Latest views on road tyres for GS

[Timhearn]

I see that there are older threads about best road tyres for a GS but I would like to get some 2009 views on tyre choice as there are some newer ones out. My Bridgestones are squaring off and I'm about to go to the Alps with a bunch of mates on sports bikes, so we will be hustling along and round the twisties. I hear that the Dunlops are good but others seems to like Tourances. Bearing in mind the bike is going to be used for fast touring over the coming months what's the recommendation?
Cheers
Tim

 

[gjclark38]

Hi
I am new to all this but the advice my local fitter gave me was if you ae not going off road get road tyres

So I went for the conti road attacks and have not looked back yet plenty of tread left after 7,000 miles

regs
Grahame

 

[davedyer]

I've only had two types of tyres on my 1200 in the two years I've had it - the original Dunlop 607 and now Micheline Anakees II. Of the two, I have to say I prefer the Dunlops - the bike felt happier turning into the bends. The Michelins make the bike feel as if it's increased its wheel base and is more reluctant to turn in.

 

[BeemerBaz]

Happy with my Battle Wings. Well capable of handing the average riding ability I have.

 

[blobbs]

Must say I have had 2 sets of Battlewings - top tyre

 

[Mr K]

Never had a bad tyre in 47k on me 1200.

Tourances, Anakees and now Avon Distanzias.

Anakees suffer tremendous abuse - ability to run flat for miles without popping off the rim, plugged in 2 places and a further 2k...

Conti Road/Trail Attacks seem to be the pure road tyre.

 

[stinkyfeet]

Michelin Pilot Roads.

A PR front with a PR or PR2 rear.


Unlike others I can't recommend the Avon Storm/Avazzro setup, even with the huge and deep tread on them they didn't last me more than 4K and the last 1K was shocking. I could never get the chicken strip off the front and the tyres twitched when pushed in the dry (after a mere 3K of use), biggest waste of money IME on tyres ever for any bike.

I've used Mich PRs and PR2s on various bikes over the past 6+ years and they're as good in the wet as in the dry and 8K average out the rear at least. No stupid twitches from the front, PRs roll nicely and can be rolled edge to edge with complete confidence.

Thankfully, I've been back on PRs and done a 1K in a few days, nice to back on my 'home' tyres.

YMMV.

Enjoy the Alps..

 

[nazdravanul]

4 sets of tires on my 08 GSA, so far :
-stock Battlewings, awful and scary in the wet, anywhere from mediocre to lousy on dry tarmac, really decent on gravel roads, replaced at 4000 kms , 4000 kms too late (they would have lasted at least another 16000 horriffying kilometers)
-Anakees 2 , replaced after 9000 kms, when the front started to deteriorate in terms of performance (especially in the wet) ; they would have lasted at least 2000 kms more ; superb grip in the wet and cold, really good on twisties, just mediocre on slab at high speed, not really inspiring on gravel/dirt roads ;
-Conti Trail Attacks : I got a bad set, with the dreaded wobble ; they seemed really grippy, and braking performance, for example, was significantly better compared to the Anakees 2, they also seemed better at sustained high speeds ; in the wet, the Anakee 2 was definitely the better tire ; I took them off the bike after 400 kms, as I couldn't stand the wobble
-Pilot Road2 rear / Pilot 2 front, my current combination, is , so far and by far the best road combo, compared to anything else I've tried.

 

[Red Rock]

Just put Road Attacks on after running 13K on a set of Tourances. Never any complaints, but I'm never going offroad, so fancied a change. They look and feel great, and were a good price too at £142 incl free delivery from www.sticky-stuff.co.uk/

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

For pure feel and grip (plus looks) I preferred Conti Road Attacks. But the back squared off badly and quite quickly.

Now running Bridgestone BT020 front/BT021 rear combination. They're my next favourite.

Didn't like Anakees, found Bridgestone Trailwings plain dangerous in the wet. Apart form that, all the tyres I've had on my GS have exceeded my skill level - Tourance, D207s, Battlewings.

 

[Schtum]

Of the two, I have to say I prefer the Dunlops - the bike felt happier turning into the bends.

