As, others noted due to the age of my bike and the low mileage it has really hard tires on it. I also noticed some cracking in the front tire. So my new project is to get some new tires. And that brings up some newb questions...
Where do you guys get tires from?
Is there a TireRack option for bikes (not necessarily for ordering) but for reading test and reviews? I know revzilla, and bikebandit are there others?
Recommendations for tires for me? My bike is 100% street, commuter, highway, some light curvy roads, and riding temp is 30 degrees in winter to 90+ in the summer. I'd like to get as many miles on these tires as possible. Brand and model suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
i BOUGHT my last set from BikeBandit.com Great prices, great selection and fast shipping
44Dwarf
UltraDork
11/6/14 2:18 p.m.
motorcycle supper store, Dennis Kirk, Cheap cycle parts, Cycle Gear, your local dealer
I like Revilla, prices and shipping have been better than Bike Bandit in my experience and they have great product videos on lots of what they sell.
Yeah I've only ordered from Revzilla so far. They are like one day shipping for me. I ordered my topcase on Tuesday, had it Thursday, and got to work on the install that weekend.
No suggestions on make or model? It currently has on Bridgestone Battleaxs
pres589
UltraDork
11/6/14 3:13 p.m.
In reply to octavious:
What bike is it again? And add it to your user info, silly!
I like Pirelli and Michelin's myself. I don't like Dunlops or Continentals. But that's me and my bike and such. You'll get a lot of different suggestions. Give the make/model/year of bike and I bet there's something good for it on clearance from one of the sites listed. I also like Jake Wilson for tires.
yamaha
UltimaDork
11/6/14 3:48 p.m.
In reply to pres589:
He bought a Ninja 650.
For your location, I'd just hop over to MotoMummy and order a set of Dunlop Q3's if they have them in your sizes. I know they stock your fronts(120/70r17) but IDK about your rear tire(160/60r17)
I hate bridgestone tires. The michelin 2ct is pretty much the same thing as the dunlop Q3, both are sticky tires with harder compound centers for longevity.
yamaha
UltimaDork
11/6/14 3:53 p.m.
https://www.motomummy.com/tires/dunlop-q3-tires/
$237.90 per set for your bike Octavious
I have almost 4k on the set currently on my '04 zx10 and aside from a slight loss of curvature on the rear from upright riding with few corners, they'll probably still last another 2k or so.....and that's on a 175hp bike. You could probably get 6-8k on them. You could trade off stickiness in the corners for touring bike tires that will last 10k or so.
pres589
UltraDork
11/6/14 4:00 p.m.
2CT is the generation of tech; you're talking about the Michelin Pilot Power. Pilot Road 2CT's and the Dunlop Qualifer aren't really aimed at the same purpose.
As I'm not an aggressive rider and I don't take my bike to tracks, a set of Pilot Roads 2CT's have been my favorite tires. I like the Pirelli Angel ST/GT combo that I have mounted now and they cost a lot less than the dealers in Charlotte SC wanted this past summer when I needed tires.
I have the Pilot Power 2CT on my Monster and love them. My brother had the the Dunlop Q3's on his GSX-R600 and he loved them as well. I have probably 4500 miles on mine and they are still probably good for 2000-3000 more. Granted most of my riding is commuting which is probably helping with the longevity of them. They do tend to get a little slick when riding below 45 degrees until you get a little heat in them. I found mine as used but brand new take offs on craigslist. Revzilla and Motorcycle-Superstore had a bunch of tire rebates for both the Dunlop and Michellin earlier this year, not sure if they are still going on.
NONACK
HalfDork
11/7/14 9:12 a.m.
Another vote for Revzilla and the Pilot Road series of tires. Plenty of grip dry or wet, and good wear even on my literbike.
yamaha
UltimaDork
11/7/14 10:24 a.m.
In reply to toad9977:
Yep, chances are they'll last him a season and be more capable in the corners he is lucky enough to have down there.
If the front tire is cracking, replace tires ASAP. That tire won't hold if you over shoot a corner and down you go.
Revzilla and DennisKirk are the sites I looked at before buying mine. I ended up going with a Bridgestone Battalax BT003. Almost to much of a tire for street use, but I got them for a smoking deal from someone who sold their bike. So, I jumped on them. I've run most brands on my bikes and it comes down to personal preference really. Look at your needs, wants and more importantly your budget and go from there.