Tyre choice from past experience

OK yes its another tyre thread, I've searched through all the previous stuff and know the usual suspects but I'd like some opinions on choices from my previous experience if possible... let the waffle begin:

Had the stock dunlops on and didn't like them, changed at 7k
I had PR2s on the bike and really liked them, wet grip seemed ace but due to being a numpty I had to swap to whatever the tyre guy had, which was BT-016 for the front, a few weeks later I got the rear done to match as the PR2 was worn out. I liked the 16s but the wet performance did seem to be a little lacking (in my limited experience)

so I'm due to swap the pair of them out again and Avon have the new storm ultra and people are even saying nice things about the dunlops! so I'd like a decent life all rounder with good wet weather performance as I commute. Am I best sticking with the tried and trusted PR2s or has someone that has ridden on both the PR2 and a contender for replacement got any opinions?

I'm going to order today by 3pm but I suspect the thread might rumble on long after that.

Thanks for any help!

JHS recommend Avon Viper Sport's for 650's.

It all depends on what you want to use your bike for.

"Soft" race tyres are great for blasts, but, crap for commuting (I squared off a Pirelli Diablo Corsar in about 3 weeks...)

"Hard" tyres are great for commuting, but, on a blast are too "wooden" as they take ages to heat up.

I had the Pirelli on my SV650, as I said, and they were great on Sat/Sun blasts and they were sticky as fook and warmed up pretty fast. But, they were none too confidence inspiring in the wet, in fact, I had more then one slide and locked the rear far too often... I swapped them for Michelin Pilots (on recommendation) and they were a good half way house for commuting/blasting. But, alas, I didn't have much testing on them before my bike was destroyed...

I now have an SV1000S which came with the stock Dunlops on it and they were horrible! No feed back, far too slippy in the wet and not up to the job, so, I have Michelin Pilot 2's on there now as they are dual compound tyres. Now, these are a revelation. Rock hard centre (great for commuting) and soft outer edges (no slides, planted as fook and great for blasts.) In the wet I have no issues getting the bike right over for the tight corners as these tyres give more feed-back then my brain can handle, but, I know they are not going to give out from underneath me

I've pretty much tried to rape a set of avon storm 2s in 30degree weather in the mountains of northern spain this past week, with roads which are left, right, left right, hairpin, left, right, left, right, hairpin - whilst also doing 600miles each way on motorways to get there. They have not squared at all and provided excellent grip, even when the roads were literally flooded as the clouds burst one afternoon. They heat up quickly and I couldn't even contemplate trying another type of tyre as these do everything I could ever need.

[johnnyrod]

If you're not going on the track then I'd say a BT021 on the back, plenty of grip for normal riding and more tread than the 016. Is coping well with the snot-infested slippery Sheffield roundabouts. I also tried a Diablo but it just wasn't as good as the 014s/016 and wore out wayyyyy quicker.

used road pilot 2's and storm 2's

my vote= storm just that bit better for a bit less money

Which were your track tyres Dave? lol

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

JHS recommend Avon Viper Sport's for 650's.

God knows why, they're terrible.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

God knows why, they're terrible.

So you go to them for you repairs jobs...

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Cymraeg_Atodeg

So you go to them for you repairs jobs...

I consider myself competent to do my own repairs TBH

Avon? I love the storms, and the storm ultras, and the azaros before that. But the viper sport doesn't suit my setup at all and another setup that doesn't let you feel the problems isn't any better.

My opinions about JHS I won't go into.

You might consider yourself competent and I know I am, but, some are not and they will out source their work.

Besides, Brettus should have ordered his tyres by now. I can't say enough positive things about my 2CT's