Tyres

[TubbyT]

I destroyed the OE Corsa Rosso in about 2800 miles of pure unadulterated joy, and due to the unexpected nature of the final demise of my Rosso I had to put whatever was available on the back at the time ... this turned out to be a Diablo III.
I put about 700 miles on that and just never gelled with it ... it always felt a little nervy and twitchy. So, once I found out I was defo going on my big track week next week to Cartagena, I switched back to a Corsa Rosso this afternoon. Even just doing 50 miles on it tonight to make sure the Red Triangle of Doom wasn't going to come back, it felt so much nicer than the Diablo III.

Anyone else tried anything other than OE tyres yet ?

[Hyper]

D211 gpracer . I only made 300 km with these new tyres but enough to say i like them a lot more than oem ones, especially the front. Now is really fast to enter in the corners, quality that i definately need and want from a naked bike :-)

[Hinckley]

Sticking with the Rosso's for now - I would like to get another set of rims and mount up a set of Michelin Pilot Road 3's, I've found them to be a fabulous all round tyre on other bikes - just not sure how they'd work out on a track day.

[evlin]

i loved those oe tyres!!! ace!!!! never twitched or any thing even in rain, but it was warmer weather. i have put 2cts on for winter and i really like them aswell, but do put them on all my bikes just latley, but i dont ride as fast as you tubby http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-devil10.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

[jpe70]

...Michelin Pilot Road 3's, I've found them to be a fabulous all round tyre on other bikes - just not sure how they'd work out on a track day.
You'll live, but possibly burn the tires. They aren't made to handle that, and won't feel very comfy even if they won't automatically fail as many claim. Better go for RoadSmart if you want lasting tires with track abilities. Trust me, I did the comparison last month on a couple of GSXR :)

[jpe70]

D211 gpracer . I only made 300 km with these new tyres but enough to say i like them a lot more than oem ones, especially the front. Now is really fast to enter in the corners, quality that i definately need and want from a naked bike :-)
+1 on that. OEM's were sticky enough, but I'd go 211 too for blasting around the track. Something else completely for all weather riding...

[Hinckley]

You'll live, but possibly burn the tires. They aren't made to handle that, and won't feel very comfy even if they won't automatically fail as many claim. Better go for RoadSmart if you want lasting tires with track abilities. Trust me, I did the comparison last month on a couple of GSXR :)

Thanks - good info - how do the Roadsmart's compare on the track to the Rosso's?

[Micke65]

Did waste my Oem Corsa backtire in 650km ..

This is not good for my wallet as much as i liked the Pirellis they just didt last enougt .. atleast the reartire .

So im using Pirelli Corsa rosso front and Dunlop sportsmart in rear and they are good at track with much less wear , just get them warm and there are lots of grip ;)

Did use thet setup at one Trackday in august and was pleased with them once warmed-up

[TubbyT]

but i dont ride as fast as you tubby http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-devil10.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

I've seen your tyres Anne, you ride with more ability than I do, that's for sure

[Hinckley]

I've seen your tyres Anne, you ride with more ability than I do, that's for sure

I've seen em too - not a chicken strip in sight - back or front :eek: :lol:

[jpe70]

Thanks - good info - how do the Roadsmart's compare on the track to the Rosso's?
More like touring tires... due to different profile. Rosso compares better with SportSmart or Qualifier 2 in ways of track performance. Profile differs (as said), makes them quicker around bends, but as for grip RoadSmarts are impressively temperature resistant considering their indented usage (you'll probably get them up to 60 C or so before they start sliding seriously). That said, the RoadSmart 2 is a very neutral tire in terms of steering input making it predictable and exact but a bit too slow for "very-interesting-cornering"...

In general terms, you could say Sport touring tires and Hyper sports tires have filled up the gap that Supert sports or Sports used to fill. Using Dunlop as example, there's 211GP for competent club racing or track days but still road legal, SportSmart for track days and road, RoadSmart for road and occational track day. Q2 used to have a niche between SS and RS, but those are now competent enough to make Q2 obsolete...

