the big topic: tires

[Sirius815]

I'll add mine so far:

I had the Dunlop Sportmax on the front and Roadsmart in the back (from the PO when I purchased the bike) - I put about 2kmi on the bike and the Sportmax was pretty much done. The Roadsmart still had plenty of life left.

I switched the front to the new Bridgestone S20 and have very good feelings about this one.

After riding for a few hundred miles, I noticed a weird wear pattern on the Roadsmart as was mentioned in another thread - can't remember which one. So when I get back from school, I'll put on the S20 rear that I ordered two weeks ago and give more impressions.

My 2 cents - stay away from the Dunlop Sportmax due to a huge amount of wear and I'm not very confident about the Roadsmart due to the wear.

FWIW - I also looked at the Conti Sportattack 2s, but the price mainly swayed me away. (Introductory pricing on the S20 was a selling point).

 

[moto587]

I've owned my bike a little over a month and am looking into purchasing my first set of tires. My current rear is a 200 and I plan on downsizing to stock dimensions (180/55-ZR17 and 120/70-ZR17.) This thread seems to be a little old. Does anyone have any updated suggestions for brands/types/sizes? Thanks!

 

[ReconLdr]

I just found a deal at Cycle Gear for Pirrelli Diablo tires for $209 for the set. For the $$$ I'm gonna get a set unless someone can give me a reason not to.

 

[Negative]

I'm assuming your bike isn't your primary mode of transpo like mine is ... If not, I'd definitely have to say the diablo's are good tires but don't last too terribly long ... That's a really good price IMO ... As always ... just my $0.02

 

[ReconLdr]

I'm assuming your bike isn't your primary mode of transpo like mine is ... If not, I'd definitely have to say the diablo's are good tires but don't last too terribly long ... That's a really good price IMO ... As always ... just my $0.02

I do commute on my bike weather permitting of course. From March to November, unless it's raining/snowing when I leave in the morning, I ride 155 miles a day. It's been doing a shit ton of raining here in Pa the last few weeks. The guy at the store says he gets 7-8000 mile out of these tires... Is this possible???

 

[Route0766]

Q2s are making the difference. Those will be my next set!!!

 

[yamarider88]

i have the pirellis diablos on my bike and after a month of riding the back is gone...got maybe 2000 miles out of it...i will nvr buy them again

 

[garyphantom222]

My Pirelli's are in need of replacement and I got 5600 out of the rear before the rubber was gone so I am going with Bridgestone tires for my next set.

 

[Route0766]

No one use Q2s?

 

[Joe Deasy]

I just received delivery of a Pirelli Diablo Rosso II front tire that I bought to replace the Pirelli Diablo that was original equipment on my 2009 XB12ss.

The original Diablo is made in Germany.
The Diablo Rosso II is made in China.

This is a significant change in Perelli manufacturing operations. I have nothing against Chinese made goods, but I would not bet my life on the quality, and that is exactly what you're doing with a front motorcycle tire

Also note that this is a directional tire and must be mounted accordingly. That fact is clearly marked on the German model, with a large bold directional arrow molded into the sidewall. The Chinese model has a slight marking that MIGHT be considered a directional indicator if you went looking for it. I guess they thought the new symbol was cute. Theres nothing "cute" about a motorcycle tire. I see that change as an indication of how much emphasis they put on safety. If you buy this tire, make sure the tire gets mounted correctly.

My OEM German "Diablo" rear tire got punctured at about 5000 miles and I replaced it with the "Diablo Rosso" which was also made in Germany. I've been happy with it for the past three years, though it seems to be wearing faster than the original. My OEM Diablo front tire has over 8000 miles on it and I chose the Rosso II to replace it. Not sure what to do with it now. Maybe I'll put it on till the back one wears out, then replace the set with a different brand.

I've read that many tire manufacturers have moved operations to China.
Does anyone know which tires are still made in the US or Europe?

