View Full Version : Where For Tyres
Guys, gonna need some new rear rubber imminently. Never had to buy new tyres on my previous 3 bikes as I didn't keep them long enough to have to change them.
Use the SV for the work commute which involves a lot of straight and upright riding so I want something thats gonna last for a while. Metz Z6's look like the ticket (unless anyone suggests any better) but where shall I go to buy/them have them fitted in the North Kent/SEL area...?
Also, as I haven't changed them before, is it OK for me to stick with the stock front tyre (cos its got life left) and just chage the rear or is this not recommended...? Wouldn't bother me on my car but should I be concerned on the bike?
Thanks.
Tilly
SVeeedy Gonzales
16-06-06, 12:59 PM
You could try Watling tyres if it has to be North kent. They're in Gillingham, on the A2 http://www.watling-tyres.co.uk/index.php. Not the cheapest though - cost me about £215 for a pair of Diablo Stradas fitted (almost identical to Z6's though they said the Z6's would cost more). If you can, try to get to Micheldelver - quite a way away but from the reports I've heard they're a lot cheaper - enough to make the trip worthwhile - maybe £165 for the same tyres fitted. That's where I'm going next. Good excuse for a ride too!
SVeeedy Gonzales
16-06-06, 01:01 PM
oh - and change them both - some people try and get the front to last for 2 rears but I don't think it's worth the added risk (of mismatched tyres not working properly together) or hassle (of having to go back and pay more because the front didn't last for the full 2 rears)
Just to comment that Micheldever was £186.46 fitted to the bike for Stradas, and the exact same price if we'd gone for the Z6's. It's a fair way for you tho, but the ride back will give you plenty of time to scrub the new rubber in :D
Personally, when changing from the standard rubber to anything else, I would change the front as well. Next time, if your just going to keep the same brand, then I would keep the front on. Some where on here people have mentioned that it's best to stick the stickier tyre on the front, and the standard dunlop ain't that sticky.
Rigor
Mr Toad
16-06-06, 02:36 PM
or you could try Essential Rubber, they're a good bunch with very competative prices
http://www.essentialrubber.co.uk/
It is generally good practice to make sure you don't have stickier rubber on the rear, as it would be preferable for the rear to break away first, rather than the front.
However, unless you're really hooning it, you probably wouldn't notice. I put a Z6 on the rear and kept the stock tyre on the front for about another 3,000 miles without any problems
If you can make it to North London - Essential Rubber.
Thanks for all your responses. Micheldever might be a bit of a trek. That North London place and watling tyres would be fine. I'll check them out.
Also, think I'll take your advice on getting both tyres changed...
Cheers all.....
Tilly
Sidcup Motorcycle Tyres are also very good!
Shinsei Jutsu
17-06-06, 08:04 AM
Sidcup Motorcycle Tyres are also very good!
Very friendly and helpful but a little high on the price at times. I will look elsewhere for tyres next time me thinks.
Sidcup Motorcycle tyres would be the closest to me but they do look little on the expensive side.......
rictus01
19-06-06, 08:23 AM
go to Essential Rubber (http://www.essentialrubber.co.uk/), i use them and ride passed three tyre places to get there, nuff said.
Cheers Mark.
I was in need of some new tyres about 6 months ago, phoned around various places in Kent and SE London but no one could beat Essential Rubber.
Z6's fitted both front & rear £175. :D
Think I may make the trip to Essential Rubber then. Thanks for all your info....
Tilly
Update.....
Have been trying to get the most life possible out of the stock rubber and the rear has been pretty well worn down the centre for a while. Decided I was going to bite the bullet and get new rubber fitted this saturday. Had fixed on Conti RAs fitted for £170 from Essential Rubber, North London.
However, on my way home from work on Tuesday the rear decided it would like to deflate whilst on the M25 :shock: I thought the handling had deteriorated pretty rapidly :?
