Is it a crime to pick a tire.....

[OreoGaborio]

based just on looks? (kidding)

But the tread pattern on the Metzeler Sportec M-1 & the Michelin Pilot SPORT just look so damn sexy just look at that michelin.... throw a bra on that & toss it in a Victoria's Secret ad

obviously the other main choices that i've heard things about are the Diablo Corsa & the Dunlop 208 (any other recommendations?)

Now i'm sure there's already tire threads, but i couldn't help myself.... all i'm doing is a little research on a good fun street tire that is inexpensive, wears decent, grips well & if possible, looks.... well... sexy currently i'm on the OEM Dunlop 207's & to a new rider, they seem pretty darn good, but what do i know, this is my first bike

any contrast/compare reviews as far as grip, wear & price goes?

[OreoGaborio]

a little outdated, but just found this link - http://www.zx6r.com/faq/bestire.html

[TheIglu]

Pilot Sports all the way.

[stoinkythepig]

Word is the engineers design the tire shape, flex, grip etc. and marketing people come up with the tread pattern. It's not a crime, they are supposed to impress you with tread patterns. That said, I prefer front tires with a blockier pattern since they seem to feather less than D205/D207-BT010 kind of patterns.

If this is your first bike, odds are good you are not approaching the grip limits of sport tires and may want to consider sport touring tires instead. They'll last a whole lot longer and sometimes are cheaper to buy. I bought a set of Pilot Roads for my bike. I think they were $210 or so delivered. I hope to get >5000 miles out of them. I seem to be hard on tires. These'll be the third set so far this season though the first were left over from lots of riding last year.

[RedRider]

I've been riding Pilots for the last 3 years, great tire, far superior to Dunlops, I.M.O.

I heard some good things about the M-1 Metzeler, decided to give them a try based on good looks and cheap price. I have to say, I'm very impressed and would rate it AT LEAST EQUAL to Pilots.

Weird, huh?! I recommend giving them a try!!

[benVFR]

I have BT-020s on my bike right now, they are really impressive for "sport-touring" tires. Much better than the MEZ4s that I've run in the past. They would probably work really nicely on a ZX-6 that wasn't being flogged by an expert rider, and last a long time.

Aren't Pilot Sports getting a little long in the tooth now?

Stoinky, do you think you could drag your pegs/knee with the Pilot Roads? I think the BT-020s may have enough grip for that on the VFR, which is kind of suprising. The MEZ4s I had on my last one did not have enough grip to get to the edge of the tire. The bike would slide long before you could drag the (super long) feelers. I've heard good things about the Pilot Roads as well.

Sounds like the new BT-014s are supposed to be really nice too.

I had good luck with the Metzeler M1s as well although I've heard other people complain that they wear out too fast.

Ben

[MissTwisties]

My husband just got a Michelin Pilot Sport for his ZX-9...he seems to be happy with it.

[hohum]

I will attest that you can drag pegs with the BT-014's

Since they are so new though they are still pricey, and I am in no position to judge whether for the price dollar for dollar they are any better than say the pilots or the M1's...

Who knows about longevity though since i only have 1500 miles on em, but they look pretty good so far in terms of wear, no signs of the cupping that pisses me off so much about BT-10s

Cheers,
Chris

[stoinkythepig]

Ben,

Not sure on the Pilot Roads yet, only have the front on while I'm waiting for the rear BT014 to wear out. The BT014 rear has impressive stick. Never did get the rear to light up exiting a corner and it looks like it may outlast the BT020 it replaced. The BT020 had good lateral stick under a light throttle but would spin under power while leaned over pretty easily. Ended up hitting the wear bars on the left side of the tire before the rest was worn out and only got 3644 miles out of it. The BT014 has 3400 miles on it with some life still left. It's mostly worn down the center though.

The Pilot Road front tire is plenty grippy so far. I've only had it on there 2 days (170 miles) so it's hard to say what it's limits are. I have a 1/2" "chicken strip" of the right side and 3/8" "chicken strip" on the left. Doubt they'll get much smaller. The rear BT014 has no chicken strips, a first for me.

Never touched a peg down on my 9R, nor have I ever put my knee on the ground. I ride like an old lady.

[VinceF2]

As far as price goes Discount Motorcycle Tire seems to be pretty close on all the Supersport Tires:

(120/60/17 Front and 180/55/17 Rear)

Pirelli Diablo: $97 front / $126 rear

Metzeler M-1: $87 front / $114 rear

Michelin Pilot Sports: $102 front / $134 rear

Dunlop 208ZR: $85 front / $113 rear

Bridgestone BT014: $89 front / $122 rear

I'm still running on the MEZ4s that came OEM... only 4,800 miles on them... but have had them slide out on me a couple of times... I think I may go to more of a sport tire soon...

