2002 ZX9r Tyres

Ok Peoples, like the other 101 posts regarding tyres.... well you can make this 102
Ok im up for new tyres on the zx9, they have the pilots (factory standards) and they have lasted for 11k, rat shit though from the highway riding... need more twisties. Anyway the main question is "what have other zx9 tamers used for tyres and why?"

Something for $ vs Kms till rat shit vs Grip = my tyre
Cheers

I ran Metzeler Sportec M1's for a while and they are a nice tyre, you won't go wrong with them. The last time around I put Pilot Powers on and they were awesome. Steer clear of the Diablo's, the ones I had were shyte, although the corsa's are meant to be pretty good.

I tried the budget route Pilot roads FnR "perky !" then the bridgie Budget route 014 F 020 R better but not great response (Technically they dont match as a pair) then went the sticky route 012 SS n they are puerly awesome for grip & should get about 2/3rds the 014/020 milage. The Rennsports are even better for grip but wear out even quicker. The pilot power Rear wont handle the hp/wt.
We are pretty fortunate in that Mick discounts & we get 012 SS, 014, Pilots for $350 fitted so at that cost its silly not to go for the performance tyres. Ring around n see what you can get em for you may be surprised.
Cheers Brett

pilot power for me now.. while i was impressed with the improvement the diablo corsas gave me over the metzeler sportec M1's, the pilot powers have blown away the corsas now - not just for grip and feel, but value for money too... $280-odd compared to $320-odd for a corsa... altho i have to say the wear rate is about the same.. 3500km on my rear one and its 80% shagged now

The pilot power Rear wont handle the hp/wt.

bollocks.. my rear pilot power handles all 145 horses just nicely, its just shagged a lot faster cuz i do a lot of pillioning and i dont pussyfoot thru the bends. my front diablo corsa is now bald on both sides while having 1.5mm tread left in the middle. oh thats right, there's no power to the front...

Well Dave, Mick the tyre magician would fit at least 40 to 50 sets of tyres a week mostly to modern sports bikes. He sells the three main contenders 012 SS 014 & Pilot Powers for the same price & will fit what is requested by owners. Next time your down the bike shop get a 190 pilot n a 190 012 SS n lean on them in the middle of the tread the power will nearly buckle in half n the battlax will flatten out about 2 inches.
According to Mick, Michelin fudged to get the extra grip from the pilot powers by removing a centre belt. Mick's not saying they aren't a good tyre but theres better.
Mate if your happy with anything about your scoot, stick with it, ridings all about confidence imho.
Cheers Brett

happy with anything about your scoot, stick with it, ridings all about confidence imho.
Cheers Brett

of course.. thats what im doin but im keen to find out if what ive got can be bettered by whatever else is out there.. so did mick the tyre magician tell you what removing the centre belt does to a tyre? i'd be interested to know the answer to that one...

Bit long sorry folks.

Yep lets it flex a heap more on the road surface to increase loaded grip.
I believe thats why they dont heat cycle as well on the track n overheat from flexing too much.
hth.
Cheers Brett
I know i'm probably boring some folk, but i used to think if i stuck to one brand i would be safe with tyres. When that myth was busted i thought i'm gonna pick this ol' buggers brain n find out all i can about tyres. So far i've got a reasonable handle on the main points (ask Marty his head was spinning yesterday while we got his hoops fitted ).

Three main things determine sports bike tyre compatability they are:
1. Carcass construction 1 ply 2 ply or 3 ply.
2. Belt construction, Steel, kevlar or whatever else they use.
3. Number of belts fitted to the tyre (2 parts here as well Sidewall n Center).
So a 1ply will work on the front but only if another 1ply or 2ply is fitted to the rear. Thats pretty easy so far but the front 1ply has kevlar belts n the same tyre for the rear has steel belts n they dont match ?. So now your screwed so back to the drawing board. Ok so you find a kevlar belted 2 ply but it has twin sidewall belts for the rear which flexes at a different rate to the 3 belted front tyre so the front tyre triangulates cause it aint flexing enough so ..........
Like the title said Dave,
Tyres .... I surrender .....
But only till i can get my head around enough stuff mick knows then hopefully i will have a pretty good grasp on the these bloody things.

Last edited by Nanna10r on Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:48 am, edited 1 time in total.

