What tires do you run?

[Grant H.]

My plan is street/track so I have a set of Q2s that will be going on the 1k.

If you plan on mostly street and canyons, to include potentially rain, the PR3's on my brothers ZX-14 seem great.

[BC14]

I've run Contimotions (decent, but not great), but overall Pirelli Angels (ST/GT), Michelin PR2/3, 'Stone BT-023, Dunlop Roadsmart/2 are all going to give you good grip. The PR3 is the best rain tire out there, ATM.

[BearcatRR]

I usually run a Pirelli Rosso Corsa front and a Rosso II rear.

[DemonRider]

The new BT 20S Great grip and seem to hold up pretty good so far ----- This Season shall tell the tell

[apptwins]

Pirelli Angel ST's dual compound. Great all arounder. Be sure you have some heat in your rubber before getting jiggy.

Oh, and warm your tires too.

[kawasakirob]

Thanks, I took a look at it, but I was more concearned about street/canyon traction in all conditions vs milage.



.

Just because they are a touring tire does not mean they can't rip the canyon a new one.

[BC14]

Just because they are a touring tire does not mean they can't rip the canyon a new one.

Exactly. I've yet to feel the need for more grip on the ST tires.

[Wrider]

I've run Pilot Power 2CTs, Power Pure race takeoffs, Pirelli Angel STs, and am currently running a Pilot Road 2 rear with a 2CT front.

2CTs: Great grip, but get a little skippy if it's below about 30 degrees out. Lasted about what was expected for sport tires.

Power Pure takeoffs: The grip is sublime, but holy crap they wear out fast.

Angel STs: Put it this way, I took them off within 2000 miles before the halo even wore off (means good things for life, however). They grip (I have video of me scraping foot peg on them), but they're numb as hell, especially when you haven't warmed them up THOROUGHLY.

Currently running a Pilot Road 2 and a 2CT front: grips well, definitely doesn't feel as comfortable as the 2CT on both ends, but it works better than I expected. I can keep up with most riders while being lazy and not scooting my butt off of the seat.

[TransNone13]

CUPs

I'm limited by rear tire size.

[PunyJuney]

The PR3 is the best rain tire out there.

+1, I've bought 3 pairs and they've been great. I even ran a track day on a set of PR3's.. They're awesome, long wearing, sport touring tires.

[Thrill Hill]

You can't go wrong with Q2's in the canyons!

[MilkMan]

Personally my favorite tires, and the ones that will soon be replacing my crap diablo corsas that came on the bike (just my opinion, don't flame away lol) will again be the pilot power 2ct's. Great grip in all conditions, rain, sleet, dry, damp, hot, or cold, I have never felt more confident on a bike then with those tires. Even when they give and step out the rear, it seems so controllable. I personally did not like the Q2's, felt too squirmy and took far to long to warm up, and again that confidence thing came back into play. Just a few more opinions for ya.
-Mick-

[UHATEIT]

Just bought Pilot Road 2 for my SV650 last weekend at Fay Myers. Feels weird with new tires on as I needed to scrub them in and they felt a tad slippery and wobbly, but once I had them warmed up and swaying side to side to scrub them in they feel crazy good. I had heard good things about the Road 2 from reading online that they are awesome in all weather conditions and that with the harder compound in the middle they will last you longer for commuting, driving to the mountains, and on long trips. Depending on your style they are said to last upwards of 10K miles which is a good 3-4 years for me and that made the deal worth it.

The Road 3 is the newer version, but I personally did not like the tread pattern on them and they are pretty hardcore for the wet weather which I don't plan on riding through. Yes rain is unexpected but when it's in the forecast I stay at home. But from what I have heard the Road 2 will still handle like a beast in the rain/snow anyways

[Cornfed]

I'm going to try and sum this up for ya. If you plan on doing more than a couple track days on these tires run a super sport tire (Q2, Pilot, Diablo, etc). If not stick with a sport touring tire. The sport touring compounds available today are damn good in the canyons and will hold up to the occassional track day. Unless your name is Wilson, Turpin or Ienatsch you are unlikely to out ride them. PR3s, although ugly, are unbeatable.
IMO

[UHATEIT]

PR3s, although ugly, are unbeatable.
IMO

Thats what ultimately made my decision in the end of the Road 2 vs the 3. I have heard the 2 are crazy good and can handle any condition. The 3 was better in the rain but that's not to say the 2 is bad by any means. I just didnt like those crazy looking sipes on the front and rear and went with the 2 on looks alone over the 3.

[Nooch]

Even when they give and step out the rear, it seems so controllable. I personally did not like the Q2's, felt too squirmy

Im surprised by this. My Q2s seem very stable as you say the 2CTs are for you. I've lost the rear tire in sand on canyon curves and also in oil on interstate on-ramps and recovered easily. Aside from a pair of Metzelers I had on a ZX6R 7-8 years ago, I have never had more trust in my tires than I do now with the Q2s. Although admittedly, I've never run Pilots on any of my bikes ever. So I certainly can't argue against the 2CT.

Just my $0.02.

[PunyJuney]

I've had 3 sets of Q2's and am on my third pair of PR3's and it's the only tire I'm ever going to buy until someone can convince me that they have something better.
Bad weather is unpredictable and we don't get enough of it to warrant spending extra on a tire IMO, however the bonus of better handling in the rain is just a bonus. The tire is great in the canyons and in all temperature conditions from riding all winter in colorado to a track day in Atlanta. Get the 55 on the rear and you'll even tip in to the corners nicer

[Chaos]

Get the 55 on the rear and you'll even tip in to the corners nicer

#1, Exactly what I did.

[BrianShaw]

Lots of Good Information. Probably any of the suggested tires would do better than what I have right now.

From everything I have read and everything you all wrote, looks like the Pilot Road 3 or 2 may be the way to go. Although I hope to see more reviews on the Pilot Power 3. The Sportmax Q2 is a great price, but for the cost difference, I may need to go the other route.

[BrianShaw]

Do most people here install tires themselves or do you take them to an installer? If you do your own install, do you have any oppinions on Dynabeads for balancing?

[mauser72]

Im a firm beleiver in dyna beads they work great I even run them in my race tires(even though they say not to they have always worked great with no problems)

[Zach929rr]

Buy the most expensive set you can find.

Safety first!

[gregr]

Anyone used the PR2 or 3 on dirt roads? How did they do?

[PunyJuney]

RE: Dirt
well it wasn't intentional to ride dirt, but last Saturday I ran the length of Tarryall road from just above Flourisant off 24 to Jefferson off 285. Of the 50 miles of twisties, about 10 miles is paved on either end, with the middle section somewhat questionable. A lot of it was ground up asphalt and one section of it was actually mulch, as in pine trees fresh out of a chipper! My CBR1000RR earned it's ADV sticker that day lol. The tires did fine, but I wouldn't recommend that road. Maybe next year when it's actually paved