Switch from Hybrid to road tyres ?

[simonmalexander]

Hi all...

I've just come back from europe, covering about 2800 miles on my 3rd set of BT501/502 combination and they were new before I set off. Now I will have to admit that am a bit of a Bridgestone man and I do love the 501&502's but I did go with a ton of luggage and we were 2 up!

When we got back,I noticed the rear tyre was already squaring off by the time I got back and I'd been toying with the idea of trying road tyres for a while, but I was a bit apprehensive to try them before I set off ,incase I didn't get on with them!

Anyway, I figured that after 15000 miles of touring (always on roads) why the hell was I running my 3rd set of Hybrid tyres? ...so, I decided to have a go and switch to BT020/021 combi.

So far, Ive done around 180 miles on the new roadies and I have to say, I really like them ! The start of my first day out with them was awful weather and probably not the best way to 'scrub' any tyre in ! After a while, the day dried out and I could eventually get a feel for them. Generally, the bike feels more responsive and sporty ! ... (in a nutshell, you can chuck it around a bit more !) Just wondered if anyone else has tried the switch and how they feel about staying on road tyres or the factory Hybrid tyre?

 

[Beemerman59]

I have done the same on the GSA12. Having had two sets of Battlewings (which were really quite good) I have just fitted a pair of Dunlop Roadsmarts. The handling has gone from good to very good. The Battlewings were fine until you explored the edges of the tyres and I found them to squirm when pushed hard although always predictable. Always felt the bike could do more but I was pushing the tyres a bit too much. On the Roadsmarts the bike now feels solid at all lean angles and so easy to fling around. I also now feel that I'm the limiting factor not the tyre.

Hopefully I will get more than the 4.5 K miles that I got on the rear Battlewings - so far only 500 miles on the Roadsmarts. I didn't buy the bike to go dirt tracking so 100% on tarmac for me.

 

[Paul Young]

I dropped my 1150, within 6mths of buying it, & trashed the tank & a rocker cover whilst green-laning. I decided it was just too heavy for that kind of stuff to be fun, so got a little trailie & converted the GS to alloys & road tyres. 17" wheels front & back means I can get cheap part worn sports bike tyres (£40 a set for Pirelli Supercorsa Pros, anyone?) & for that cost, mileage hardly comes into the equation these days.