New Avon Storm Ultra's

[Luckypants]

Been out and measured, the rear Ultra is down to about 3.5mm all the way across. This is an improvement in profile wear for me, as the older Storms STs did tend to wear faster in the centre. (Living in Wales, it's not a case of me finding more twisties) So it appears that the harder compound in the centre strip is doing it's job.

So I suspect I'll sneak 5K miles out of this tyre, as ,long as I don't have another mad two months. This is would be an improvement in mileage for me and given the life it's had so far, pretty good. (FYI this tyre has done a brisk Abersoch rideout, the rapid North Wales Rideout #6, the very rapid Plan o'Man Isle of Man rideout, the rapid Frogplod rideout and normal riding about N. Wales).

Measured front tyre (non-Ultra Storm ST) while I was at it, Wednesday night has finished it off. Is bald on right shoulder, 0.5mm on left shoulder, 1.6mm in centre. Trip to F&B on the cards.

[mattSV]

Hmmmm - looks like I might not get GM3, AR10 and France out of one set after all then - on the basis that I will need to do a few motorway miles to get to Scotland (unless I want to take all bloody day just getting there) and all three trips will be two up with luggage, I might need a new rear at least for France.

My tyre dealer has said that if there is less than 2000 miles of tread left on the year before I go to France he will stick a new on on and keep the old as a 'spare' for me that I can swap back to once I have worn the new one out

[Luckypants]

I am now the proud owner of a new Storm Ultra front, to match the rear. It was interesting to note that the bike tipped into corners with rather more gusto that on previous Storm ST. Now this could be down to the old tyre being rather shagged and the new one has restored profile or maybe Avon changed the profile slightly on the Ultra?

Anyway, I'm keeping a close eye on wear now, to see if Avon's 12% extra mileage claim is born out.

[_Stretchie_]

Taking my wheels off tonight to have a set of Storm 2 Ultras fitted.

Will take a measurement and the mileage tomorrow and keep tabs on them, they won't get as worn on the edges as your though Mike

; )

[_Stretchie_]

There was a slight mix up and different shops involved but my wheels are at a shop and that's all I need really.

I spoke to the fella at the tyre place and he wondered about me putting these on the Fireblade instead of 'sports tyres'. Said that he see's no problem putting these on as long as I understand I would feel a difference in tipping the bike in and stopping distances would be a bit longer and and that I wouldn't be able to corner with as much 'enthusiasm' with these Ultras on.

Not bothered myself as I'm not a particularly fast rider and and throttle off before getting to corners so I don't have to slam the anchors on to then throw it around the corner and I just can't bring myself to accellerate while in the corner, so the draw backs he mentioned won't seem to affect me (unless I need to stop quickly e.g. BMW driver on the phone, doing his make up and eating a sandwich)

Just thought this may be of interest to some of you. I mentioned that they get a lot of thumbs up to be put on the Blackbird, fair play that is a 'sports tourer' and the Blade is a 'sports' bike, but the Blackbird is still a quick bike, with lots of power and a lot more wieght than the Blade.

Anyway, like I said, I just wanted to throw this in to the pot for you

[Luckypants]

I saw a tricked up aprilla RSV with new storms on it the other day. Put what you want on it, sod what the tyre fitter says - he's probably thinking you wont be visiting as often with sports/touring rubber instead of some super sticky things.

[_Stretchie_]

Oh I have Mike, they are going on. I want it all, a sports bike with plenty of miles between tyre changes...


I could be female
; )

Looking forward to seeing how they do. Like I said, the tyres get over to the edge but I'm hardly a balls to the wall rider so I can't see there being a problem

Tyres are always a compromise and not all rated for high performance riding so the choice can be important

[mattSV]

Well, I din't expect that - my first storm ultra 2 rear has lasted a total of about 120 miles!!!

I checked the tyre this morning, and there were 3 patches on the right hand side where the tyre had 'scarred' - each patch was about the size of a 50p, and looked as though the top layer of rubber had lifted leaving a 'pothole' in the tyre, about an inch from the edge. The holes were between 1 and 3mm deap.

Never seen it happen with a tyre before, neither had my tyre fitter. He has put a new one on for me FOC and sent the old one off to be examined.

I'll let you know the outcome when the report comes back, but in the meantime I will be keeping a close eye on the new one in case the same thing happens

[punyXpress]

LP had similar happen last year at GM with ' original ' Storms. I think he'd been ragging it a little!