What brand tyres are you running now"

[saaz]

I
have used a number of sets of the Shinto verges as has Lionel. No problems with wet grip and great life

A Shonko (Shinko) on the rear of mine let go in a massive (High side dismount) way on me in the wet on a mild corner at only 80 km/h.  The PR3's take that same corner at 100+ in the wet and not a twitch.

[alans1100]

Currently running BT 23 in GT spec which I bought from the states.

The front has done 7800 kms and hardly any wear compared to the standard BT 23 front

The rear has done 6500 kms and looks about half worn and no apparent difference in wear compared to a standard BT 23 rear

So it looks like two rears to one front at the moment. And that's running the 1300 rear as the GT spec wasn't available in the 1100 size.

[gibbo57]

Hi Guys,
   Only had the bike for a few months and it had a mixture on it.   They were already squared off so a new set was in order.   The local bike shop that a mate of mine owns just put on a new set of Bridgestone Battlax T30R Super Touring on her.   But sadly due too a back injury I haven't had the chance to run them in let alone test them out.   Maybe in a month or two I might be able too.   Just to add a few reviews I have put below some links from different forums, ie Ducati and a youtube video on them which is not that great considering the guy is sponsored by Bridgestone.   Might give you some idea on these new tyres.
http://ducatiforum.co.uk/forum/thread/bridgestone-s20s-or-bridgestone-t30s.14090/

Valentino Rossi rides the Bridgestone Battlax T30 (LONG VERSION)

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/products/productsresults/tyres/2013/may-2013/may2813-bridgestones/

The Ron Haslam Bridgestone T30 Review - Donnington Park

Cheers
Gibbo
 

[johnnyYTED]

 
Last week I got a PR4 on the rear, I rode down to Woolongong and back to scuff it up and its sticking like   shite on a shovel,,  I'll see how hard wearing it is,,,

[Biggles]

Well if Rossi says the Battlaxes are that good, they must have improved from when I last rode them, admittedly about 6 years ago.  Obviously the pressure is on all the manufacturers to keep developing their tyres to be competitive.

[Dick B "Yewie"]

Went to fit a new set of RP3's prior to leaving on our 10,000k loop through Central Australia only to be told no PR3's available for the rear (2 week wait) and Michelin were switching to PR4's in future anyway. I have always been happy with the Michelins but ended up fitting a set of Pirelli Angel GT's after having read good reports about them. Will tell you how they go after we return from Ularu, Alice Springs et al.
Dick and Ros

[Mypod]

Hi Guys,
   Only had the bike for a few months and it had a mixture on it.   They were already squared off so a new set was in order.   The local bike shop that a mate of mine owns just put on a new set of Bridgestone Battlax T30R Super Touring on her.   But sadly due too a back injury I haven't had the chance to run them in let alone test them out.   Maybe in a month or two I might be able too.   Just to add a few reviews I have put below some links from different forums, ie Ducati and a youtube video on them which is not that great considering the guy is sponsored by Bridgestone.   Might give you some idea on these new tyres.
http://ducatiforum.co.uk/forum/thread/bridgestone-s20s-or-bridgestone-t30s.14090/

Valentino Rossi rides the Bridgestone Battlax T30 (LONG VERSION)
http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/products/productsresults/tyres/2013/may-2013/may2813-bridgestones/

The Ron Haslam Bridgestone T30 Review - Donnington Park
Cheers
Gibbo
 

I seem to be a bit late getting into this conversation but the last set of tires I put on are the Bridgestone Battlax T30r's. So far have done 15,000km's on them, with at least half those k's done with my lovely wife on the back, and they look as though they will last for another 2 -3,000km's. That's quite a bit more than i got out of the older BT023's. Very happy with them, no scolloping (unlike the '23's). I will be replacing them with the same once the time comes to do so.

[alans1100]

I seem to be a bit late getting into this conversation but the last set of tires I put on are the Bridgestone Battlax T30r's. So far have done 15,000km's on them, with at least half those k's done with my lovely wife on the back, and they look as though they will last for another 2 -3,000km's. That's quite a bit more than i got out of the older BT023's. Very happy with them, no scolloping (unlike the '23's). I will be replacing them with the same once the time comes to do so.

I've had the GT spec (1300 rear) fitted since July and have just done 5000 km on them so far. Hard to tell at this time if they'll do better than the 23 GT spec tyres I had before. Like you, mostly two up riding about 50 percent trailer.

[johnnyYTED]

 
last night I fitted a new PR3 to Strangers front wheel, ST13 120-70-18, today I'm going riding to scuff it up. Sydney City motorcycles $214.95 free fitting.. should laST me a while

[Biggles]

last night I fitted a new PR3 to Strangers front wheel, ST13 120-70-18, today I'm going riding to scuff it up. Sydney City motorcycles $214.95 free fitting.. should laST me a while

The PR3s and 4s are supposed to have the mould release agent removed, and so should be safe to turn and stop normally from new.  Still good to respect them, though.

[Mypod]

yes...especially if it's wet

[johnnyYTED]

 
I got my wheel back with a STicker saying,
WARNING
New Tyres are
EXTREMELY SLIPPERY
especially in the WET.
Take Care !!
MuST say it felt STicky on my first ride over Razorback into Camden then onto Leumeah and Campbelltown, where I parked on an angle and the fuel in the tank was lower than the pick up point    I had to go buy a Jerry can and 5 ltrs so it would STart.. I dont think my fuel warning light works...

[Biggles]

I got my wheel back with a STicker saying,
WARNING
New Tyres are
EXTREMELY SLIPPERY
especially in the WET.
Take Care !!

