Tire preferences

[rndrkeagle]

ok... this topic has probably been beaten to death... but I couldn't find any threads on it that gave any real comparisons... so here's the deal... I need new tires... I'm considering three options (and the best prices I've found for them):

Michelin Pilot Road (can get for $219 for the pair)
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT (can get for $259 for the pair)
Pirelli Diablo Corsa III (looks like around 300+ for the pair)

so my questions:

Has anyone run more than 1 of these sets of tires and able to give first hand comparisons?
Are the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's wroth $40 more than the Pilot Roads? Are the Diablo Corsa III's worth the $40-60 more than the 2CT's?

Lastly... I keep hearing mixed feelings about considering going up to a 190 rear.... can anyone give me a good comparison on that? (preferably from having run a 180 and a 190 of the same make/model of tire since comparing a 180 "Dontlap" to a 190 Pirelli isn't really valid.

 

[rndrkeagle]

btw... from what I can tell... the prices I mentioned above for the Michelins.... seem to be a pretty substantial cut off typical street price.... that is a sale price that I've found... so if anyone is looking to get them... they're listed at:

www.compacc.com

at those prices right now... but it is a sale price.... so you will want to move fast..

 

[Thaloc]

Iv ran all three of those tires. Im currently running Pilot Power up front and Pilot Road in the rear.

I liked the stock Diablos. They had great traction but the mileage wasn't what I was looking for. Great sport riding tire.

As for the Michelin. The Pilot Road gets much better mileage but the Pilot Power is more sporty. Iv heard pilot powers are a great tire for the track if u dont wanna keep changing tires. Im running the combo front and back to see how to mileage pans out between the two.

Iv only recently put the Pilot Power up front, but its done great the last two group rides iv went on. iv not felt it wash out at all up front. Iv had the rear Pilot Road step out on me a few times under hard cornering but nothing that couldn't be corrected.

Just my .02

 

[jimmydean]

I just put a 2CT on the back of my R1 because it was on sale. It seems to work as well as the regular pilot power, but I've only got about 700 miles on it.

It's a great idea.

 

[rndrkeagle]

so there's an interesting point.....

these dual compound tires.... I understand the fundamental idea of softer (stickier) compound on the sides for better grip in cornering and harder compound in middle for better wear life. But if you compare a dual compound tire to it's traditional single compound sibling... are they:
1. Taking a soft compound tire and adding a harder compound center? (net result is equal handling to the original with longer treadlife)?
or:
2. Taking a harder compound tire and adding the softer stickier side strips (Resulting in a tire that has the same overall wear life as the original but better handling) ?

the point to the question is... by going with the single compound version of a tire, what do I sacrifice over the dual compound version? Wear Life or Grip?

 

[canucklovingbrit]

Check out the Pirelli Diablo Strada's. Apparently a great compromise tire, with good wet & dry traction & decent wear. I'll probably go with them next time. I picked up a pair of Diablo Supersports from cyclegear.com recently - they were selling them in pairs, and even taking into account the Canadian dollar exchange rate and shipping @ $40, they still worked out at least $150 a pair cheaper than I would have been shafted for up here! I noticed today they're on sale again at Cyclegear, with fronts at $90 and rears at $125. That's an absolute steal, compared with what I'm used to paying.

 

[rndrkeagle]

aren't the supersports their all out racing tire? what's the wear life like on them?

that's a great price but if ya only get 3K miles on em... well they're gripper than hell right?

 

[jimmydean]

I have yet to notice any issue with grip in the center of the 2ct tire. I haven't cornered it overly hard yet, but it's certainly solid so far.

I would think the single compound you give up one or the other, depending on the compund you chose, either wear or grip. If you are like me and put 10k or more on a bike per season, then the 2ct makes sense. But if you are a 500 mile a year guy, then the super sticky would be best.

 

[canucklovingbrit]

aren't the supersports their all out racing tire?

The Diablo Supersports are these:

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=5000&L2=10&L3=155&L4=&item=PAR_1430200_G

It's a street tire, which was stock on new Firebolts and Lightnings, up til 2008. From what I understand, the "T Spec" version was the Buell OEM tire, with the difference being a slightly lighter carcass and compound. Tread pattern appears to be the same. Apparently they're being discontinued, which is a real shame because they kick ass. Wear obviously depends on how aggressively you ride, but my '07 is only on it's second rear tire with 17,000 kms on the clock, and it's only about one third worn. I just replaced the original front! That's good wear in my book, but then I don't have the nerve (plus I'm too old!)to ride like a wannabe Ben Spies!

 

[marko138]

In the case of the Pilot Power 2ct, they are using the standard Pilot Power center and adding softer rubber. Thus, not increasing your wear properties.

In the case of the Pilot Road 2, they are using the standard, but harder, Pilot Road center and adding the Pilot Power side rubber. Thus, you get better straight line mileage and better grip when leaned over.

 

[1stxb9r]

i would go with the Michelins either the pilot power or the 2ct. I had dunlops on my old zx7r but switched them out last summer for pilot powers and the performance/handling was amazing. [up][up]

 

[rndrkeagle]

Wow... . so here's an interesting twist.... talk about getting the shaft!!!

We have a Cyclegear shop here in town... and they will sell me the Pirelli Diablo Supersports that Canuck mentions.... BUT... they don't have tools for SAE bikes.. so they can only actually mount and balance the tires if I take the wheels off the bike and bring them in. It seems that there are only a few places around Austin that will actually pull the wheels off and replace the tires for me, and most of them charge $150+ for the labor to change out two tires... even if I buy the tires from the same place! so unless I am able to come up with the lifts/stands to enable me to pull both wheels off, I'm gonna end up paying as much for mounting and balancing as I'll be paying for the damn tires!


an unexpected downside to owning an American made bike... all the shops have Metric tools... not SAE.. and those that have the SAE tools... gouge the hell out of us!

 

[1stxb9r]

does one of your buddies have a rear stand? I changed front and back tires on my zx7r with just a rear stand and a homemade front lift. 2x4 and a rachet strap.

 

[marko138]

Most places charge an arm and a leg to remove the tires from the bike, whether it's SAE or metric. It's much cheaper EVERYWHERE to just bring them the wheels.

 

[jimmydean]

I always just bring the wheels in. $25 a wheel was what the Yamaha shop charged me to swap tires last time.