Tires, hoops, rubber, etc.

[Dan K]

Ok, it's time to replace the rubber on my '06 Triumph Sprint.  There' meat left, but they are also a bit old and I've abused them.

Tires are a mystery to me, and I know most of you prefer to have some background prior to making a recommendation (which is what I'm asking for), so here we go.

Bought the bike after it had been stored about 18 months two seasons ago. Tires had been replaced not too many miles before it was stored - the bike had 6k miles on it - and there was plenty of tread, even if they weren't fresh. Tires are Continental Road attacks.

Tires have been great. Bike always felt planted, it leaned over without any drama, and they stuck like glue on a hot day in Indianapolis at Putnam Raceway (although they were quite shredded) for my first track day.

After some commuting, the tires no longer look like they've been abused at the track and they seem no worse for wear.

About 4.5k miles since buying the bike, I now have a slow leak in the back, plugged what I thought was the hole, and it still leaks. I'm thinking I'll replace the front and back.

I've used pilot road 2's on my old FZ1 and liked them. I had pirelli diablo super corsas on my Tuono, and I think the same on my current sport bike, the Daytona 675 (which are somehow holding up after 5 track days...despite being shredded from side to side, and blue at the edges from too many heat cycles; they still heat up quick, but slip a little if not totally warmed up).

So I'm pretty easy to please, but the Sprint is my commuter and long distance tourer - read: not nearly enough twisties.

What do you guys recommend? I lean the thing over pretty good when I can, but basically ride upright and want that impossible combo of handling and durability.

I'm ok if they don't last forever if they feel better on the road, but don't want tires that will wear out after a few thousand miles - this is an ST bike, after all.  

With all of that background, can you guys make a recommendation?  As I said above, tires are still a bit of a mystery to me. Want the bike to feel good in the dry, but I do get stuck in the rain on occasion during the commute home. If you were in this boat, and could buy any pair but didn't want to spend unnecessary cash (already willing to buy a tire that may need replacement earlier than some other ST tires...), what would you buy?

Thanks for the help,

- Dan

[expatbrit]

PR2s all the way.

[Strog]

I've been using the Road Attacks for the last few sets on my SV and really liked how quickly they warm up, tip and don't seem to drop off all the way through the wear cycle. I recently swapped out for Road Attack 2 on the rear with a Sport Attack on the front. I'm really digging this setup but we'll have to see how well they wear.

If you really like the Road Attack then you might consider the Road Attack 2. Otherwise I'd probably look at the PR2/3 for more mileage.  

[Grainbelt]

I'd think any dual-compound ST tire would be a good place to start. Michelin PR3 are getting great reviews for wet grip, but are pretty spendy.

Best value are probably the Bridgestone BT023. I've gone thru two sets of their predecessor BT021 on middleweights and managed 8000 miles from a rear tire.

[Playinthestreet]

I got good mileage from the Bridgestone B021.  Not the stickiest, if that's important.

[Kootenanny]

I went through two sets of Road Attacks, and really liked them.  Currently, though, I'm running PR2s, which I like as much as the Contis for handling, but they seem to be lasting longer...

[ukilme]

I have a 09 Sprint and got the Angel ST put on.  Great tire overall and  plenty sticky for spirited riding.  I am not a slow rider but some guys that I have ridden with have these tires and they ride like they are on a track w/o issues.

I tend to be the last one at most stops

[bomber]

I've really enjoyed the PR2s on my Tiger, lasted much longer than the Angels, and provide pretty good grip . . . . . . .

[Dan K]

I'm leaning toward the PR2's, as I enjoyed them on the FZ1 and they seem to fit the bill, but are they still being made?  Were they discontinued for the PR3's, so the only ones available are becoming, I don't know, stale?

With 2 bikes and little kiddies in the home, I don't put on as many miles as  I used to so they may be on the bike for a while...

- Dan

[bomber]

just installed fresh ones, er, mumble mumble, carry the 4, two weeks ago.

[Papa Lazarou]

Hippie

[Dan K]

Hippie

Your mama?

- Dan

[Rincewind]

I have a 09 Sprint and got the Angel ST put on.  Great tire overall and  plenty sticky for spirited riding.  I am not a slow rider but some guys that I have ridden with have these tires and they ride like they are on a track w/o issues.

