Let's talk tyres...

[Bordtea]

Hi everyone

It's that time of year again where I'm starting to prep my bike for the year. My currently tyres (Bridgestone S20 Evo) are totally shagged some it's time to get some new rubber.

My plan for the year is mainly road use with a few trackdays, but I've got a 2 day session at Snetterton booked in for July and I imagine I'll do one or two other trackdays. Other than that, just a few days blasts and possibly a eurotrip. The S20 Evos I found to be great tyres but I was quite dissapointed that the rear only lasted 2.5k miles, so ideally I'd like a bit more life but really I prioritise grip. Generally only ride on dry days so unless I get caught out wet grip isn't too much of an issue.

I've shortlisted a few below with my initial thoughts in current order of preference. Would appreciate any advice/experience/comments/other suggestions.

- Metzeler M7RR. From looking online probably the grippiest tyre but also the most expensive. Tyre wear seems quite fast?
- Bridgestone S21. Much like the S20 Evo which I've enjoyed but better tyre life and grippier. Could be a good compromise.
- Michelin Pilot Road 4. Extremely well reviewed and would probably be the tyre I go for if I was purely riding on road, not sure how they'd cope on track?
- Michelin Pilot Power 3. Seems to be very well reviewed and probably the cheapest of the bunch.

Cheers guys!

Edited by Bordtea on Friday 17th February 12:37

[EvoBarry]

I used PR4s on my K8 at Oulton and while they grip fine, they don't have tons of grip like a sports tyre IME. They slide early too but its very informative so never a concern. M7RR is my next choice unless someone convinces me otherwise.

[Jazoli]

I have used S20 evo's for the last few years, I have recently fitted S21's to my R1 and they have been brilliant so far, no wear, unbelievable stability and fantastic in the wet so its a recommendation from me*.

• I must actually get round to riding the bike at some point...........

[SystemParanoia]

EvoBarry said:

I used PR4s on my K8 at Oulton and while they grip fine, they don't have tons of grip like a sports tyre IME. They slide early too but its very informative so never a concern. M7RR is my next choice unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I think there's still a mm of rubber you haven't used there
Good effort

[Bordtea]

Thanks all for replies so far. M7RR certainly seems to be a solid choice although looks like that PR4 held up well! Bike is a 2011 Speed Triple

[Mr OCD]

I really rate the Pirelli Diablo Rosso 3's ... a really good sports tyre with excellent life. I rate them better than Metzler M7RR's.

As an indicator I used to get around 4-5k from Metzler M7RR's ... yet got 8k from the Pirelli's... including three track days which is nuts.

I'm currently trying Michelin Power RS's that were released last month. Early days for any feedback yet as only done about 200 miles in crap weather.

[SAS Tom]

M7RR's are my tyre of choice. Plenty of grip for road and track. I never had an issue on the road with them and they were good on track at 0 degrees and also 20+ degrees. I got 5000 miles out of a few sets including 4 track days on each set. The wear on them was spot on even on track.

[EvoBarry]

SystemParanoia said:

EvoBarry said:

I used PR4s on my K8 at Oulton and while they grip fine, they don't have tons of grip like a sports tyre IME. They slide early too but its very informative so never a concern. M7RR is my next choice unless someone convinces me otherwise.

I think there's still a mm of rubber you haven't used there
Good effort

My bad, I'm still learning to hang off properly so I was over leaning the bike in fairness, hence running out of tread pretty quickly

I did the Ron Haslam day last year, the Bridgestones they are shod in were very impressive, I think the guy above mentioned them.

[Bikesalot]

If you have a spare ten minutes;

https://birotaruk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/pirelli-d...

Friend put his tyres through a mad dash to Italy and back, plus a track day and the usual UK commute.

[Prof Prolapse]

I've just switched to Bridgestone S21s and they're my favourite at the moment. Mostly because they came in a fair bit cheaper.

Not an expert but previously ran PR3s/PR4s/Rosso IIs.

To be honest, I've little fault with any of them beyond the life expectancy on the Rosso IIs.

[Ki3r]

I had Michelin Pilot Road 3s on my XJ6 and loved them. Current K3 GSXR had Battlax front and rear. I've just swapped the rear to a Michelin Pilot Road 4 and will be doing the front next month. Can't comment on the 4 as only got it on today and only done 20 miles on it. But heard good things about them and if they are the same or better than the 3 I'll be very happy.

[Renn Sport]

I ran S20 on my Blade but they were ok and nothing really more than that.

I am running M7RR on my street bike and to be honest they are fantastic tyres. I have a buddy running these on his road bike and on track and he's enjoying them also.