[VinceF2]

Ben did you ever notice the front MEZ4 feeling very heavy? I seem to get this a lot... heavy in the corners etc...

[benVFR]

Yah in general I thought the MEZ4s weren't that good.

I know someone who loves them on his ST1100, which is way heavier than the VFR, so who knows what is up with them. I think they had a rounder profile to make the bike more stable.

I got plenty of mileage out of the MEZ4s, but no question the BT-020s are way better. The MEZ4s didn't feel that great in the rain, and there were two places in my neighborhood I'd slide every day on the way too/from work.

I had Dunlop D208s on my VFR last year too, they were awesome at the track but they seemed to give up a little stability when slabbing in tour mode. The MEZ4s were rock solid stability wise when at moderate lean angles, with the D208s I could get a little bit of headshake if I had the hard bags on the bike.

If the BT-014s work on the ZX-9 I'm sure they're way sticky on the VFR what with less power, etc..

Ben

[VinceF2]

In NY last weekend I was in a nothing corner feeling like I was doing a nothing speed at hardly any angle... and the rear slid out a bit... I actually went back to look at the corner to see if there was something in it... couldn't find anything...

That has made me a little nervous to crank on it right now... hmmm

[OreoGaborio]

Originally posted by stoinkythepig
Word is the engineers design the tire shape, flex, grip etc. and marketing people come up with the tread pattern.

If this is your first bike, odds are good you are not approaching the grip limits of sport tires and may want to consider sport touring tires instead. They'll last a whole lot longer and sometimes are cheaper to buy. I bought a set of Pilot Roads for my bike. I think they were $210 or so delivered. I hope to get >5000 miles out of them. I seem to be hard on tires. These'll be the third set so far this season though the first were left over from lots of riding last year.

THIRD SET THIS SEASON? holy crap

well i guess what cha said very true.... i do happen to do alot of highway riding, though i've been out in the twisties many times & my chicken strips are actually a little smaller than the original owner's ~3/4" - 1" on both sides of the rear, same on the front. But if a sport touring tire is gonna be less expensive & hold up 100% to my riding, then so be it. but god damn, that pilot sport tread

OK, so if you'd suggest more of a sport touring tire, what are the best bang for the buck tires out in that area? Pilot Roads? any others?

If it makes a difference i don't ride in the rain, so wet traction isn't a big concern (not cuz of the bike getting wet, but cuz I don't have the proper rain gear)

the other concern is mounting them if i don't buy em local. I was at Kirkers the other day & was behind some guy in line talkin to the sales rep about mounting.... holy shit dude they wanted an ASSLOAD, i couldn't believe it. I think they said close to $200 to mount, wheels on the bike

[Paul_E_D]

I'm here to tell ya that you CAN drag anything you like on ANY tire sold for a 17 inch rim these days!

If you have been sliding before reaching max lean, then something is wrong. I'm not even sure what kind of mistake would cause this to happen. Probably just too many steering inputs at the bars. Or braking too late. Or the tires are totally SMOKED, but even then they shouldn't slide till you get on the gas.

Some tires will definitely be more or less stable with your bike's geometry. Some will last longer, but ALL will stick if you ride smoothly...

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by Paul_E_D
I'm here to tell ya that you CAN drag anything you like on ANY tire sold for a 17 inch rim these days!

If you have been sliding before reaching max lean, then something is wrong. I'm not even sure what kind of mistake would cause this to happen. Probably just too many steering inputs at the bars. Or braking too late. Or the tires are totally SMOKED, but even then they shouldn't slide till you get on the gas.

Some tires will definitely be more or less stable with your bike's geometry. Some will last longer, but ALL will stick if you ride smoothly...

I tend to agree (based on feel, not actual experience...) to a point. I've been on plenty of slick dry pavement that will make tires slide pretty easily. I find that well worn, "shiny" looking (like you get on city streets) pavement is pretty darn awful when dry and especially treacherous in the rain.

[stoinkythepig]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
THIRD SET THIS SEASON? holy crap


OK, so if you'd suggest more of a sport touring tire, what are the best bang for the buck tires out in that area? Pilot Roads? any others?

