SV650S Tyres for Commuting

[trevrobwhite]

Hi guys, sorry bit of a noob here (did use the search), I've got a puka Suzuki SV650S SK3 currently with Bridgestone tyres, which are nearly out, what would you recommend for replacement tyres that are hard wearing for commuting (it does about 50 miles per day), I don't want to spend a small fortune but will pay a bit extra if they will ask, its not going to be taken on track.

Also where's the best place to buy such a tyre, I've found quite a few cheap internet sites so may see if my local garage will fit it for me.

Thanks in advance.

By the way I'm in the UK (not sure if this is a UK only board or not).

[plowsie]

120 for Pilot Sports, they'll do the trick.

[Alpinestarhero]

I'm having a good experiance with metzeler MEZ6's, done 4000 miles on them so far I think, still got loadsa life in them

Matt

[Blue_SV650S]

I think the consensus is that if you are primarily after mileage, and not overly concerned with levels of cold grip or 'feel', the Michelins rank #1!! :)

[Dangerous Dave]

Not in rank order.

- Avon Azaro
- Avon Storm
- Bridgestone 020
- Bridgestone 021
- Metzeler Z6
- Michelin Pilot Road 2CT

I'm sure others will add more...

Avoid the Dunlop D220!!!

[plowsie]

I think the consensus is that if you are primarily after mileage, and not overly concerned with levels of cold grip or 'feel', the Michelins rank #1!! :)
Did you just say that Blue...:smt112

[Lozzo]

I think the consensus is that if you are primarily after mileage, and not overly concerned with levels of cold grip or 'feel', the Michelins rank #1!! :)

Cold grip was fine on the Michelin Pilot Road2s my Daytona 955i had, feel was good for a road tyre too. They gave bags of feedback and the rear lasted 6500 miles even the way I ride.

My K5S has Z6s which I really like, though they take slightly longer to warm up than the Michelins. I had the Pirelli Diablo Stradas on my K3 (same tyre as the Z6, different pattern and name) and they felt exactly the same.

[jambo]

The tyres section has tons of opinions similar to the above:
http://forums.sv650.org/forumdisplay.php?f=138

[Jester666]

Road Pilot 2 2CT.

Excellent in the wet and dry and good mileage.

[Blue_SV650S]

Did you just say that Blue...:smt112

Yes, I did, it has been concluded they do the highest mileage ? but I actually care more for cold grip and 'feel' than I do outright mileage, so would not buy Michelins myself as I feel they lack the other two properties. I actually have a Pilot Road on the front of my road bike at the mo and can?t wait to get it off there!! :shock:

[Stu]

Contintal Road Attack as well.
Just see what prices are locally for anything recommended above I have found that fitting prices ontop of internet tyres are extortionate,

[Lozzo]

Yes, I did, it has been concluded they do the highest mileage ? but I actually care more for cold grip and 'feel' than I do outright mileage, so would not buy Michelins myself as I feel they lack the other two properties. I actually have a Pilot Road on the front of my road bike at the mo and can?t wait to get it off there!! :shock:

Pilot Road is very different to the Pilot Road2

[plowsie]

Yes, I did, it has been concluded they do the highest mileage ? but I actually care more for cold grip and 'feel' than I do outright mileage, so would not buy Michelins myself as I feel they lack the other two properties. I actually have a Pilot Road on the front of my road bike at the mo and can?t wait to get it off there!! :shock:
I remember you saying you hate Michellin and will never use or buy them :lol:

[plowsie]

Contintal Road Attack as well.
Just see what prices are locally for anything recommended above I have found that fitting prices ontop of internet tyres are extortionate,
I've had less than 4k out of a rear and it is ready to come off...

[Blue_SV650S]

Pilot Road is very different to the Pilot Road2

I got a Macadam on the rear at the mo too, I am breaking all my own rules!! :D And sure enough, I had that randomly light up this (cold) morning! :shock:

Is the 2CT a Road 2? .. had 2CTs on my Mille, same bag, gripped when hot, unpredictable when not! :(

From a feel and cold performance point of view, I don't rate Michelins!! :( But it is all down to the individual at the end of the day :)

I remember you saying you hate Michellin and will never use or buy them

I'd never BUY one no, when I get them for free, it is summin else; coz I am tighter than I am sensible!! :oops:

[fizzwheel]

Round Black Ones.... any of the tyres mentioned above will suit, get the ones that suit your budget best, if you dont like em try something else next time.

I know where blue is coming from, I had 2CT's on my GSXR and I found them a bit wooly and lacking in feel when it was cold and wet. Good tyre otherwise though and they wore well.

[Dangerous Dave]

The Pilot Road 2CT's I had were great, they offered plenty of front end feel and confidence from the very second I got on the bike and I got good mileage from them too! Personally I like Avon's, they suit the way I ride and give great mileage. As someone said before check the prices of these tyres near you, they all offer good grip, feel and mileage its just about finding the ones that suit you.

[Stu]

Round Black Ones.... .
yup I hear that's a good place to get them from round & black ;)

[Defender]

Not in rank order.

