Tyres - I Surrender

BUMP, Well Glenn & Mick the Tyre Magician we're RIGHT.

Done about 1500ks on the Bridestone Battlax 012 SS 'es n they are by Far n away the BEST tyre I've ever riden on. Good cold grip, seem to warm quickly & dont seem to get too hot n paper up. ekmerlent in the wet & they are'nt prone to puncture easily (I've seen a stone Bruise Destroy the inner cancass of a pilot power).
So anyway give em a Try guys I think there only flaw may be over confidence as i'm easily riding past my old limits n havent had a warning slip yet .
Cheers Brett

I have one on the back of the new zx9, and I agree - seems to be a good tyre for grip.
I can't tell what it's like for wear-rate though as I don't know how many k's it did before I got it - be interested to know what you find there Brett.
I'm expecting to go the 020 next though as I don't think the wear-rate would compare (SS = SuperSport no? ie very soft)
ty

Yeah Ty, its the stickiest road tyre Bridgestone make atm, but having said that Mick reckons they wear extremely well n last nearly as long as the 014. As for the 020 Mick says it is what to match it with as its composition means it flexes at a different rate to any of the other bridgestones.
As for a pair of 020 i've heard they're not a good idea on the front at all. He carries Shinko's for those on a really tight budget that want to get every km outta a set of rubber & has some good stories about them as well.
Yankee is talking about getting some tyres this week So I'll continue to pick Micks Brain while we are there.
Cheers Brett

As for the 020 Mick says it is what to match it with as its composition means it flexes at a different rate to any of the other bridgestones.

Not sure I understand this comment - I think there's a typo somewhere but not sure where - can you clarify?
I'm not keen on the 020 on the front - experience on the ZZR - it was ok but felt loose too often. But 014 front and 020 rear worked well.
ty

No typo just me being Irriterate Ty, sorry mate.
I had 014 front 020 rear & while it was better then the 3 year old Pilot Roads that were Oem. It did however feel Vague when pushing n was hard to get a good suspension set up. This combination also tends to triangulate the front 014 n then its replacement time if you really want to "Push".
The 020 has a different number of Belts & a different composition to the 010,012 ss n 014 & thats the Dilemma. They make a great rear tyre but nothing matches then as well at it should on the front including another 020.
Cheers Brett

I've been extolling the virtues of Bridgestones for some time now....
And now that I decided to give the Michelins a go, you're telling me the Bridgeys are better? I can't fuggen win!

I've been extolling the virtues of Bridgestones for some time now....
And now that I decided to give the Michelins a go, you're telling me the Bridgeys are better? I can't fuggen win!

Can always change back jason.

hmm i love the bridgeys, but i love the michys even more!!

i need a new rear but the front will last a bit longer.
will it be ok to run the new michelin rear and old 014 on the front?!
cheers

i need a new rear but the front will last a bit longer.
will it be ok to run the new michelin rear and old 014 on the front?!
cheers

Booze just got off the phone to Mick the "Tyre Magician". He said it will handle like SH1T, But if you deal with that till you get the powers on the front go ahead n fit it up.
The O14 is single ply n the powers is 2 ply so its the wrong way for tyre flexability. It does work really well the other way with the 014 rear n powers front (he fitted them to my Fzr6 for the track ).
He also had some concerns re front as he said he thought they may be a 60 profile n had some clearance issues with going to a 65 or 70 profile which are available in the 12ss n powers (I think). So what are the satndard sizes & I'll get a better answer tomorrow while I'm there with Marty.

PS this is the abbreviated answer, hope i did it justice.

Cheers Brett

thanks for that mate. its handling like shit now so ill be able to handle it for a while longer
and the standard sizes are.

Front 120/65ZR17
Rear _ 180/55ZR17
i really appreciate your help mate

Last edited by booze on Thu Mar 31, 2005 5:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

same sizes as mine... crazy 65 on the front. last time Mick put me on the 70 instead, it is magic i tell ya!
anyway, off i go to see him tomorrow......

So for the track, Is the Power better or the 012SS?
I have Powers F/R & only small gripe is the back was getting a little slippery exiting turn 3@Darlington, it was sliding abit, but still FUN!

I was thinking about a set of Medium Power Race? for trackdays depending on cost & durability. ??

i was talkin to an old guy up at Gorious last week, he uses Pilot Race on his road bike and reckoned its the duck nuts and gets heaps of wear. The down side is according to Hammer is that it cools down very quickly. When i went to QR last year there were a few guys on Pilot Race and I spoke to a couple of em (zx10r and a Duc 749R) both said that you got to go real easy on the first lap but after that they stick like shit to the proverbial (neither of em were using tyre warmers)

I'm in the market for a new rear only to replace my Pilot Sport, I'm going with a Power on the back and the Sport on the front (i'll get it from simon from Nthside Brendale he's only $20 more expensive than Mick). To be honest I dont think that much of the Sports they've only lasted 3500km with one track day. The Dunslops 208's that i went down to PI and back on (5600km) although farked when i got back gave a much better ride when they came in (after about 750kms) and right till i chucked them.
Next pair i think i'll get BT012ss or the newer D208 race rep, dunno about the Pilot Race?

Gizmo "Mick likes the Pilot Powers" on the front of anything sports. The problem with the Pilot powers Rear is that they removed a belt to make it stickier/flex more, they therefore have less structural strenght n can puncture from as little as a stone Bruise (Mick has one he kept that didnt even make a hole on the outside n destroyed the inner wall )
They also tend to Paper up n go off with serious loads through them. So they are perfect for anything that isnt going to tear them up so anything under a newer 750 will be fine. Just becareful how they heat cycle n they ll do the job.

I'm gonna take a pen n paper n make a list tomorrow of what he reckons for various scoots in various condtions.
At this point i know that :
- for the litre bikes n new 750's ,012 SS pair, 014 pair, Powers F 014 R work.
- for the ZXR400 014s best as they are 60 profile F&R
- ZX12R 014 pair but front must be SE(front) construction.
- pilot power F will work with 012ss or 014 rears.
- nothing matches 020 Rear (Good tyre) accept another 020 Front (which lack grip)
- Dunlops 207, 208 give constant adhesion down to the canvas. (not as sticky as the other race bred tyres though)
None of these are budget line tyres but he says if you look after them they are good value for money. It can be pretty hard to work some bikes out cause not all brands come in all sizes.