[SVZuki]

Ok, im at the time where i need to start loooking into new tires, it has the originals on there with 5500 miles on them. I have absolutely no clue on tires and im going on a long road trip in 2 months or so and i want new tires before then. Can someone point me in the correct direction? I am just looking for an all around good set of tires...midgrade. no crap but not space age and costing a ton. thanks.

 

[Hunter]

Stay away from dunflop.

 

[Gixxerdale]

Tire choice depends a lot on your type of riding and only you know that. A starting point is Sportbike or Touring tires. Sportbike tires are softer, wear fast, grip better, but don't work so great on wet stuff. Touring tires are still good for occasional twisty riding, displace water better, grip well until pushed really hard, and last a lot longer for Highway and commuting.

So what's your style or type of riding? :?:

 

[Gixxerdale]

Stay away from dunflop.

Anti Dunlop? They work well out here in the heat and dry surfaces. The wear sucks, but that's true of most tires that get 150hp applied to them!

 

[Hunter]

Ya, dunflops wear really fast and suck in the rain. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Gixxerdale]

Ya, dunflops wear really fast and suck in the rain. Just my 2 cents.

But they are nice for the SoCal twisty stuff where"most" years it's dry. Not this year. I usually run 208's on the gixxer and do well to get 3000 miles out of them. But they look like track slicks by then. They feel good as far as feed back and they turn in nice. Give and take on any tire. I sacrifice mileage for handling I guess. I may try something new next month!

 

[Hunter]

Change is a good thing. Go with what you know you will be safe on.

 

[LayinLo]

Get some Metzeler Z1's or get the Maxxis Supermaxx. I think the Maxxis are a bit cheaper but they worked really well for me.

 

[Hunter]

I heard good things about the Metzelers.

 

[Gixxerdale]

A few friends ride the Maxxiss brand to save cash because they are so hard on tires. For the money they are a bargain. I think all the maunfacturers make good tires. Just figure out what you want or expect from a tire, then start your search.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

I use Metzelers. I'm on my third set.

Are you looking for twisty tires, or super-slab tires, or a compromise betweeen the two?

M1 Sportec - Nice twisty tire. Super sticky, aggressive turn-in profile.
Z6 Roadtec - Nice compromise. Somewhat sticky, stable turn-in profile.
Superslab tires . . . ask a cruiser!! :mrgreen:

 

[VolklHunter.com]

What's wrong with the stock tire it came with??? Mine seem fine, but the ****sucker got a screw in the front, and I had to replace it with a Dunlop 209??? ( I think)
Which brings up a new topic. Why can't you patch a tire. No one in town would do it.

 

[LayinLo]

What's wrong with the stock tire it came with??? Mine seem fine, but the ****sucker got a screw in the front, and I had to replace it with a Dunlop 209??? ( I think)
Which brings up a new topic. Why can't you patch a tire. No one in town would do it.

...here we go again... :-|

 

[Trapper]

Two wheels .... You need them both!!! Cage = 4 wheels . 1 down , not as bad.

 

[GIXXER-Mike]

Had the OEM Dunlop 218's which were fine for me but I got a nice, shiny screw in the rear tire & found out the hard way that the 218's aren't available for purchase & had to go w/an M1 Sportec. Now I'm runnin' a Dunlop (4,100mi.) on the front & an M1 (1,000mi) on the rear. Don't see any noticeable reasons to replace the front yet so I'm gonna wear it into the ground.

FYI, don't patch it unless you just "need to" to get to where you can replace the whole tire :mrgreen: !

 

[SVZuki]

definitly touring for my riding style....i don't stunt, and im not hard on my tires..i just cruise. so i hope that helps. thanks for the input so far.

 

[themeatmanlandry]

definitly touring for my riding style....i don't stunt, and im not hard on my tires..i just cruise. so i hope that helps. thanks for the input so far.

Dude . . . Z6 Roadtec. You will not be let down. Tough enough for touring, round enough to corner with.

They even come with little elephants in the tread!! How cool is that? I've worn the little buggers' trunks off on the left, but I'm barely scraping the trunk-lips on the right. Crappy vision in the TN hills, so I can see farther through a left-hander, and thus feel more comfy acting a fool.

This weekend, I'm scraping something.



Patching
You can do a mushroom patch form the inside, if you really have to. NEVER use a plug. NEVER. You rlife is worth more than the whole GD bike, don;t cheap out on a tire, it ain't worth it.

That said, I got a nail in my rear tire at about 300 miles. The shop patched it with a mushroom patch and a guy I know (really well :twisted: ) took the bike to 140 (indicated) without problems. He's a nut, and he used to tempt fate before he had a kid.

Most shops won't patch or plug, due to "liability," which is an ancient Navajo word that means, "not sell white man new tire today."

[EDIT: I buy from Ron Ayers, but I understand that Dennis Kirk will take any advertised price and beat it by a buck.]

 

[themeatmanlandry]

This weekend, I'm scraping something.

Okay . . . I lied.

But, my chicken strips are diminishing further with each and every ride!!

 

[Gixxerdale]

Ya, dunflops wear really fast and suck in the rain. Just my 2 cents.

Hey Hunter! They suck even more in snow and on ice. Now that part of the ride really really sucked! :roll:

 

[SVZuki]

ok guys, website where i can order tires...that is what i need now. heelp.