favorite tires

Bored today. What's everybody's favorite tires?

I have MEZ4s on the Bandit 400, and an MEZ2 rear with MEZ4 front on my Concours.

I like a BT010 front combined with a BT020 rear on my 9R. I don't think I ride agressively enough to buy anything stickier. It had D207s when I got it but they only went 2500 or so miles front and rear. I tried BT010s front and rear next. They felt more composed than the 207s and wore better. The rear 010 lasted 4500 miles and the front went 7000 miles. I now have a BT020 on the rear and looks like it may go 7000 miles. Seems to stick just fine on the street. The price of Bridgestones is hard to beat too. I pay about $220 a set.

My bike is lighter/less powerful but I love the BT010s. I have them front/back and they've got 3000 miles + 1 track day and they barely look worn at all. I'm hoping they go at least 7000. I got 8000 out of my OEM Mez4s, and they could have gone further tread wise but they were cupped in the front and flat-spotted in the back.

I'm sure Randy will weigh in with a review of 25 different models of tires that he's had on his SV!

Ben

Ben,

How long did the stock tires last on the SV? I am thnking about doing a change for this summer, but not unless I really need to.. What do you suggest for normal riding... no track?

J

Dunlop 207's work for me too....

My contract says I have to like Michelins.. which is good because I do.

The michelin Pilot Streets Sports are great but the Pilot Race H2, M2, and S2 are the tires to choose when on the track. But dont' over look the entire michelin line for all of your riding needs.

Michelin.. Because so much is racing on your tires.

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My contract says I have to like Michelins.. which is good because I do.

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I'd like to try them (pilot street sports) but they are so expensive and I go through too many tires as it is. For me, I cannot imagine the difference in traction would be worth the price unless they actually lasted longer. Do they last long?

The Bridgestones I buy cost a little more than Dunlop D207s but last me a whole lot longer so in the end they are substantially cheaper per mile.

Dunlops baby!!! 208's

I like michelin slicks also.

Street tires? BT56SS or Dunlop D207GP's

Degsy

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Originally posted by suppoz
Ben,

How long did the stock tires last on the SV? I am thnking about doing a change for this summer, but not unless I really need to.. What do you suggest for normal riding... no track?

J

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The Mez4s were the stock tires. They lasted 8000 miles.

I like the BT010s just fine on the street. They seem better than stock in every situation. (Except for durability, I don't know how long they will last yet)

Another one that seems really popular on the SV650 mailing list is BT010 front and 020 back.

I also have a 120/65 tire on the front instead of 120/60. The guy who changed my tires convinced me to try it and I do like it but I didn't get to ride them back-to-back so I really don't know. It's supposedly more stable.

Ben

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Originally posted by benSV
The Mez4s were the stock tires. They lasted 8000 miles.

I like the BT010s just fine on the street. They seem better than stock in every situation. (Except for durability, I don't know how long they will last yet)

Another one that seems really popular on the SV650 mailing list is BT010 front and 020 back.

I also have a 120/65 tire on the front instead of 120/60. The guy who changed my tires convinced me to try it and I do like it but I didn't get to ride them back-to-back so I really don't know. It's supposedly more stable.

Ben

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The 65 is taller than the 60, so it will slow your handling, and turn-in a bit. If you like that, stay with it. Most everyone else keeps lowering their front ends to get them to turn in even faster.

207zr's are worth every penny. Good wear and grip and the prices are very right now. My next set will be the 208zr's (next generation for the 207).

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Originally posted by TLRMan
The 65 is taller than the 60, so it will slow your handling, and turn-in a bit. If you like that, stay with it. Most everyone else keeps lowering their front ends to get them to turn in even faster.

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Is it physically impossible to turn in as fast without lowering the front (decreasing rake/trail?). Or is it just the amount of effort?

Thanks,
Ben

D 207's came on the gixxer stock.
Got 4500 miles out of the rear tire and then i switched to the Bridgestone Batalax BTO 10. (love it)

Shouldnt complain on the D 207 front tire. Got 10,000 miles plus out of it!
But it is cupping like a beotch...and has been since the BTO 10.
Putting a BTO 10 on the front first day of spring. (cant wait)

needless to say...BTO 10's for me.

