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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Dec 5, 2019 9:24:15 GMT
Dunno about you lot, but buying new tyres is like solving a fucking riddle for me. So many types / compounds available, and if you get something you don't like, you're pretty much stuck with it for a good while (unless you can afford to throw 200 quid away).
When I got my GSXR it had Dunlop D211s on it. I didn't really get on with them, I just didn't ride hard enough on the road to heat them up, so I pretty much wasted what was potentially a good tyre, but completely unsuitable for me except on the odd summer weekend ride. They were a pure liability in the wet, even upright in a straight line they struggled to grip accelerating up hill.
So I put some Michelin Power 2CTs on it about a year ago, and they've been great. They warm up quick (or rather they grip properly at a lower temp.) , grip much better in the wet and last a decent mileage before squaring off. The reviews I read did say though that when they start to wear, the wear rate seems to accelerate exponentially and you go from a tyre which looks like it's at 50% life, to wanting to throw it away, in a very short time, and that appears to be spot on.
So thinking that I'd buy another pair, I started browsing... true, the Power 2CTs are really, really cheap, but although I'm not a track addict nor need to have all the latest kit, I did start to think that these tyres are now really quite "old tech", they've been around for about 18 years I think. The next generation Power 3s are only a bit more expensive and supposedly grip better and last longer (seems too good to be true?) and in tech terms they are about a decade newer. But I have also read that the profile is different, less "pointy" and more rounded, like a Pilot Road profile, and that puts me off.
Anyone on here able to give an opinion on Power 3s? Even better compare them to Power 2CTs?
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Post by neilf on Dec 5, 2019 11:12:02 GMT
Strangely, my old GSX-R750K1 came with Michelin Pilots Sports as new and I changed them in less than 1000 miles. Initially I thought that I wasn't getting on with them because they were new tyres, but even after they were scrubbed in, the Pilots gave next to no feedback; the only reason I knew that there was grip was because I hadn't crashed.
Eventually I threw in the towel and went with what I knew. My even older '98 GSX-R600WW had Dunlop D207s as OEM tyres and I got on with these a treat. They "warmed up" quickly, gave loads of feedback and they used to last a fair while as well; F ≈ 8k, R ≈ 4k miles which was handy when it came to replacement time or getting a multi-buy deal. So I changed the Pilots on the 750 for D208s, which were the latest versions, and ≈ 100 miles later they were scrubbed to the edge and I was happy as Larry.
I realise that this has nothing to do with Michelin Power 3s, but I thought that it made an interesting point.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Dec 5, 2019 11:50:56 GMT
Fair enough. It's horses for courses really. I'm light, so I tend to have to back off almost all the suspension settings with respect to standard, and that seems to then favour more "aggressive" profile tyres, like the 2CT. I'm just worried that by going to a more rounded profile, I'll be making it handle like a cruiser when combined with my softy suspension.
What do you use on your K5 now?
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Post by beefus on Dec 5, 2019 12:34:22 GMT
I use Pirelli Angel GT2’s now, have previously used Michelin PR3’s and 4’s...great in all conditions....both superb all round tyres.
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Post by neilf on Dec 5, 2019 12:41:53 GMT
For my recent Estoril trip (which I've just realised was 3 months ago! So not that recent), I fitted Pirelli Diablo Corsa IIs and these withstood 3 days on a very hot track, plus a 250 miles ride into Wales and back in late September; there still seems to be plenty of tread left. Not sure how they would "warm" up during the winter months, but on a chilly and slightly damp September morning (about 9degC), the Corsa's offered plenty of grip and feedback.
For general road riding in the past I have previously used Pirelli Diablo II/IIIs and Bridgestone BT16 Pro2s with the K5, swapping between the two depending what my local fitter has in stock and what life is left on the tyres.
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Post by armstrongracer on Dec 8, 2019 0:57:08 GMT
Currently having something of a tyre related crisis of confidence. Daily commuting on a big KTM running Metzeler Z8 interacts which were mcn's favourite all weather sports tour in tyres for ages. They are scarily shite on cold greasy roads, especially on slow turns, T-junctions and pulling away from a standstill. They are brilliant on faster corners when loaded up, only races I've ever won were in the wet and I spent a year as a motorcycle courier in London so generally I am good when it's slippery. This is doing me head in a bit. Could be set up though,I generally point bikes on their nose.
