Road tyres

[noelrobertson]

Have a look at this test from 2008

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...ycle/general/links/news/cta_testwinner_en.pdf

That is a great little report. It is a pitty that the don't say who came up 1st in the wet.

Thanks mate.

 

[APE]

Have a look at this test from 2008

http://www.conti-online.com/generat...ycle/general/links/news/cta_testwinner_en.pdf

So the Trail Attack comes 1st in the dry and 3rd in the wet against 'dual purpose' tyres. So the best of a bad bunch ? I suspect it would come out a clear last against dedicated sports touring tyres. Still think if you're looking for road tyres the Dunlop Roadsmart or Avon Storm is the way to go.

 

[(RIP) Miff]

My experience too.

The profile will be pinched and not give progressive tip in. At best it will slow the steering and make the front and back feel 'less connected' and at worse will do as you say.

When SM's first came out lots of peeps used to run 160's on 150 rims and (on a dirt bike) it often introduced high speed instability.

A wider tyre might look cool but that's the only advantage it offers if placed on a bike and rim not designed for it.

Andres

By going up on the width, and down on the profile, it helps to keep the original profile. There's no way a 160 tyre could be described as WIDE (especially when 600 sports bikes use 180s).

On the standard 150/70 I was getting to the edge of the tyres, with no other part of the bike "touching down" in the corners. With the 160/60, I have now decked the stands out on BOTH sides, AND I have "chicken strips" left. I personally like the idea of unused rubber at the edges, Just in case.

The handling seems unaffected.

The only "off roading" I do, is a couple of private roads. I am a ROAD RIDER.

 

[Falco9]

By going up on the width, and down on the profile, it helps to keep the original profile. There's no way a 160 tyre could be described as WIDE (especially when 600 sports bikes use 180s).

On the standard 150/70 I was getting to the edge of the tyres, with no other part of the bike "touching down" in the corners. With the 160/60, I have now decked the stands out on BOTH sides, AND I have "chicken strips" left. I personally like the idea of unused rubber at the edges, Just in case.

The handling seems unaffected.

The only "off roading" I do, is a couple of private roads. I am a ROAD RIDER.

I think the reason you are grinding away the stand is also down to the fact you have lost ride height by switching to the 60 profile tyre of course.

I think you have a good point about having more rubber on the road though and a 160 tyre will definately have a larger contact patch which should make the bike feel more stable and planted. As always Biking is a very personal thing and its whatever you are happy with that counts

From my experience with sports bikes before moving to the GS this year, I've switched regularly from 180/55 to 190/50 and also a 190/55 tyres all of which are fine of course, they just offer different handling characteristics.

A wider rear tyre will always "slow" down the turn in on corners but unless the front and rear tyre sizes are dramatically different "pushing the front" shouldn't happen

I don't know the actual width of the GS rear wheel but it looks like a 4" width, in which case a 160 tyre "might" be OK depending upon the actual tyre used. Personally (although I'm no expert by any means) I'd have thought you needed a 4.25 or a 4.5 inch rim to suit a 160 profile, buts thats just my personal opinion of course

Have you noticed any difference in handling? Is the tyre wearing evenly? I want to replace the battlewings I currently have with some Roadsmarts so this might be an option to consider

F9

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

I don't know the actual width of the GS rear wheel but its looks like a 4" width, in which case a 160 tyre "might" be OK depending upon the actual tyre used. Personally (although I'm no expert by any means) I'd have thought you needed a 4.25 or a 4.5 inch rim to suit a 160 profile, buts thats just my personal opinion of course

Yup, you're correct about the rim size for a 160

Andres

 

[(RIP) Miff]

I think the reason you are grinding away the stand is also down to the fact you have lost ride height by switching to the 60 profile tyre of course.

It's probably more to do with my Mrs on the back and the amount of chocolate that she consumes
It's also to do with the bumpiness of the roads around here

Have you noticed any difference in handling? Is the tyre wearing evenly? I want to replace the battlewings I currently have with some Roadsmarts so this might be an option to consider

F9

I've never had anything with a bigger tyre than 160/60.

It all handles FINE. Not noticed any difference in handling. Tyre wear is even so far. I'd recommend it to anybody, although as you obviously know, handling is very "subjective". It's still not a sports bike. It's a COMFY bike

 

[GSband]

Sorry to intrude on your very interesting discussion, but had to correct this :

That is a great little report. It is a pitty that the don't say who came up 1st in the wet.

Thanks mate.

... But they do, scroll down ! The best in wet is Tourance EXP, and EXP is best in dry together with Conti Trail. EXP wears faster and that's why Conti Trail wins. Tourance EXP is my preferred tyre (having tried Anakee, Battlewing, Tourance and Conti Trail) ; really excellent in wet and dry.

Next tyre will be Road Smarts, just to try them out.

Back to where you were.

 

[Balders1450]

That is a great little report. It is a pitty that the don't say who came up 1st in the wet.

Thanks mate.

Tourance EXP came first in the WET!!!

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Can we really notice the difference?

Until my latest GS with Bridgestone's as original equipment I have always had Touraces on my GS's. The present tyres feel smoother and I imagine that they are more of a road tyre - (and I am certainly not taking this bike off- road.) However , not only as a result of this test, I will probably revert to the Touraces when I next change.