Dunlop 207's. Hopefully this season I be going to the 208'zrs

Avon Azaro for street (summer use)
Pirelli MTR60 supermotard (winter use)

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Originally posted by benSV
Is it physically impossible to turn in as fast without lowering the front (decreasing rake/trail?). Or is it just the amount of effort?

Thanks,
Ben

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More effort by countersteering to keep bike turned in.
It all has to do with Rake and trail...More rake more stable, but the force is exerted at a shallower angle, can cause the front to push. Less angle applies more force closer to the vertical centerline, and allows you to corner at higher speeds.

i dont have a ton of new tire experiance but i am fond of my 207s and 208s i have tried the battleax and did not like them they were too slippery for my taste but i have not tried the new versions

Hey Suppoz.. Just wanted to pipe in here and say that I have 9985 miles on my 02 SV's stock mez4s and they're still good for another few k... at least at the rate they're wearing..

-Feirax

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Originally posted by Feirax
Hey Suppoz.. Just wanted to pipe in here and say that I have 9985 miles on my 02 SV's stock mez4s and they're still good for another few k... at least at the rate they're wearing..

-Feirax

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i got almost 10,000 mi. from my mez4's, then i replaced em w/ M-1 sportec's............WHAT A DIFFERENCE!, the z4's are like fork lift tire's compared to the M-1's..........."FOOT"...............but w/only about 6,000 mi. the M-1's are ready to be replaced!

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Originally posted by Feirax
Hey Suppoz.. Just wanted to pipe in here and say that I have 9985 miles on my 02 SV's stock mez4s and they're still good for another few k... at least at the rate they're wearing..

-Feirax

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I have no doubt I could have gotten 10k out of mine too. But even though you haven't worn them to the wear bars yet, they are probably mis-shapen and you will have a huge shit-eating grin if you replace them. Mostly cause you will be able to hold a line again without constantly adjusting.

Ben

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I have no doubt I could have gotten 10k out of mine too. But even though you haven't worn them to the wear bars yet, they are probably mis-shapen and you will have a huge shit-eating grin if you replace them. Mostly cause you will be able to hold a line again without constantly adjusting.

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Thanks for the other feedback as well...

I'll probably do a change mid season just for the hell of it..... I'll keep the originals anyway, but living pretty much right off of RT 2, I want the best for the twisties...

Cheers,

J

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Originally posted by suppoz
Thanks for the other feedback as well...

I'll probably do a change mid season just for the hell of it..... I'll keep the originals anyway, but living pretty much right off of RT 2, I want the best for the twisties...

Cheers,

J

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Oh man........ you live in biker's paradise!,......Rt.2 is one of my favorite road's, the new pavement is sweet( espically during low traffic period's) i know EVERY twist & turn on the MOWHAWK.........& i've got the worn out tire's to prove it!!.... im likin 112, 143 & 66 also.........

Dunlop 207's have always been my tire of choice. I should get a lot of experience this year trying out different brands on the track though, unless we sign a deal with someone....

On a side note: You WILL NOT get the same mileage outta replacement tires as you did with the tires that came on the bike. In most cases, the tires that came with the bike are available only to manufacturers. For the most part, they ARE what they say they are. But they get a 'special' tire - if you will - that's only available to them. You'll find that you'll almost always get a lot more miles outta the OE tires than you will with replacement rubber, even though they appear to be the same...

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Originally posted by Stoneman
You WILL NOT get the same mileage outta replacement tires as you did with the tires that came on the bike. You'll find that you'll almost always get a lot more miles outta the OE tires than you will with replacement rubber, even though they appear to be the same...

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Well,
if this is true... i only got 4,500 miles out of my D 207 rear tire.
If your saying that replacement tires ARENT as good, then D 207's suck.
...and blow for that matter!
(at least on my bike)

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Originally posted by gonzo6
Well,
if this is true... i only got 4,500 miles out of my D 207 rear tire.
If your saying that replacement tires ARENT as good, then D 207's suck.
...and blow for that matter!
(at least on my bike)

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Well,
If you didn't do so many burnouts.......:D

I got about 7k outta my 207's...

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Originally posted by TLRMan
Well,
If you didn't do so many burnouts.......:D

I got about 7k outta my 207's...

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Belive it or not Mark, Burnouts (on a bike) isnt in my vocabulary!

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Originally posted by gonzo6
Belive it or not Mark, Burnouts (on a bike) isnt in my vocabulary!

