's posting about the rapid wear of the rear Avon Storms during his Bun Burner Gold Hell Week ride.

I'd previously had two sets of Roads before trying the Azaros and both sets easily lasted around 12,000 miles

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'01 XX
'06 FJR1300
Iron Butt Association #124
Grosse Pointe, MI

haWHYnXX

Wasn't aware that the Road 2CT's were available here in the states??

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-Vern

Hawaiian Island Stylin'

BrianR

They had a big stack of them at the local Suzy dealer when I needed tires for Dale - but I chose the standard Pilot Roads since our riding is normally open road stuff. Not sure how the 2CT's will be for mileage as they are supposed to be a grippier tire (dual compound).

Love to hear how you like those...

Brian R

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Brian R.
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Sweetruss

I actually just went to buy a new set of tires and wanted the 2ct's. The front tire that was produced in spain has a complete recall due to failure so the store only had the back 2ct available. I didn't know if I could mix the tread patterns from front to back (powers/2ct) so I got the powers front/back instead. I believe the rear 2ct 180/55/17 was listed at 154.60 in the store (cycle gear) but they must be marked up fairly well. I showed the guy I could by the powers on line at Derbycycle.com or sportbiketrackgear.com for about 230 a set and he gave me the powers at 215.00 new, front and back. The new 2ct front he told me should be in next week.

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haWHYnXX

I hear the compounds melt the Road in the center for longevity with the Powers on the edge for grip. If that's the case, it should get the same mileage as original Roads. Of course I could be talking out of my ass.

I believe mixing these tread patterns would be the same as mixing Power fronts with Road rears (which I personally and many others do). I don't think that tread pattern should have any bearing on what tire to mix with what though. I think it's more of a carcass design that should be matched. I have been told by a Michelin rep that the Power/Road mix should be avoided since the Power is a triangulated carcass and the Road is a round carcass. He also said that when the Road 2CT comes out, it will have a much better (stronger) carcass than either the Power or Road has now. I will give the Road 2CT a chance when I can finally get my hands on some and see how they work out - otherwise, I'll go back to my trusty Power/Road combo no matter what the rep said.

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-Vern

Hawaiian Island Stylin'

Helvet

I have sold thousands of motorcycletires in the last 3 years, hundreds mounted on Blackbirds. The Pilot Road 2ct has been sold here for 5 months now, and works well on the Blackbird. The carcass is softer than the MPR 1, but a little stiffer than MPP or MPP 2ct.
These are the best sold tires for Blackbirds in Holland, and they work well.

The MPR 2ct will last about the same a the MPR1, but gives a lot more grip in corners. There is no recall for these, only for the MPP 2ct. Please don't mix up the MPP 2ct and the MPR 2ct.....

The only other brand sold well here on Blackbirds is Metzeler (Z-6 Roadtec, and M-3 Sportec). The Bridgestones (BT020, now BT021) are rapidly losing ground.

Pirelli, Dunlop and Continental are sold just a few. Avon is not selling at all.... I've never sold an Avon for a Blackbird, they are considered crappy tires here.
For other bikes I've only sold 3 tires from Avon, all in very big sizes not available in other brands (width 260 / 300). I can't figure out why the perception differs so much in Europe (except for England).

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denmck8

i'm curious,,,,i see most folks use the Michelins on the Bird,,,,I do about 60-70% sport riding, 30% tour,,,,,i have typically used the Dunlaps, getting about 4000 miles out of them,,,,,i have been quite satisfied. Is there a better tire to consider? Dennis

flblackbird

Metzler M3's, I've been getting about 7,000mi on the rear, & 10,000 on the front.

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02 Silver Bird
I'm a Yamaha tech., that's why I ride a Honda

Para045

Here in Oz the Dunflops are considered one of the worst tyres for the BB, most run Michilins because they stick and handle so much better, the Dunflops will generally last a lot longer but at the expense of grip and handling espescially in the wet BTW most here get ~10000-13000km out of a PP front and ~6000-8500km to a PR rear whereas some have gotten 15000km+ out of Dunflops

denmck8

so the michilins are excellent on very very curvy roads, allowing the bike to lean as easily as Birds lean? D-

Para045

Yes the michi's make the bike handle so much better - I believe the guys who run the twisty stuff hard regularly use the PP f+r, I had a PP front +PR rear for more longevity while commuting as well. The new PR2 is supposed to be the best of both worlds with a harder centre and sticky sides

denmck8

would the Michi's pilot power be better that the pilot sport for the twisters??? Dennis

Helvet

Yes. The MPP is softer compound and softer carcass, so it will give more grip. Also this tire is good right from the start, the MPS needs to be warmed up before you can perform with it.
The downside is that it is a little less stabile at high speeds.....

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John01XX

By the end of this year All the major manufactures will have their latest model sport touring tires out. Michilin is about to release the Road II that is suppose to give the side wall grip of a Power and the milage of a Road, dual compound tires.
Seems everyone is now releasing their new dual compound tires.

The new Avon Storm ST is very popular in England so I had a set mounted today in preparation for NEXXT. I leave in a week and a half for the Pocono mountains. WooHoo!! can't wait !

The new Z6 is suppose to be something fantastic for mileage and still give you sticky sidewalls for the twisties.

I have run Michilin's the past three sets of tires and have been happy with them but tires are changing now so thought I would try something new.

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Para045

So you are only just getting the Road 2's We have had them for ~6 months in Aus and a lot of guys love them, I will put a set on next I reckon

John01XX