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Post by beefus on Dec 8, 2019 7:38:28 GMT
Currently having something of a tyre related crisis of confidence. Daily commuting on a big KTM running Metzeler Z8 interacts which were mcn's favourite all weather sports tour in tyres for ages. They are scarily shite on cold greasy roads, especially on slow turns, T-junctions and pulling away from a standstill. They are brilliant on faster corners when loaded up, only races I've ever won were in the wet and I spent a year as a motorcycle courier in London so generally I am good when it's slippery. This is doing me head in a bit. Could be set up though,I generally point bikes on their nose. Armstrong, I used Michelin PR’s over the years until I got the KTM(Comes with Pirelli Angel GT standard), cant fault the PR’s though, especially in the wet and for general longevity. |
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Post by spuu on Dec 8, 2019 15:02:46 GMT
Metzeler sportec m7 rr's. I've never had grip issues and put it down to the tyre - its always been the road surface/conditions that I get the feel from. But the Metzelers are by far my fave so far.
I thought I was reasonably confident on wet roads until I was able to follow two guys on a tour who actually knew what they were doing. We were on a fast bendy road and I was able to use them as guide and follow lines riding much much faster than I've ever gone in the wet. I stuck the bike in rain mode so opening the throttle was one less thing to worry about as it made the power virtually flat, but I could then just concentrate on everything else. It was one of my best biking experiences, an "i can do this" moment. That was on the Metzelers.
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Post by beefus on Dec 8, 2019 16:46:06 GMT
Metzeler sportec m7 rr's. I've never had grip issues and put it down to the tyre - its always been the road surface/conditions that I get the feel from. But the Metzelers are by far my fave so far. I thought I was reasonably confident on wet roads until I was able to follow two guys on a tour who actually knew what they were doing. We were on a fast bendy road and I was able to use them as guide and follow lines riding much much faster than I've ever gone in the wet. I stuck the bike in rain mode so opening the throttle was one less thing to worry about as it made the power virtually flat, but I could then just concentrate on everything else. It was one of my best biking experiences, an "i can do this" moment. That was on the Metzelers. There’s something extremely satisfying about riding in the wet, when you feel good and are relaxed it gives you a real confidence boost, and to feel how great modern tyres are, and how much better they are than my riding ability!! |
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Post by armstrongracer on Dec 8, 2019 16:50:59 GMT
I'm fine in properly wet conditions, probably a lot more aggressive on throttle & brakes than most road riders, I prefer to be in control & push fairly hard to get the bike to dig in & hook up. In cold greasy conditions it's off-the-throttle twitches & slides I'm getting all the time which is of concern as I feel like I'm just a passenger. Will try softening everything off as a last resort before ditching the Z8's, which I'm loathe to do as they have loads of life left and I'm a tight bugger.
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Post by neilf on Dec 8, 2019 20:15:17 GMT
There’s something extremely satisfying about riding in the wet, when you feel good and are relaxed it gives you a real confidence boost, and to feel how great modern tyres are, and how much better they are than my riding ability!! At a trackday at Guadix back in 2007 it rained for about an hour, not wet enough for full wets and certainly not dry for slicks or treaded track tyres, and was the rider on track because I had road tyres fitted... great fun! |
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Post by pantah on Dec 10, 2019 11:13:55 GMT
There’s something extremely satisfying about riding in the wet, when you feel good and are relaxed it gives you a real confidence boost, and to feel how great modern tyres are, and how much better they are than my riding ability!! At a trackday at Guadix back in 2007 it rained for about an hour, not wet enough for full wets and certainly not dry for slicks or treaded track tyres, and was the rider on track because I had road tyres fitted... great fun! I used to have similar issues then started buying part worn supersport race tyres. Limited life for rear but fucking awesome in the wet. |
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Post by armstrongracer on Dec 10, 2019 23:47:12 GMT
Long time since I've used racing intermediates & wets and never on the road but it's a really good suggestion, will keep an eye out for some.
Found a potential left field solution though. My daily ride to work takes me through a section of high speed S-bends, it's fast enough to get the Metzeler's loaded up and work properly, I can fairly tramp on through there if it's fully wet. The other day going through those bends my attention was drawn to motorcycle headlights in the oncoming lane. This rider was going quick as in dry road quick even though the roads were streaming. F**ck me that was thing was fast with massive lean angle in those conditions to boot, when we passed each other realised it was a Yamaha Niken. Impressed and intrigued enough to enquire about a test ride later in the day. Could be one expensive trip to work.
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Post by beefus on Dec 11, 2019 8:20:37 GMT
when we passed each other realised it was a Yamaha Niken. That's called cheating! |
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Post by armstrongracer on Dec 11, 2019 11:36:27 GMT
"Let's get front grip done!" As the blonde buffoon would say.
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