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I just got some terrible news.....my current favorite tire has been murdered by the system.
Supposedly Avon was purchased by another company and all production on original Avon tires has ended. The Spirit ST II that ive been using for years now only exists as "old stock" meaning the tire will fade away just like our beloved michelin PR3 did. The real kicker here is that this leaves almost no truly good tire options left for the bike.
The only two currently in active production that you could call a "good" sport touring tire are the Pirelli Angel GT II and the Metzeler Roadtec Z8 M spec. Both of these tires are reported by most people as having godawful mileage. (Keep in mind im used to getting well over 10k miles out of my rear tire, so anything less than that is godawful to me.)
So....im left with a very bad and very unexpected problem. Without good tires the bike could end up being a shadow of its former self. Its a crisis of faith to be sure. I just dont know what my nextset of tires will be.
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(03-12-2023, 01:54 AM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: I just got some terrible news.....my current favorite tire has been murdered by the system.
Supposedly Avon was purchased by another company and all production on original Avon tires has ended. The Spirit ST II that ive been using for years now only exists as "old stock" meaning the tire will fade away just like our beloved michelin PR3 did. The real kicker here is that this leaves almost no truly good tire options left for the bike.
The only two currently in active production that you could call a "good" sport touring tire are the Pirelli Angel GT II and the Metzeler Roadtec Z8 M spec. Both of these tires are reported by most people as having godawful mileage. (Keep in mind im used to getting well over 10k miles out of my rear tire, so anything less than that is godawful to me.)
So....im left with a very bad and very unexpected problem. Without good tires the bike could end up being a shadow of its former self. Its a crisis of faith to be sure. I just dont know what my nextset of tires will be.
@misterP, I had put new Z8's on my EX - front and rear - some 4500 miles ago. At time of installation the front tire had 4.5mm thread, the rear about 6.5mm. Just went down to the garage, and checked the threats. The back tire has almost the same 6 mm it had when new, the front tire lost 1 mm. Fair enough, everybody rides differently and I am not the most aggressive rider in town. But that doesn't look too bad to me in terms of tire life.
The other thing you need to consider, unlike my earlier (OEM) Dunlops, the Z8 doesn't show any sign of jig-saw or any similar signs.
I'd say "they are not godawful at all.
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I recently switched from the Metzeler Z8 tires to the Bridgestone T32. Radials, stock sizes. A little grippier than the Z8s. I like them.
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Agree with PR3, the best tire I've ever had.
Had Metzeler Z8..I think this tire is made of one compound, therefore fast and not so even wear IMHO. Would not buy them again.
The Angel GT and GT2 is a two-compound tiere which delivers more even wear and longer miles. Have both GT on my standard and front GT on my DLX, rear is Z8.
Not all are available in stock sizes.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/re...yre-review
Let's know your final choice.
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(03-12-2023, 02:24 AM)peterbaron_imp Wrote: Agree with PR3, the best tire I've ever had.
Had Metzeler Z8..I think this tire is made of one compound, therefore fast and not so even wear IMHO. Would not buy them again.
The Angel GT and GT2 is a two-compound tiere which delivers more even wear and longer miles. Have both GT on my standard and front GT on my DLX, rear is Z8.
Not all are available in stock sizes.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/re...yre-review
Let's know your final choice.
I have always found all the dual compound tyres I've had on my bikes don't last as well as single compounds have...BUT I ride two up on heavy bikes ALL the time.
The dual compounds completey wear out on the soft sides leaving a nasty lip where the harder compound starts.
Mind you I never ride motorways but always stay on curvy roads.
Just shows how different we all are eh?
JT
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(03-12-2023, 02:23 AM)Pauley_imp Wrote: I recently switched from the Metzeler Z8 tires to the Bridgestone T32. Radials, stock sizes. A little grippier than the Z8s. I like them.
@Pauley, going from any old tire to any new tire will most likely make the new one (after run-in) "feel" grippier, don't you think ?
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(03-12-2023, 02:38 AM)Jonnyteabag_imp Wrote: (03-12-2023, 02:24 AM)peterbaron_imp Wrote: Agree with PR3, the best tire I've ever had.
Had Metzeler Z8..I think this tire is made of one compound, therefore fast and not so even wear IMHO. Would not buy them again.
The Angel GT and GT2 is a two-compound tiere which delivers more even wear and longer miles. Have both GT on my standard and front GT on my DLX, rear is Z8.
Not all are available in stock sizes.
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/re...yre-review
Let's know your final choice.
I have always found all the dual compound tyres I've had on my bikes don't last as well as single compounds have...BUT I ride two up on heavy bikes ALL the time.
The dual compounds completey wear out on the soft sides leaving a nasty lip where the harder compound starts.
Mind you I never ride motorways but always stay on curvy roads.
Just shows how different we all are eh?
JT
I have always found all the dual compound tyres I've had on my bikes don't last as well as single compounds have...BUT I ride two up on heavy bikes ALL the time.
The dual compounds completey wear out on the soft sides leaving a nasty lip where the harder compound starts.
Mind you I never ride motorways but always stay on curvy roads.
Just shows how different we all are eh?
JT
I always ride by myself, no commuting at all and , lofs of long distance and motorways, not so many curvy rds around here. This can have a significant impact on our rides.
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(03-12-2023, 02:23 AM)Pauley_imp Wrote: I recently switched from the Metzeler Z8 tires to the Bridgestone T32. Radials, stock sizes. A little grippier than the Z8s. I like them.
Whats your riding habits like? Deep twisties? Hard cornering? Id have to look and see if the t32 comes in the oversized profiles of 120/70 and 160/60 because the stock sizes are too narrow for me. Id run out of contact patch and it would limit my lean angle significantly.
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(03-12-2023, 03:28 AM)misterprofessionality_imp Wrote: (03-12-2023, 02:23 AM)Pauley_imp Wrote: I recently switched from the Metzeler Z8 tires to the Bridgestone T32. Radials, stock sizes. A little grippier than the Z8s. I like them.
Whats your riding habits like? Deep twisties? Hard cornering? Id have to look and see if the t32 comes in the oversized profiles of 120/70 and 160/60 because the stock sizes are too narrow for me. Id run out of contact patch and it would limit my lean angle significantly.
All the above here Mr. P. and I never get enough of it. Okay, I could do with less super slab.
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Anyone thinking that a 160 rear mounted on the stock Honda 4 in rim is gonna give a better contact patch is sadly mistaken. It’s just too narrow, every tire manufacturer I know recommends a 4.5 in rim for a 160. You can tell just by looking at the pics here of those who have done it as the sides of the tire are pinched closed not allowing full access to the edges. A 150 is doable but I’m afraid mounting a 160 “to get more lean angle” is simply incorrect.
Case in point, people forget the original 86-87 GSXR bikes came with 18 in wheels front and rear. And guess what sizes Suzuki speced for their latest hypersport? How about a 140/70 for the 750’s 3.5 in rear rim and a 150/70 for the 1100’s 4.0 in rear.
Both GSXR’s were advertised as having a 55 degree lean angle capability and in all the numerous publications of the day that track tested these bikes I don’t remember reading once where any moto journalist ran out of contact patch.
The 2nd gen 750’s went to a 160 rear (17 in) but it was on a 4.5 in rim
