Road attacks

The differences that I found between these three tyres. Pirelli Diablo Strada's. Metzler Z6's and Continental Road Attacks.

The Strada and the Z6 have almost identical tread patterns. The rears have no tread running across the center of the tyre. In my eyes this means that I can run the tyre longer before it is visably illegal. In fact, I have run mine almost to the canvas with the visible look of still being legal. Dangerous though.

The Strada for me gives good feel in both dry and wet conditions. Very good grip, good life span, and predictable tyres with good warning when they are going to let go. However, I noticed that in damp conditions they felt very twitchy indeed. There did not seem to be any feel before they let go traction. Quite unnerving until I got used to it.

The Z6 was all the above but better. I get good feel in all conditions. There does not seem quite as much traction as the Strada's but unless I were pushing the bike hard, which I hardly ever do now, I would not notice.

The Road Attacks. Brilliant tyre. Really cool tread pattern. Fantastic grip in the wet, dry or damp. Grip is offered right from the start when the tyres are still cold. On top of this they are the cheapest tyre of all three. However,for me the only issue is the wear factor. I fould that they wore out very quickly. My rear wore out on the center after only 3000 miles. The front wore out the edges after only 5000 miles. I know that others have had better milage out of them, but that is all that I managed to get out of mine.

Basically, at the time, Road Attacks seemed like the ideal tyre. Cheap, and good grip in all weathers. But I found the money saved over the more expensive tyres to be a false economy. So stick with the other two manufactures.

Thank you for a very informative post that has answered all my questions and reasured me that I have made the right choice.

Cheers.

[Stu]

Thanks Si, I am at that point you eloquently describe with my rear Strada after 8000 miles (but then again I only ride gently and don't go over 70).
Elsewhere than here, all I hear about is Michelin Pilot Sport and 2CT. Anyone care to comment on how these compare for the SV?

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Stu

2CT.

I've got these on my GSXR, not the same I know. But I hope this gives you some idea of what they are like.

Wear is good for sporty tyre, my rear tyre has done 3500 miles and its just about on the wear inidicator, fronts done about 7000 miles and its at the same point now.

They give good grip and feedback in the dry from cold, they heat quickly and I found them to predictable and that you could feel when the tyre was going to slide before it did, but when it does slide its quite calm and controllable.

IMHO they work well in the wet to, same sort of characteristics, but they are not as good in the wet and cold as the Metzler Z6 is. On horrible damp days I find I get better feel for the road from the Z6's than the 2CT's.

They wont wear as well as the Z6's as these are classed as sporty as opposed to Sport Touring. TBH I dont use all the capability of the tyre on the GSXR, I dont think you ever will on the road. But if you want a tyre for summer thats going to wear reasonably well, give you good predictable grip at the expense of reduced life then it could be a tyre to go for. If you do lots of straightline riding / commuting with the occasional fun ride at weekends / evenings, then I'd say that the Z6 is going to suit your needs and pocket better as the 2CT's are more expensive than the Z6.

HTH

Originally Posted by Stu

Thanks Si, I am at that point you eloquently describe with my rear Strada after 8000 miles (but then again I only ride gently and don't go over 70).
Elsewhere than here, all I hear about is Michelin Pilot Sport and 2CT. Anyone care to comment on how these compare for the SV?

I asked about the 2CT's last time I went for a tyre. John (Buckley Tyres) said basically:
"Yea, they claim better mileage on the 2CTs than the Z6s, but they've only had them in test for about a month, and they're comparing new 2CTs to older other tyres. Your call, but you do high miles, do you wanna be a guinea pig when they haven't really tested properly? I'd recommend waiting 'til next time, at least they'll of been tested better."

So that, combined with this:

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Wear is good for sporty tyre, my rear tyre has done 3500 miles and its just about on the wear inidicator, fronts done about 7000
...
not as good in the wet and cold as the Metzler Z6 is. On horrible damp days I find I get better feel for the road from the Z6's than the 2CT's.

They wont wear as well as the Z6's as these are classed as sporty as opposed to Sport Touring.
...
If you do lots of straightline riding / commuting with the occasional fun ride at weekends / evenings, then I'd say that the Z6 is going to suit your needs and pocket better as the 2CT's are more expensive than the Z6.

HTH

Which I agree with fizz completely on, I stuck with Z6's.

Well I got the tyres fitted last week and managed to get out for a major jolly on Saturday.

Went from Plymouth to Bude via some random towns and villages and also some amazin scenery to bed them in. I must say, right from the word go they inspired with confidence. Half way into this leg of the trip I decided to see what they could do and they were nothing but outstanding.

They were very composed and just gripped and gripped and told me exactly what they were doing the whole way, even a line of traffic behind a tracktor, an oncomming car not looking at me but swerving to avoid an already dead animal and hard breaking to get in behind said tracktor whilst avoiding said car (one of those life flashing before my eyes moments) did not phase them at all.

On the way back I had finally got confidence in my ability and more importantly in my bike after nearly 2 months of riding and began to have a lot more fun!!!!

Thanks guys for all your input and advice, I'm glad I listened to you all, roll on the summer!!!

Regards