I tend to be the last one at most stops

I like the Angels as well - I just went through about three sets.  But recently I went with ContiMotions because I scored a package-deal for $160 (front & rear).  I just put them on last week and so far they are great. 

[county]

Get whatever road tire (High mileage, not sport) that you can get cheapest...

[Dan K]

I like inexpensive, but I also like traction more than a few bucks.

- Dan

[FiremanBob]

Michelin PR2 or 3 (if you are rich), or Avon Storm are the only tires I consider for ST riding on my bikes.

[sammyseaman]

Hippie

Yuppie

[Papa Lazarou]

PAUL HOFFMAN

[sammyseaman]

I'm not a Dunlop fan but had RoadSmarts on my '06 Sprint and really liked the way they felt  

[akahige]

On my 955 Sprint, I prefer the BT-023 to the PR2CT.

[ConPilot1]

My Sprint St riding pal likes the Conti road attacks.

[D-Mac]

EASY call for me to make. Pilot Road 3s. Once you try them you'll forget about everything else.

In the past 2 1/2 years I've gone through two sets of PR2s (excellent tire), a set of Z6s (yuck - hated them), a set of BT020s (ok tire), and two sets of PR3s. Any of the dual compound tires is a very good option.

The new PR3s are MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better than anything I've ridden on (PR2s included folks). First, they handle the wet very well - even better than the excellent traction you get with the PR2s. They are simply the best tire in the wet I've ever ridden on. Period. No comparison. Confidence-inspiring is an understatement. They also hold a line well.

Most importantly, the PR3s have overcome the one problem I've had with the PR2s and other tires I've used - uneven wear patterns. By about 6,000 miles my PR2s were always starting to square off in the rear and scallop in the front. There was always lots of wear left, but by 8-9K I had to toss them. Bummer.

The change in compound pattern on the PR3s has solved this problem for me. I put 7K on my first set before a puncture, and they looked like new. I have nearly 13,000 miles on my current set and they have WELL over 50% tread remaining! The rear has only now started to square off (slightly), and the front is just beginning to deform a little. They still ride fine. My PR2s didn't look as good at half the mileage. The 13K came from a ride in the Iron Butt Rally, so I was carrying a fair bit of weight on the bike and riding at higher speeds on a lot of flat roads. Other riders in the rally who ran PR3s also finished raving about them just as much. The PR2 was still the preferred choice for the event this year, but only because the PR3 was so new it hadn't been tested. Not a single rider who switched to PR3s plans to switch back to the 2s.

The PR3s are expensive. However, they last so much longer and handle so well it's more than worth the extra cost for me!

[Dan K]

Very helpful.  My wet riding consists of getting caught in the rain on the way home from work when I chanced it based on dry weather in the AM and getting caught on the way back from my many trips to Michigan.

NOT the highest priority, but very nice feature and it will come in handy. BUT - is the dry handling truly better than the PR2's?  I do like to jazz on the bike a little...even if it's not the bike I take to the track...

- Dan

[jfusaro]

I have the PR3's and liked the 2's better, the front of the 3's  started to cup at about 1000 mi much like the original Bridgestones did. Although after a long tour to the White Mt's. without pushing them much they seemed to have smoothed out a bit. I got 6000 mi out of the 2's and the front and rear wore out together. If I could do it again I would have put the 2's back on, just me talking out loud

[cognosticator]

I just put on a set of the Continental Conti Motion ST tire. $180 for the set to my door.  Don't even have 1 mile on them yet, but this Saturday I will put a couple hundred on them to break them in.

They have good reviews and I am hoping I can get 6k from the rear.

The last 3 tires on my C14 were the Shinko 009, Shinko 011 and the Pirelli Angel.  Loved them all but didn't get much mileage from the Shinko and 6k from the Pirelli

[Rincewind]

I just put on a set of the Continental Conti Motion ST tire. $180 for the set to my door.  Don't even have 1 mile on them yet, but this Saturday I will put a couple hundred on them to break them in.

They have good reviews and I am hoping I can get 6k from the rear.

Sounds like we got a similar smoking deal.  I'm about 500-miles into my Conti Motions.  So far they are a very good and predictable set of tires.  

[Cricket1]

PR2's.

