Tyre choice

[winnsworld]

So here I am just 5,000 miles after putting ContiMotion's on my GTR (only £130 plus fitting) and the rear tyre, despite having plenty of tread on the centre, has knackered sidewalls!

Now I don't chuck it about very much and mainly straight-line it commuting and touring..... maybe I did give it a hammering on those French D roads after all 

Looks like I will be shopping for new tyres again very soon.... after the bike gets back from a service (48k on the clock) - my mechanic says the plugs and air filter are a bugger to reach, hence a couple of hours effort!

Expensive biking this year (as my VFR waits to go in for replacement front forks and brake pads)

[Ant]

You did well to get 5k out of them on a GTR. I only got 4k out a rear and 6k out the front when I had them on an FJR.
The 023 s I have on the GTR are nearly ready for changing after 6k rear and nearly 8k front....they have only been on the bike since july !!   

Deffo PR3 s next.......£200 fitted   

[winnsworld]

After discussing where and how I've covered 5,000 miles with my mechanic, he suggests the Pyrenees, etc. at 40C may have something to do with it. The extra heat and hard riding may have worn down the sidewall (impressive riding I'm thinking LOL).

As I've got to pay for the service tomorrow I've bought the same rear tyre from MandP at just £89 including delivery to get me back on the road, particularly whilst there's plenty of life in the front tyre.

However, I do believe I will be purchasing PR3's when the next time comes...

[Rusty]

You won't go wrong with the PR3's as everyone knows how good they are ... If I hadn't gone to the dark side I was going to try a set of Pirelli Angel Gt's which have done very well in many tests and reviews... only to try them as I am always happy to "try' something else and of course if you don't like them you can always change back ... at the moment I am looking at Michelin again .. a set of Anekke 3's ... £234 fitted, so a little cheaper than I was paying for the Gtr but that is not a dealer price !

[frenchbiker]

Rusty, lot's of French GTR owners are going with the new Pirelli Angel GT, opposite review from the Angel ST, which were crap.
I ll switch myself to a new set of GT when time comes to change my PR3...

[Ant]

Rusty, lot's of French GTR owners are going with the new Pirelli Angel GT, opposite review from the Angel ST, which were crap.
I ll switch myself to a new set of GT when time comes to change my PR3...

Could that just be the warmer climate suiting those tyres though ?

[frenchbiker]

If you live in the north of France, climate is not that warm...reviews say it handles extremely well in the wet, a better wear and tear, more even throughout. Harder compound than PR3 so they may even last a bit longer, too soon and too new to say.

[Martin#30]

I have been running the Angel GTs myself for 6,000 miles now, after 3 sets of PR3s in a row. Like Rusty, I though I should at least try something else.

They are good tyres, but not outstanding like the PR3s. Dry grip about the same as the PR3s, wet grip not as good (though this is where the PR3s are simply astonishing), wear rates look to be about the same to me. Only downside of a PR3 seems to be an apparent higher likelihood of getting punctures (I have had, and repaired 2 myself), but this is hardly scientific.

I shall be going back to PR3s next time, though I would say if you mainly ride in decent weather, the GTs would be a great tyre.

Martin.

[frenchbiker]

Martin, good to know. French report handling the wet as good as PR3, UK rain must be thicker or different !! Nonetheless, interesting to get feedbacks from this tire set.

[Rusty]

Nice one Martin .. glad to see someone else out there likes to try something new !

[Volvo2012]

Hi, All
This is my first posting, i have just registered today after meeting someone in cumbria a few weeks ago who recommended the site. I have had some new Bridgestone T30's fitted about 1600 miles ago and they are a great advance on the BT023's. After 1600 miles they still look like new. Heading off to Europe on Tuesday and will be covering around 2700 miles with a pillion and fully loaded, so i will see how they do on the Alpine passes. At the moment i would recomend them.

[Ant]

Hurry back and let us know as i am due to replace my 023 s shortly 

Have a great time......

Ant

[Lonewolf]

Mr Volvo, who did you meet up in Cumbria who recommended the site, were you by any chance at the Tanhill Inn? I remember speaking to someone up there not too long ago on a GTR.

[O.C.]

to this site Volvo2012 which I know you will find helpful, friendly, good fun and informative.

Do let us know who, where and when you were talking to about the GTR site, I sometimes meet GTR owners at Devils Bridge and as a rule I recommend that they enrol on here 

[Rusty]

Hey Mr Volvo .....    and don't forget to take lots of pictures to share with us all !