Managed to nurse it the short trip home but then left me in the dilema of needing to get new hoops fitted quick smart so that I could make the journey to WSB at Brands on Sunday :wink:
Therefore, without taking the wheels off myself and then having to re-fit them once I'd had new tyres fitted I was pretty much stuffed. Fortunately, I have a Honda dealership just round the corner from my house. Unfotunately, they only offered Bridgestones or Michelin, so I've ended up having to pay £45 more and go for the BT020's. Good tyre I know but £45 more than I was expecting to have to pay.
I guess trying to squeeze every last mile out of the stock Dunlops has been a bit of a false economy and ended up costing me more. :( I'll know for next time.
Coincidently, I got 5800 miles out of the stock rear before it decided to let go. In reality, I suppose it was gone over 500 miles ago. I hope I can get more life out of the BT020s.
So let me understand. You had a blow out, or a puncture, or did the tyre just go down? Did you let Essential rubber know?
You'll get about the smae mileage out of the 020 to be honest.
No, nothing like a blow out. I noticed that from the exit of the Dartford tolls to the Swanley junction that the rear started to feel like it wasn't connected to the front. :shock: I thought the tyre was really squared off now and that I was just noticing it more. Thought, thank God I'm getting the tyres change din a few days. I thought it would have been a lot more evident if the tyre was flat.
Wasn't until I'd come off the M25 and was moving at a much slower speed and round roundabout etc that it was clerly obvious there was a problem. Stuck the hazards on a poodled the remaining couple of miles home.
On closer inpection, the centre section of the tyre looked to have blistered in a few places - I should have taken a photo.
Haven't let Essential Rubber know as I wasn't actually booked in with them to have new tyres fitted, was just going to turn up as they said they had plenty of Conti RAs in stock.
If I had more time and wasn't desperate to get the tyres on before WSB on Sunday then I could have maybe saved a few quid still.
Oh i see, it was your old tyres. They way it read that it was your new tyres that you just had fitted.
A total pain no matter what, just lucky that it didnt happen at speed.
No, I was due to get the Conti's from Essential Rubber this coming weekend. The one that let go was the horrible Dunlop.
Should have changed them a while ago so its completely my fault. As you say, lucky nothing worse happened at speed. :roll:
I hope I can get more life out of the BT020s.
You're having a laugh aren't you?
Heard they were good for longevity...?
I don't expect miracles but have read (on this site I think) of people getting up to 10k.
I was surprised that I didn't get more life out of the stock Dunlops. I don't class myself as a particularly hard/fast rider and thought they would last longer. They were down to the wear indicators at 5k.
Motorway miles are a killer because the back tyre is contantly being worked pushing the bike through the air but only the central strip so you can have loads of meat either side and sod all in the middle. I've made an effort this year not to use motorways if possible for just this reason. That and they're boring.
Heard they were good for longevity...?
I don't expect miracles but have read (on this site I think) of people getting up to 10k.
I was surprised that I didn't get more life out of the stock Dunlops. I don't class myself as a particularly hard/fast rider and thought they would last longer. They were down to the wear indicators at 5k.
From what I understand from the pros... 10k out of the old 020's was doable... they had kevlar banding and would last ages.
Then the 020's changed, to use steel bands... and have never been the same.
Oh, didn't realise they changed.
Is this one of the reasons that most people tend to go for Z6s or Conti RAs now (unless they want really sticky rubber) or is it just cos they're a little bit cheaper......
Would have done the same if I wasn't caught short.
IMHO, you dont need anything stickyer on an sv. The 020 is a great tyre and you shouldnt be disapointed with them at all. Much better than the 'lops.
I used to average about 5k on the old 020's and slightly less on the new ones. I got 7k out of a rear once and 14k from a front, but that was to the maximum, and a lot of motorway riding.
Cool, don't think I'll be disappointed with the performance anyway.
Lot of my riding is motorway as well......
