Sports tyres v Sports Touring-Ride guide (August)

Hello peeps.

Did anyone read the August guide to tyres in Ride magazine? It basically says that for road use and occasional track day use that sports touring tyres are perfect. It also has a test with a fast rider and a normal rider for several laps of a 4km test track with sports tyres on, and NEITHER set of tyres get up to the optimum temperature for sports tyres to work properly (they say 60 degrees). It says that with hard track use sports touring tyres will just get to the temperature limit and that would be just right as that's when they'd be at their stickiest.

I'd like comments on this as I need a first new tyre on my first bike ('03 SV650S) and am perplexed because most people seem to favour sports tyres like the BT014 over sports touring like BT020. I do the occasional track day and will ride in the wet. Even the bloke at my local tyre shop, which incidentally isn't rated highly on here, said to go for the sports.

Cheers, one man without loads of money to burn on the latest, prettiest rubber.

[rictus01]

If you're coming from OEM(or anything else for that matter) fit a set of Metz Z6's, good mileage and great handling.

Cheers Mark.

Yep, I read that, I also read Bike November issue which had track, sporty road and touring tyres tested, and touring tyres which on average rated well.

It all depends on your preference, use, & mileage you do per year. Sports touring tyres do last longer than sports but I've heard they might get too hot on a track day. The road attacks look like they've been melted was one comment made on here after a track day.

I've only used the OE Dunlops D220's Sport touring which aren't grippy in the cold. Have got a set of Conti Road Attacks sports touring tyres waiting to be put on in 2 weeks.

[mattSV]

Quote:
Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey
Hello peeps.

Did anyone read the August guide to tyres in Ride magazine? It basically says that for road use and occasional track day use that sports touring tyres are perfect. It also has a test with a fast rider and a normal rider for several laps of a 4km test track with sports tyres on, and NEITHER set of tyres get up to the optimum temperature for sports tyres to work properly (they say 60 degrees). It says that with hard track use sports touring tyres will just get to the temperature limit and that would be just right as that's when they'd be at their stickiest.

I'd like comments on this as I need a first new tyre on my first bike ('03 SV650S) and am perplexed because most people seem to favour sports tyres like the BT014 over sports touring like BT020. I do the occasional track day and will ride in the wet. Even the bloke at my local tyre shop, which incidentally isn't rated highly on here, said to go for the sports.

Cheers, one man without loads of money to burn on the latest, prettiest rubber.



The 020 was a great tyre in its day, however tyre technology has moved on since then.

I think you will find that most people on here go for sports touring tyres such as the Metzeler Z6 - I have found these more than good enough for my SV1000, which tends to get ridden 'enthusiastically'

The reccomendations I got from here last year led me Conti Road Attacks. Been riding over the winder and with the exception of when I dumped 4 litres of oil over them at a set of lights, they've been great.

Much better wear rate than the VT010 they replaced, and feel better on the road.

Plus, being shallow, the tread looks kewl...

Originally Posted by MavUK

Plus, being shallow, the (Conti Road Attacks) tread looks kewl...

lol, that's why I've got a pair waiting for me, plus the fact they were a bit cheaper than Metzler Z6's or Pirelli Diablo Strada's which were also on my shortlist of .org recommendations.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by teriyakimonkey

Even the bloke at my local tyre shop, which incidentally isn't rated highly on here, said to go for the sports.

Thats because he's trying to sell you tyres. Sports tyres cost more and dont last as long.

I'd agree with Rictus, get yourself a set of Metzler Z6's, I personally wouldnt bother with the Bridgestone 014, I never found them confidence inspiring, especially when it was cold and wet also you'll be lucky if you get more than 1800 to 2000 miles out of a rear.

020's are pretty good, but I find that the Metzler Z6 are a much better tyre.

I got two trips aboard, Spain then Switzerland out of BT 020's and never had a problem with them. They were great on the long boring straights of motorway then awesome grip for the twisties. You couldn't go wrong with them.

[northwind]

I've found my rear 020 gets a wee bit unhappy when pushed hard for any length of time, just a bit squirrelly and spins up occasionally in corners when normally it doesn't... But that's a tiny issue, wouldn't ever put me off. Usually it wears Roadtecs, which i've never found have that problem, and I've done trackdays on them too.

Still, fixating on whether it's at full temp or not doesn't make all that much sense, since a supersport tyre probably makes more grip when it's well below optimum than an ST tyre does at optimum.

Originally Posted by mattSV

Quote:
The 020 was a great tyre in its day, however tyre technology has moved on since then.

I think you will find that most people on here go for sports touring tyres such as the Metzeler Z6 - I have found these more than good enough for my SV1000, which tends to get ridden 'enthusiastically'

MattSV have you done trackdays on yours?