Tyres - recommendations, please.

New tyres needed sharpish - the rear's so squared that the bugger
"fights" in the corners and its well into the wear indicators...

Anyone know of any good tyre fitters in the Wigan/Manchester/Bolton
area, or up to 25 miles around, offering ride-in ride-out service? I
know about TST, SMD and Sharples.

The bike's[1] wearing Pirelli Dragon GTS mtr23/24(?), ATM, anyone any
suggestions for replacements? I'm not looking for a full on sport tyre
- I'm not good enough for that. Touring-oriented would be good, long
lasting and good in the wet and preferably not much more than
£120/pair. Sizes 120/70/17 (F) and 160/60/18(R).

ME Z2, BT 50, BT52 and BT54 seem to pop up on forums I've checked,
FWIW.

Ta muchly.

[1] K1100RS[2]
[2]Lozzo and other BMW haters, constructive advice on tyres only,
please - I already know your views on BMWs.

 

You haven't been watching have you.

Michelin Pilot Road 2's
www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en/motorcycle/details/20090202121683.html
which come in the correct sizes

Or possibly Avon Storms
www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/storm-st
also in the correct sizes

I *might* go for the latter on the K11 as it has more straight line
stability and the K is liable to nod it's head slightly at speed with
the former. The Michelin will turn in much faster and is incredibly
grippy OTOH but you don'y hoon it.

 

Continental Road Attacks worked well on my VFR and are also pretty good
on the Ducati.

 

Ta.

Yeah, I wind it on a little on clear stretches of motorway (120's
plenty), but I'm slow on the twisties... Very slow at the moment -
it's a bit like wrestling an epileptic camel on most A and B road
bends and roundabouts are v-e-r-y slow. though it had improved a bit
after 100 miles of fast A road and motorway bends, enough to make the
back lane off the M6 to my place less of a problem than I expected.

I'll have a chat with TST and SMD, shortly - Sharples moved and now
only fit to loose wheels - **** that!

 

How many d'you need Jack> SMD are good. Quick, VERY efficient if a touch n
the expensive side. And they're on yer doorstep too.

Avon Storms? Those Avons I had on were almost impossible to wear out and
they worked as well as any tyre I'll ever need.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

They are less than a quarter mile from my door. Popped in earlier...
prices have certainly gone up since I last bought tyres +/- £200 for a
set of storms, ride in, ride out.

I'll pop over to TST, which is also nearby, on Monday and see how
badly he wants to rape my wallet.

That's 2 suggestions, in here and SMD suggested them too

Less expensive brands, like Maxxis don't appear to have the right size
for the rear tyre, so I'm a bit ferked, in that respect...

 

They are pretty good on proper motorcycles, not sure about BMWs though.

 

That's the killer, but wait....

A pal came round tonight to borrow a spindle removing tool so he can get a
pair of tyres fitted at SMD. He's getting Maxxis (no, no idea where he got
the idea) and according to him, MCN are offering a deal and SMD are "in on
it" so to speak. Not ride in-ride-out, but take the wheels in and it's 100
quid the pair, fitted.

SMD raped mine but I couldn't be arsed to do it myself last time.

Obviously not for the riding gods like Bonwick, but plenty good enough for
my needs and they have that "Get a puncture within X many miles and we'll
swap the tyre" thing going for them too. Bloody handy that, coz I tend to
get punctures when yres are new. (ish)

What size is it then?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

The new Maxxis supersport radials are meant to be bloody good tyres for
the money. Guy Martin rated them when he hooned a set round the PB
handling circuit - he was only 1/2 a second a lap slower on them than
he was on the best road tyres he'd tested.

Most people go for the older SuperMaxx radials, which were the top of
the range tyres, but have been relegated to sports/touring level now. A
few of my local mates have had them fitted and rate them as bloody good
in the wet or dry. I rode a CBR600FW and ZX-7R with them the other week
and they just worked to the point where I didn't even think about what
make they were or how they were performing.

 

160/60/18

 

I read that somewhere too, but couldn't remember where.

Which is all one can ask for in reality. I'd liove to be able to say "The
tyres are holding me back", but I don't see that ever being the case.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

It's that "18" bit innit?


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

(SteveH) wrote in :

they work well on the R-GS too. Significantly cheaper than Metzeler &
Michelin alternatives, when bought from Mike at Cardiff Motorrad

 

I take it the R-GS never goes off road?

I need to replace the Avon Distanzias on the V-Strom. I was never happy
with them.

 

I've taken it down a few gravel tracks in the past, when using Metzeler
Tourance. I haven't had the inclination to do so in recent years.

The Avons were okay on the R-GS, for road use. Never tried them off road.

If you like going off road then try a pair of Continental TKC80. They seem
to be the tyre of choice for those that like to go playing on Salisbury
Plain.

 

I haven't had it off road in ages which is why I looked at the Road
Attacks.

 

:

<phones 1-800-TELL CHP>

 

<fx: Cagney> You rat, you dirty rat.

 

yup

 

I wish I could help Jack, bu 18" is far too big for me


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19