Best tires for C14

[Silverbird]

This may belong in the mods section but I have a question about the C14 stock tires.  Seems as though a lot of reviewers think this bike need pressure on the bars to hold a line.  I'm wondering what tires are best to replace the stock ones with and is it just a matter I time before the highish weight of the bike puts a flat spot on the side of any tire.

So is this entirely a tire issue and has anyone tried lowering the front a little?

[DenverC-14]

The battleax's are the worst tires I've ever seen on a bike. I've played with the Contimotions, Pirelli Angel St's, and the Michelin Pilot Road 3. So far, the PR3 is the best tire I've had on the bike. It's very good, both wet and dry. Mileage figures are better than the others as well. 8k and counting on the front, and about 5500 on the rear with a good bit of life left.

[Cablebandit]

PR3 hands down.  Also change the rear to a 190/55/17 while you're at it.  The turn in and transition from left to right will improve dramatically.

Once you get the stock tires off you'll have a different bike.

[Motornoggin]

Agreed that the stocks tires are criminally bad. Scary at best.

I've been using Dunlop Roadsmarts, mainly because I can get them locally for a decent price. Reasonable handling and reasonable wear. Not the best tires I've ever had, but predictable and consistant.

I might try a set of PR3's next time if I have the scratch to do it.

[Spanky]

PR3 hands down.  Also change the rear to a 190/55/17 while you're at it.  The turn in and transition from left to right will improve dramatically.

Once you get the stock tires off you'll have a different bike.

Yup.

[Justin]

Darkside?  

[camaroz1985]

Is that a car tire?  It looks awfully flat.

[Cablebandit]

Yeah, mounting a car tire sounds like a good idea.    I'll take 4 inches of lateral contact patch over the 1/2 inch of the car tire when leaned over all day.  Especially with a high horsepower/torque bike.  

[camaroz1985]

Yeah seems like it is destined for failure.

[joe in calif]

More and more bike riders are using car tires on their bikes. Very popular with the Honda Gold Wing GL 1800 riders. They use a run flat tire on the rear, some are going double dark side, car tire on front and back. I just don't like the little bit of rubber on the ground when your in a corner.

[Justin]

More and more bike riders are using car tires on their bikes. Very popular with the Honda Gold Wing GL 1800 riders. They use a run flat tire on the rear, some are going double dark side, car tire on front and back. I just don't like the little bit of rubber on the ground when your in a corner.

Double dark side is car tire on the rear, and motorcycle rear tire on the front. I know a few Goldwing riders with that setup, and they can corner quite well. The rear tire on the front of the heavy Goldwing apparently makes it ride much better.

[GS1100GK]

Agreed that the stocks tires are criminally bad. Scary at best.

I've been using Dunlop Roadsmarts, mainly because I can get them locally for a decent price. Reasonable handling and reasonable wear. Not the best tires I've ever had, but predictable and consistant.

I might try a set of PR3's next time if I have the scratch to do it.

I went to the Continental Road Attacks after stock tires and they handle and feel great.  Mileage is only about 4-5K miles.  Tried the Continental Motions, good price, bad mileage (3K) and OK handling.  Went to the Dunlop RoadSmarts since they were cheap.  Handling was OK, wear around 4K.  

So, now I am running Metzler Z8's.  This is the tire the BMW mounts on the new 6 cylinder bikes that weigh much more than the C-14 so I figure that maybe I can get 7-10K miles out of them.  I've noticed that these tires handle as well as the Continental Road Attacks that I really loved and right now I've got 4K miles on them and they do not show any wear.  

Maybe my experiment is working out and I've got a winner here!  

[wibornz]

+ 3 for the Road Pilot 2 or Road Pilot 3.  Just put a 3 on the front and like it.  I normally get 10,000 plus miles out of the RP2 and have them wear out on the side normally before the center wears out.

[trippin]

so what makes the PR3's so much better than say Angels or Avons?

[DosEquis00]

I am on the other side as I prefer the Angels over the PR3's but have not tried the new Avons.

[WSikorski]

Pr3's are the winner for me.

Good in both wet and dry weather. Still looking good with 5500 miles on them, should see 10k easily. The stockers were toast at 8k miles.

I'm a fairly conservative rider and am pretty easy on tires.

[wibornz]

Pr3's are the winner for me.

Good in both wet and dry weather. Still looking good with 5500 miles on them, should see 10k easily. The stockers were toast at 8k miles.

I'm a fairly conservative rider and am pretty easy on tires.

