tyres again.

[AndyBrad]

Ok Folks the ever popular tyres question although with a little bit more information.

Right ive got the 99 curvy naked and it came with a bt-20 rear and a bt-16 front. The rear has loads of tread on it. Its only done a couple of thousand miles. However the front is getting / got to its limit on the edges. So it needs replacing. Now I know that tyres are very much a personal preference but would like your opinions on what to do now. I could keep the bt-20 rear and get another tyre for the front. Im guessing this would be the cheapest option However what would I go for? Another BT-20? Or maybe something different. Alternatively I could scrap the rear and get a matching set of new rubber.

So what do you think? Im looking for the tyers to give me good grip in all weathers so some sports rubber is not suitable. I do a daily trip to work which is about 6-7 miles each way and a blast at the weekends. On my way to work the tyres I have on don’t really get warm and are very slippery over the first half of the journey. Im also looking to get on quite a few ride outs this year although I’m not too bothered about how long they will last as long as they make up for it in rider enjoyment (grip)

So what do you think?

[Dave20046]

Matching handles better I replaced mine more or less at the same time for dunlop sportmaxs. I'm happy with them, they're sticky but I don't know how long they'll last yet (doubt it'll be many miles). Everyone raves about avon storms, they'll be my next tyres.

[SoulKiss]

Ok Folks the ever popular tyres question although with a little bit more information.

Right ive got the 99 curvy naked and it came with a bt-20 rear and a bt-16 front. The rear has loads of tread on it. Its only done a couple of thousand miles. However the front is getting / got to its limit on the edges. So it needs replacing. Now I know that tyres are very much a personal preference but would like your opinions on what to do now. I could keep the bt-20 rear and get another tyre for the front. Im guessing this would be the cheapest option However what would I go for? Another BT-20? Or maybe something different. Alternatively I could scrap the rear and get a matching set of new rubber.

So what do you think? Im looking for the tyers to give me good grip in all weathers so some sports rubber is not suitable. I do a daily trip to work which is about 6-7 miles each way and a blast at the weekends. On my way to work the tyres I have on don’t really get warm and are very slippery over the first half of the journey. Im also looking to get on quite a few ride outs this year although I’m not too bothered about how long they will last as long as they make up for it in rider enjoyment (grip)

So what do you think?

Try any of these in this order

Dunlop Roadsmart
Avon Storm ST
Michelin Pilot Road 2

Haven't tried the Roadsmarts yet, but keep getting recommended them by the guys at my local tyre place.

[AndyBrad]

so your both suggesting i scrap the existing rear?

[dav806]

Hi

My Black curvy had BT020's all round and it stuck to the road like glue, however due to a nagging pain at my side (missus) I sold it in August, my blue curvy that I put a deposit on yesterday has Avon Azaros on and on the test ride in the dry seemed as good as the Bridgestones, but, as you said its down to personal choice, I've nearly always had Bridgestones and replaced like for like.

[fizzwheel]

Get another BT-020 front if you can find them as Bridgestone dont make them anymore.

Either that or get a BT-021 as thats the BT-020 replacement

Theres nothing wrong with the Bridgestone Sport Touring tyres, its the sports ones I couldnt get on with.

I never seen the sense in replacing tyres when they still have life in them.

[SoulKiss]

so your both suggesting i scrap the existing rear?

Oops I rushed a bit and missed that fact..... :)

Depends on how important a matched set if to you.

If not important put sports touring on the front and match them when the rear needs changing.

If it is, do both.

Most tyres these days are excellent - but a lot of how they work is due to how you think they will work, its all down to trust - just remember the "Special Matched Tyres" effect in Days of Thunder :)

[RichT]

Get another BT-020 front if you can find them as Bridgestone dont make them anymore.

Either that or get a BT-021 as thats the BT-020 replacement

Theres nothing wrong with the Bridgestone Sport Touring tyres, its the sports ones I couldnt get on with.

I never seen the sense in replacing tyres when they still have life in them.

+1 - I had BT-021's on my old Bandit and loved 'em. I'd say, keep the current rear and replace the front. However as Fizz say's, you may struggle to find a BT-020 front.

[Dave20046]

I could be wrong but I'd be tempted to match them now (unless there's loads of life yet) or you'd be forever swapping the front then a few months later doing the rear...wouldn't you?

[jambo]

so your both suggesting i scrap the existing rear?
For sports rubber I get something like 2 rears to a front. For touring rubber (Diablo Stradas) I was wearing both out roughly evenly.

How much life is left in the rear tyre? I seem to remember the tread on a new 020 rear should be about 7mm deep, and you'll want to swap it out before it's down to 1mm.

If you think the rear's damn-near new, I'd put a front only on it.

You can mix and match tyres at will, but bear in mind the profiles and characteristics will be diferent, this can make a bike feel slightly odd in some circumstances as one tyre warms faster than the other, grips better in a given condition or has a profile that doesn't suit the other tyre. Or it can feel completely fine, there's really no real way to know.

Given this, if I was only replacing the front I'd get a bridgestone as they will have the most similar construction, profile and compound to the rear, this means I'd be putting an 020 front, or, more likely an 021 as this is the replacement and has been specifically stated to work well when combined with it's predecessor, the 020.

