Recommend me a Tyre

Vukie · Post by **Vukie** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:00 am

Hi all,

Im after a set of new tyres for my 636, she is still on the standard tyre which i think was a BT14, i have had her our at eastern creek and was happy with the performance of the tyre. These days i dont go to the track too often and the bike is only really ridden on the weekend or to work when the weather is nice. Not really too sure what is good and whats not, im not after a super sticky tyre as i dont think my riding will get it anywhere near its optimal operating temps, i more after a tyre that i can use to ride to work and take up the old road on the weekends, basically what i want to stay away from is the full on race tyres that need heaps of heat in them to get them working, im more after a tyre that will be good when cold but will also be able to take some abuse on the track from a very average rider

Cheers
Vukie

JPaddo · Post by **JPaddo** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:23 am

Michelin!

Bit of a broken record but I say go the power pures due to the quick warmup. They're 2-compound so all that commuting won't prematurely wear the middle, and on the very first ride you'll notice how light it is compared to other tyres.

My set has done 2 track days, a few weekends, and a whole bunch of road duty including plenty of freeway, they've worn evenly, and I'm still on em (although due soon for a replacement)

Here's a review:
http://www.ducatinewstoday.com/2010/11/ ... re-review/

Other than that pilot road 2 or 3 are both good tyres, also dual compound but longer wearing with good grip.

Vukie · Post by **Vukie** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:18 am

Thanks JPaddo,

Was leanign towards Michelin after riding a mates RSV1000 that had some and it was great, but i was leanign towards the pilot powers, is there much difference between the Pilot Powers and the Pilot Pure? to me the pure looks like more of a track focused tyre, what is the wear like? i got 9k out of my BT14's so would be happy to get about the same out of my next set

JPaddo · Post by **JPaddo** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:47 am

Think a 12 will usually get 6000 km out of one... but remember, it's a 12, they tend to shred those rears up good. I'm sure someone can chime in with 636 numbers, which should be a lot higher.

Pilot Power 2CT is an excellent tyre also. They are pretty close in terms of wear and grip and some people swear by them. Power Pure is sort of the successor to the Pilot Power, so michelin have done a nice comparison for us (take with grain of salt): http://www.michelinpowerpure.com/en/mic ... ology.html

BarraSpalding · Post by **BarraSpalding** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:49 am

I put a set of Pilot Powers on my 636, alot of flat riding when I was back in Townsville, not many corners in that area. My rear has squared off so its gotta go... but they have lasted over 2 years, approx. 10k's i guess, cant recall (checked the receipt from when I bought them, they failed to jot down the KM's).

Good tyre for everyday riding, I felt they squirmed around abit when I got them warmed up on really twisty roads up around the atherton tablelands (cairns). But never felt they would let go.

BarraSpalding · Post by **BarraSpalding** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 7:52 am

And sorry to hijack your thread... but as I feel only my rear is due for a change - would it be a big problem if I put a Power Pure on the rear, and left the Pilot Power on the front until its due???

JPaddo · Post by **JPaddo** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 8:28 am

You aren't supposed to mix and match no... most tyre experts seem to think this is a very bad idea. The grippier rear on the Pure can overwhelm the front. If you must mix and match, you'd be better off with a stiffer rear such as a pilot road 2.

How many heat cycles have the tyres been through though? You might find even though the front looks good, it's cured pretty good by now and very hard. Age can be a factor too.

When I bought my bike it had some 6 year old pirelli's on it, brand new in terms of tread depth. Unfortunately they'd been curing the whole time and were as hard as a rock and gripped terrible. They had to go. (Not to mention the previous owner seemed to like rubbing tyre shine on em)

Nelso · Post by **Nelso** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:10 am

I don't know why people rave about Michelins so much. The set I had kept sliding all over the place when you were on the edge. They did leave big impressive darkies out of every corner though.

To be honest, unless you can ride fast there's not much between all the major brands. For example Bridgestone 016s offer good grip but the fronts wear fast when you push them hard, but the average rider will never load the front up so they won't notice. Also Metzler M5s are probably the best all round tyre on heavier bikes but if they are like the old m3s they won't perform as good on a lighter 600, but again the average rider will not be able to tell the difference as they will never get them to work that hard.

So try them all and judge for yourself. Michelin this set, Metzler the next, then Bridgestones, then Dunlops, then Pirellis etc and I'll bet you can't pick much of a difference between them.

JPaddo · Post by **JPaddo** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:37 am

Nelso wrote:The set I had kept sliding all over the place when you were on the edge.

They are squirelly, that's for sure. Soft sidewalls. I don't mind it, makes me feel like a motogp rider

I am annoyed that the one set of Pirellis I had were old and cured to the point where it was like riding on glass. I'll probably give em a go again at some point. Many years on BT010 and similar turned me off em. In the dry they were great but they were just atrocious in the wet and cold (just my experience.)

The real reason I like the power pures though is simply due to weight. This bike of mine handles like a truck in stock form and needs a bit of help here and there.

stetto · Post by **stetto** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:40 am

I'm not sold on the powerpures, they were ok for css, and great at the drags because of the light weight but the 2nd time on track at faster speeds the rear just would not hook up. I'm gunna try r10's and if that fails back to racetecs

sent from my Android using Tapatalk

Blurr · Post by **Blurr** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:00 pm

Will be on R10's this weekend for AFXC

Although looking at them I would not reccomend them for road use. The have one of the smallest/minimalist tread pattern know to man.

Blurr · Post by **Blurr** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:02 pm

Oh and Q2's are great also.

Front provides some of the steepest curve for improved turn in I have ever tried and the rear hooks up pretty good also (if you get my drift

)

JPaddo · Post by **JPaddo** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:07 pm

Interesting re the Q2's. I have a voucher from CSS actually. If I buy some Q2s at EC they'll give me a free track day. $250 saved right there, or makes CSS half price, however you want to look at it.

I guess I should look into those as well. I had heard mixed reviews about them.

StuMiller · Post by **StuMiller** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 12:13 pm

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago and the Q2 tyre seemed a popular choice. My bike is a 2007 ZX6 with mostly road riding, with some track time leads me to consider the Q2 when I'm ready.

gixxerdave · Post by **gixxerdave** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 1:13 pm

Power pure is overkill for what you want to do with your 636.

I'd go for a pilot road 2. Harder middle and slightly softer sides which are the equivalent of the pilot powers, for the corners. You'll find they're more than adequate for your needs.

I'd been using pilot powers on my old GSXR for years and never faulted them. Short warm up and all, but on a hot day hammering the twisties they'll get greasy. And thats a good sign for you to back off a bit. I decided to try the metzeler m5's but for some reason they never gave me the same amount of confidence that the powers did. And surprisingly with the road 3's I've put on my loan zx12, I've found them to be bloody good. Even when cranked right over.

Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum