Tires - Sport Touring Radials

[bluewool]

So I figure its about time to start another tire thread.

Picked up some Conti Road Attack 2's last year for my Daytona. They're a high mileage sport touring tire apparently but I managed to only get about 7500km out I really liked them and my only real complaint was the wear. In the rain they were incredible - which is important on the coast.

Now I find myself considering the Michelin Pilot Road 3's SO many good reviews.

What are you guys using on your newer rides with radials?

 

[Steve]

Sorry, even my newest ride (2000 GL1500) does not use radials.

.

 

[John Kat]

So I figure its about time to start another tire thread.

Picked up some Conti Road Attack 2's last year for my Daytona. They're a high mileage sport touring tire apparently but I managed to only get about 7500km out I really liked them and my only real complaint was the wear. In the rain they were incredible - which is important on the coast.

Now I find myself considering the Michelin Pilot Road 3's SO many good reviews.

What are you guys using on your newer rides with radials?

I've switched to the Pilot Road 3s on my "modern" Kawasaki 1000ZX.
These tires are really in another category alltogether.
Let me explain: I like to carry a lot of speed entering corners and this hurts the front tire a lot resulting in the typical triangular wear.
On my previous BMW K 1200 RS, I sold the bike because every 4 to 5 thousand km, the bike became literally unrideable due to the front tire wear.
On my Kawasaki, the first OEM tire ( Bridgestone) went the same way after 6000 km.
I then switched to the PR3's and I now have run approximately 10000 km and the tires are only starting to show the triangular wear pattern
I bought the same tires for my wife's Hornet 600 and same thing, the tires wear very evenly without hurting the bike's behavior.
It would be very difficult to tempt me to go to another manufacturer and I haven't even talked about how they glue to the road when it rains...

 

[bluewool]

I've switched to the Pilot Road 3s on my "modern" Kawasaki 1000ZX.
These tires are really in another category alltogether.
Let me explain: I like to carry a lot of speed entering corners and this hurts the front tire a lot resulting in the typical triangular wear.
On my previous BMW K 1200 RS, I sold the bike because every 4 to 5 thousand km, the bike became literally unrideable due to the front tire wear.
On my Kawasaki, the first OEM tire ( Bridgestone) went the same way after 6000 km.
I then switched to the PR3's and I now have run approximately 10000 km and the tires are only starting to show the triangular wear pattern
I bought the same tires for my wife's Hornet 600 and same thing, the tires wear very evenly without hurting the bike's behavior.
It would be very difficult to tempt me to go to another manufacturer and I haven't even talked about how they glue to the road when it rains...

Thanks John, your enthusiasm is appreciated! and not uncommon with these tires it seems.

 

[marvinsc]

I have gotten very good service from them on my 2006 SV650, especially on the front.

 

[Guest]

Eric says..........

Eric says..........

They work great even on snow and ice.

 

[mriddle]

Love them on my bandit

 

[Jedz123]

Ran a set on my B-12 pilot 3's. Great soft tire. Traction is unmatched in rain but it will cost you tire life... Soft compound and more grooves make this tire more sceptical to wear. Got 4k miles on the rear before it was shot. Front cupped maybe a 1k miles after that and was unusable.

I'm currently running Shinko 009 Ravens. One of the hardest compound on the market I have nearly 2k miles on the rear tire and it looks like it hasn't used up much of the rubber. Traction isn't the greatest in the rain but its a high mileage hard radial so I wasn't expecting it to be. I hope to exceed 5k miles. And for less then $100 for a rear you really can't go wrong. Sure its hard and if its cold there is very little feedback but theh are good above 50'. Rain treads off them well. Its definitely a more tour then sport tire.

Road pilot 2's are awesome, they will last longer the the 3's and grip very well. My FZ1 had RP2s and it had 6k miles on the tire when it was time for replacement... But that's with my miles plus what the PO said he had for miles... It was an awesome tire regardless...

My 2 cents.

 

[GS ace]

I now have a little over 2800 miles (2600 of them was on one trip) on a set of Conti Motion Sport Touring tires. So far, so good for only costing $184.

 

[gbw]

I've mostly run PR2s on my Bandit and really like them. I'll replace this set with another set (or maybe I'll try the PR3s) later this season.

