Tire snobs

TK4

TK4

Well-known member
Just throwing this out there - I wonder how many folks, in a blind test, could really tell the difference between most current tire brands ?
Eliminating the real low end stuff (Kenda, Cheng Shin for instance), I doubt that anyone makes a product that doesn't work very well in 90% of real world situations.
You opinions of course, may differ.
Let the ranting begin.
 
I've had tires that felt like wet newspapers in the rain after they'd worn down quite a bit. I know it's snobbish, but I don't buy them. I value my life, and it's too short as it is.
 
TK4 said:
Just throwing this out there - I wonder how many folks, in a blind test, could really tell the difference between most current tire brands ?
Eliminating the real low end stuff (Kenda, Cheng Shin for instance), I doubt that anyone makes a product that doesn't work very well in 90% of real world situations.
You opinions of course, may differ.
Let the ranting begin.
Click to expand...
qckcp.jpg
 
Baggsy said:
I've had tires that felt like wet newspapers in the rain after they'd worn down quite a bit. I know it's snobbish, but I don't buy them. I value my life, and it's too short as it is.
Click to expand...
"worn down quite a bit" - applies to pretty much any brand, doesn't it ?
 
TK4 said:
"worn down quite a bit" - applies to pretty much any brand, doesn't it ?
Click to expand...
The ones I have now, don't get that feeling at all. The ones that did would get that feeling after being worn down ~1/3.
 
There are other characteristics besides road handling that differentiate tires, like longevity, handling in adverse conditions, tire noise. And if you look at dual sport tires or off-road tires, the differences are even greater than sport or touring tires. I can absolutely tell the difference between a Heidenau K60 from a Metzeler Tourance from a Continental TKC-80. I'd bet most riders could as well.
 
Based on past experience I could tell the tires under me were different. I would not be able to tell you which were dunlops and which were pirellis. Each bike (and to a lesser extent rider) has a tire that will work best for them and their preferred riding surface/riding style.
 
The stock front tire on my 2004 ZX10R gave the bike head-shake when slowing down through about 70 km/h, and it was a common complaint, not just me, and the recommendation back then was "Replace that tire with anything else", and it was true. Haven't had it happen with any other front tire since. It was bad enough that I'm surprised it got through OEM validation testing.

Same bike, Bridgestone BT016 tires made it steer like riding through glue. Hated those. "Replace with anything else" problem solved.

There are certainly differences in wear patterns and longevity.

On my race bike (Yamaha R3), I had one set of Michelin Evo tires on it, and I could not solve them threatening to slide the front before the rear before I wore them out (which didn't take very long). I know someone else (on a different bike) who swears by those tires. I swore at them.

I had zero complaints about the Bridgestone slicks that I used on my previous race bike; I have zero complaints about the Dunlop slicks that I'm using on the current one.
 
Most tires probably not for me....though there were one brand I hated in the wet and haven't bought since. On my current bike, any thing fresh from the major manufactures would be an improvement. Though I've gotten really used to the feel of Pirelli on it.
 
tire tech and branding usually change completely in the time I wear out a set
the rear I can usually match, but by the time I need both
I'm looking at tire modelling that is different from what I've had in the past

riding on 2 surfaces about the same area as a cigarette
not gonna cheap out
I read reviews and buy what sounds the best with $ a minor consideration
I suppose this classifies me as a tyre snob!

the cage? cheapest sh1t I can find
 
I've had the same brand and model tire from 2 different countries of origin and the ones stamped made in Spain were far better (softer) then the ones made in USA. Other riders noticed the same results, so it wasn't just me. Making tires is like baking bread, sometimes they turn out better then other times and they are always better fresh :cool:
 
The last cheapos I bought were for a Virago 250, $65 each for Kendas and they were fine on that bike. For my bigger bikes, anything 650 and up I usually but the ones that have the best rating, the only ones I'be been disappointed in were Bridgestone B23s that were stock on my sport tourer - poor longevity, noisy and a bit shaky at low speed. The most impressive for me are Metzler Roadtec Tourances (DL650) and Avon GTs (GSXR1300) - both wore nicely, lasted a lot of KM, and for the extra $50/tire over the cheap alternative ended up being more economical over the life of the tires.
 
