Sport touring tire recomendation

[Lionel Cosgrove]

That's your problem right there. 34psi is a pretty low pressure (I'm assuming you're talking about the rear tire). I run my rear around 40 and front around 34. And that's on a Multi 1100S, which isn't super heavy. I'd up that a couple PSI for a heavier bike. Higher pressures mean lower tire temperatures and less flex, both getting the tire to last longer.

Hypermotards are supposed to be run at 34/34.

 

[WWWobble]

Too many factors to pick a winner. Maybe easier to identify a loser or ones that should be avoided.

I also find that the same tires can "feel" differently on different bikes.

My VFRs liked Roadsmarts, my FJR likes Roadsmarts, my FZ-1 does not get along well with Roadsmarts.

I'm sure there's lots of reasons why this can happen, all I know is that if somebody likes Brand X tire on a BMW R1200R, that does not mean Brand X tire will work well on a VFR sort of thing, even though the bikes are close in weights.

You've just got to pick a set and try them. Then pick another set to compare. All part of the fun.

 

[Kestrel]

So called "sport touring" tires are really good these days.

I've got Michelin Pilot Street radials on my Ninja 250... They're currently at about 9000 miles (did a cross country USA trip this summer), and still have at least another 4000 left in them *at least*. They have great grip, too, as my knee puck will attest. Something like $200 for the pair? What a deal.

 

[redtail]

Hypermotards are supposed to be run at 34/34.

Exactly.
KTM recommended 29/29 for my SMC. There is no universal pressure for all bikes that will assure mileage/grip.

I also find that the same tires can "feel" differently on different bikes.

This is a great point, an opinion of a particular tire is for the most part, based on experience with that tire/bike combination. Also riding style and preference.

 

[ilikefood]

Hypermotards are supposed to be run at 34/34.

Weird. The Hypermotard only weighs about 40 lbs less than the air-cooled Multi, so I don't know why that should mean a rear tire pressure that's 20% lower. The recommended rear pressure for my DRZ-SM is about 34 lbs, and that's on a bike that's about 100 lbs lighter, and on a much narrower tire. It's also strange that the rear and front have the same recommended pressure.

 

[zixaq]

The dunlop Roadsmart do have a $100 rebate deal going right now, which makes them pretty cheap. Might be worth a shot.

I've been generally happy with the T30s, although the front wears fast on the sides for me and it starts to turn like shit after 4kish miles.

I'm actually going to switch to sport tires after this set, since I almost never get to wear out tires anyway (too many punctures).

 

[davidji]

The dunlop Roadsmart do have a $100 rebate deal going right now, which makes them pretty cheap. Might be worth a shot.

If only that were true. The deal I saw expired last Sunday. Bought one this week with plans to buy the other very soon.

 

[Lionel Cosgrove]

Weird. The Hypermotard only weighs about 40 lbs less than the air-cooled Multi, so I don't know why that should mean a rear tire pressure that's 20% lower. The recommended rear pressure for my DRZ-SM is about 34 lbs, and that's on a bike that's about 100 lbs lighter, and on a much narrower tire. It's also strange that the rear and front have the same recommended pressure.

Running 34 psi on a drz sm rear seems really high to me. I'll run 29 psi max if I plan on spending time on the freeway

 

[3B43]

Ive put 75,000 miles on my '12 MTS in 5 years and have run every S/T tire on the market. Before opining/commenting on these tires, I have to define how I ride. FWIW....I run 2:05's at Thunder Hill on my 600 track bike (running Q3's), if that means anything to you guys.

TF30R: most grip of ANY S/T I've run. The rear has a different profile, from any other tire I've run, which makes the bike 'feel' different on the rear. Run in 'sport' mode (rode hard!) they lasted 3850 miles.

Angels: real close to the TF30's for grip and feel great. Ridden 'hard' they lasted 3900 miles.

Road Smart II: great overall tire. I ran a Q3 frt/RSII rear several times...a great combo. Sets lasted between 4100-4600 miles, depending....

Roadtec 8: very similiar to the Angels in grip & feel.

Road Smart III: great grip (close to the Angels) + they lasted 4700 miles. Possibility the best S/T tire I've used on the grip vs longevity.