I'm on my second set, just installed last week. Previously I had the Z6, decent, but the rear flat spotted badly by about 5K and was to the cords by 7k  The last set of PR2s had 8K and the rear had just hit the wear bars, front had about 2-3K left. The PR2's did not flat spot at all, and I live in the flatlands of N. Ohio.  I replaced them both.

By the time these PR2s are worn out, the jury should be in on the PR3's wear.

[Cablebandit]

PR2's and PR3's will both deliver decent mileage if you spend most of your time on the interstate.  Lean that bike over and they all disappear rather quickly.  Especially on a heavy, high powered machine.

[CanadianBird]

I have just replaced my pr2s with PR3s. The stick like shite to a wool blanket and great in the rain.

[Kootenanny]

PR2's and PR3's will both deliver decent mileage if you spend most of your time on the interstate.  Lean that bike over and they all disappear rather quickly.  Especially on a heavy, high powered machine.

I dunno...my tires are scrubbed from edge to edge, and during a recent trip, out of 12 days on the road, I spent less than one on the interstate...I'm still getting good mileage out of my PR2s...but then again, my bike is neither heavy nor "high powered."

[scraperman1]

PR2's and PR3's will both deliver decent mileage if you spend most of your time on the interstate.  Lean that bike over and they all disappear rather quickly.  Especially on a heavy, high powered machine.

Hey cable,

       I'm glad you said something. I have had Bridgestone Battletrax(?), Metzler Z6s, Michelin PR2s (2 sets) and now I am trying out Avons. I haven't had a set of tires last me longer than 5000 miles, ever, with my C-14. Now I understand why...

[Hotbrakes]

The scalloping/cupping on fronts is usually the result of poor suspension setup.  I put heavier springs in and changed the fork oil on my VFR and all was cured.

My favorite combo so far for ST tires is a BT-021 rear (6-7k miles, sticks like glue, great for knee dragging on the heavy girl) and a takeoff Pirelli Diablo SC1.  That combination allows me to perform surgery on twisties.  A little skeptical on wet roads but they did fine at 80-90mph on the interstate in a torrential downpour, you know the kind where cars go 35 and put their hazards on...blew right by them.

[the drummer]

Like the Mich.PR2's on  my KRS.  Best mileage to date is 4670. Front wears before rear,which is still good for about another 1k ??
   With that said, the PR2's felt great! never let me down. But,  I also snagged a deal on a set of Cont-Motion's for $178.98 from M/C Superstore.
   Going to be spooning them on  this coming week, so we'll see how they do!?  for that price,what the hell....

[Fourstring]

I'll echo the love for the PR2's, but I must be the only guy that likes the Z6.

My ZX weighs about the same as a Sprint, and I got 2 track days and 8k miles out of them.

[SuperHans]

I'll echo the love for the PR2's, but I must be the only guy that likes the Z6.

My ZX weighs about the same as a Sprint, and I got 2 track days and 8k miles out of them.

I was a fan of the Z6 until the PR2 came around. Only thing I didnt like about the Z6 was how quickly they seemed to go from looking fine to being worn out.

[sleazy rider]

I've got right at 5000 miles on my PR2s and they still look like new.  I have a high powered, but moderate weight bike.  They stuck like glue in the mountains this past weekend and are scuffed edge to edge.  Heck, I dragged the outside edge of my left boot and flinched in shock.  

[JonS]

I went through two sets of Road Attacks, and really liked them.  Currently, though, I'm running PR2s, which I like as much as the Contis for handling, but they seem to be lasting longer...

I could have written this. Both are my favorites

[Xanth]

I'll echo the love for the PR2's, but I must be the only guy that likes the Z6.

My ZX weighs about the same as a Sprint, and I got 2 track days and 8k miles out of them.

I'm currently running PR2 but plan to go back to the Z6. I don't have any real complaint with the PR2 at this point (about 5000 miles). I would use them again. I prefer the way the Z6 feels during transition.

[Joey Stalin]

I had multiple sets of Z6 Roadtecs and always liked them, except for the lack of any wear bars in the middle of the tread. Really hard for me to tell how much is left. But regardless, I thought they had been discontinued. Now they have the Z6 Interacts, which no one seems to talk about. Everyone on here loves the PR2's.

[maddjack]

I have had great luck with
PR2's
BT-023 and
Road Attacks
The Attacks have the shortest life of the 3