For someone riding mainly on road, seeking plenty of wet grip and mileage but still wanting to put in a couple of track days, the Dunlop RoadSmart, Bridgestone BT023 and probably some more will make good lap times. The others will cope and Michelin PR3 will excel in extreme conditions...

Main difference (again simplified) with Hyper Sports will be different profile, compound and possibly the carcass allowing lower pressure for bigger footprint without loosing integrity. Manufacturers have good info of intended use on their sites :)


Blablabla and another looong, boring post about tires...

[Hinckley]

Interesting, thanks for taking the time to post the information.

[TZsparky]

Roadsmarts sure get some good reviews... but I haven't used Dunlop's since I had 19" TT100's on my old Triton!

[duke63]

The Roadsmarts are one of the best all round road tyres though they have just been superceded by the Roadsmart 2.

Not sure i would want to take mine on track though, especially on a high-powered performance bike.

[Roadcraft]

I love the standard tyres on mine. They looked after me on the road AND track but not ridden them in the rain yet and have only covered 1000 miles so review pending.

[TZsparky]

1000 miles up for me too. I've been caught in the rain a couple of times - once was a real downpour on about 10 miles of dual carrriageway, followed by a slip road and several roundabouts. Thankfully I had anticipated the weather and set the TC to 8 and put it into Road mode beforehand. No problems with tyres slipping at all.

Maybe I should have left it in Sport mode and really tested the TC?!! :devil:

[yobwoc]

My Pirellis were completely shot after 3000km of road riding including 1000 break-in. No track days yet but one planned next week if the weather holds.

Installed Dunlop Sportsmarts last night in the hopes of getting similar grip but longer life - reviews seem pretty positive. First impression is that the steering is noticeably slower (rounder profile I think) and the ride is a bit harsher (higher default pressures) but too early to comment on grip yet.

Anyone else tried these on their T4? How are they holding up vs the Rossos ?

[Micke65]

My Pirellis were completely shot after 3000km of road riding including 1000 break-in. No track days yet but one planned next week if the weather holds.

Installed Dunlop Sportsmarts last night in the hopes of getting similar grip but longer life - reviews seem pretty positive. First impression is that the steering is noticeably slower (rounder profile I think) and the ride is a bit harsher (higher default pressures) but too early to comment on grip yet.

Anyone else tried these on their T4? How are they holding up vs the Rossos ?

Yes , Got Sportsmart rear tire and Pirelli corsa front for maximal frontend grip .

Sportsmart is very good once they are proporly warmed up , had them on for 1 trackday and almost no wear at all :)

Used 2.0 kg airpressure in back and front .

Try Lower the airpressure if they feel harsher ..

[bartho]

My Pirellis were completely shot after 3000km of road riding including 1000 break-in. No track days yet but one planned next week if the weather holds.

Installed Dunlop Sportsmarts last night in the hopes of getting similar grip but longer life - reviews seem pretty positive. First impression is that the steering is noticeably slower (rounder profile I think) and the ride is a bit harsher (higher default pressures) but too early to comment on grip yet.

Anyone else tried these on their T4? How are they holding up vs the Rossos ?

I tried the Pilot road 3 and had similar indication (steering slower) and I don't like it. So I like the pilot power 2CT. It's between pirelli's and roadsmart/ road3

[TubbyT]

just about destroyed my 3rd rear tyre now ... the Rosso Corsa I put on the the Cartagena trip is pretty much knackered after 450 or so miles purely on track, but oh boy does it grip ! I have to say that for pure confidence I will be going for yet another one the same, and bugger the expense. I have tried one other kind, but I know that I am totally comfortable with the Rosso.

[Roadcraft]

Comfort on the bike is most important. Bugger the cost as long as the bike's upright. I love my tyres and will be swapping for the same next time.