 

[Jedz123]

I had conti motions on my Bandit 1200. Tire died 3k miles later .

 

[Baatfam]

I've got a PR3 on the front and a PR2 on the back of my K1100RS. (The rear PR3 wasn't available when I needed tires.)
Ran them all last season. They handle very nice and seem to be wearing well.

 

[Jethro]

I've run PR2's and 3s on my FZ1 as well as Jedz123. The PR2 got me an unbelieveable 6500 miles- the most I've ever got out of a tire. Usually wear through a set of anything in 4500 miles. I don't have a lot of mileage on the PR3, but as said, it is very good in the wet. Ride quality on both is very good, the PR3 possibly better but also as said it might be a softer tire.

Am hearing very good things about the new Bridgestones coming out, Battlax T30 I think they are called? Dual compound touring tire. Rossi even demos them on an FZ1- yessa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vXze7JcILY4

 

[skip]

Another vote for PR2s first tire I ever got two seasons out of.( only rode 5 thou last year) I got over 8 thou on my last set, and I ride moderately hard .

 

[earlfor]

I ran Continental Road Attacks on the Bandit from 2005 until 2012. They are exceptional for tracking and adhesion in rain or dry. I averaged 6500 miles on a set and the front and rear wore at exactly the same rate on the B12. In 2012, I heard good things about the Michelin PR2 and bought a set for the Bandit. The front PR2 was worn out at 5500 miles. The rear PR2 now has 11000 miles on it and still has about 20% tread left. (the PR3 is softer and I would not expect the mileage of the PR2)

The PR2 handles well, but it is not in the same class for traction and ability in the rain as the Road Attack. My next tire purchase, which will be soon, will likely be a Road Attack front (better mileage and better handling than the PR2) and a PR2 rear, (decent handling and double the mileage of the Road Attack. I have locked up and slid the front PR2 on dry pavement. I can't make a Road Attack slide before doing a stoppie.

I considered Shinko 009's, but even at half the price of the PR2 they cost more per mile than the PR2. (I figure I would have to buy 2 1/2 sets of shinkos to get the miles of one set of PR2) On top of that, The Shinko is a hard tire, traction is not going to be the same, particularly compared to a Road Attack on the front where I want good bite and great tracking.

I have scraped the center stand coming around a curve on Road Attacks. I would not attempt it on PR2's.

 

[Jedz123]

I ran Continental Road Attacks on the Bandit from 2005 until 2012. They are exceptional for tracking and adhesion in rain or dry. I averaged 6500 miles on a set and the front and rear wore at exactly the same rate on the B12. In 2012, I heard good things about the Michelin PR2 and bought a set for the Bandit. The front PR2 was worn out at 5500 miles. The rear PR2 now has 11000 miles on it and still has about 20% tread left. (the PR3 is softer and I would not expect the mileage of the PR2)

The PR2 handles well, but it is not in the same class for traction and ability in the rain as the Road Attack. My next tire purchase, which will be soon, will likely be a Road Attack front (better mileage and better handling than the PR2) and a PR2 rear, (decent handling and double the mileage of the Road Attack. I have locked up and slid the front PR2 on dry pavement. I can't make a Road Attack slide before doing a stoppie.

I considered Shinko 009's, but even at half the price of the PR2 they cost more per mile than the PR2. (I figure I would have to buy 2 1/2 sets of shinkos to get the miles of one set of PR2) On top of that, The Shinko is a hard tire, traction is not going to be the same, particularly compared to a Road Attack on the front where I want good bite and great tracking.

I have scraped the center stand coming around a curve on Road Attacks. I would not attempt it on PR2's.

How are you getting 11,000 miles to a rear tire!?!?! Please tell us your secret... I've never gotten that on any tire ever... Luckiy if I get half that mileage...

I'll be switching back to PR2's after I burn off these Shniko's. They are too hard and the ride isn't the best. I took a day of 600 miles straight to come to this conclusion. There just ok but not awesome.... BUT I have 3k miles on the rear now and it looks just like it did at 2k miles... I see this tire lasting longer then my PR2 did which is good and bad for I won't be buying a tire anytime soon but I want to swap it out LOL

 

[earlfor]

How are you getting 11,000 miles to a rear tire!?!?! Please tell us your secret... I've never gotten that on any tire ever... Luckiy if I get half that mileage...

