Which Tire Should I Get?

crashtd

Joined Jun 2007

2K Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Jul 10, 2008

• #1

The Uncle Crash R1 of Death needs new rubber to keep the shiny side up. I've got Dunlop 208 GPA's on there now. Not a bad tire, not a great tire either though. They take FOREVER to warm up (no tire warmers here), and they seem to break more easily than tires i've had in the past. I guess I could try the qualifiers, but honestly I don't know if I could take the plunge on Dunlop again...this would be a tough sell, but if someone is a die hard dunlop guy, lay it on me.

I loved the Michelin H2's when they were out. Now they're replaced with the Pilot Power Races...i think...honestly, when michelin did that whole change of name things, i got really confused.

I've heard mixed reviews on the Pirelli super corsas. Some have told me they are THE tire to have, others that they're overrated.

Then there's the wildcard, Bridgestone. Super in-expensive, and supposedly super nice. I've never ridden on Bridgestones before, so that's uncharted territory.

So what do you guys recommend? I'm only doing trackdays on these puppies, so DOT races is all I'm really interested in.

-:banana

 

M

mark58

• Jul 10, 2008

• #2

On previous bikes I've always been happy with Bridgestones, but on this RSV of mine they made it very unstable on white lines, cat eyes..The Pirelli feel great but the wear rates scary with the mileage I do..

 

L

LEGS

• Jul 10, 2008

• #3

Dunlop Qualifier RR as opposed to the standard Qualifiers might be a better option Crashtd.

 

B

BB1000

• Jul 10, 2008

• #4

I put Pilot Road 2's on mine and they are superb

 

B

BIG UN

• Jul 10, 2008

• #5

i have the wildcards on at the moment boss.

not a single thing i can fault them for tbh.theyre fantastic in wet or dry.
think theres a newer dual compound bt out now tho.
always luvd bridgestones,the bt010 was fantastic in its day and these 014's are just as good.very confidence inspiring.

saying that,im deffo going for corsa 3 or pilot power ct's next,or if theyre a good price,the newer bt dual compound.

 

Last edited: Jul 10, 2008

supertedlover

Joined Mar 2008

3K Posts | 0+

Lincolnshire

• Jul 10, 2008

• #6

Think you should go with pirelli for track, quick heat up time. Am running new bt021 dual compound bridge and swear by em but to be fair will try 2ct next as they get a hell of a write up on here.

 

B

BIG UN

• Jul 10, 2008

• #7

thats what i thought s.t,so many folk cant be wrong!

 

agreat1

Joined Oct 2007

681 Posts | 0+

cumbria

• Jul 10, 2008

• #8

metzeler racetecs for track and ot days, fast roads k1 front k2 rear
i had them on my R1 and they were in a class of they're own

 

B

Badger

• Jul 10, 2008

• #9

Super Corsa Pro's SC1 front and SC2 rear, pressures front 30.5 rear 28psi for track work or Metzeler Racetecs front K1 and K2 rear same track pressures as S/C's

 

kemille

Joined Aug 2007

36 Posts | 0+

kronenberg Netherlands

• Jul 10, 2008

• #10

I had both the bridgestone and the pirelli's on my bike. For me the BT014's were'nt doing it in the wet. In the dry they were good. I really love the Pro's! Very good in the dry and no problems in the wet. Right now I have the BT016 on my bike. A month ago I travelled through the very, very wet Pyrenees and they did a very good job. I did not slip once!
In a Dutch magazine they tested a 6 types of tyres, best tire was the Mezeler Sportec M3. 1st in the dry and 3rd in the wet.

 

B

BIG UN

• Jul 10, 2008

• #11

funny how some folk rate tyres differently.
ive been caught out in very heavy rain 4 times now on the 014's,
miles from home and theyve been fantastic everytime.
what are the dunlops like these days,i use to hate them when i had both my r1's,and they both came with them as standard,even the rr's i swapped to on the 2002 r1 werent very good imo.