I am fairly agressive ride on my c14 and I get over 10,000 miles on PR2 tires.  I have just switched to PR3 and am told that I will get even more milage.  

[Cablebandit]

Your roads must not be very abrasive.

[lolife]

From what I've gathered I'm in the minority when it comes to C-14 & tires.  

I got 8500 miles out of my PR2s & only 8000 out of my PR3s.  I'm now riding the Pirelli Angels.  They have about 5000 miles on them now.

I prefer the PR2s over 3s but only b/c they lasted longer & they're cheaper.  I really like the Angels & if the mileage is the same I will try the PR2s again & then back to the Angels but I won't buy another set of 3s.

[dan88z]

I got 5850 out of my rear stocker, with cord showing thru in the center, and the front was toast, with flat/bare spots on the sides.

I replaced them with the PR3, after 250 miles, it's like a new bike. I've actually had to adjust how I hit a curve because they respond so much better and with far less pressure on the bars. If I can get 8-10k out of the rear I'll be real happy.

[Cablebandit]

If I can get 8-10k out of the rear I'll be real happy.

 

[wibornz]

Expect 10,000 to 12,000 on the rear for PR3.

[Cablebandit]

If you stay on the highway all the time.  Expect 3-5 if you ever plan on leaning over.

[dan88z]

I know 2 people who have 7k on the rear and have plenty of tread left, and they are not only highway riders. I'm just going on what I've been told to expect based on their experience.

[Silverbird]

Expect 10,000 to 12,000 on the rear for PR3.

  Only in stop and go traffic  

[st2sam]

I have tried every tire known to man that fits the C14 including the Stinko Shinko "sport-touring"....
I have yet to get over 4,000mi. on any and only 3,000mi. on most, however I do replace when the wear bars show.

My favorite are the Angels (190/55 rear) because IMO I like the feedback, they warm up fast, and the hot temp stays consistant.
PLUS I get 3,000 good handling miles to a set....

How anyone can get 10,000mi. on a set of tires with this bike is beyond comprehension for me.  

[wibornz]

I get about 10,000 miles plus on PR2.  I usually wear the sides out before I wear out the middles.  I ride my C14 hard.  Love wheelies, pull wheelies and ride wheelies just about every time I ride.  I get teased about having the front tire in the air all the time by the guys that I ride with from this site.  I also ride at a good pace when knocking out the miles.  Mind you I only got 3000 miles out of the stock back tires, switch to PR2 and now PR3 and have always seen 10,000 + miles on the bake and about 13 4o 14,000+ miles on the front.

What the hell are you guys doing to burn up a PR2 in 4,000 miles.  Hell I am dragging pegs in the corners and pulling wheelies out fo the corners.  Are you guys going to the drag strip or just burning them off?  

[st2sam]

What the hell are you guys doing to burn up a PR2 in 4,000 miles.  Hell I am dragging pegs in the corners and pulling wheelies out fo the corners.  Are you guys going to the drag strip or just burning them off?  

That's a damn good question, wish I had the answer.   (no drag strip or burnouts)
I ride like you.  I'd have to say it's probably mostly due to the pavement surface in my riding area?

I would be tickled pink if I got the milage you're getting...

[Cablebandit]

I would be tickled pink if I got half the milage you're getting...

FTFW

[bluedogok]

That's a damn good question, wish I had the answer.   (no drag strip or burnouts)
I ride like you.  I'd have to say it's probably mostly due to the pavement surface in my riding area?

I would be tickled pink if I got the milage you're getting...

This is the big difference, in Texas I would get 8K out of a front and 5K out of a rear of a tire like a Metzler Z6 and that was on my Sprint. I had relatively new PR2 on my Sprint when I traded it for the C14 so I hadn't seen what kind of mileage I could get out of those. The roads down there have been chip sealed for the most part so it is like riding on a cheese grater and then when you add the heat in down there the tires wear down quickly, they also would take even nice, smooth roads and chip seal because I guess some county commissioners brother-in-law needed some money. Most of the roads that I have seen up here in Colorado seem to be conventional hot mix asphalt which leads to a much smoother road and in turn should lead to better mileage out of the tires.

[stbtbb]

I put on a set of BT023gt tires This spring because they were cheap from motorcycle-superstore 139.00 (rear) shipped i believe. It is a 190/55 rear and have just over 4600 miles on them and other than a little squaring due to to much interstate (had to do a quick trip to Memphis and back to Colorado Springs) they are looking great and handle well. Much better than the RoadSmart they replaced which was ok but not long lasting