 

[mrlogix]

just changed my 1125R over to Michelin Pilot Power 3's. Absolutely love'em. This is the next generation of the PP2CT's. My chicken strips have narrowed down to about a 1/4" from the sidewall on the right and 3/8-7/16" on the left. Wet/Dry, cold/warm, un-even roads, etc. etc. They are very confidence inspiring. Most of my riding since the change over has been two-up, no problems, even at the edges of corner limits. [cool]

 

[Joe Deasy]

@mrlogix,

Do you know where the Michelins were made?

 

[mrlogix]

Deasy- not off the top of my head, but I will look at the sidewalls for country of origin when I get home from work tonight.

 

[GregoXB]

The Michelin Pilot Power 3 is made in Spain, at least that is what it says on my sidewall. Fucken awesome tire. Heats up fast, and is sticky and grippy from day 1.

I installed a Diablo Rosso 2 the first time I replaced my tire, and that thing was a POS. It had this weird slippery sheen on it from the factory, and I had my first low side fall when newly installed. Even months after the tire was broken in I rode like I was treading over eggshells.

The Michelin Pilot Power 3's are supple, sticky and get nice and warm. They brought my confidence back and I am flicking the XB like a pro lately. [up]

 

[eppt]

I will second the Michelin pilot powers, love mine

 

[Joe Deasy]

Thanks for all the feedback. Sounds like the Michelin PP3 is the way to go.
Wish I would have checked in here earlier.

I mailed Pirelli and asked specifically which models (if any) are still made in Germany. Without being specific, they say their bike tires are made in Germany & China. I take that to mean they make all models in both countries. I believe Europe is getting the German product, Asia the China product, and the Americas get the China product to Western ports, and German to Eastern ports.

The Chinese tire I got was from motorcyclesuperstore.com in CA. It's going back to them today. I found a local brick & mortar shop in NJ that has the Rosso II in stock. The guy there was surprised when I told him I got a Pirelli that was made in China and he was nice enough to go look at his tires to confirm that his was made in Germany. His installed price was just a few bucks higher than the China price, and it was a real nice change of pace to hear someone answer the phone who knew WTF he was talking about. Thats another lesson learned today....

Next time I need tires, I'll come here first to do my homework, then I'll call:

Mike at:
Motorcycle Center LLC
280 Hwy 18
East Brunswick NJ
732-257-8821

What to do now?
Buy the German Diablo from Mike, and wait till my rear is worn out before saying goodbye to Pirelli?.
or should I say goodbye now and get a set of PP3's?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2pOP7OyAac

 

[Joe Deasy]

PS:
FWIW, I read that Metzeler Tire is owned by Pirelli and made in the same Chinese factory.

 

[s0dhi]

I use the Dunlop Sportmax Q3s and love them.

As far as I know, the Dunlop Sportmax Q3 is made in Buffalo, NY, in case anyone is interested.

 

[GregoXB]

IDK, the replacement Pirelli Diablo Rosso II I had initially bought from Motorcycle Superstore had "Germany" written on the sidewall. Again, that tire had a weird shiny slippery layer of sheen on it, it looked almost glazed. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. I really regret riding on it, because on my first right turn my bike slipped and I went down like a sack of potatoes. I had just installed ceramic coated headers too, which were damaged and needed to be replaced, so it turned out to be a rather expensive affair. The Diablos took a looong time to break in, and even months after they were slow to warm up, hard, and not confidence inspiring. If your Diablo's have a sheen look to them, I would just replace them now. I don't recall the OEM tires being so bad, so perhaps the replacement I received was made in China with "Made in Germany" engraved on the sidewall? I can't even believe they sold me tires like that, it is perhaps the single most important part on the motorcycle. I will never, NEVER put a Pirelli on my bike due to that experience.

 

[jetlee]

I'm running Dunlop Sportmax Q3's. I commute 70-90 miles per day. I don't know exactly how many miles I've put on them, but they're just barely starting to flatten out in the middle after 4 months of almost daily use.

Figure two-thirds of my commuting days are on the bike, that's ~55 days at 70mi (min) per day = about 3800 miles so far. They look like they have 3x's that still left in them.

Not to mention how sticky they are.

I love them.