If I was replacing the pair I'd pick from:
Diablo Strada / Metzler Z6 (same tyre)
Avon Storm ST
Bridgestone 021
Michelin Pilot Road 2
Dunlop Roadsmart

Reviews in the Tyre section for all of the above. Modern sports-touring rubber is phenominal, I got 10,000 miles to a front & rear Diablo Strada on the ZX6R including a trackday at the end of their life scraping the footpeg through the hairpin at Lydden, and they're not the most recent of the class by any means.

Jambo

[yorkie_chris]

I'd go for the storms by experience. I've found them to work very well, so I'm not sure I'd change in a hurry.

[The Guru]

I've got Storms fitted. They seem pretty good.

But I'm fairly new to biking and can only compare against standard dunlop tyres.

[dizzyblonde]

storms....that is all :cheers:

[AndyBrad]

so it seems theres a lot of people suggesting i get 2 new tyres (150 quid ish) as opposed to a front as the handling would be far superior than the bt's


Okey dokey. :)

[yorkie_chris]

How much is left on your rear tyre?

[fizzwheel]

so it seems theres a lot of people suggesting i get 2 new tyres (150 quid ish) as opposed to a front as the handling would be far superior than the bt's

Personally I think thats a complete waste of money, theres nothing wrong with the bridgestones you already have on your bike. Put a front on it for now and then when it comes time to replace both, then swap for something else...

[fizzwheel]

How much is left on your rear tyre?

Says in the first post rear has done 2000 miles.

[AndyBrad]

yea 2000 at most. i would say its got a good 5mm of tread on it. maybe more.

[yorkie_chris]

I'd put a storm front on it until that rear is worn out then. But I'm a skinflint.

[fizzwheel]

But I'm a skinflint.

Me to, but I'd put a Bridgestone on, because I dont like running mis matched tyres :D

[jambo]

so it seems theres a lot of people suggesting i get 2 new tyres (150 quid ish) as opposed to a front as the handling would be far superior than the bt's


Okey dokey. :)

That's not what people are saying. People are saying if you've got money to burn, or are choosing a new pair of tyres that they have a preference for a particular brand (in this case Avon Storms). Not that Storms are technically better than the Bridgestones.

Having done track days on Bridgestone 020s I can assure you there's plenty of grip there. The 021 is likely to be better.

Personally I think thats a complete waste of money, theres nothing wrong with the bridgestones you already have on your bike. Put a front on it for now and then when it comes time to replace both, then swap for something else...

If it were me I'd put a matching front on as I said in my post, but it's your money, and there's nothing wrong with going for a fresh, matching pair of tyres of whatever brand you choose. New tyres feel better than old ones, regardless of brand.


Jambo

Edit: If it's £150 for a pair of Avon Storms, it's worth finding out what it'll cost for a new Bridestone front and making a judgement call based on how flush you're feeling.

[Dave20046]

I'd put a storm front on it until that rear is worn out then. But I'm a skinflint.
Me too, but buy a pair for £150 or buy them individually for £90 at shop nearest me. plus, do tyres wear at more or less the same rate? If you use your a lot I'd only like it off the road once for both tyres.

[fizzwheel]

do tyres wear at more or less the same rate?

No, rear tyres wear faster than a front will. Typically you'll get two rear tyres to the life of one front.

[yorkie_chris]

I've found that on the storms, but not quite enough on the front to do 2 rears which is annoying.

[Dave20046]

No, rear tyres wear faster than a front will. Typically you'll get two rear tyres to the life of one front.
That's a pain I had a feeling they might not.

[Luckypants]

I've found that on the storms, but not quite enough on the front to do 2 rears which is annoying.

yeah same here :(

[yorkie_chris]

Just ordered some viper sports for the cagiva. We shall see how they work...

[Berlin]

so your both suggesting i scrap the existing rear?

Don't scrap it. Put it on Ebay. They go for good money. Remember to put the size in the description so people can find it in a search (Its amazing how many don't).

Just ordered Vipers for the Hornet Chris. It'll be good to see how they compare.


C

[thefallenangel]

if you've still got decent life left in the rear why not buy a set of BT020's from ebay (£155) and use them. Find a local tyre place to fit (mine cost £10 a tyre if taken in off the bike)

[yorkie_chris]

Don't scrap it. Put it on Ebay. They go for good money. Remember to put the size in the description so people can find it in a search (Its amazing how many don't).

Just ordered Vipers for the Hornet Chris. It'll be good to see how they compare.


C

Indeed. Though I doubt the cagivas 30bhp will test them too much...

[Dave20046]

Don't scrap it. Put it on Ebay. They go for good money. Remember to put the size in the description so people can find it in a search (Its amazing how many don't).

Just ordered Vipers for the Hornet Chris. It'll be good to see how they compare.


C

balls I binned an sv wheel and a good con tyre because I didn't think they were worth much

[Quiff Wichard]

you binned a wheel???

[yorkie_chris]

Muppet!

[Dave20046]

It was a bit of a semi circle but yeah oops lol.
Dunno what I was thinking it's just not me at all.

[AndyBrad]

having had a good look at prices and reading reviews i think a new front bt21 is the way to go as its considered to be a very good tyre