I think that is a very over simplified description regarding tyres Brett, as there are differnt ways in which the plys can be layed, and then there is the question about compounds. The tyre manufacturers spend very large amounts of money and resources right down to the chemical and atomic level. For Mick to talk about the pros and cons of a missing belt or belts in the centre of a tyre suggests he either knows more about tyres than Michelin or he does not know what he is talking about. If mixing different brands of tyres is so good I would think the race guys would have been there and done that (250 production races for ex) Just my 2 cents worth.

What tyre makers sell to joe public is a different world to what they make/sell for the track.
Mick has been doing tyres for bikes for over 30 years and he makes a lot of sense when you talk to him. He will make a road tyre from a slick for you with his style of tread, while I was waiting a guy was there getting his 2nd one made and swears by it, and the advantages of a slick construction over a regular tyre are just mind blowing. More meat in the centre, better carcass construction, better compound, whatever. If my rear tyre craps out again at 5000km thats what I will be doing. Mick has commented a few times to me about manufactures and what they sell the public, best you find that out for yourself. Now why do I know mick so well? Give ya a hint ZX12R and non race tyres. I rate I go through tyres I want value...

Pilot sport is one of only 4 immediate options for my rear 200/50, it shreads like paper, good for a few thousand k's. I use to be a big fan of them but had to get realistic.
Sportsmax (orig) good tyre for a while but wear too quick and become quite unpredictable and gooey.
BT 014 so far a good thing, stays alive all the way to the tyre wear indicators still my last 1 lasted 5500km, steel belted and more puncure resistant.
Rennsports I have not tried but not an option for cheaper tyres as they wear like crazy and I don't require that much grip.
Now Iam sure there are other options that I don't know of for tyres.

[end rant]

Neil i couldnt agree more with you as too the endless complexities of tyres.
As for the companies I think Mick has them covered (he actually took one to court because he was Discounting their Premium tyre n they didnt like it as he was undercutting thier "official retail Bike shops" n as such refused to sell him any more product) needless to say mick Can get THAT brand now but aint that keen on them (if they released a better product at a comapritive he price he'd buy a palletfull as he did with supercorsas a coupla years agoi n recently with the 014 SE's)
As for the Prodie races working stuff out, how many blokes would get any sponsorship running 2 brands of the same thing like tyres ... not many i bet.
As for the companies themselves, I asked at Yamaha West today about Bridgies "new u beaut" Production tyre the 002 which Mick was singing about yesterday, (yes he has some n we got to have a look at them) it seems that a Production tyre is'nt good enough to used by us on our Production bikes because some Bean counter wont tick a box to get it Speed rated for road use. Yes we can source them but only if we promise not to use them on the road ...wtf ?
Mick is the most imformed bloke I've ever heard of in this regard & the best part is that he knows what works on our bikes on our roads. I am sure there are more clever n educated folks when it comes to the sciences behind tyres but how many of then Deal with Nevil Nobody with half his dole check left n a POS Z250C. None i bet.
Mick has been there done that he owned for 30 years in the bike n Machining industry he was half owner of "Tyres for Bikes". His set up has no staff (other then the Missus on thta FUGGIN' phone, bugger all overheads n loves a good yarn (looks like low stress early retirement to me) The real benefit to us is thats he isnt after the big bucks & values his knowledge & credibility more then putting a concrete driveway into the "Shed". Stick ya head in some time you cant get 3 bikes in there at the same time n he has probably 300 tyres in stock most bought within the last 6 months. Mate I value his professionalism, honesty & friendship.
I was sus at the beginning as well but he's like the Democrats where in "keeping the barstards honest" . Drop in n take a carton i guarantee you wont be bored. Oh take your own fold up chair my bums sore from sitting on tyres for 4 hours yesterday.
Cheers Brett

w.t.f

scotty & cat , has this guy got you on a retainer or what ?

p.s. hey scotty how many k's on that 12 now ?

rjbert

Mick (also known as mick the magician or god apparently) might know what he's talking about, but i'm prob not the only one who's sick of hearing about him Yes he's cheap, but I'll be buggered if I'm getting someone who balances the tyre by eye to fit them on my bike.

Last edited by ttc on Wed Apr 06, 2005 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yeah probably right about being long Tanya, sorry for that. As for balancing by eye, Gravity is pretty much a constant & you get to watch & see that its right.
Cheers Brett

I wouldnt be running slicks on the road due to less heat cycles,dont hold heat as well and narrower operating temp. Profile prob not the best for road riding either.But give it a go and let us know.

Cya
Stu