Pirelli Angel GTs - 1200kms down.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Pirelli Angel GTs, 110 front and 160 rear, 1200kms down. What's my impression? First of all, as another forum member so sagely posted, when you put new tyres on a bike it is generally the case that they are a definite improvement on those previously fitted. In my case this holds true as my Michelin RP3s were definitely past their use by date when they went to tyre paradise. So this is not a comparison with the RP3s as such, which over their very long life proved to be a tyre I would recommend to any CB owner.

When I fitted the Pirellis I also changed the chain, sprockets, front brake pads, brake fluid and caliper seals. See this thread:
http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=6680
I made that post at only 60kms on the Pirellis. Naturally enough after that work, particularly after the chain replacement, what was old was was smooth again. As the song (almost) goes.

So, after 1200kms, what's the story? Well I am favourably impressed by the Pirellis. I guess I should be, they are a major and well regarded product. They have performed faultlessly in varied conditions. Highway, hairpins and twisties all negotiated with confidence and, best of all, no surprises. What I do like about them is that they tip in to a turn very easily, only a light counter steer and the bike is looking at peg land. This also makes any line adjustments easy. I haven't yet ridden in significantly wet conditions and on only around 10kms or so of dirt but I ride well within my limits here so tyre performance is a minor matter.

Having had a some light peg scrapes this is how the rear tyre looks:



The true proof of the pudding will be tyre wear. That's when I will be able to make a direct comparison with the Michies.

Cheers

[Bike #12_imp]

Thank you for the report. I never get tired of reading about tires, as they are so vital to our fun and safety.

[Henrik_imp]

Thank you for the update! It does seem to be a tire I would like. The easy turn-in is what I liked when I had the Pirelli Diablos on my Corsaro before, and I would like something similar on my CB. What I do find interesting though is the amount of untouched strip left when scraping the pegs. I know my current Dunlops are well worn to the edges, but I guess this is due to mine being the original 140s and your Angels are 160s. Is the wear similar to what you got on the Michelins?

[redbirds_imp]

Ferret had remarked in another post that he was unable to get the rear PR3 all the way to the edge as he had easily done on the OE tires and reckoned that the larger size the reason.

Ptero, I am glad to know that you're are getting good results from the Pirelli's in case the Michelin PR3's I'm running now are discontinued.

[pwh421_imp]

Will the PR3 fit the rear without modification to the bike?

I'm looking to the future and I loved the pr3 on my BMW

[redbirds_imp]

Will the PR3 fit the rear without modification to the bike?

I'm looking to the future and I loved the pr3 on my BMW

Yes, plenty of clearance and I am running a 120 up front with no problems. My Honda dealer could not get a 110 PR3 from his distributor but did have the 120 in stock. I'm happy with the result and am getting excellent wear thus far with no center tread flat spotting.

[pwh421_imp]

Will the PR3 fit the rear without modification to the bike?

I'm looking to the future and I loved the pr3 on my BMW

Yes, plenty of clearance and I am running a 120 up front with no problems. My Honda dealer could not get a 110 PR3 from his distributor but did have the 120 in stock. I'm happy with the result and am getting excellent wear thus far with no center tread flat spotting.

Yes, plenty of clearance and I am running a 120 up front with no problems. My Honda dealer could not get a 110 PR3 from his distributor but did have the 120 in stock. I'm happy with the result and am getting excellent wear thus far with no center tread flat spotting.
Thank you..

[Pterodactyl_imp]

Thank you for the update! It does seem to be a tire I would like. The easy turn-in is what I liked when I had the Pirelli Diablos on my Corsaro before, and I would like something similar on my CB. What I do find interesting though is the amount of untouched strip left when scraping the pegs. I know my current Dunlops are well worn to the edges, but I guess this is due to mine being the original 140s and your Angels are 160s. Is the wear similar to what you got on the Michelins?

Yes Henrik, the wear pattern is similar to the Michelins. Closer to the edge if anything. But I feel sure the profile of the tyres is different. Thus the different "feel", particularly the ease of turn in. The Michelins are not hard at all to tip in so I don't have a criticism there at all. The only way to compare the profile would be to see, or use, new examples of both brands. Not apparent in the photograph, there is some wear closer to the edges, but public road riding is not a place where I like to spend too much time at extreme lean angles. I would say that I had peg touchdowns rather than "scraping" the pegs and causing major wear on them. Not like a mate of mine, an ex-racer who wears the hero pegs to nothing then works on the foot rests and cylinder heads of his BMW. I will be doing a lot riding in the near future, leading up to a group ride through the Snowy Mountains to the MotoGP at PI, so am looking forward to see how these tyres wear.

One thing I will say without hesitation is that that I am sure that I prefer the handling of the bike with both the RP3s, and the Pirellis, to the original D205s or to the BT45s, which were the second set I used.

Cheers, and thanks for your interest.

[DAC]

Good report! Thanks Ptero. It may also be a nit, but the Pirelli's are a tick cheaper here, too. Something like $30 - $40 per set.

[Pterodactyl_imp]

That is not a nit, mate. It's $40 in the kick.

Cheers