New Tires

[jimaug87]

I had really...really worn out tires on my '94 ZX-11 for a little while now, and my bike was handling like shit. I got new rubbers put on yesterday, and oh my lord. My bike actually feels lighter in the turns.

I got Avon Super Sport tires put on, kept it at a 180 rear, instead of taking the option of going up to a 190.

My bike feels fantastic in the turns, and I can't wait to put a few more miles on them so I can really romp on it and see what they can do.

No real point to this thread. Just opinions on the Avons and to tell of my profound happyness with new tires.

[Zed]

OMG yes new tires make a bike feel like all-new again, particularly a fat pig like the ZX-11 (I can say that because I have your bike's fat pig younger brother - a ZZR1200. ).

I stick with a 180 on the rear of ZZR too, don't see any point in going to a 190. Athough the ZX-14 has a 190 from the factory...

[ChR1s]

That's why I always replaces tires as a set, for that freshness handling.

180 vs. 190:
Usually a 190 puts down a larger contact patch. Therefore, reduced concentration of heat = longer tread life. For more nimble handling, a 190/55 profile might be more optimum, if there's room?

[mycirus]

That's why I always replaces tires as a set, for that freshness handling.

180 vs. 190:
Usually a 190 puts down a larger contact patch. Therefore, reduced concentration of heat = longer tread life. For more nimble handling, a 190/55 profile might be more optimum, if there's room?

[jimaug87]

I always thought a smaller tire helped with conering. I have never ridden a 190 and I guess there's only one way to really find out. i might go 190 on the next set and compare the rides.

With these Avons the next set might have to wait quite a few thousands of miles.

[ejoy1220]

I always thought a smaller tire helped with conering. I have never ridden a 190 and I guess there's only one way to really find out. i might go 190 on the next set and compare the rides.

With these Avons the next set might have to wait quite a few thousands of miles.

A thinner 180 tire will usually make the bike want to lean in the turns easier as opposed to a 190.

[spicy]

i think the skinnier tires allow for better/quicker turn in, but the fatter tires, with the larger contact patch, provide more stability (either in a turn or while cruising upright) and slightly better grip, and thus improve corner speed...


could be completely wrong though, so someone correct me if that's the case

[ChR1s]

It's all about heat dissapation. If a tire's surface overheats it sacrifices rubber, therefore giving up traction. The wider tire and its larger contact patch is more able to cope with high horsepower bikes that are going to try to burn that rubber up. When a 180/55 vs. 190/50 tire is compared, usually the 180/55 tire has a taller, narrower profile, which can increase the bike's eagerness to get leaned over. If you run a 180 on the street instead of a 190, chances are the bike will spend a lot of time riding on the center of the tire. The 180's narrower profile may be nice enough while the bike is heeled over where the contact patch is larger, but that smaller contact patch while not in a turn will cause more rapid wear.

If you typically wear out a set of tires evenly (both front & rear are shagged at about the same time, and you often have more meat left at the center of the rear tire than at the shoulders), then you would probably be fine with the 180. If you usaully go through a rear tire long before a front is worn (and the center of the rear tire wears before the shoulders) then you'd probably just wear out the 180 more quickly than a 190.

[RandyO]

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No real point to this thread. Just opinions on the Avons and to tell of my profound happyness with new tires.

I've been running Avons on my SV for close to 100,000 miles. they are unique with their Varaible Belt Density design. it ltes the sides flex more than the center and heat up moregiving you the extra stickyness on thre edges and keeping the center cooler so you don't end up with a flat center after a ton of highway riding

IMHO they keep their profile better thru the life of the tire than any other design, every other tire I've tried feels, well, like their half worn out after a few thousand miles, Avons give you the same feel from the day you put them on till the wear bars are surfacing

I didn't however like the Distanzia, and they don't make Azaros or Storms in Strom sizes

[jimaug87]

These tires allow me to go faster, with more stability and control thru the turns then my old ones did. I'm very pleased

[ZX-12R]

A thinner 180 tire will usually make the bike want to lean in the turns easier as opposed to a 190.

I can agree with that but it's not always a good thing. I tried a 180 on my 12R (6" rim) and it would turn in very easily but it felt like the bike was falling into the corners instead of making smooth transitions. The 190 rolls smoothly into corners and gives me a lot more feedback as to how the tire is interacting with the road surface. The 200 that came with the bike was a POS.

If I can find them for a reasonable price, I'll be trying the 190/55 2CTs for my next set. The bigger problem is finding a vendor that actually has it in stock.

[jimaug87]

The tires are broken in now, thanks to ImKindaFkedUp, haha gettin' lost with Mike.

These things are great. I'm much more confident with these on.

[OreoGaborio]

the tires were broken in after just a few lefts & rights and a mile or two of riding down the road.