[jpe70]

The Roadsmarts are one of the best all round road tyres though they have just been superceded by the Roadsmart 2.

Not sure i would want to take mine on track though, especially on a high-powered performance bike.
Yes, they have. But 2's mainly focus on better comfort, not more grip in dry.

No probs, worked well enough on GSX-R 750. Not giving competitive laptimes of course, but someone doing an occational track day won't fall over or crash by default.

[jpe70]

Comfort on the bike is most important. Bugger the cost as long as the bike's upright. I love my tyres and will be swapping for the same next time.
Good thinking. If it works, don't fix it! Unless you have time and money to spare...

[jpe70]

Used 2.0 kg airpressure in back and front .

Try Lower the airpressure if they feel harsher ..
No, at least not in the front.

Unless you're in a really hot climate giving you enough heat to reach correct warm pressure anyway.

However, I digress from subject. So just consider this another OT spamming post... :D

[Ge0rdie]

Ive got Mich 2CTs on mine, will probably go for Power Pures next

[evlin]

geordie.....i reckon pilot pures will only last one pie runhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink020.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php) had them on my vtwin...bag of shite...you will destroy themhttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-transport026.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

[Hyper]

I dont really get the point of using tourer tyres as roadsmart on a naked superbike as our tuono .. She deserve a lot better shoes ! Comfort is most important ??? Maybe with a BMW gs 1200 or a Vstrom ! Talking about comfort in a bike that has a piece of wood with the shape of a seat and does 10 km with one liter of fuel.. I think is a nonsense .
Try a d211 and let the real beast come out :-)

[duke63]

I dont really get the point of using tourer tyres as roadsmart on a naked superbike as our tuono .. She deserve a lot better shoes ! Comfort is most important ??? Maybe with a BMW gs 1200 or a Vstrom ! Talking about comfort in a bike that has a piece of wood with the shape of a seat and does 10 km with one liter of fuel.. I think is a nonsense .
Try a d211 and let the real beast come out :-)

Ahh but you don't have to live with the english weather!

[yobwoc]

I dont really get the point of using tourer tyres as roadsmart on a naked superbike as our tuono ..

I agree. I'm trying Sportsmarts which are a dual compond ROAD/track tyre aimed directly at the same riders as the Rosso II's from Pirelli. After a couple of hundred kms on the road they seem as grippy as the Pirellis but steering is very different. Where the Pirellis flick very easily into corners the Dunlops are noticably slower. I really disliked this at first but am now finding much of the difference can be overcome by being more forceful with steering inputs. Still, Pirellis have a definite advantage on this count. On the upside, the Dunlops are very stable leaned over and hold the line very nicely. Better than the Pirellis IMHO.

I have a trackday next Monday where I'll be able to test them properly.

Everybody has their own ideas about what they spend on their bike. I liked the Pirellis but am not so thrilled about having to buy 3-4 sets of tyres per year for 10k of road riding and a few trackdays. If Dunlop can give me similar performance with 50% longer life then I'll be a happy camper.

[TubbyT]

! Comfort is most important ??? Maybe with a BMW gs 1200 or a Vstrom ! Talking about comfort in a bike that has a piece of wood with the shape of a seat and does 10 km with one liter of fuel.. I think is a nonsense .
Try a d211 and let the real beast come out :-)

The "comfort" comment was about how comfortable you are with a particular tyre, as in "I trust the tyre", not how soft and gold-wing like the tyre may be ...

[Ge0rdie]

Evelin man, mebbeez a shud put me standard pirellis back on. 2CTs have been ok though, rear lasted 3000+ miles and plent grippy enough for knee downs etc.

Mmm pies man. hurry up an clear yer calendar man

[evlin]

thought i was gunna buy them pirellis lol.....yes im on the case for beer n pieshttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink009.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)

[Ge0rdie]

you might be - my rear is currently wiped out - might use em meself, although pies and beer may persuade me otherwisehttp://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-eatdrink004.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys.php)