Respectable recent sport-touring tire comparison?

TwistedKestrel

TwistedKestrel

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Has anybody read a review where somebody tested at least the Roadsmart II and the Pilot Road 3 tires back to back? Trying to find tire reviews is frustrating, most stuff I can find reads like a press release from the manufacturer and makes absolutely no mention of competing tires whatsoever.
 
Any particular reason you're looking at those 2? I ran Bridgestone BT 023 front/rear on my SV, then used Pirelli Angels. Both were incredible tires, very grippy but I got more life out of the Pirellis (still installed)
 
"Motorrad" Magazin out of Germany does very detailed tire test including 5000 km runs almost every year, they do have an online presence however not sure how well it translates.
 
Sorry 4000km, you read german?The charts are ok either way .They do very detailed helmet/glove etc test as well.Used to have the Magazin subscribed, not anymore.
 
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Paso said:
Sorry 4000km, you read german?The charts are ok either way .They do very detailed helmet/glove etc test as well.Used to have the Magazin subscribed, not anymore.
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I don't, but I think it's still very readable through Google Translate. :P
 
The roadsmart 2 is amazing, have a set on my VFR.
 
I put Pilot Road 3's on my last bike and was really happy with the grip and wet weather performance. It was a big heavy bike with so-so suspension but it could corner with those tires - I noticed they were grippier than the older Bridgestones they replaced.

However, they're a bit more costly than Roadsmart 2's, BT-023's, Metzeler Z8's and Pirelli Angels. So are the Continental Road Attack 2's.

From reviews in Bike magazine, I thought the Roadsmart 2's and Pilot Road 3's were the class leaders, but the Motorrad article ranked them differently. In truth I'm sure they're all quite good. I hope to put some miles on my VFR this year and the previous owner installed SS tires (Michelin Pilot Power's), so I'm sure I'll wear in nice flat spots and start looking for ST tires at some point.
 
Macs said:
Any particular reason you're looking at those 2? I ran Bridgestone BT 023 front/rear on my SV, then used Pirelli Angels. Both were incredible tires, very grippy but I got more life out of the Pirellis (still installed)
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Pirellis claim they have the endurance record, look it up.

Sent from my tablet using my paws
 
Put on a set of the roadsmart 2's at the end of last season and was pleasantly surprised. They might just be my new favorite tire, fantastic grip wet or dry and warm up quickly.
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Bt023's grip like SS tires once warmed up and wear nicely but they don't like the cold or the wet.

But you can never go wrong with the PR series either, and I much proffered the 2' over the 3's just for wear characteristics.
 
boooya said:
Put on a set of the roadsmart 2's at the end of last season and was pleasantly surprised. They might just be my new favorite tire, fantastic grip wet or dry and warm up quickly.
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Bt023's grip like SS tires once warmed up and wear nicely but they don't like the cold or the wet.

But you can never go wrong with the PR series either, and I much proffered the 2' over the 3's just for wear characteristics.
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I rode the versys to it's new owner in -1C yesterday with proper tire pressure on the b-23's and she still felt like she was going to crash in a corner. I would never buy those tires again.
 
I used to go OCD over tires and read all the reviews and I've had a few different types on my bikes and what I've found is that it seems one set of tires might work well on one bike and then not so well on another. I had some Metzelers recommended to me for my last bike a Z750S, I hated them, felt like they were made of glass riding around on roads made of lard. Couldn't wait to swap them out. I've had good luck with the Michelins 2CT and the newer version too although I think I prefer the older Michelins a bit better. My criteria is wet weather riding stability and the Michelins give me that. Once that's dialled in the dry weather riding is usually OK with whatever set I use.
 
jc100 said:
{snip} what I've found is that it seems one set of tires might work well on one bike and then not so well on another. {snip}
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Makes perfect sense.
Absolutely despised the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's on my old Buell 1125r, but other people love 'em.
Love the Metzeler M3's on my Triumph, friend with a GSXR hates them.
 
killerkeith said:
I rode the versys to it's new owner in -1C yesterday with proper tire pressure on the b-23's and she still felt like she was going to crash in a corner. I would never buy those tires again.
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same with my experience... but imo I think they have more grip than the pilot road 3's when the weather is warmer.
 
vrus said:
same with my experience... but imo I think they have more grip than the pilot road 3's when the weather is warmer.
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Oh hell yea they do...
But that's the key "when the weather is warmer" lol.
 
I had the stock Pirelli angels on my monster for over 16,000 km. The only reason i had to change the rear was because about 10,000km was highway and the middle got flat in the rear. I still have the front on and it has over 20,000km.
 
Sorry mods, looks like I accidentally started another tire thread.
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