Sports tyres v Sports Touring-Ride guide (August)

[monkey]

Hello peeps.

Did anyone read the August guide to tyres in Ride magazine? It basically says that for road use and occasional track day use that sports touring tyres are perfect. It also has a test with a fast rider and a normal rider for several laps of a 4km test track with sports tyres on, and NEITHER set of tyres get up to the optimum temperature for sports tyres to work properly (they say 60 degrees). It says that with hard track use sports touring tyres will just get to the temperature limit and that would be just right as that's when they'd be at their stickiest.

I'd like comments on this as I need a first new tyre on my first bike ('03 SV650S) and am perplexed because most people seem to favour sports tyres like the BT014 over sports touring like BT020. I do the occasional track day and will ride in the wet. Even the bloke at my local tyre shop, which incidentally isn't rated highly on here, said to go for the sports.

Cheers, one man without loads of money to burn on the latest, prettiest rubber.

:scratch: :D

[rictus01]

If you're coming from OEM(or anything else for that matter) fit a set of Metz Z6's, good mileage and great handling.

Cheers Mark.

[Law]

Yep, I read that, I also read Bike November issue which had track, sporty road and touring tyres tested, and touring tyres which on average rated well.

It all depends on your preference, use, & mileage you do per year. Sports touring tyres do last longer than sports but I've heard they might get too hot on a track day. The road attacks look like they've been melted was one comment made on here after a track day.

I've only used the OE Dunlops D220's Sport touring which aren't grippy in the cold. Have got a set of Conti Road Attacks sports touring tyres waiting to be put on in 2 weeks.

[mattSV]

Quote:
Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey http://forums.sv650.org/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?p=1118356#post1118356)
Hello peeps.

Did anyone read the August guide to tyres in Ride magazine? It basically says that for road use and occasional track day use that sports touring tyres are perfect. It also has a test with a fast rider and a normal rider for several laps of a 4km test track with sports tyres on, and NEITHER set of tyres get up to the optimum temperature for sports tyres to work properly (they say 60 degrees). It says that with hard track use sports touring tyres will just get to the temperature limit and that would be just right as that's when they'd be at their stickiest.

I'd like comments on this as I need a first new tyre on my first bike ('03 SV650S) and am perplexed because most people seem to favour sports tyres like the BT014 over sports touring like BT020. I do the occasional track day and will ride in the wet. Even the bloke at my local tyre shop, which incidentally isn't rated highly on here, said to go for the sports.

Cheers, one man without loads of money to burn on the latest, prettiest rubber.

:scratch: :grin:

The 020 was a great tyre in its day, however tyre technology has moved on since then.

I think you will find that most people on here go for sports touring tyres such as the Metzeler Z6 - I have found these more than good enough for my SV1000, which tends to get ridden 'enthusiastically' :wink:

[MavUK]

The reccomendations I got from here last year led me Conti Road Attacks. Been riding over the winder and with the exception of when I dumped 4 litres of oil over them at a set of lights, they've been great.

Much better wear rate than the VT010 they replaced, and feel better on the road.

Plus, being shallow, the tread looks kewl...

[Law]

Plus, being shallow, the (Conti Road Attacks) tread looks kewl...

lol, that's why I've got a pair waiting for me, plus the fact they were a bit cheaper than Metzler Z6's or Pirelli Diablo Strada's which were also on my shortlist of .org recommendations.

[fizzwheel]

Even the bloke at my local tyre shop, which incidentally isn't rated highly on here, said to go for the sports.

Thats because he's trying to sell you tyres. Sports tyres cost more and dont last as long.

I'd agree with Rictus, get yourself a set of Metzler Z6's, I personally wouldnt bother with the Bridgestone 014, I never found them confidence inspiring, especially when it was cold and wet also you'll be lucky if you get more than 1800 to 2000 miles out of a rear.

020's are pretty good, but I find that the Metzler Z6 are a much better tyre.

[furkuk]

I got two trips aboard, Spain then Switzerland out of BT 020's and never had a problem with them. They were great on the long boring straights of motorway then awesome grip for the twisties. You couldn't go wrong with them.

[northwind]

I've found my rear 020 gets a wee bit unhappy when pushed hard for any length of time, just a bit squirrelly and spins up occasionally in corners when normally it doesn't... But that's a tiny issue, wouldn't ever put me off. Usually it wears Roadtecs, which i've never found have that problem, and I've done trackdays on them too.

Still, fixating on whether it's at full temp or not doesn't make all that much sense, since a supersport tyre probably makes more grip when it's well below optimum than an ST tyre does at optimum.

[monkey]

Quote:
The 020 was a great tyre in its day, however tyre technology has moved on since then.

I think you will find that most people on here go for sports touring tyres such as the Metzeler Z6 - I have found these more than good enough for my SV1000, which tends to get ridden 'enthusiastically' :wink:

MattSV have you done trackdays on yours?

[SVeeedy Gonzales]

A lot of the time tyre choice is about what the rider feels they're getting more than what they actually get. Most riders will rarely use the full grip of the tyre on the road (or track, for most of us) so the feeling of having the stickiest rubber on makes them feel they've got the best they can have. Most riders only lose grip in slippery conditions or when braking harshly, etc. and most tyres would do the same thing in those conditions. Unless you're riding on track and the bike's going sideways out of turns, you probably don't need the sticky stuff. Doesn't stop people wanting to commute on diablo corsas and the like, though: if they think it's better and makes them a better rider somehow, they'll buy them. Diablo stradas on mine, very similar to the Z6's. Brilliant tyre.

[monkey]

Very wise. Cheers Sveedy. Have made my mind up. Definately the Metz Z6.

:D

[Tim in Belgium]

Got 4 track days out of my Pirelli Diablo Stradas, a trip to the Vosges, one round the Alps and a flog back to the UK. Rear is lamost gone but found them great on track, occassionally the rear would drift a little on a trackday, and they'd snot up nicely, but done great for me really. Need a new rear in about 100 miles (just enough for a shake down run before the MOT!) and will be buying another one of the same to replace it. So reckon got about 5000 miles out the rear with some hard riding, and some crappy autobahn blasting, the rear wear is what is forcing it to be slung out.

[mattSV]

MattSV have you done trackdays on yours?

Only the Cadnaaaam GP circuit ;)

No, however personally I would be very happy to use the Z6s on a trackday.

If I was going to be doing 3/4 track days a rear then I would consider putting something stickier on - depends on what your priorities are.

I have only ever spun up the rear when I wanted to, or when I have been a kKnobhead, and the front always feels totally planted, even when attacking roundabouts two up.

As anyone who rides with us down to Poole, or who was on the North/South last rear,has seen I don't exactly hang around.

[RobWireless]

Looks like the market has changed - I've been out of it for sometime. What are the characteristics of the Metzler Z6 compared to the Michelin Pilots or the Pirelli Diablo Corsas or Bridgestones BT020s?

The Diablo Corsas run great for dry days although I have Bridgestones BT020s on at the moment which were great British weather all-rounders. Are the Metzler Z6's likely to gain any more confidence in the wet than the Bridgestone BT020s?

[thor]

I read that article - they had michelin race mediums in it. I've used those on the road. You would have to be insane, or dead, or possibly both to use those all year. They just don't heat up easily and slide everywhere. On a hot track, awesome. Less than 20deg air temp - suicide.