Bt020 Vs Z6

Hey all, I am looking for new tires, first set i've had to buy so i'm not sure what to look for. I called my dealer and they recommend the BT020 which they say work well with the SV. (2001SV650S)... I've heard good things about the RoadTec Z6, so I thought about those. I talked to the guy who will actually be installing them and he said the Avon's are popular.

Z6 will cost me about 308$
Avon AV55/56 Storm ST cost about 280$
BT020 will cost about 268$

So BT020's will cost me 40 bucks less. My SV is 7 years old (this year) and i've maybe put 18k on it, averaging around 2.5k a year. I generally just use it for commute with the occasional group ride. I'm not an aggressive rider.. I may get braver if I ever take the racing course.

Any thoughts?

[rictus01]

Stroms
Z6
Diablo Strada's
BT020 (Older technology)

Cheers Mark.

[fizzwheel]

Cant speak for the storms as I havent tried them, but I'd agree with Rictus. 020's are old technology and having used 020's and Z6's I found the Z6's we're for me a better tyre.

Because

they last a longer
they dont square off as fast
they get into them quicker
they give me better feedback and I can feel what the bike is doing alot more
they give superior wet / cold winters day performance than the 020

If your going down the Bridgestone route have a look at the 021 which has replaced the 020.

The diablo strada is basically the same tyre as the Z6.

i used z6's on mine a few years back but never liked them apart from in the wet. Bt's always felt "better" to me but I guess it's a taste thing. Z6's always felt vague in the dry...

[Luckypants]

I have changed from BT020 onto Avon Storms. Am loving the storms, more confidence in the tyres especially in the wet. I had Avon Azarros previously (AV46/46) and they were great on the SV. I like Avons.

What about the Michelin Pilot Sports or PR2's?
both seem to get good reviews on here, and the normal pilot sports are still on offer on Busters website

ive used 020s for 7 years and love them. I ride like the old woman I am and get 9500 miles out of a set. going to move onto something new next time as they have replaced 020s with some other number and people dont rate them but I dont know what i will go for.

Z6 is worth th extra, got an 020 fitted in the middle of nowhere and it didn't make a big impression, not bad but not good...

is it different tyres for different bikes?

[northwind]

The 020's still pretty good, which is amazing considering the age, but they're not as good as the newer stuff... I was swapping Roadtec and 020 on the rear quite often for a while and the 020 overheated faster, lost traction easier, and never really inspired the same confidence. I did an intermediate trackday on a roadtec rear back when I was semi-quick, I wouldn't consider that on an 020. They're also generally silly expensive, because people still like them and will pay over the odds for 'em.