 

supertedlover

Joined Mar 2008

3K Posts | 0+

Lincolnshire

• Jul 11, 2008

• #12

Reckon i have parallel lives with you big un, have run 014 for sometime and never had trouble in wet and stick like **** to a blanket in the dry, but doing some serious touring this year so went for the dual comp .

 

agreat1

Joined Oct 2007

681 Posts | 0+

cumbria

• Jul 11, 2008

• #13

big un
dunlops are dunlops
it amazes me that a tyre amnufacturer that was doing so well last yr in BSB can't get it right for the road

the qualifier rr seems ok stale in the dry, but give no feedback so far in the wet
my opinion is slightly tainted though after my off in the wet/damp last yr, s i'm no rush again to go past the limit. to be honest when its wet i seriously slow down now and have little confidence. also as i can't afford to crash at the mo (not as though its ever a good idea)...

i would love to push the dunlops to be able to report back good things......
so ar all i can say is they've held ok, but have less feel that metzeler racetecs, maybe down to the way i ride, i'm 15st and quite aggresive on a bike

 

crashtd

Joined Jun 2007

2K Posts | 0+

Discussion Starter
• Jul 11, 2008

• #14

*sigh* stones...what's that in pounds (not sterling)

-:banana

 

supertedlover

Joined Mar 2008

3K Posts | 0+

Lincolnshire

• Jul 11, 2008

• #15

about 210lbs i think

 

B

BIG UN

• Jul 11, 2008

• #16

the old 207 and 208's use to feel very nervous on the r1,
the front didnt so much as tip in,but DROP in big time,all or nothing.

 

agreat1

Joined Oct 2007

681 Posts | 0+

cumbria

• Jul 11, 2008

• #17

15stone = too many pies lol

 

Woody rsvr

Joined Jul 2008

6 Posts | 0+

Hastings

• Jul 19, 2008

• #18

Use pilot road 2 good on the road and really good round nurberg rink

 

AusRSV

Joined May 2008

2K Posts | 0+

Northern Territory AUSTRALIA

• Jul 19, 2008

• #19

I run Michelin Pilots on the road .. i've never had em put a foot outta line other than predictable movements when pushed...we get heavy rain here wet season time & they seem to shift water ok, however of course yer gotta adjust ya riding style for a tad more upright :biggrin ...but i've had no experience with them on the track under heavy stress conditions, so no can vouch on that end.

 

agreat1

Joined Oct 2007

681 Posts | 0+

cumbria

• Jul 19, 2008

• #20

the problem is!
none of us know what each other ride like.
when i bought my RSV the guy i bought it off said he screwed the bollocks of it but had chicken strips an inch thick and was running old diablos, said they were like glue

on way home (100 mile journey i had 2 slides on them and that was getting used to the bike not pushing at all)
All the top tyres will do the job

be honest with yourself and your own abilities, dont be fooled into track tyres if you're not quick enough to get them up to temp...... often its not lack of grip cos the tyre is rubbish, its cos it aint up to working temp

do you counter steer hard or softly?
do you ride on the front or rear?
do you trail brake into corners?
do you gas it out or are you progressive on the throttle?

what profile tyre are you looking for?
180's and 190/55 will turn in slightly quicker?

is your suspension setup correctly? rider sag, compression etc?

have you got a cable tie on your front fork, to kow fork travel under extreme braking? your compression should be set so there is only about 15mm of travel left in the fork under extreme braking, thus using the full travel of the forks....
is rour rebound too harsh????

a good test is hold the centre of the top yolk and the other hand on the seat as close to the tank as possible, make sure your side stand is up and push down sharply on the bike with both hands

bike should come up quickly, but only once and no second bounce and not too slowly!!

sorry for the lecture guys but all top street rubber is more than capable of our riding abilities, you will find one that suits your style more than others, but that is purely individual prefernce and psychological influence on either past experiences of old ruuber from a certain brand or just what you've heard....