+ 1 I have to say that the D607s are all the tyre I need on a GS for road use. About 4.2K miles out of a rear one, so I'm not exactly hanging about. My new '09 bike came with Trail Attacks fitted but I haven't done enough miles in varied enough conditions to form a complete opinion but first impressions are that they aren't as sticky as the Dunlops.....

 

[RickG]

Michelin Pilot Roads.

A PR front with a PR or PR2 rear.


I've used Mich PRs and PR2s on various bikes over the past 6+ years and they're as good in the wet as in the dry and 8K average out the rear at least. No stupid twitches from the front, PRs roll nicely and can be rolled edge to edge with complete confidence.

:

+1

Excellent all round tyre (though I admit all tyres are round) with added bonus of high milages. I'm on my 3rd rear and 2nd front.

 

[D6]

trial attacks , grip well in the wet and dry, last well, and havnt squared off yet despite 4000 motorway miles,i think maybe harder wearing in the middle than road attacks(dual compound?)and more tread, they are called duel purpose but i wouldnt like to try em off road though

 

[mr badger]

Trailwings - just say no. Deathly in wet

Battlewings - (on F800GS) vg. Good in wet, nice turn in. OK on gravel.

Anakees - surprisingly good road tyre. Found them more stable than the 020/021 combination that preceeded them. nanaged Cadwell just fine. Soft and fast wearing though.

020/020 was brilliant on road but the new profile on 021 (more 'sporty') rear can cause bar wobbles on deceleration.

Tourance 2 wore very fast and amazingly noisy at speed.

Current Trail attacks 90% all round. Gravel ok, tarmac good. wet good. Quiet and good wear characteristics. Need a good shove to turn in at speed.

Just my 2p

 

[Palerider]

I've currently got battwings. Just swapped back to them for a road trip in July, from TKC80's (an amazing tyre for an off-roader!). Once I've finished the set of tyres I'll be looking at either Tourances (not EXP) or Trail attacks.

From everything I've read trail attacks offer a little more grip but wear faster.


P

 

[Greybeard]

When the originally fitted Bridgestones wore out I fitted Conti Trail Attacks - done 2,500 miles so far and no complaints (no off road riding).

 

[AndyW]

For pure feel and grip (plus looks) I preferred Conti Road Attacks. But the back squared off badly and quite quickly.

...Now running Bridgestone BT020 front/BT021 rear combination. They're my next favourite..........

I've had the Bt020/021 combo on for a few hundred miles now and so far very happy with grip and performance (they turn in well)....being a dual compound tyre the BT021 shoudn't square off like the Conti

I have a number of tyre reviews / comparison tests reproduced on my website and there's links to other resources as well:

R1200GS Road & Off Road Tyre Choice

 

[HeatedGrips]

Yep, tried the BT020/021 combo after several years of Tourances. Utterly transformed the bike, both in terms of ride quality and grip, especially in the wet where the feedback is much better.

Put 6,000 miles on them so far, including a lot of motorway stuff, and they've got plenty of tread left. The dual compound rear also shows no sign of squaring off.

 

[GSband]

I've ridden on Anakee, Battlewing, Tourance (old), Trail Attack, Tourance EXP.

Of all these, Tourance EXP are MY favourite. Plenty of grip, very flickable, full confidence in dry and wet. ONLY disadvantage : they don't last long. But hey, I favour grip over mileage.

Battlewings are second, because of weird behaviour in the wet. Excellent in dry, low mileage.
Trail Attack never again, had 4 slides, probably due to slow warming up (even in Spain !?), and uneven wear at back. Do a search, I've posted pics.
Anakee seems to dribble at back when heavy loaded.
Old Tourance is flawless : high mileage combined with good adhesion in wet and dry. But it's designed for stability, which means boooooooring.

FYI a tyre preference is a very personal matter. Good luck !

 

[Timhearn]

Job Done

So, I finally went for a Conti Road Attack. £110 fitted in 15 mins at Russ's Tyres in Portsmouth who was very knowledgeable about GS's, tyre pressures sensors etc. It's not scrubbed in yet but early signs are good and it looks like it is going to be a better road tyre than the Bridgestone. Now for the Alps!!
Thanks for all the comments and views everyone.
Tim