The tyre review thread

[Lonewolf]

I dont why I put up with all this grief, I've only just found out the bike has more than one gear, now it's all systems go! 

[kfshman]

The stocked are not bad but not good. i don't feel good in a high speed run. will keep watching your valuable posts

[Sharpy]

Bugger!
Had to stop on the way home as the low pressure warning was showing on the display: 19 psi.
Original Bridgestone BT21 on at the moment with only 2700 miles.
Just inspected the rear tyre and there is a dirty great big screw head visible in the centre of the tyre.
Also pulled out a panel nail that was about 8mm long (screw left in).
Been reading this thread with great interest and will be looking at the PR3 as a set to replace.
Guess I'm going to have to find the best part of £300 for this but having read this thread I'm confident it will be money well spent.
Anyone know of a ride in ride out service near Leamington Spa, Warwickshire?
Cheers,

[Deon]

Has anyone experienced the unusual pressure loss on the PR3's ( mostly front tyre ) ??
Nearly 1 Bar  loss per week. The rear about 0.5 Bar per week.


Deon

[2kwacks]

Has anyone experienced the unusual pressure loss on the PR3's ( mostly front tyre ) ??
Nearly 1 Bar  loss per week. The rear about 0.5 Bar per week.


Deon

funny you should mention pressure loss. my rear tyre started to loose approx 5 psi a week, checked the tyre for nails and the valve stem for leaks but everything seem fine. so I was completely baffled because the front never lost any pressure neither did my zx6r. so when I replaced my rear tyre I got a mate to do it for me at our work shop, he is a experienced motorycycle mechanic tyre fitter, told him there was tyre sensors fitted which he already knew and as done many times before. he also knew that you must let the air out slowly by pushing the core in, he also knew not to break the bead by the valve, and I watch him do it and he was very carefull yet when he removed the tyre the valve stem was loose in the wheel rim it had snapped off. but the first thing he asked me was the tyre loosing pressure because when he looked at the snapped valve stem it looked like it had been chaffering where it tightens against the inside of the wheel rim. this could explain the pressure loss anyway it cost me £250.00 to have a new sensor fitted and programmed to the e.c.u. this may not be your problem but checked your stem valve just incase its a bit loose

[Deon]

Just checked them now ( by hand ) from the outside and they seem fine. Is there a nut on the inside that could be loose as there is no nut on the outside.

Deon

[2kwacks]

Just checked them now ( by hand ) from the outside and they seem fine. Is there a nut on the inside that could be loose as there is no nut on the outside.

Deon

yes they tighten from the inside, they only need to be slightly loose and the centrifugal force causes the them to chaffer against the rim. if your loosing pressure then get your tyres check out. I use to loose approx 5 p.s.i over 5 to 7 days which is unexceptable. you said you are losing 1 bar which is approx 14.5 p.s.i. that is alot of pressure to loose over any time. I would say 0.5 bar which is over 7 p.s.i is still way much to loose over a week. I assume you are checking the pressure when cold..! best get both front and rear tyres checked for safety reasons

[Deon]

Bike has to go back to dealer to replace front TPS, so will get them to check it then. I am not impressed with the quality levels of the GTR. Bike is 18 months old ( 12 000 Km's ) and the rear TPS had to be replaced about a month ago and now the front one is shot as well. Reading I get on dash : FRT .................. KPA. On the Rear TPS I got a battery low warning but not on the front one this time so I assume it is toast.
These things are expensive to replace once the bike is out of warranty.

Deon

[2kwacks]

Bike has to go back to dealer to replace front TPS, so will get them to check it then. I am not impressed with the quality levels of the GTR. Bike is 18 months old ( 12 000 Km's ) and the rear TPS had to be replaced about a month ago and now the front one is shot as well. Reading I get on dash : FRT .................. KPA. On the Rear TPS I got a battery low warning but not on the front one this time so I assume it is toast.
These things are expensive to replace once the bike is out of warranty.