I live in bexleyheath, The cheapest way I do it is to get the tyres off the net.
I got these for my z1000.
Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Tyre Deal
1x 120/70/ZR17
1x 190/50/ZR17
Free Delivery
£169.14
Here is the link of the company. http://www.tyresonline.net/shop_details.asp?productID=614
Then I get a guy called Henry to fit them, he is a mechanic that works out of 2 lock ups in Dartford. Good mechanic, does a lot of serviceing on anything as well as fitting tyres. Last time I used him he charged me £10 for each loose wheel to fit.
That is £189.00 all in with the tyres, bargin.
His number is 01322271684.
If you call him let him know that Simon mentioned him.
Hope this helps you out,
Sexysi
Sidcup Motorcycle Tyres are also very good!
I've used these guys before and yes they are good, even though they talk a lot 2 hrs to fit two tyres :shock: Their price for the tyres for the z1000 cost £15 quid more than the net. Fitting two tyres to the bike, ie: taking the wheels off etc cost me £55.00.
I usually take the wheels off, but I haven't got the special socket to take the front wheel off yet :!:
Sexysi
I live in bexleyheath, The cheapest way I do it is to get the tyres off the net.
I got these for my z1000.
Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Tyre Deal
1x 120/70/ZR17
1x 190/50/ZR17
Free Delivery
£169.14
Here is the link of the company. http://www.tyresonline.net/shop_details.asp?productID=614
Then I get a guy called Henry to fit them, he is a mechanic that works out of 2 lock ups in Dartford. Good mechanic, does a lot of serviceing on anything as well as fitting tyres. Last time I used him he charged me £10 for each loose wheel to fit.
That is £189.00 all in with the tyres, bargin.
His number is 01322271684.
If you call him let him know that Simon mentioned him.
Hope this helps you out,
Sexysi
How? I ride in and ride out, £190 all in. You save a Pound!!!
Muttley
08-08-06, 03:05 PM
they talk a lot 2 hrs to fit two tyres :shock:
I've had that experience with them too and not during the nice warm weather.
That and price are one reason I wouldn't use them again unless I absolutely had too. It's a shame as the bloke in there seems like a nice chap but I have other things I need to do on my days off.
Went to FWR the other week as it's just around the corner from where I work, took roughly 15 minutes to change my rear tyre and cost less than SMT. That's 15 minutes from riding in to the shop and riding out, not bloody 2 hours of farting about.
they talk a lot 2 hrs to fit two tyres :shock:
I've had that experience with them too and not during the nice warm weather.
That and price are one reason I wouldn't use them again unless I absolutely had too. It's a shame as the bloke in there seems like a nice chap but I have other things I need to do on my days off.
Went to FWR the other week as it's just around the corner from where I work, took roughly 15 minutes to change my rear tyre and cost less than SMT. That's 15 minutes from riding in to the shop and riding out, not bloody 2 hours of farting about.
Whats wrong with a chat and a cuppa? I enjoy the craic...makes it less of a chore and more of a pleasure I find :wink:
I live in bexleyheath, The cheapest way I do it is to get the tyres off the net.
I got these for my z1000.
Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Tyre Deal
1x 120/70/ZR17
1x 190/50/ZR17
Free Delivery
£169.14
Here is the link of the company. http://www.tyresonline.net/shop_details.asp?productID=614
Then I get a guy called Henry to fit them, he is a mechanic that works out of 2 lock ups in Dartford. Good mechanic, does a lot of serviceing on anything as well as fitting tyres. Last time I used him he charged me £10 for each loose wheel to fit.
That is £189.00 all in with the tyres, bargin.
His number is 01322271684.
If you call him let him know that Simon mentioned him.
Hope this helps you out,
Sexysi
How? I ride in and ride out, £190 all in. You save a Pound!!!
so you have 1x 120/70/ZR17 front tyre and a
1x 190/50/ZR17 on the rear then?
sexysi
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