The tyre review thread

[Bondu]

My local (free range) bike dealer/fixer reckons that the BT021s fitted to the GTR are 'specials' with a higher load rating, and isn't keen to deviate from them as they are the Kawasaki recommended tyre (also wants to charge £176 + fitting for a rear 'special' BT021).

Kawasaki dealer will charge £130 for a rear BT021 fitted all in. PR3s were ca £180.

[routemaster]

The tyres for the GTR are 'special' but only in the sense that the tyres for the GTR have one of the highest speed ratings for tyres ie 'Z' rated which means the tyres have to be capable of withstanding sustained speeds in excess of 150mph.

Most tyre ratings have a maximum speed ie a 'V' rated tyres has to capable of withstanding sustained speeds up to but not exceeding 149mph. There are plenty of manufacturers who produce 'Z' rated tyres.

Steve

[Mark W]

Good question - I think we can only speculate as to why do bike manufacturers always put rubbish tyres on bikes when they sell them.

Simply down to cost

[Mark W]

My local (free range) bike dealer/fixer reckons that the BT021s fitted to the GTR are 'specials' with a higher load rating, and isn't keen to deviate from them as they are the Kawasaki recommended tyre (also wants to charge £176 + fitting for a rear 'special' BT021).

Kawasaki dealer will charge £130 for a rear BT021 fitted all in. PR3s were ca £180.

I was charged £240 for a pair of PR2's ride / ride out from my local Kwak dealer, they supply GTR's to the Police and they specify PR2's so if they are good enough for the boys in blue they are good enough for me.

[Lonewolf]

Well I can only speak from experience, the GTR came with the standard Bridestones which although I got terriffic mileage out of them I had never a huge amount of confidence in them. We have a very tight mini roundabout near us and with the Bridgestones I couldn't keep the bike in a tight line around it, it used to drift out which is never great!

On the PR3's I often laugh to myself as I go around the roundabout, (thankfully I have a full face helmet) ;D as the bike just delivers precision steering.

[Therenback]

I hear you on roundabout an slippin, first time thought I needed riding lessons again get me lines right. Run out o bits to add to bike, bolts to slick an replace surfaces to wax. Bugger all on the box I guess

[GTRTONY]

I have about 3.7K on my GTR 2011.
off to Swiss on Friday and have decided to change the oem rear (o21) as it is already squareing off. i have had a O23 put on the rear and shall keep the O21 on the front.
i ran with O23s on my FJR and have to say how impressed i was with them especially in the wet!
I will let you know my thoughts on how the new rear was in Switz when i return
btw, I have kept the O21 to replace the rear at some point as i feel there is still some life in it but just not good enough for the planned trip

tony

[routemaster]

My PR3 rear tyre has done 6774 miles and you could just start to see and feel it squaring off but there is still plenty of tread left.

Unfortunately I am going to have to replace it for a new one as I picked up a puncture  >:( on my way down to Loomies, to meet up with FH and a few others before heading off to Bexhill on Sea to meet up with fellow Knights Templar MTC members. The puncture  :( was caused by a piece of gravel  >:( probably from some surface dressing that had been down for a while - talk about being unlucky as I must have just caught a sharp edge and it went through the main rubber rather than one of the grooves  :( .

When riding I periodically cycle through the multi function display and spotted the rear PSI was down to 35  :o and I had to double check as I couldn't believe what I was seeing. So I stopped in a layby and checked the rear tyre and found the culprit. Fortunately I always carry a full puncture repair kit (mushroom plugs) plus a compact air compressor. Did a temporary repair and trundled back home at a steady 50mph.  :( This is the second puncture I have had in nearly 12,000 miles.  :(

Will sort a replacement PR3 during the week and I am fortunate that I have tyre insurance so it should only cost me a  £10.

Steve

[Rusty]

My PR3's have been ordered and booked in for fitting on Sat 20th .... can't wait  ;D

[Kwikasfuki]

routemaster, bad luck with the puncture. Extremely unlucky to have two puncture within 12k miles.  Having the older model, my display is permanently on the TPS. I think you get the red light flashing if it goes below a certain PSI.
The repair kit + right angle valve stem I always carry. Which portable compressor have you got? I'm on the lookout for one that has a small form factor and can inflate a tyre within a couple of mins.

[routemaster]

Yes have been a bit unlucky on that front but as Z rated tyres can't be repaired it has remind me the tyre insurance I took out last year has more than paid for itself  :) - must remmber to renew it at the end of the month.

The first puncture I had earlier this year there was a fairly rapid loss of tyre pressure and the 2010 multi function display suddenly flashed up "Low Tyre Pressure Rear" or words to that effect in big letters all across the screen - so you couldn't really miss it, a bit like the Low Fuel warning. Today it was a gradual lose of pressure and it was only because I was cycling through the display I spotted - no doubt when it got low enough it would have flashed up the a warning on the display.

I have a tyre pressure gauge and right angled adpater in the glove box and in the pannier I carry a "Stop and Go Tire Plugger" repair kit (http://www.stopngo.com/products/Pocket-Tire-Plugger-%252d-For-All-Tubeless-Tires.html) which I bought online in the UK and the Slime Compact Air compressor (http://www.slime.com/) .

I really like the puncture repair kit and the mushroom plugs, they are very easy to use and I have had only one failure of the mushroom plug but that was easy to fix. I also really like the Slime tyre compressor, its very neat and compact and it only took a couple of minutes to inflate the tyre to the correct pressure. It comes in a nice case which contains everything and although I bought it from my from the local motorcycle tyre dealer but they are available in e-bay for around £35. I think the Slime compressor is better than the tyre compressors you normally see on the shelves.

Steve

[Lonewolf]

Steve, how does this tyre insurance work and who do you have it with?

[Kwikasfuki]

Thanks for the links Steve. I've ordered the ultra compact Slime compressor.

[routemaster]

Steve, how does this tyre insurance work and who do you have it with?

The policy is or was with AA Warranty and it cost me about £90 last year and the policy will cover the cost of a replacement tyre should you have a puncture - providing the tyre is still road legal and subject to a £10 excess. The policy allows for two punctures per year so if you had two punctures it would cost £110.

I have just been checking the AA warranty web site and there no longer seems to have Motorcycle Tyre policy but they do have one for cars but I will check when I ring them during the week to submit my claim.

Steven

[Rusty]

That's interesting that your policy covered the cost of the tyre ..... I had one years ago that I used once on a rear puncture to my VFR, through Benetts, and it just covered the recovery to a local bike garage where they would/could fit a new tyre and or plug it .. so the policy was for the cost of recovery and I paid for a new tyre. I have to say the local garage that came out was quick and efficient  ;D