PR3/PR4: I like the 3's better then the 4's. If longevity is important, get the 4's. Not crazy about the frt because it wanders slightly on grooved pavement.

My favorite would be between the Angels and new RSIII's.

With all this said.....I was talking to a Dunlop tire guy, at MGP several years ago, and mentioned I was running a Q3 frt/RSII rear and he asked why. I told him I loved the way the Q3 felt under braking. He said, 'OK, I'll buy that. If you said grip I'd say this: if ur running out of grip with the RSII on the street, ud better rethink ur speed'.

 

[WWWobble]

With all this said.....I was talking to a Dunlop tire guy, at MGP several years ago, and mentioned I was running a Q3 frt/RSII rear and he asked why. I told him I loved the way the Q3 felt under braking. He said, 'OK, I'll buy that. If you said grip I'd say this: if ur running out of grip with the RSII on the street, ud better rethink ur speed'.

Nice.

I bet you could say that about all the tires you've mentioned.
We have way better tires to choose from than even only a few years ago.

 

[Zwicker]

For a 450 pound 120 hp sportbike.
Do I just buy a set of Pirelli Angel GT's and forget it?

I have 2000 miles a set of Angel's, they are awesome tires. I highly recomend them.

Matt

 

[fubar929]

Exactly.
KTM recommended 29/29 for my SMC. There is no universal pressure for all bikes that will assure mileage/grip.

But you think there is a universal pressure that applies to every tire you could possibly mount on your motorcycle?

 

[ilikefood]

Running 34 psi on a drz sm rear seems really high to me. I'll run 29 psi max if I plan on spending time on the freeway

I meant 32 (not 34). That's what the DRZ-SM user manual recommends. 32 rear, 26 front. I haven't had any problems with those pressures, or with running around 34f 40r on my Multi, just apparently many more miles per tire than what most people are seeing.

 

[KnifeySpoony]

To those with lots of experience with sport touring tires- anyone know which tires have the softest carcass? I have the roadtec01s and they grip well and are wearing well (on my XR), but they have an extremely stiff carcass. I prefer the feel of a softer tire. I had T30s before these and they had a slightly softer carcass that I find more confidence inspiring, eve if the grip isn't any better.

 

[WWWobble]

To those with lots of experience with sport touring tires- anyone know which tires have the softest carcass? I have the roadtec01s and they grip well and are wearing well (on my XR), but they have an extremely stiff carcass. I prefer the feel of a softer tire. I had T30s before these and they had a slightly softer carcass that I find more confidence inspiring, eve if the grip isn't any better.

The Roadsmart IIs seemed a bit softer than the T30GT spec on the FJR, but my impression (formed years ago and maybe no longer valid) is that the sport tires are all lighter and softer in general.

When my only street bike was a VFR, the Qualifiers, Diablos, and Bridgestone BT016s definitely had less "stiff" feeling than the first Roadsmarts did.

Only one way to find out I suppose, and I can guess what a strong right hand on a S1000XR will do to a set of sport compound tires

 

[moto-rama]

I really like Michelin PR4s on my '09 Multi 1100. Amazing wet grip compared to some Pirellis I've had on other bikes before, and they last for a long time. I got more than 15K miles of commuting out of them before getting close to wear bars. I replaced them because the rear squared off, but that's what highway commuting does to tires.

I'll second the endorsement of the MichelinPR4 GTs for a heavier bike, but I like RoadSmarts or the regular PR4s on a 500 lb ish bike, very solid feel, and great tread life.

 

[redtail]

But you think there is a universal pressure that applies to every tire you could possibly mount on your motorcycle?

no, duh!

 

[kuksul08]

I didn't like the Angel GT's at all. They had a totally 'dead' feeling, I couldn't tell what was going on between the rubber and the road. Only once they were about 75% worn out did they start feeling great.

 

[FreeRyde]

I didn't like the Angel GT's at all. They had a totally 'dead' feeling, I couldn't tell what was going on between the rubber and the road. Only once they were about 75% worn out did they start feeling great.

Once the carcass rubber has been heat cycled 74 times

 

[T100]

Hypermotards are supposed to be run at 34/34.

What year? My 2015 spec is 36/36.