Views on Tyres

[mickeyd]

Mick from MTM has recommended that I put on a BT014 on the front of my 636 and an SS on the back, he reckons that it will wear better than the 014 on the back

He cannot get Pilots as they are in short supply ATM

Views/ comments anyone

[Yankee]

that's what he put on mine after i had 014's front/rear.....

i was happier with the 014 combo i think (hard to say tho going into COLDER weather) and also, i don't know what i'll get outta these (mileage-wise)
-if these last longer (rear 012ss) then i'll be happy to give them another go
-if not, i'm going back to the 014.... they just NEVER slipped at ALL, whereas the 012ss DOES! (maybe just takes longer to warm up?)
but so far, i was waaay more confident on the 014's

which, that 014 on the front is the BEST i've ever had.. AWESOME!! and ~6K outta it ain't bad! BUT, i've never tried the michie's... always heard they were shyte, and I was always happy with the bridgies.....

-MEH!!!
tyres suck

[ttc]

In cars insurance companies don't like you having different tyres front and rear - got to wonder how bike insurance companies feel about it

Pilot powers short supply my ass. It's just he would have got the bridgestones cheaper.
Brisbane motorcycle tyres, as most bike shops, will have them.

[ty]

The 014 on the front is fine until they get near the markers - they don't give you much confidence then.
When I had an 020 on the front it gave the same level of grip all the way down - not as sticky as the others obviously, but you could rely on it to behave the same all the time. So I'm not overly impressed with the 014.
I'm trying a 012 on the front next and see how it goes. I think I'll be trying another brand next time I need to replace both ends.
ty

[Jonno]

Michelin Pilots (rags) are made lesser than Bridgies (steel) as far as construction of belts; I have the BT014 on the front which is most excellent and far better than a power or a sport for confidence.
I have just replaced the rear 014 with a 020 which is a better looking tyre with a slightly harder compound and a far better tread pattern (narrower and deeper grooves), I will wait and see how it fairs for wear and cornering. Hopefully it will be good.

Note: I have called my insurance company and after many conversations I finally got to someone who could tell me that as long as the construction is simular there is no problem as far as making a claim. Now I do not have that in writing but that’s good enough for me at this stage. Cars have to have same tyre construction and size, rim size on corresponding wheel such as right rear wheel should be the same as the left rear same with the front, but front to back is not that important and not illegal to have different sizes AFAIK.

[MickLC]

Michellin Pilots are made lesser than Bridgies as far as construction of belts...

I've heard this a couple of times now from different people, although I'm pretty certain it's from the same source. Now while I can't claim to know as much about tyres as my namesake up north I do have to say that I think it fair to say that he doesn't know as much about them as Michelin, Bridgestone, Dunlop or any other tyre manufacturer.

To right-off a tyre simply because he's heard that it has less belts in it is a broad generalisation that doesn't take into account any of the other factors such as the construction and alignment of the belts, the compound and profile of the tyre etc.

My personal experience has been that the Pilot Powers are a very good tyre. They felt better, lasted better and stuck better than my previous favourite the Metzeler Sportec M1's, which in my opinion were better again than the Pirelli Diablo's. A lot of other riders I have heard from on other forums agree that they are a very good tyre.

I can't comment on the Bridgestone's as I haven't ever ridden with them...certainly Brett's seemed to do all right the other week

As an aside I do know of a very experienced tyre supplier here won't fit them because he once had a rear on a Busa disintegrate and Bridgestone wouldn't even talk to him about it, despite numerous attempts to contact them. Obviously a lot of guys like them though, and haven't had any problems, so he's probably being fairly narrow minded. It does go to show that you shouldn't just listen to one person though, despite how much they seem to know.

[ty]

I have just replaced the rear 014 with a 020 which is one sexy looking tyre , slightly harder compound and a far better tread pattern (narrower grooves)and depth, I will wait and see how it fairs for wear and cornering. Hopefully it will be good.

On the ZZR600 I often got around 14K out of a rear 020.
So far on the ZX9R I've gotten 8K and it's still going strong.
ty

[Barrabob]

I have a set of powers on at the moment and while they are quite ok compared to the pilot sports my bike came fitted with they feel a bit diferent to the tyres i usedon previous bikes grip wise.

this is not to say they have let go because they havnt they just have a diferent feel to them and i was going to go to the bridgestones next set of tyres for a go at them.

Nothing wrong with the wear rate of the powers i would say i wil get 6 k out of the rear no problems with track days thrown in and mostly mountain riding, I dont comute.

the tyre joint will sell ya whatever they can get the best deal on and took some convincing to fit the powers to my bike last time i went tyre buying but hey there my wheels and its my bum that sits on the back of it so give me what i want and i will work it out for myself.

its a fair bit of personal preference with the tyre deal and what front profile suits what you do etc. just goto try them all i supose.

[redzedx7r]

Bridgie 014 front kevlar belt; rear monspiral steel belt, with kevlar on the sides
Bridgie 012ss front & rear kevlar dual belt
Michie Pilot Power Polyester casings x2 front; aramid (see below) belt x1 middle and polyester on the sides rear
http://www.ema-usa.com/tires
http://mc.bridgestone.co.jp/en/products ... nroad.html

Federal Trade Commission Definition for Aramid Fiber: A manufactured fiber in which the fiberforming substance is a long-chain synthetic polyamide in which at least 85% of the amide (-CO-NH-) linkages are attached directly between two aromatic rings. (Complete FTC Fiber Rules here.) http://www.fibersource.com/f-tutor/aramid.htm

I have felt both BT014 and Power side by side and an un-named location ( fear of flaming ), the construction of the Power was much softer. This would give the Power better grip and quick heat which would be great for the track. But i also ride on the road and i have heard too many stories about punctures from numerous sources for me to buy Powers.

For cheap Powers on the Nth side go to Simon at Northside Brendale, he quoted me $245 for a 190 rear 38896466.
Con Bris Bike Tyres (Moss St) used to do cheap Michies but i believe he like others can sell Bridgies much cheaper these days.

[MickLC]

I have felt both BT014 and Power side by side and an un-named location ( fear of flaming ), the construction of the Power was much softer. This would give the Power better grip and quick heat which would be great for the track. But i also ride on the road and i have heard too many stories about punctures from numerous sources for me to buy Powers.

So what's the problem with better grip and quick heat on the road? AFAIK belts aren't a big factor in punctures either, and I certainly haven't heard of any happening...but then as I said I'm no expert.

[MickLC]

....and from what references I can find, Aramid fibres are meant to be stronger than steel in tyres...in fact it's a different name for kevlar

[Felix]

....and from what references I can find, Aramid fibres are meant to be stronger than steel in tyres...in fact it's a different name for kevlar

I think kevlar is a brand name or trade mark. It is also much lighter than steel which is a bonus as it reduces the inertia of the tyre, unsprung weight, etc.