Tyre Recommendations???

[DNHunter]

Avons

Had Michelin Pilot 1's last time - frightening in the cold and wet, but the 2's - don't know. Now have Avon Azzaro/Storm, brilliant grip, but a firm ride - wife not so keen, nor me on the motorway. Interestingly, they tell you to run the Azzaro/Storm at the pressures they recomment for the Distanza's i.e. 36/43 - which seem pretty high to me. Anyone any comments?

 

[Eastriding2002]

Like I think another poster said, a lot of times tyre preference is a personal thing, good or bad experiences making your mind up for you.

I've had BT020's on a couple of bikes and loved them, suited me down to the ground for grip in wet or dry and longevity.

I put a rear Anakee on when I changed last as the front was still fine. However the enxt change I'm toying with going for a full road tyre as 99% of my riding is on road and I'm hoping theyw ill be even better than the Anakees which in honsety I've had no hassle with. Either that or try the Trailwings which seem to get mixed reviews on here but are supposedly based on the 020's.

What I go for I don't know as yet, but recommendations from here will certainly be listened to.

 

[APE]

So far I have tried the following :

Anakees - poor in the wet.
BT020 - very good. wish they would do the BTO21 in a 19in front.
Pilot Road - disappointing. was expecting more.
Road Attack - very good in dry and wet but found they would slide a bit if pushed hard (only experienced this in the Alps)
Trail attack - nearly as good as the RA. Better wear. Slightly less feedback than the RA but possibly more suited to the GS.

Used the Tourance on my 1150 but never got round to trying it on the 12. Tourance EXP next or Conti TKCs for the summer. For pure road use I would recommend the BT020 or the Road Attack.

 

[FatAl]

I've been using BT020's on my GS1150 for the last three years, hard to fault them, and I often give the bike a fair bit of stick wet or dry.They feel better than the Tourances it had as original fit.
I've got Michelin Pilot Road on my Tiger 1050 (oe fitment) they seem ok so far-2k miles, I can't say they feel any better or worse than the 020's, but then I've not used it much in the bad weather (it's my fair weather bike for the time being).
I had Conti Sport attacks fitted to my Aprilia Tuono Factory, ABFAB in the dry, never used the bike much in the rain so hard to comment, as the GS is my all weather/all year round ride.

 

[nick_boxer]

Tyres and Insurance

I ran two sets of Anakees and found them good, no grip issues at all. They do move around a bit but you get used to that. I did fit a set of Bridgestone BT020 in the summer and they are fantastic, proper road tyre, heaps of grip and head grinding lean angles can be achieved.

I too have had Anakees without problems and also the original Bridgestones. I now have Tourances which feel very planted. A cautionary note about fitting ordinary road tyres - I know they work well -many have said this- but DO check out with your insurance company that you're covered with "non-standard" or "non-approved" tyres. The b-ds will do anything to avoid paying up if you prang it and this is such an obvious loophole you should check.

 

[Bones]

Tourance EXP's

While the bike is in the workshop for a couple of days I have been loaned an 07 bike fitted with the Tourance EXP's. I'm very impressed with the grip as this morning was very frosty and the roads covered in salty slime. They feel at least as good as the Battlewings (which I like a lot) I have fitted to my 06 bike. Very rounded profile gives nice roll in.

oh, the non servo brakes are better than my whiney servo versions too. Not as grabby at light lever pressure. Outright performance braking hard about the same I would say.

 

[kevmeister]

Just called Sidcup Motorcycle tyres for advice as my BT020's are getting near the end of their life. Apparantly Bridgestone don't make a BT021 in 19" to fit the GS front wheel so that option is out.

 

[Engineer]

Tourances feel really horrible when even slightly squared off - Dunlop 607's feel much better for much longer.

 

[RogerJ]

Tourances always for me. Never have let me down and very good wear. Better than any out there even Distancias. Was on a 30 day Mexico ride comparing rear tires with a friend and his Distancia rear was shot at 12,000 km and mine would easily get at least another 3,000 km. Same bikes, same route, same loads, riding style, same kilometres. Tourance fan here. Cheers!

 

[Banjaxed]

Trail Attack worth a try

After (happy) years of Tourances, now have a set of Trail Attacks on the 1150 GSA, Initial impressions are good - bags of grip (possibly more than the Tourance), sharper steering (although that means a bit twitchier).

Do a search for threads on tyres and set aside a week to read the posts...