 

[GoldenGS]

Tourance EXP

I didn't know (until today, when I bought some) that there's a newer version of the EXP (M?) that is still more road-biased than the old-style Tourance but has a compound that tries to address the grumblings about poorer mileage in comparison to the old-style Tourance. Only 35 miles under my belt today but they'll be scrubbed off tomorrow.

 

[bbbvito]

Well after much reading up on tyres for the GSA my final choice ended somewhat back at the beginning (nearly) . Got myself some Tourance EXP and afer the first 80 mile or so gave them a good testing wet and dry and all i can say is ,. Went from the Bridgestone battlewings which aint a bad tyre but found them very poor in the wet but good in the dry,
when i first read about the EXPs was put off by people saying they didnt last as long as the standard tourance, but i suppose a softer tyre with better grip WONT! and getting a few more miles out of a tyre or stickier safer tyre well Safety first as they say!

Anyway my point is that if anyone is in 2 minds about tyres and most or all of there riding is done on road and you still want to keep the correct look to the bike then the EXP in my view are

PS dont bother looking on the net to try and save money on tyres as getting them supplied an fitted from the same place works out about the same OR cheaper without all the hassle. Unless you fit the tourself that is
That is spoken from expierence.

 

[Bikerjim]

Had these fitted today

Will let you know how they are im felling a bit

Will go back to tourances for the winter

Jim

Had them on now for 2.5k mostly dry miles

Very good in the dry . These are a sport touring tyre and feel like it probably more than the Conti trails.

Only done a few miles in the wet but no complaints. Stable and firm.

Only downside is they can be a bit too sticky when going from side to side quickly.

Runing 2.5 bar front and 2.9 rear (with no pillion) There is no squaring off at all which is a suprise as i do mostly straight roads to work.

Just for the record i do 12000+ miles a year and IAM qualified rider

Exellent tyres

Jim

 

[simplysounds]

I have a Conti ROAD Attack on the rear. They do them in a 160/60 size, so I get more rubber at big lean angles.

when using a 160 on the rear were there any clearance issues? did it clear the swing arm ok?

 

[dakarDude]

Continental Road Attack 2's.

Looking to get some new tyres for road use only so i want something nice and sticky . Been told to go for conti road attack ? Anyone got any good advice or experience with them or a better tyre ???
My bike is a 2009 GSA

Ive got bridgestones on at the min and allthough they have been ok they seem to square off pretty quickly

 

[Sam555]

Sorry for slightly changing track but cannot find original thread on this. Has anyone recent experience of the new Dunlop Trailmax TR91 tyre on a GS? For some reason Dunlop's UK site just shows the D607 which I think is an earlier tyre, early reviews of the TR91 were very good and thinking of getting a set for my GS Adv. Running Battlewing 501, 502's at the moment, great in the dry, had a few 'moments' in the wet but that could be down to road surface rather than tyre compound. 5000 miles on the bike at the moment and both tyres good for another 3-4000 way things are going. Sam

 

[simplysounds]

Sorry for slightly changing track but cannot find original thread on this. Has anyone recent experience of the new Dunlop Trailmax TR91 tyre on a GS? For some reason Dunlop's UK site just shows the D607 which I think is an earlier tyre, early reviews of the TR91 were very good and thinking of getting a set for my GS Adv. Running Battlewing 501, 502's at the moment, great in the dry, had a few 'moments' in the wet but that could be down to road surface rather than tyre compound. 5000 miles on the bike at the moment and both tyres good for another 3-4000 way things are going. Sam

here's my review on the tr91's:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=260681

to add to the review the rear has squared slightly but still good. i think i've done nearly 1k miles though.

 

[mcinlb]

Re : Roadsmarts, just asked Motorrad Glasgow to supply and fit a pair on my 1200GS, said they could not / would not as they were not 'official' tyres recommended by BMW. Has anyone else had this response?????

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

Re : Roadsmarts, just asked Motorrad Glasgow to supply and fit a pair on my 1200GS, said they could not / would not as they were not 'official' tyres recommended by BMW. Has anyone else had this response?????

What a load of pish

Just go to an independant tyre fitter and get it done - it'll be cheaper too

Andres

 

[Beemerman59]

Re : Roadsmarts, just asked Motorrad Glasgow to supply and fit a pair on my 1200GS, said they could not / would not as they were not 'official' tyres recommended by BMW. Has anyone else had this response?????

It would be more accurate for them to say the Roadsmarts are not one of the OEM fitments and as a BMW dealer thats all they supply. Utter rubbish to make out that other brands should not be fitted for any other reason. Just get a pair of Roadsmarts fitted elsewhere - they transform the bike.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Tyres fitted by a dealer

A dealer is going to have quite a few tyres in stock and will obviously prefer to fit one that is origial (approved by BMW) equipment. However the dealer i use in Lyon is even prepared to fit tyres bought elsewhere - at least to customers he knows - and will only ask for a disclaimer to be signed if he is unsure of the suitability. He will NOT fit a tyre that he does not think suitable on safety grounds. He always road tests the bike after a new tyre is fitted;