I suspect they have had someone blame them for an accident on new tyres.

[JC]

The PR3s and 4s are supposed to have the mould release agent removed, and so should be safe to turn and stop normally from new.  Still good to respect them, though.

I've never seen this in writing from a tyre manufacturer or distributor, so wouldn't rely on an insurance payout from them if you fall off due to new tyres not gripping as well as your old ones used to. Year after year, we hear of blokes on new tyres coming down in the first few days, many in the first few corners.

The surface of new tyres is always extremely smooth and glossy, so grip is never as good as it is after they have been "roaded" for a few kilometres to scuff them and get some texture onto the surface, as well as wear off any remaining release agent.

  New tyres are a bit like "hat drivers", you're never quite sure what they're going to do, until they do it.  

 

[saaz]

Always best to take it easy for the first few corners until the tyres have gone through a heat cycle or two and you get used to how easily they go into corners. That said, I have not felt really unsafe with new tyres for many years and modern tyres get to effective grip levels even when cold a lot better than they used to. My current set of Angel GTs are worn edge to edge courtesy of South Queensland roads  and still look like new. It does wonders not to do a straight run from new that just wears the centre out.

[Mypod]

Wearing the edges out on the tires are the least of our worries over here in the west. Still, the nice flat center helps the bike stay upright, heehee

[saaz]

I have some great second hand tyres for you then 

Wearing the edges out on the tires are the least of our worries over here in the west. Still, the nice flat center helps the bike stay upright, heehee

[Lionel]

I was very happy with Shenkos until June this year when I lost it in the wet and totalled my ST1300.
The same would probably have happened regardless of tyre type.

[Biggles]

I was very happy with Shenkos until June this year when I lost it in the wet and totalled my ST1300.
The same would probably have happened regardless of tyre type.

I dunno.  The sipes on the PRs are very effective at dispersing the water.
But as you imply- if you are moving fast and hit standing water deep enough, you'll aquaplane on any tyre.

[Piet]

Hi Diesel,
Would you like to add Metzler to the list?
I purchased the bike with Avons front and rear.  Had the rear tyre cut through by I dont know what.  But it left me with the steel cords cut and protruding.  I purchased a Metlzler as a replacement, I like the feel of the Metzler perhaps better than the Avon.  The jury is still out on lifespan.

Regarding the comments on slippry when new.  When the Metzler was fitted up, the Tyre shop used the detergent slop to ease the install.  When I fitted the wheel, drove out the driveway and was turning left onto the highway, all in the space of 10 meters, the bike did a heart stopping fish tail like slide because it was so slippery.  I was glad I did not loose control, but it came out of nowhere.  It was a good lesson for me.

[Mypod]

Hi Piet,
The guy who owned my ST1100 before I bought it off him had Metzlers on (they were on the bike when  bought them) and I changed them when they had done about 13,000km's if I remember correctly, they where fairly worn by then.

[alans1100]

?
I purchased the bike with Avons front and rear.  Had the rear tyre cut through by I dont know what.  But it left me with the steel cords cut and protruding.  I purchased a Metlzler as a replacement, I like the feel of the Metzler perhaps better than the Avon.  The jury is still out on lifespan.

I've had two sets of Metzeler Z6s hoping they were better than the old Bridgestone 21s but no difference in overall average km at about 10,000 for the rear (12000 for front) for mainly two up riding and 50 percent trailer usage. Even the BT 23's failed in their claimed 30 percent better mileage over the 21s.

[JC]

?
I purchased the bike with Avons front and rear.  Had the rear tyre cut through by I dont know what.  But it left me with the steel cords cut and protruding.  I purchased a Metlzler as a replacement, I like the feel of the Metzler perhaps better than the Avon.  The jury is still out on lifespan.

I've had two sets of Metzeler Z6s hoping they were better than the old Bridgestone 21s but no difference in overall average km at about 10,000 for the rear (12000 for front) for mainly two up riding and 50 percent trailer usage. Even the BT 23's failed in their claimed 30 percent better mileage over the 21s.

I fitted Z6's to my CBR1000F. Mostly towing my Classic Ultralite trailer with camping gear and two up riding, a rear Z6 lasted about 8,000km, including the BDR to Alice Springs in 2011. I replaced them with Z8's for the BDR to Alice Springs in 2012, but the rear didn't seem to last any longer and the front went out of shape.
 

I am now running the BT023's on the CBR and it has about 5,000kms without much sign of wear.
 

The heavy duty, single compound Exedra radials on the ST13 grip well enough and two up, towing the trailer, the rear will easily make 10,000km, as we rode from Perth to Townsville on the return leg of the BDRAA this year, on the one rear tyre. The front had done 15,000km without any major signs of wear, so may well have made the fabled 30,000km.   


 

[Brock]

Just fitted a PR4 GT 170/60 ZR 17 to the rear of my 1100, cant say how well the PR3 lasted, as it seems that I forgot to log it in my spread sheet. Suffice to say it were burgered and had been on about a year.  Oh, from tyres for Bikes Vic Park,  $310.00

[Dick B "Yewie"]

Just going back to Michelin Front and Back (PR4's @ $550 fitted at Hawkesbury Honda) after a once only run on Pirelli Angel GT's. Not happy with the 11,000 from the Pirellis even though they still have some life left in them (who wants to wear their tyres right to the edge!)  in spite of the flat spot on the rear courtesy of our 8,800k run up through the Red Centre last year. I am looking forward to a much better run on the PR4's.