I'll be switching back to PR2's after I burn off these Shniko's. They are too hard and the ride isn't the best. I took a day of 600 miles straight to come to this conclusion. There just ok but not awesome.... BUT I have 3k miles on the rear now and it looks just like it did at 2k miles... I see this tire lasting longer then my PR2 did which is good and bad for I won't be buying a tire anytime soon but I want to swap it out LOL

The PR2 is the only rear tire I have had on any bike that has exceeded 7K miles before being worn out. I have nudged 7k miles with Road attacks a couple of times.

I don't know exactly why I got 11K miles on the PR2 and expect to get another 1500 before it's worn down to change it time.

A few guesses why.
My Bandit weighs 455 lbs and I ride solo, no baggage. I weigh 165 lbs.
The tires are relatively lightly loaded.

If you're riding a GS750, it weighs 540 lbs. If you carry baggage or a passenger or you weigh more than I do, the load will be higher and the tires will wear faster for the same speed.

Contrary to popular belief that Florida is flat everywhere, I live in the middle of rolling hills and abundant curves. Not Tail of the Dragon curves, but still, I spend a lot my riding time with the bike leaned, so a good bit of my tire wear is on the sides rather than all being down the middle.

I'm progressive with the throttle and rarely abrupt with it. I normally use two fingers on the front brake lever for everyday breaking, so neither my throttle nor braking habits are heavy handed and increase tire wear.

Tires wear faster if they are under inflated or over inflated. I run 35 psi front and rear. Optimum tire pressure varies from bike to bike, load to load, but 35psi is a good starting point

EDIT
I just noted you're in Vermont. I don't guess then you're riding all day long, straight up and down across flatlands never seeing a hill or curve. LOL

 

[Jedz123]

LOL uhh no, I generally avoid the interstate. But I'm not a knee dagger... the "chicken strip" is about a 3/8 of an inch. I ride with saddle bags, Spare helemt, tools, rain gear, chain lube, Stabil. The whole nine. Not uncommon for me to have +500 miles days so I need to be prepared at all times... Those plus my weight of 185lbs. Guessing why I only see 5-6k miles a rear but not any more then that...

I think I have 36 psi in my rear and 38 psi in my front.

And I'm abrupt with the throttle... Hard acceleration at least a few times a day... It's an Fz1 so not uncommon to power wheelie in the first 3 gears under hard acceleration during gear shifts.... Guess that's hard on a rear tire too.

Ugh I guess my ridding style just isn't conducive to tire life.

thanks for the pointers!

 

[GS ace]

The 3,000 mile lifespan of a Conti on a B12 is most likely attributed to factors other than the tire itself. Tire wear involves more than transfering horsepower to the ground. Adding hard braking and primary reliance on the rear pads make a big difference.

I've had two sets of PR2s on my RT. The last set got me through a little over 10k miles. I'm estimating that there are about 6k more (already have 2900) on the Conti Motions, which isn't bad.

Does anyone remember the Sport Elte R compound tires? I went through a lot of them on the 1100E.

Jedz, if someone gets a a gazillion miles out of a tire, they can't be enjoying their bike!

 

[earlfor]

The 3,000 mile lifespan of a Conti on a B12 is most likely attributed to factors other than the tire itself. Tire wear involves more than transfering horsepower to the ground. Adding hard braking and primary reliance on the rear pads make a big difference.

I've had two sets of PR2s on my RT. The last set got me through a little over 10k miles. I'm estimating that there are about 6k more (already have 2900) on the Conti Motions, which isn't bad.

Does anyone remember the Sport Elte R compound tires? I went through a lot of them on the 1100E.

Jedz, if someone gets a a gazillion miles out of a tire, they can't be enjoying their bike!

I'll be interested to hear how much mileage you get from the Conti Motion. In specs I have read from Continental, they have less tread depth than the Road Attacks, but they may be a harder compound, so it's a ?. The most often given mileage I have seen on other forums has been in the 5000-5500 mile range.
Even if the only last for 5k miles, they're about half the cost of Road Attacks which last 6500 miles.