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Then you are making WAYYYY to much horsepower! :D :D

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Originally posted by TLRMan
Then you are making WAYYYY to much horsepower! :D :D

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thats funny... i wanted to talk to you about that too. I posted something under fuel injection curves a while ago... sup???

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Originally posted by gonzo6
thats funny... i wanted to talk to you about that too. I posted something under fuel injection curves a while ago... sup???

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Gotta wait till Mother nature stops throwing this white stuff at us, and turn up the thermostat...

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Originally posted by TLRMan
Gotta wait till Mother nature stops throwing this white stuff at us, and turn up the thermostat...

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sounds good man!
...Also, about my D 207 comment... even my cuz noticed that my riding style had changed since i got more use to the bike. I guess i wasnt ridding into and out of the corners as hard as i was in the beginning, so the sidewalls werent being used at all. They probably arent that all bad of a tire, I just noticed a lot better wear with the BTO 10's.
But as far as your horse power comment from the last few posts go...she's got a little more power then stock, and i do tend to crank on all the straights i can find! After all, what is a bike for right???
gonzo

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Originally posted by gonzo6
sounds good man!
...Also, about my D 207 comment... even my cuz noticed that my riding style had changed since i got more use to the bike. I guess i wasnt ridding into and out of the corners as hard as i was in the beginning, so the sidewalls werent being used at all. They probably arent that all bad of a tire, I just noticed a lot better wear with the BTO 10's.
But as far as your horse power comment from the last few posts go...she's got a little more power then stock, and i do tend to crank on all the straights i can find! After all, what is a bike for right???
gonzo

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I'm a chicken, I don't do stuff like that....

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Originally posted by TLRMan
I'm a chicken, I don't do stuff like that....

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...you set em up...but you DONT run em??? come on guy!

i cant picture you flying through a corner at 90mph with a chicken suit on... dont be so hard on yourself!
...then again, leave the suit at home and just ride hard!
:D :bs:

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Originally posted by gonzo6
...you set em up...but you DONT run em??? come on guy!

i cant picture you flying through a corner at 90mph with a chicken suit on... dont be so hard on yourself!
...then again, leave the suit at home and just ride hard!
:D :bs:

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LOL! if you only knew the real truth...But I ain't telling...

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Originally posted by TLRMan
LOL! if you only knew the real truth...But I ain't telling...

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Hey, are you thinkin about going to degsy's datona party?
if so... maybe you can tell me all about it then!:beer:

I am a huge fan of the Sportec M1's for the street. I used them on my Mille. I did a couple of track days and a bunch of street miles. No complaints.

G-man

Check out www.motorcycletireplanet.com

They have 208zr's for $76 front and $98 rear with $21 shipping. Total is $196 to your door for 120/180. Damn good prices.

Other manufacturers can go shit in their hats......... I'd never buy another tire at those prices.

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Other manufacturers can go shit in their hats......... I'd never buy another tire at those prices.

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Hypothetically, what if other tires offered the same or better grip and feedback in all conditions, cost $30 more per set but lasted 50% longer?

That's the situation I was in when choosing between D207s and BT010s. I thought the BT010s actually felt and gripped better, especially in bumpy corners where the D207s felt rather skittish. The BT010s cost less per mile.

That said, I have no experience with D208ZRs so I cannot say how they feel. I may give them a try.

Imagine a world with no hypothetical situations...

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Originally posted by stoinkythepig
Hypothetically, what if other tires offered the same or better grip and feedback in all conditions, cost $30 more per set but lasted 50% longer?

That's the situation I was in when choosing between D207s and BT010s. I thought the BT010s actually felt and gripped better, especially in bumpy corners where the D207s felt rather skittish. The BT010s cost less per mile.

That said, I have no experience with D208ZRs so I cannot say how they feel. I may give them a try.

Imagine a world with no hypothetical situations...

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so the D 207's dont just cost more...they SUCK too! :)

I'll say this about Sportecs.

I ran one new set at a track day with decent results - great grip, decent wear, didn't let go as abruptly as the Pilot Sports I had run before. The next set I had spooned on showed this funky wear on the rear after only a short while into their first ride. I tried to get it replaced under warranty but the Metz rep wasn't having it - said it was not uncommon and was only cosmetic. Well, it didn't FEEL cosmetic - the edge of the tire was like foam rubber, and the bike handled like shit when heeled over. That was my last set of Metzelers.