- Avon Azaro
- Avon Storm
- Bridgestone 020
- Bridgestone 021
- Metzeler Z6
- Michelin Pilot Road 2CT

I'm sure others will add more...

Avoid the Dunlop D220!!!

Dunlop - They're the ones I've done 4,200 mls on from new. What's wrong with them?

[Dangerous Dave]

They don't offer good feel or grip (hot/cold) and the loose traction quite easily I thought, compared to the other brands/products out there they are at the bottom of the pile for many of us on here!

Any other tyre listed on this thread is a big improvement!!!

[trevrobwhite]

Wow, thanks guys what a response, I'm gonna checkout what's available and head down to the garage with my list, thanks for the info on net tyres. I've got Bridgestone Batlax BT020's on the front and rear at the moment, a mate is suggesting I replace the BT020 with BT010 as they will last longer, but I am considering the others you suggested as well.

Is this a good idea?

[fizzwheel]

Wow, thanks guys what a response, I'm gonna checkout what's available and head down to the garage with my list, thanks for the info on net tyres. I've got Bridgestone Batlax BT020's on the front and rear at the moment, a mate is suggesting I replace the BT020 with BT010 as they will last longer, but I am considering the others you suggested as well.

Is this a good idea?

Eyh... I think your mate has got muddled up.

010 is a soft grippy sport tyre, the 020 is a harder compound sport touring tyre. The 010 wont last longer than the 020, the 020 will last longer than the 010 !!

010 are an old model tyre, and they have been replaced with 014's which for commuting will be useless as they are very soft, so they dont last long, also they dont work well IMHO when its cold and wet and they square off really quickly to. Also they are more expensive that 020's. Not what you want for a commuting tyre.

Stick with the tyres in the posts above, thats what you want to be looking for.

[trevrobwhite]

Thanks for that, I think I'm down to the choice of two from what I've read, the Bridgestone BT020 (or I might go for the newer BT021 as they are supposed to last longer) or the Mitchelin Pilot Road 2CT

Should I have a preference between these two?

[plowsie]

PR2's prob best IMO.

[sinbad]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAXXIS-160-60-ZR17-SUPERMAXX-M6029-Rear-Radial_W0QQitemZ140214758452QQihZ004QQcategoryZ216 69QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Any tried those?

[Blue_SV650S]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MAXXIS-160-60-ZR17-SUPERMAXX-M6029-Rear-Radial_W0QQitemZ140214758452QQihZ004QQcategoryZ216 69QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Any tried those?

Not tried that exact tyre, but MAXXIS is the same company as Cheng Shin ... they make real budget tyres and .. well, like all rubber dog doo, they are "Made in Taiwan" ;)

[trevrobwhite]

PR2's prob best IMO.


Which ones are the PR2's?

[plowsie]

Michellin Pilot Roads 2's, see here (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=91544&highlight=baph+pilot+road) for a review from Baph.

[sinbad]

Not tried that exact tyre, but MAXXIS is the same company as Cheng Shin ... they make real budget tyres and .. well, like all rubber dog doo, they are "Made in Taiwan" ;)

So not great then? I know it's an established brand, at least in Europe. Sponsored Brit Supersport or something too haven't they? Their sights must be set a little higher than budget tyres. I'll let someone else try them first though :)

[Blue_SV650S]

So not great then? I know it's an established brand, at least in Europe. Sponsored Brit Supersport or something too haven't they? Their sights must be set a little higher than budget tyres. I'll let someone else try them first though :)

Maxxis and CS are big in pushbike tyres and off-road tyres.

As I said, not used that tyre or any of their 17" type 'big bike' tyres, but I have had Maxxis and CS tyres on some of my old 'hacks' and they were always OK in the dry, but horrific in the wet ;) But you just ride accordingly!

Also, my current go Kart tyres are 'Maxxis Greens' (http://www.tal-ko.com/images/maxxis_green_dry.jpg)and compared to Vaga (a big kart tyre brand) they are plops ... they are usable, but don?t offer the same grip as the Vagas, I won't be buying another set .. I also has a set of CS kart tyres and they were so bad that I wasn?t even prepared to keep them on long enough to wear them out, let alone buy another set ;)

In short ? if you want a budget tyre, but accept it is just that and that it might be less than perfect performance and durability wise, then go for it, as you say a well established company!! :)

[Defender]

They don't offer good feel or grip (hot/cold) and the loose traction quite easily I thought, compared to the other brands/products out there they are at the bottom of the pile for many of us on here!

Any other tyre listed on this thread is a big improvement!!!

Thanks Dave.

I've seen a few threads on tyres but I've not thought about what I should change to when the time comes.

I wonder what sort of prices you should pay for those listed in this thread.

[Dangerous Dave]

I wonder what sort of prices you should pay for those listed in this thread.
The prices will vary from place to place, the best thing to do is phone your local bike tyre fitters and gets some quotes from them. You want quotes for the tyres fitted and also ask them how much it would cost for you to bring in a set of tyres to be fitted (you may find a bargain pair online somewhere).

[Defender]

Thank you for the advice :)