Personally as a predominantly road tyre I would run the M7RR but if you do more track days then the Supercorsa or Dunlop D211 or D212's would be my personal choice. I favour D212 on the R1 but Supercorsa's on lighter bikes like a 600 or 750 seem t work for me.

[fergus]

Moved from PR4s on my GS to Roadtec01s. You can be fairly aggressive with them, even on road covered in ste and they don't seem to move around too much. In the wet, they inspire more confidence than the PR4 (esp the front).

[SystemParanoia]

Do you guys ever mix and match tyres to fine-tune how the bike behaves under you ?

[Bordtea]

Bikesalot said:

If you have a spare ten minutes;

https://birotaruk.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/pirelli-d...

Friend put his tyres through a mad dash to Italy and back, plus a track day and the usual UK commute.

That's actually really interesting and is temping me towards the pirellis...

[supercommuter]

SystemParanoia said:

Do you guys ever mix and match tyres to fine-tune how the bike behaves under you ?

I run a softer front and endurance rear

[patchb]

I had Pirelli angel GT's on my summer bike which I didn't really rate, swapped to S20 Evos and I love them. They've got about 1.5k on them currently, I'll need to change them this summer and I'll go for the S21 for sure. Dry miles only but I'm sure they are ok in the wet.

Winter bike has continental contimotions on it which are actually pretty good. I rode the bike quite quickly home from work today and they felt good, start to lose a bit of grip near the edges but I put that down to winter road conditions and temperatures. Great in the wet though.

[3DP]

I've not ridden the S21, but the S20s are poor on tyre life and not great cold. The M7RRs are stunning, wet, cold, or dry and hot. On track they are great too. Also managed about 50% longer rear tyre life than on any of the previous sports bike tyres I've had.

PR3s are great, but there is loads of tread shuffle. PR4s are much more stable and nicer and still a good tyre, but unless doing a shed load of miles and winter miles, the M7RR really is the fast road tyre of choice at the moment.

Edited by 3DP on Friday 17th February 20:46

[Birky_41]

Ive always ran Supercorsa SP on road. Great dry warm grip...rubbish the cold and will make you laugh/cry in cold & wet combined depending on how your brain is wired

I used Rosso Corsa at IOM last year and didnt hang about. Grip was much for much the same as supercorsa but didnt feel as soft

Now on M7RR but only used in the wet/cold and they are amazing - like cheating compared to the last two in the wet and cold but cant comment on dry yet. A friend used these who is fast inter/slow fast group and highsided on them at Brands last year, the picture won him a euro track day! Bonus points for however posts the picture I mean as it was spectacular

I didnt like Rosso 2, found them crap in cold and not much feel in the dry. Friend on his MT10 runs the S20 and loves them. We both get 1100-1800 miles out a rear and twice that on a front

If for road and dry any of what you said are good and if for track again the same upto mid inters. I sure as heck wouldnt want to push them hard in fast group but I riding upto Snett on 26th Feb on my Aprilia which runs the M7RR now so if they have spaces in the afternoon I might do a cheeky few sessions and upload it on here. Will soon tell you what my thoughts are of them on track

[3DP]

Birky_41 said:

Ive always ran Supercorsa SP on road. Great dry warm grip...rubbish the cold and will make you laugh/cry in cold & wet combined depending on how your brain is wired

I used Rosso Corsa at IOM last year and didnt hang about. Grip was much for much the same as supercorsa but didnt feel as soft

Now on M7RR but only used in the wet/cold and they are amazing - like cheating compared to the last two in the wet and cold but cant comment on dry yet. A friend used these who is fast inter/slow fast group and highsided on them at Brands last year, the picture won him a euro track day! Bonus points for however posts the picture I mean as it was spectacular

I didnt like Rosso 2, found them crap in cold and not much feel in the dry. Friend on his MT10 runs the S20 and loves them. We both get 1100-1800 miles out a rear and twice that on a front

If for road and dry any of what you said are good and if for track again the same upto mid inters. I sure as heck wouldnt want to push them hard in fast group but I riding upto Snett on 26th Feb on my Aprilia which runs the M7RR now so if they have spaces in the afternoon I might do a cheeky few sessions and upload it on here. Will soon tell you what my thoughts are of them on track

No problems in the fast group at Brands on M7RRs. Supercorsas and Racetec K3s are just st 90% of the time on the road. The Rosso 3s are ok, but not as good as M7RRs and wear roughly the same. If fast road and mix of track in warm dry only, I still rate the Diablo Rosso Corsas as the best tyre out there for that, but not as versatile as the M7RRs and I destroy rear DRCs in under 1200 road miles usually unfortunately. Get nearly twice that out of an M7RR with barely any compromise.