If it makes a difference i don't ride in the rain, so wet traction isn't a big concern (not cuz of the bike getting wet, but cuz I don't have the proper rain gear)

the other concern is mounting them if i don't buy em local. I was at Kirkers the other day & was behind some guy in line talkin to the sales rep about mounting.... holy shit dude they wanted an ASSLOAD, i couldn't believe it. I think they said close to $200 to mount, wheels on the bike

Third set on the bike. The first set were on there from last year and did not start the season as new tires. The next set was fully worn out this year and the third set is just starting out.I have not worn out three sets...yet. I did last year, and the year before though.

I bought the Pilot Roads based on a magazine recommendation and the fact that they were cheaper that the Avon ST tires, I was also thinking about trying out. BT020s are probably the price leader in this genre.

I mount them myself and it's very easy to do. You could take them to Jim Pidgeon in Manchester NH for cheap mounting. He's mentioned here: http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...&threadid=9813

[Paul_E_D]

There are slippery surfaces out there, but I meant on regular pavement...

[benVFR]

Sorry Paul..

I didn't mean I could slide them at will any time I wanted. There were a few places I slid them, which were places I rode regularly. In the same conditions, I have not had sliding problems with the other types of tire on those same roads.

I'm not really out there trying to drag my pegs or riding terribly fast either.

Ben

[hohum]

Originally posted by Paul_E_D
I'm here to tell ya that you CAN drag anything you like on ANY tire sold for a 17 inch rim these days!

If you have been sliding before reaching max lean, then something is wrong. I'm not even sure what kind of mistake would cause this to happen. Probably just too many steering inputs at the bars. Or braking too late. Or the tires are totally SMOKED, but even then they shouldn't slide till you get on the gas.

Some tires will definitely be more or less stable with your bike's geometry. Some will last longer, but ALL will stick if you ride smoothly...

Dunno, I have had certain tires that on certain surfaces would start to slide or slip before other types of tires on that same surface. If you hold the road surface as a constant, and totally perfect, then yes I agree...

But in reality, theres all kinds of road surfaces I encounter and some tires are better at handling those road surfaces at more extreme lean angles than others...

[Paul_E_D]

This debate will go forever, as the reasons for the slide are never clear. Conditions may be the same, but rider inputs never are...

Ben, I wasn't meaning to put down your riding or skill. I just react a bit when I hear the tires slide arguments because my experience doesn't back it up.

I can say in my experience that I have never had a tire that I felt slid too easily/early. Even among sport touring tires.

They all feel different. Pirellis generally slide more than the others when really pushed hard, but they have such soft carcasses that they don't let go very quickly. But that's the only "traction" difference I've ever noted among the major brands.

I guess feel and confidence are the important thing, so run what you like.

[RandyO]

I have never had a sport touring tire slide unless like Paul sez, unsmooth steering inputs or abrupt throttle/brakes, or of course I hit gravel/ice or some such thing.

the Pirelli MTR60's I run in winter will get greasy when hot and slide a bit

[Karaya One]

The Pilot Road is strictly a Sport Touring tire. Michelin does NOT even reccomend it for track days.

It's tread pattern is designed to help promote even wear and excellent water dispersal. It's carcass helps promote a more even heat up, and also is soft enough to provide a very nice ride. It's most common fitment for us is BMW.

It will give you excellent wear, and very neutral handling. It's wet weather handling is excellent, though a Pilot Sport Cup may be a better front tire choice if wet weather traction is your strongest desire without regards to wear life.

The Pilot Sport is the best dry weather sportbike tire Michelin has ever produced. Until the Pilot Power comes out in July.

[hohum]

Originally posted by RandyO
I have never had a sport touring tire slide unless like Paul sez, unsmooth steering inputs or abrupt throttle/brakes, or of course I hit gravel/ice or some such thing.

the Pirelli MTR60's I run in winter will get greasy when hot and slide a bit

But here's the thing, surely I am not racer smooth with my inputs and controls through all turns, but it seems to me (anecdotal evidence of course) that some tires have slightly higher thresholds for less than perfectly smooth riding... maybe this is just the random chance that when I am less than smooth with certain tires road conditions are better or any one of a number of other variables influenced my experience... I could be wrong of course, people like randy have far more miles than I do under my belt are better equipped to judge.

Cheers,
Chris

[VTSV]

Originally posted by stoinkythepig

I ride like an old lady.

Liar!!

You only rode like a young lady the day me, pearldog & elaineo joined you out of MM last month.

Its no wonder you're only on your third set of skins this season.