Tyres...argh, sticky this sticky that :( ;)

[northwind]

Michelin Macadam 100s Ben? Often named as the worst road tyres still available, people forget that Ghostrider used one for the Uppsala run, if it's good enough for him...

Case against... I do reckon you can feel the difference between a good sport touring tyre and a relatively bad one... Last couple of times I've ridden on a bike with D220s on I've had slides that I wouldn't have expected on a Roadtec, they're fine with progressive leaning but fast direction changes like exiting roundabouts seem to upset them.

Even with very good tyres, 020 vs Roadtec, there's differences to be found- there's a roundabout on my commute with a nice set of dark lines from when I was riding on 020s, little slide on the exit most days. I quite liked it The Roadtecs just don't do it. Not that I'd ever fault the 020s at all, still very good tyres, but they seemed to go off a little over longer fast rides. Can't see any reason to fit them unless they're cheap though.

And I suppose sometimes a better tyre could save you when you screw up- panicky braking, stupidly dropping too much power in a corner (or braking when leaned), that sort of thing. Most tyres will deal with anything they should have to but perhaps a stickier tyre can deal better with rider incompetence? Never tested this theory as my own ncompetence would defeat a race slick

But as for "rubbish"... Yep, could not agree more. There's no bad tyres these days, just better tyres. Still, I wouldn't personally fit one of the "least good" tyres when the better ones cost the same and last so well, really. And I'd be tempted to swap other brands for Roadtecs, just because I'm very familiar with them and I like the shape of the tyre and how it feels. Slow to turn, but nice to correct.

[jambo]

The "sportiest" tyres I have ever used on one of my bikes were the 4 year old D207s that came on the ZX6R. When they wore out I replaced them with Diablo Stradas which have returned excellent milage while letting me scrape the footpegs through the top hairpin at the Lydden track day last year.

I'm considering buying a 2nd set of wheels (Mine are chipped to all hell and need repainting anyway) and fitting something like the Avon Viper (standard) to them for use on the track and also just to try something very diferent. I'll be intrested to see if I notice any change at all really

Originally Posted by northwind

But as for "rubbish"... Yep, could not agree more. There's no bad tyres these days, just better tyres.

I think that is the point being made here!!??!?!

Bearing in mind the odd mixup of tyres I have on my bike and how they seem more than adequate even when I ‘get it on’ a bit, I really can’t see there is call for anything ‘more’ … sure I could get more grip, but who NEEDS it??

I agree, if buying new, just get something that has longevity and grip in the table and be done with it … if the 2nd one down the list has a better deal on at the time, then go for those!!! … they will all be up to the job!

I do think that people get o hung up on tyres, i think that yes you can tell the dif between styles i.e touring, sport, track etc. But that is to be expected there is more rubber on a track tyre therefore more grip. But all the top manufacturers tyres i think are much of a muchness, if you come off your bike it is very unlikly to be the tyres fault, maybe a slippy surface or you were just riding like a nob. the only ones of us that can push a road tyre to its limits are rproper racers. Top racers have the right to comment on the differance a tyre makes, they are pros and genrally actually know what they are on about through experiance, unlike us lot who ride for pleasure and to get to work, we dont really spend enough time in the saddle to compare different tyres back to back day in day out. Racers push the tyre to its limit where a slight differance in the force of friction will win or lose a race, on the road it is not so inportant. Just like if we were to put full on race slicks on out bikes they wont work and you might as well be on ice.

I read today that the police all use D220s, they can't be that bad

Ok so there is product developemnt at work here, but the main driving force behind this and why people change exhausts,brakes,screens etc,etc,etc. is..........















Sales and marketing! FACT.

[Stu]

Police Academy - "Every so often, just now and again, you lose your accent" you're just plain old Philip Martin aren't you!

Stu..I have you knowing my Englkish teacher taken over from me on last few posts. She wanted show me good sentence formation.

have to agree...there's no bad tyres nowadays. I think profile,suspension and bike has more to do with it than just the tyre alone. Your riding style might account for feel as well.

e.g. on the sv I had stock d220s - too slidy IMO - felt horrible. got some stradas fitted and just loved them. I stuck the d220s on my old cbr (in place of the macadam 100s) and they were spot on - no slidy slippy stuff. When the d220s wore out I stuck stradas on thinking that they would be like the sv - wrong -slippy slidy - as for the wet - yuk. Jimmy54321 and his mate have some video of me sliding all over the ship on the last st.andrews rideout so they can vouch for me. Now have power 2ct's on and they are very flicky. Don't know if the sv would get on with the 2ct powers or not. So long as they're round black and stick like ****e to a blanket.

[Lissa]

Originally Posted by stuartyboy

have to agree...there's no bad tyres nowadays. I think profile,suspension and bike has more to do with it than just the tyre alone. Your riding style might account for feel as well.

e.g. on the sv I had stock d220s - too slidy IMO - felt horrible. got some stradas fitted and just loved them. I stuck the d220s on my old cbr (in place of the macadam 100s) and they were spot on - no slidy slippy stuff. When the d220s wore out I stuck stradas on thinking that they would be like the sv - wrong -slippy slidy - as for the wet - yuk. Jimmy54321 and his mate have some video of me sliding all over the ship on the last st.andrews rideout so they can vouch for me. Now have power 2ct's on and they are very flicky. Don't know if the sv would get on with the 2ct powers or not. So long as they're round black and stick like ****e to a blanket.

If the power 2ct's are as good as we're finding the Road 2's.................you'd love 'em