Tyres

Anakee 2 was my tire of choice for my previous GS's so I was happy to see Anakee 3's on my GSA. As it turned out I didn't care for them. I've never had a rear square off as soon as the A3 did so handling suffered beginning around 2,500 miles. It was down to war bars at 4,800 miles. Anyway I tried Conti TA 2's and have been quite satisfied, actually I'm about to mount the third set now. I could have saved $40 buying Tourance Next but TA 2's work so well for me I thought why switch? They don't square off, last for at least 6,000 miles one set almost 8,000, and handling doesn't seem to degrade much as they wear.
 
Dunlop RoadSmart2s are superb for road only use. On my second set.
 
Here is my PR4 Trail rear tyre after 10128 km (6293 miles). I've run 95% on asphalt, done some gravel roads (about 500 km) and a couple of trackdays. Im very happy with the PR4. Front tyre still capable of 1000-2000km.
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Tyre test done by Motorrad magazine last month comparing the following , TKC 70, TKC 80, Dunlop Trailsmarts, Metzeler Karoo and Michelin Pilot Road 4 Trails.

Off road winner was tkc80, Karoo 3,TKC 70, Trailsmart and then Pilot Roads

On road in rain winner was Road Trail, Trailsmart/ TKC80, Karoo3, TKC80

On road dry Road Trail, Trailsmart, TKC70, Karoo3 then TXC80

It ended up that the Trailsmart with 249 points pipped the Road Trail with 248 points , followed by the TKC70 at 244 points then the Karoo 3 with 179 points followed by the TKC80 with 165 points
 
Anakee III on the bike as OE fitment. I like the Anakee III but time for something else. About 4500 mls on the clock with 2 mm tread left in the centre average over the circumference on the rear. Michellin PR4 set ordered, £168 delivered from Oponeo. Front is still good for another 1000-2000 mls.
 
Blimey. You guys must cane your GSes! Just checked my GSA with 5,400 miles on the clock (Anakee 3's) and well over 5mm across the tread both front and rear. No off-road admittedly but lots of traffic light GP starts and hard braking. Rear is noticeably squared but I have done a fair amount of motorway miles. I'll check when the 6K service is due but gut instinct says I should be good for 7,500-8,000 miles. Brake pads don't have much wear front or back either, despite Daily commuting into London.
As to whether the Anakee is a good tyre - it is noisy and doesn't feel great in the wet but having had a set on the GS and now a GSA they seem to be very resistant to picking up road crap. I'm tempted to put them on again but fitted price from dealer was well over £300 when I changed them on the GS last year - a bit galling considering they're about £165 to buy :eek:
 
Opted for the Anakee III in the end. Fitter stated they were a ba$tard to fit. He also stated that he'd never seen a 170 on a 4.5" rim before neither.
 
Don't do the motorway unless I have to (A and B roads mostly) and don't commute to work, take the missus on the back every once in while. Sometimes I like to cane it but used to get good mileage out of tyres on lesser powered machines. Maybe that is what is doing the rear in more than the front.
 
Just had a set of PR4 Trails fitted at Guildford Tyres in Chilworth, excellent service and for the sum of £241.50. Very happy....
 
I've done about 750kms on a set of Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 and so far they seem to be excellent, the bike seems much more "compliant" over bumps than it was on the PR4. I have not been found wanting for dry grip yet and I can't comment on the wet grip yet.
 
Just emptied the pension pot and put a set of PR4's on my GSA.....always used tourance on previous bikes and had three sets of next on this bike but decided to try something different.....they say these tyres are brill in wet so i thought, perfect for our summer... have used them a couple of days in rain and i do find them good, fill you with confidence and i didnt even realise i had not switched to "rain" mode.. They are noticeably noisey tho, sounds a little like when you run off tarmac on the motorway onto concrete but not quite that loud.
Off to Switzerland and Austria now so i will report back...
 
Last week fitted the PR4's. £168 from Oponeo plus £24 fitting at local tyre dealer. Out on it today and the bike is lovely to steer. Having said that at any time you replace old worn tyres with new ones it will always feel better even if you put the crapiest tyres out there on your new steed. The true test is in the experience over time with the tyre.
 
It's Conti's for me. Good feel, response and grip, wet and dry. For me, front goes first at 8k (shape, not tread wear) and back squares off too much for comfortable bends at 10K, even if plenty of tread left. That also makes them good value.........
 
Just replaced my Anakee3 tyres on the GS LC. They barely made 3000miles so have been pretty disappointed with them. Now have a set of PR4's fitted (cost a bloody fortune at £300 fitted) so hoping for at least 5/6k per set. . .that will tie in nicely with my annual mileage. Fresh set of boots every season is the plan.
 
back from a quick trip around Annecy and a couple of Swiss passes...PR4's were as expected in the wet and that was very good and gives that bit of confidence to push on a bit more...they are a tad loud tho. i was two up and had to dash back up the motorway at silly mph (due to death of father)...the tyres were perfect and at quick speed there was no weave, wobble or anything to cause concern and the sat nag doesnt travel light....one thing i did notice is that they tend to run a little wide on bends on dry roads at speed compared to the tourance next...
 


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