Kawasaki 1400 GTR

1400 GTR - All Models => Accessories, Farkels and Mods => Topic started by: TRIGGERHAPPY on May 27, 2012, 08:03:42 PM

Title: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on May 27, 2012, 08:03:42 PM
Have to buy new tyres soon,have done  4350 miles on the dunlop roadsmart.The rear tyre are almost gone,front will last for many more miles. I do like the handling of the dunlops but did hope for more milage. Thinking of  switching to 190/55-17
Any one have some thoughts? Tyres on my list are PR3'S, ANGEL ST,BT023GT or roadsmart II. Wet handling are important
And grip and feel when going trough tight turns fast. Information on milage will also help.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: Rusty on May 27, 2012, 08:17:37 PM
You have been away for a while   :smiley: :smiley:  .... recent tyre thread ... many pages long ! ... will 99% point you to PR3's ... they are excellent all year round .. mine have about 6000 miles on them and are still good for a lot more.... of course there are others but I would highly recommend them and I won't be buying anything else when they come up for replacement. :yes:
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: Mogster on May 27, 2012, 08:25:46 PM
Quote from: TRIGGERHAPPY on May 27, 2012, 08:03:42 PM

And grip and feel when going trough tight turns fast. Information on milage will also help.

Ah.... the PR3's get the Mogs '2 Knees down 5 star rating'...  :gunsmilie:  ... great fer stuffing sports bike riders up the inside..  :mfr_lol:
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on May 27, 2012, 09:06:25 PM
Just got a sms from a good friend of mine driving a gtr 08.
He got a set of PR3's fitted a week ago,and he have done a really long trip this weekend in all kind of weather and
roads. He is very impressed with the tyres,awsome in the wet he said.
PR3's are probably the tyre for me. Any thought about changing to 190/55-17.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: Hans on May 27, 2012, 11:23:10 PM
With a 55 profile, you will experience a clear improvement over comfort. But you will get slow control when changing direction and unstable handling at high speed. Have just completed a long test (5000km) with BT23GT with 55 profile - not recommended!
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on May 27, 2012, 11:35:00 PM
What high speed are we talking about? Can't it be the tyres and not the 55 profile that causes the problems.
Have read about conti motion and they are making the gtr unstable at high speed with 50 profile.
Hope you had a nice trip. 
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on May 31, 2012, 12:45:17 AM
Ended up with a set of roadsmarts again. Did get the 55 profile rear tyre. Wasn't on my list but got a really good
deal , almost 100£ cheaper than the PR3's. Now I can compare the 55 vs 50 profile differences on the same type of tyres
Will give a full report as soon as I have done some trips
Can take a while,don't know when i get my bike back from the workshop.
I have used 44 psi front and rear and that seems to be spot on for me and my riding style.
Thougths for the tyre pressure on the 55 profile?
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: Boomer on May 31, 2012, 10:45:29 PM
£100 cheaper for 2/3rd of the mileage is a false economy.
I get well over 7k miles from my rear PR3s.
The first one lasted over 8k miles to the wear bars.
I pay about £280 for the pair, fitted to loose wheels.
That's £160 for the rear and £120 for the front.
Front lasts well over 12k miles.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on June 01, 2012, 01:25:12 AM
I don't have any experience with the PR3's and the milage I would have had from them.
Milage depends on many things. Mostly how hard you ride and the road conditions.
My friend who also bought a 08 gtr new last year,he did get over twice the milage out of the stock 021's than I did.
And he isn't captain slow if you know what I meen
Another point for choosing the dunlops again was to get a real picture of the difference between the 50 and 55 profile.
Something I find really intresting.
I usualy wear out the front tyre faster than the rear,this due to winding b and c roads with pretty  beaten asphalt and some
hard rideing. The other way around with the dunlops,mostly I think from riding more on a and b roads and much better
asphalt on my long trip last year.
Time will show,maybe the more expensive PR3's will be my next choice.


Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: Boomer on June 01, 2012, 08:52:43 PM
The 021s are kaka. They are the first tyre I've ever ridden on where the front wore out first.
Other than that I've only ever worn out the rear first, although some were close.
I don't "push" that hard. I prefer to ride smoothly rather than fast.

I've not tried the Roadsmarts but from what I've heard from the US forums they don't last as long as the PR2/3s for the same riders.
A lot of the Yanks are now riding with the PR2/3 in the 55 sized rear as it improves the turn-in without affecting the stability.
I may try a 55 next time, but I'm quite happy with the standard sizes.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on June 01, 2012, 09:41:30 PM
 I'm also quite happy with the 50 profile,but I have always been the type to think good stuff could be better.
And when I read postings on some forum that 55 should improve the allready impressive gtr, I just could not resist to try it.
Will change to 50 if I don't like it. But I do not think it will be so bad that I have to chang it before it's worn down.
I hope....
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: frenchbiker on June 03, 2012, 03:11:17 PM
From Bridegstone, to a couple of sets of Pirellis, now PR3. I will stick to these from now on. Grip is unbelievable in all weather.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: Lonewolf on June 03, 2012, 05:46:13 PM
I got my new (to me) GTR on March 17th this year. The previous owner had just fitted Dunlop Roadsmarts, I have the invoice to confirm this. These tyres were ok in dry weather but shit in the wet even at the sedate pace I ride at.
The tyres had done less than 1000 miles on them but I was happy to rip them off and spend £300 on a pair of PR3's as I had on my previous GTR.
Currently I would not use a tyre other than the PR3.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on June 03, 2012, 07:03:20 PM
I have't noticed any trouble when driving in the wet with the roadsmarts.
Maybe I'm a slow rider. But have no trouble keeping up with other bikes in wet weather.
Cannot comment on the PR3's,haven't tried them,but have heard only good thing about them.
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: TRIGGERHAPPY on June 13, 2012, 09:38:40 PM

Did get 5000 miles on the rear tyre. Changed tyres yesterday.
First impression of the 55 profile rear tyre are good.
The bike feels lighter,specialy at slow speeds
Feels much more easy to turn and a little more comfort.But it makes the bike a little taller.
No problem for me and my long legs. Very narrow space between the hugger and tyre
Use 44psi front and rear. Planning a weekend trip over to Sweden,going mainly on tight B and C roads
Will give you reveiw when I come back.

Some pictures of the old tyres.

Some more tread on the right of the tyre as usual.

(http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t424/rodzja/IMG_0243.jpg)

(http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t424/rodzja/IMG_0242.jpg)

Front wheel would have lasted longer but did change anyway. Reckon the tyres are pretty hammered
after a long trip to and in the alps and back. Can use the old tyre to end the season with.

(http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t424/rodzja/IMG_0244.jpg)

Here you see the height difference of 50/55 profile. Remember to divide the difference in two
and concider the tyre wear on the old tyre

(http://i1059.photobucket.com/albums/t424/rodzja/IMG_0249.jpg)

Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: tommytool on July 04, 2012, 05:19:02 PM
Anyone have experience of BT-023 GT?  Picking up bike sunday with brand new ones fitted. Just hope their better than the 21's. Also will the 55 interfere with the rear hugger that's fitted. Stupid question - ill tell when I view tomorrow night!
Title: Re: Tyres
Post by: O.C. on July 04, 2012, 07:58:55 PM
I haven't any experience of them myself....see here ~ nearer the bottom of the page  :smiley:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/402/6841/Motorcycle-Article/Bridgestone-BT-023-Tire-Review.aspx