Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

I'm soon up for some new tyres for the 12, currently i have Dunlops all round, 190 sportmax on the rear & sportmax Qualifier on the front.
I think i'm fairly happy with them, its the only set i've ever had on the 12, so i dont know what others tyres are like on the 12...soooooooo
For all the 12R riders out there (you know who you are), do you have any good suggestions of tyres for the 12, as you would know the 12 can be hard on tyres because of the weight.
I dont ride on the track with it, and its mainly a weekend bike having fun.
I was thinking of metzelers M3 for it, but i'm getting REALLY good mileage out of the dunlops, so maybe i should stick with what i know....mmmmm

The Dunlops do seem to take a bit to warm up, but they haven't really let me down yet.
I think definately great mileage and good warm up time and grip would be great.
oh yeh, i dont ride in the rain, unless i'm caught in it, so they dont have to be a real wet weather tyre.
thanks for your help all you 12 riders.

M5 on both of mine

Give our sponsors a try like micks tyres


Or give brisbane motorcycle tyres a call.$450 delivred.

Jonno wrote:M5 on both of mine

Give our sponsors a try like micks tyres


Or give brisbane motorcycle tyres a call.$450 delivred.

Are you back Jonathan?

just in the door now

Jonno wrote:just in the door now

Is Seiko stalking you? lol

Supafrog wrote:

Jonno wrote:just in the door now

Is Seiko stalking you? lol

Funny you should say that. hmmmm

12R Ninja envy

Jonno wrote:

Supafrog wrote:

Jonno wrote:just in the door now

Is Seiko stalking you? lol

Funny you should say that. hmmmm

12R Ninja envy

Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffft !

jonno...
i'm quessing you may have had a few different sets on the 12, can you give me any positive or negatives on a lot of the major brands,(or whatever you've had)
Are the M5 good because of grip,wear,quick warm up?
I have spoken to Micks tyres, been on a few rides with him, will go and see him when i get the chance, he suggests Conti's....any thoughts?
Many people happy with them, so not sure.

I am a Dunlop fan from way back, but there are not really any *bad* tyres made anymore - you can go with just about anything on a 12, except Shinko's !

I have had untold variations of tyres on my 12 mate - from Dunny 208's to M3's to Pilot Race / Road, Pirelli Diablo Corsa's etc etc.

M3's leave really good darkies ! Great grip but they wear out pretty quick. I think I got about 6 or 7k from the M3 rear.
Got a good couple of track days from the Pirelli Corsa's, but not 100% convinced they were a good match for the 12.
I still run a Pilot Power on the front - they are a great front tyre for a barge.

You could also try the new RoadSmarts. I have one of those on the rear at the moment, and it is a good tyre for general everyday riding - like most Dunlops, it needs to be warmed up *properly* before you start to get on it, but the wear rate is good.

Avoid the french-made Dunlops like the plague. I got one of those fitted once - to the front - it was total shite.

The best thing you can do to get maximum tyre wear - is get your suspension sorted *properly*. Don't just dial up all the adjusters to *hard*, because of the OEM soft spring rate - get the forks re-sprung. Its absolutely worth the coin on these bikes.

I've got a ZZR1200 and on the snowies run last year she lunch'd a rear metzeler M3 pretty quick (heavy bike,twisties and a happy wrist). But I did manage to pick up a BT-023 at Jindabyne and have found that to be wearing very well and so far hasn't moved around in wet or dry. If you ever get caught up there Tyrepower does stock a small selection of front/rear tyres for bikes.

But before the snowies again this year I'll make sure I've got full set of Pilot road's as while I've found the bridgy to be ok,the Pilots I've had in the past have worn well and are a great tyre in all conditions.

blackryder wrote:jonno...
i'm quessing you may have had a few different sets on the 12, can you give me any positive or negatives on a lot of the major brands,(or whatever you've had)
Are the M5 good because of grip,wear,quick warm up?
I have spoken to Micks tyres, been on a few rides with him, will go and see him when i get the chance, he suggests Conti's....any thoughts?
Many people happy with them, so not sure.

It depends on the intended use?

The 12R is a different beast to other sports bikes in many ways, big power and heavy bike requires a correctly rated tyre with good construction and Michellin just cant do it right IMO and experience for the long tours I can do, I just cant trust them.

Dunlop lost me when I bought the 2004 12R with the 208 fitted. Dangerous tyre. However Iam using Dunlops on the tracky atm so maybe I can trust them again.

Bridgestone have always been stable, good allrounder, wont let you down.

I have had conti sport attacks, road attacks and they are great tyres all round with solid construction, good wearing etc but you really have to trust the grip and it is there, but I couldn't feel it. Wear .. 6k rear, 8 k front.

M3's I love, best tyre for the road I have tasted to date, stick like shite to a blanket etc, good feed back, good construction. Wear quickly i.e. 4k for a rear 7 k for front.

Diablo corsa3 simular to M3

M5 suppose to supersede the M3. Havnt done enough km's on them to say, if they are as good as the M3 they are a winner, they are suppose to wear better too. So far they seem great, different feel to M3.

I have M5's on both 12R's, time will tell.

Gosling1 wrote:I am a Dunlop fan from way back, but there are not really any *bad* tyres made anymore - you can go with just about anything on a 12, except Shinko's !

I have had untold variations of tyres on my 12 mate - from Dunny 208's to M3's to Pilot Race / Road, Pirelli Diablo Corsa's etc etc.

M3's leave really good darkies ! Great grip but they wear out pretty quick. I think I got about 6 or 7k from the M3 rear.
Got a good couple of track days from the Pirelli Corsa's, but not 100% convinced they were a good match for the 12.
I still run a Pilot Power on the front - they are a great front tyre for a barge.
.............

with ya there Gos
I run Pilot Powers ...F&R on mine
me like

I am stoked with the Conti Sports on my 12 you saw the other night.
Go see Mick, he'll look after you.

thanks everyone for your help, excellent reading there....
i do like the Dunnies i am on now, but they do like to be well warmed up.
Gos, whats these French -made tyres you talk of.....i'll stay away from them, dont think i've seen them, how will i identify them.

GRZX...you had Conti's on the other night?, i didnt even notice, i was too interested on seeing how you attached your gps
I would love to try the M3, heaps of people have said they are good,
decisions decisions...
thanks all

sometime ago - they ran out of Japanese Dunlops, and the local shop was bringing in French 208's. They are shithouse in comparison to the Jap tyres.......same tread pattern.

Unlikely that you will see these anywhere, but just to be sure, ask the seller if they are Jap or French ......even for the 208 replacement....