More than the local rider of one sports bike at the IoM hill climb in 96 did at any rate. We tried to tell him. You could still see the outline of the maker's label on the brand new back tyre as it glinted in the sun on the start line ready for the first practice run. The scrutineer had warned him, but he was adamant that the dealer that fitted the tyre had told him that these new fangled [insert latest fashion tyres in 96] gripped like **** from the word go. Start line light goes green. Took off in a reasonably straight line without much wheel spin but then came an almighty ball of chalk at Stella Maris. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
I haven't changed my tyres, I don't know what they are....and on I'll pop into my little garage......190/55's. The tyres seem quite good to me, they are sticky when warm and informative when wet. They are looking a bit worn though.
ginge wrote Dual compound rocks. At least from the perspective of aesthetics it does, whether they are any good as a tyre is dependant on how they are ridden really and if the riding don't match the rubber they are going to be shite even if there is a Z in the name. I have always hated having the middle of the tyres wear out and there is still trace of the hero blobs left on the edges. Pisses me right off it does. I feel cheated. Either I have not used them to the full or the cunts have sold me something I don't need and as I am a riding demi god I can only assume that rip off Britain has scored again. It is inevitable really, I do most of my riding in an urbane environment and spend much more time speeding up and slowing down than ever I do going round corners so all the wear is going to be in the middle. Stands to reason dunnit. Imagine my joy then when quite a few years ago now that they started making them in a size that fitted my bike, at a price I was prepared to pay and I was up for a new set. A win win situation for me really. We are well into the era of modern rubber and I couldn't remember having an issue with grip that wasn't my fault since the last time I was silly enough to give it full beans leaving the left side of the Southbound Dartford toll booths and wanting to be across 7 or 8 lanes of traffic as best I could so that I could get on with the somewhat less stressful matter of making progress. As to the edges, I don't spend enough time leaned over with anywhere near the enthusiasm that I do upright so my experience in that area is much more limited, nor do I particularly want to. I am a lazy rider, the saddle is put there to sit on not to hang off so I do, so I don't corner as fast as others might because of geometry. Although while Newton is still on my side I will do what I can, which is why I travel closer to the edges than I should considering the speeds I do it at. My nervousness about getting into a grip deficient situation is addressed when they announce two tone rubber designed with the commuter in mind. So I figured that with what I feel is adequate modern rubber laid in a strip down the middle and something akin to black Bostik around the edges can really only be an improvement and had them fitted. Transformed the bike it did but then it always does. The only reason I change tyres in the first place is usually prompted by threats of legal action if they are ever seen in that condition upon the Queens highway *ever* again, so I am not all surprised that there is a huge improvement in the handling. Especial the bit where you transit from upright to over and back which, regardless of the quality of rubber in contact with the ground, is so much improved by a tyre without a flat bit right across the middle. Having put them on and waxed lyrical about the improvements in the handling thousands of miles begin to pass and I notice a different pattern to the wear, yes they are going flat in the middle but so are some of the sides so it doesn't look as flat as it could and cunts don't take the piss about it. So there you have it, if you are unsure about anything, be assured; as they wear dual compound tyres do not tell the world as much about your riding style as do single compound and from what I know of yours, you are going to need all the help you can get to keep criticism levels down to acceptable levels.
I considered buying Bridgestones but mine seemed to handle quite well on the previous Michelin rear and I already had the front one so it was no contest. I wanted to try out the dual compound idea as well. I know it's been around for ages nut nobody has really tried it with a sticky tyre suitable for trackdays.
<perk> Bonners in turning all Hoggy shocker! it'll be in tomorrows Sun, mark my words. I have a spare set of Renthals mate....
I think the tyres are very sticky, I've cranked it right over on both sides and there's tons of grip. However, I don't think they will last much longer. 1600 miles on a tyre is not good for my finances.
I've got to admit I love the handling, it's *exactly* what I want a sportsbike to handle like... maybe it helps that I weigh exactly 68Kg at the moment, so the factory suspension settings are spot on for my weight. Tyres are going to be a bit of an adventure I think, it's going to be guess work until a few brands offer choices in the new size[1]. I've a feeling the dual compound michelins[2] will do everything I need though, so that's my current idea, probably for when I get back from pound island. [1] A size that's also used that size on the new Ducati 1098, where they fit Pirelli Dragon Super Corsas... so I guess that's another choice, but they probably wear just as fast. [2] Details at the bottom of the page.. Pilot Power 2CT http://www.michelin.co.uk/uk/front/affich.jsp?codeRubrique=66
That's interesting. I'm carrying 30 kilos over you, not including kit, and I'm finding it ok on standard settings! If anything a little on the hard side particularly on bumpy roads.
They seem to suit the 'Tart'. Mr Auvache has the nub of it though. They keep their profile even on a lardy tourer. TBF though, they have done three track days in hot weather. They also seem quite good stone cold from a standing start. That's partly why I didn't go for a Pilot sport even on the front, because my emporium muttered darkly about grip when cold. -- +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Pete Fisher at Home: | | Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest Yamaha WR250Z | | Gilera GFR Moto Morini 2C/375 | +-------------------------------------------------------------+
Isn't that just the compression damping? I may be wrong but doesn't it increase the resistance the harder you compress it?.
I'm surprised you're getting such crap mileage from tyres on your 10R. My original rear Dunlop did 3k miles, the replacement Michelin did about 2.8k miles and the front Dunlop did 5.8k miles. Those miles included a trackday at Silverstone and quite a few runs over the mountain on the IoM where I don't usually take it easy. None of the tyres were illegal when changed but were starting to affect the handling to a degree where the make felt unstable. The only way I'd have minced the tyres in a low number of miles would be if I insisted on ragging it away from a standstill and if I was going to do that I'd put harder tyres on.
Reading a couple of the ZX10 boards the consensus seems to be the factory fit qualifier hasn't got as deep a tread as the OEM versions. Several people have dumped them and gone for Pilot Power 2CTs in 190/50 (until the 190/55's are out.) That said, Molly's probably wasted 1/3 ot the tyre on dyno runs..
I coulkdn't understand it either, I showed Loz my tyres and he said something about them being rather soft. The edges look like I've been on the track. The right hand side is noticeably chamferred, probably due to me playing a bit on a roundabout. I don't take it easy from standstill but I don't hammer it too much either. It's not squared off at all, in fact the outer parts of the tyre is more worn than the centre. I do love the grip of the tyres but it will become far too expensive if I changed them frequently. I got almost 3K out of the BT010's on my old gixxer.
IIRC the only trouble with dual compound is that they lay the harder stuff over the softer compound. When you think you have 500+ miles left on the tyre the hard compound disappears leaving the soft underneath. Then you only half what you thought was the remaining mileage.