Deon

I telephoned kawasaki customer services, telling them about the snapped sensor. also explained it was loosing pressure but did not know the sensor was loose. they said the can't do anythink about that because a kawasaki dealer did not replace the tyre. fair enough I thought, got me by the short and curlys here..! but did ask them what was the expected life of the tyre sensor batteries, they said they should last 4 years, they also said if any tyre sensor battery was to fail before 3 years they would replace under warranty, I should also imagine after 3 years and under 4 years they may as a gesture of good will pay half the cost. but I agree the tyre semsors are very bad design. why the hell they didn't design the sensor to take replaceable batteries or why the hell they put the batteries in the tyre in the first place beats the hell out of me. can only assume its a money making idea to line their own and the dealers pockets. but having said that.. except for the tyre sensor I replaced "which may or not of been a fault" I've had no trouble with my 2010 model. if my tyre sensors fail before 4 years I will expect kawasaki to be true to their word and replace the sensor under warranty, if they don't they will defo feel my "wrath" and I will point out to them, by palming me off and telling me "porkies" they will loose more than they gain in lost sales.. Ho! .. by the time I've finished slagging them off to all and sundry..

[Deon]

I have read on this forum and others that Kawasaki will replace sensors up to 5 years and I am sure that they will honour that commitment in the UK and the USA.
However, I can promise you that down here in SA, this will certainly not happen !!!
The dealer did fit my new tyres so that is not an issue. Will take it in this week IF they have TPS in stock, otherwise a 3 month wait to "back order" from Japan.

Deon

[Bryn]

I have read on this forum and others that Kawasaki will replace sensors up to 5 years and I am sure that they will honour that commitment in the UK and the USA.
However, I can promise you that down here in SA, this will certainly not happen !!!
The dealer did fit my new tyres so that is not an issue. Will take it in this week IF they have TPS in stock, otherwise a 3 month wait to "back order" from Japan.

Deon

Just had the same comment from a guy over on ADVrider... 5 years on sensors   

[Deon]

My bike went in to have a new front TPS fitted on Wednesday. The new TPS came with a new valve. Just as well ! My old valve was corroded ( right where the rubber o-ring is on the inside of the rim. This was perhaps the reason why I was losing so much pressure all the time.
Anyway, have pumped to correct pressure again and will monitor. Perhaps a tip for something to look at if you have the same pressure loss problem.

Deon

[jenros]

hi guys, my pirelli angels, front tyre still pretty good,,,rear tyre`s done 5300mls,need a new one now,,,only dry use for me an caught out in the rain a few times,,dont ride hard,nice n steady for me,,,quite happy with them thou in general. Was going to go for metzlers,,only as i had two sets on my vfr an they were doing 5500mls on the rear-but always had new tyres front n back at the same time. So do i stick with the angels again or the pilots???

[Deon]

@jenros,
PR3's for sure !! Excellent in wet or dry conditions and very good mileage. I will not fit another tyre at the moment.
I have also been "experimenting" with the tyre pressures. 2.9 Bar recommended but I have found better grip at 2.7 Bar.

Deon

[hurricane]

Just bought the FJR, so I can't say what works for me best on this bike. The standard tyres (BT021's) are, well, crap in the wet. I've got 6000km on clock now and already noticing it's not tipping in as well as when I first got it. I'm getting PR3's next. My other bike (not yet sold) is a 2003 FJR, and the best tyre I found for that was also the PR3 (got about 12000K on the last set!). Similar weight, so it's a good indicator. Many of my Ulysses colleagues also swear by them. I'm in Oz, and found two incarnations of Pirelli (Angel ST and Diablo Corsa) wore too quickly here (2000km only on the Corsa!), but hell they stick. I'm not a track bandit and want good wear, so give me the PR3 any day!. Interesting: A lot of BMW owners here still stick with the manufacturer's recommendation of Metzeler, not understanding that it's only Germany where you must stick with the bike manufacturer's spec tyre.