The tyre review thread

[Kwikasfuki]

Thought it would be good to collect our reviews of the various tyres we use on the GTR so its easy for everyone to see what the good and bad tyres are.

Just my personal view of the tyres I've had so far on the GTR. The majority of my riding is on the motorway.

Michelin PR3
Score 9/10
Pro: Wow. Excellent grip in both dry, wet and wet & windy conditions. Brilliant and effortless turn in. Still early days yet so may adjust the rating later but currently extremely happy with these tyres. Done 600 miles so far and no complaints. Looks like this tyre warms up more quickly than the PR2s meaning more grip in colder conditions. This could be THE tyre for the GTR
Con: None as of yet

Pirelli Angel ST
Score 8/10
Pro: Sticky tyre. Holds the road well and drops in nicely
Con: Rear wore after 5000 miles

Michelin PR 2
Score 8/10
Pro: Solid stable tyre with quick turn in. Excellent wear. Rear had 10000 miles, but decided to change as was squaring off. Would have got another few thousand out of it
Con: Can be a bit squirmish at speed when the road is cold. In summer they are fine

Continental Road Attack 2
Score 4/10
Pro: Low speed turn in and handling is brilliant. Easy to scrape the pegs with these tyres.
Con: At speed, these tyres don't grip too well. I think its down to the side walls, so until there's a specific version for the GTR I'm staying away. I will try these again if Continental produce a specific version as I believe they have the potential to be the best tyre for the GTR. Towards the end of life these tyres are downright dangerous at speed. Like being on an ice skating rink

Bridestone BT021
Score 3/10
Pro: They come for free on the bike
Con: Watch the handling deteriorate after a few thousand miles. Terrible turn in

[routemaster]

I would agree with the ratings for PR3 and BT021's

Kind regards

Steven

[fatharry]

watch this space folr thr Z8's ;D sometime after May

[fred24]

Very usefull thread as not too keen on the 021's and for the first time may replace them before they are worn out. Too unpredictable when the road isn't perfect for my liking

[pembsgtr]

Bt021 4000 miles out of the rear. Felt ok having had no other tyre to compare with.
Avon storm 2 ultra, 500 dry miles so far and finding overall grip way better than the bridgestones. far more sure footed on a regular route that I do. the real test will be when I get them out in the damp and rainy weather that is now upon us again.

[Lonewolf]

I'm still extremely impressed with my PR3's

[Martin#30]

My original fit BT021s lasted 8,500 miles which I was very pleased with. Dry grip was good, wet grip never really gave me much confidence. Agree with LW's comments that stability and turn-in suffer quite quickly, but they rate more like a 6/10 for me. They were average tyres, not bad, not good.

Had my PR3s on for 1,000 miles now. Awesome tyres, stability, wet and dry griip, turn-in all perfect. Punctured within 100 miles through the fat part of the tread, but plugged and working fine. 8/10 from me, would be 10/10 if the rear had not puntured so easily and I had not read similar puncture stories from other PR2 and PR3 users.

Martin.

[fatharry]

Ooh, thats 2 people on this site who have had punctures on 'New' PR3's ...... not sure what to make of that??.... it could just be really bad luck, but given 50% of the people i know who have fitted these tyres have had punctures on a new hoop...thats a very high statistic.

I'm sure its nothing...but we'll see how things progress ;D

[Kevin]

I've just come back from having a set of PR3s fitted so I hope I'm not the 3rd!

Kevin

[madfatjake]

Pirelli Angels all the way here, even got them on my 600

[Boomer]

Well my PR3's now have over 5000 miles on them and so far (touch wood) no punctures.
I still like them. They are a little squirmy over white lines and overbanding but it's just a little that lets you know rather than anything alarming.
Cornering grip is still awesome and wet grip astonishing, not that any of us have ridden in the wet recently.  ;D 8)

The rear is squaring off in the middle but as I spend most of my riding on the M(bloody)25 that's no surprise.

Anyways, I have the 11 days off so will be going for a play at some point to see if i can even up the wear somewhat.  ;) ;D

From their current condition I reckon they will match or outlast the PR2's they replaced.

[Dive1082]

Is this a subject I started? lol  I can only speak for the free ones (BT021) which in my humble opinion are not brilliant.  I will be changing them at the earliest opportunity for the P2 or P3's.  :-)

Thought it would be good to collect our reviews of the various tyres we use on the GTR so its easy for everyone to see what the good and bad tyres are.

Just my personal view of the tyres I've had so far on the GTR. The majority of my riding is on the motorway.

Michelin PR3
Score 9/10
Pro: Wow. Excellent grip in both dry, wet and wet & windy conditions. Brilliant and effortless turn in. Still early days yet so may adjust the rating later but currently extremely happy with these tyres. Done 600 miles so far and no complaints. Looks like this tyre warms up more quickly than the PR2s meaning more grip in colder conditions. This could be THE tyre for the GTR
Con: None as of yet

Pirelli Angel ST
Score 8/10
Pro: Sticky tyre. Holds the road well and drops in nicely
Con: Rear wore after 5000 miles

Michelin PR 2
Score 8/10
Pro: Solid stable tyre with quick turn in. Excellent wear. Rear had 10000 miles, but decided to change as was squaring off. Would have got another few thousand out of it
Con: Can be a bit squirmish at speed when the road is cold. In summer they are fine

Continental Road Attack 2
Score 4/10
Pro: Low speed turn in and handling is brilliant. Easy to scrape the pegs with these tyres.
Con: At speed, these tyres don't grip too well. I think its down to the side walls, so until there's a specific version for the GTR I'm staying away. I will try these again if Continental produce a specific version as I believe they have the potential to be the best tyre for the GTR. Towards the end of life these tyres are downright dangerous at speed. Like being on an ice skating rink

Bridestone BT021
Score 3/10
Pro: They come for free on the bike
Con: Watch the handling deteriorate after a few thousand miles. Terrible turn in

[pembsgtr]

Avon Storm 2 Ultra.
Now clocked up 1000 miles on the storms. They are showing no sign of wear as of yet, the grip and feel of them is leaps ahead of the BT021's. I find bends can be taken at a higher speed and with a higher lean angle than the oem tyres, especially on roads that I use regularly.
Have only ridden them in the dry so far, will update when I have tried them in the rain.

[fred24]

The Avon's didn't come out too good in a recent wet weather tyre test but not as bad as the Z8's which where completely rubbished by the tester so it will be interesting to hear your views on the Avon's when the rain arrives - which is today by most weather reports

[wheelspanner]

I've done 2000 miles on the Avon storm ultra 2s and rate them as a good tyre in all conditions.  I read the review in bike magazine.  Can't say I agree with their opinion.