Mad Mike said:
The last cheapos I bought were for a Virago 250, $65 each for Kendas and they were fine on that bike. For my bigger bikes, anything 650 and up I usually but the ones that have the best rating, the only ones I'be been disappointed in were Bridgestone B23s that were stock on my sport tourer - poor longevity, noisy and a bit shaky at low speed. The most impressive for me are Metzler Roadtec Tourances (DL650) and Avon GTs (GSXR1300) - both wore nicely, lasted a lot of KM, and for the extra $50/tire over the cheap alternative ended up being more economical over the life of the tires.
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I didn't like tourance on the Ape in gravel. They wandered around like you were on an expanded metal bridge. Not very confidence inspiring. Different people, different bike, no universal "best tire". I put on Avon distanzias next which were much better in gravel but took a noticeable length of time to warm up on asphalt (~five minutes of riding before they gave the traction you expect, before that, they were bleeping slippery).
 
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Tourance Next currently on the Rally

any claim that they have trail capability is complete rubbish
great on pavement though, happy that I've worn them out

Avon Trailriders are likely next up
$$$ but worth it
 
I thought the Dunlop GT501s were a bit overrated. Avon AM26s seemed better in every way, would recommend them for any modern high performance VF500F, GPZ500, or GSX550
 
I think for most, it would be difficult to tell the difference between similarly designed tires, excluding instances raised above where there's an obvious incompatibility with the bike. At least on the street, as the track is a whole other world. I remember when the Brit bike mags would do huge blind tire tests at the track, and they rarely came up with anything definitive. There's just too many variables to isolate the tires.

But we do feel something. We've all felt the improvement when a new set of tires goes on, how the bike tips in so much more easily etc when the centre of the tire is high again. I've noticed the difference going from a set of Bridgestones that I replaced early due to a flat (and I hated how they felt), and a new set of Dunlops lightened the steering a huge amount (likely due to a pointier profile). Come to think of it, that was also on a ZX-10R, so maybe those bikes hate Bridgestones...

As for where I think you're going with this, I prefer to stick with tires designed for what I want to do with my bike, and am willing to pay for the peace of mind that a reputable brand brings. Will I notice in 90% of my street riding? Probably not. Will I notice in an extreme circumstance at the limit of grip when I need my tire most? I think I might, and that's why I stick with more expensive rubber. No Shinkos here, thanks, at least for now...
 
If you're saying we couldn't IDENTIFY a tire in a blind test test, I would agree.
But I can definitely tell a different tire in a blind taste test... and there a couple of tires I could identify.
There is no way to hide Dunlop slicks or Avon AM23 softs

I just replaced a set of Shinko Apex for Michelin 2ct on my Honda. After I got the suspension dialed in for the new tires, I can't tell the difference...YET... well maybe, the Michelins seem to roll better.
There's nothing WRONG with Shinkos.
 
Never had a problem with Shinkos, only ever tried them on enduros.
 
TK4 said:
.................Let the ranting begin...................
Click to expand...

Could people tell different tires in a blind test................... Well, hard to tell, but make no mistake tires are not all the same and they do perform differently.

So, this is season 18 for me on my ST1100 and I've run a wide range of tires on it. Most recently, in reverse order BS T31 GT, Avon XM 3D, Metz Z6, BS T30 Evo and BS T30. I've upgraded suspension, to the extent possible on a bike designed 30 years ago, with Progressive forks springs and heavier fork oil and a Progressive shock + set sag. This season aside, half of my annual mileage is usually spent in the US on roads in southern Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky etc......... where there are amazing roads that we just don't have here in Ontario.

If you're riding Ontario roads at legal speeds or even 20 -30 over then you'd be hard pressed to tell the differences between the various sport touring tires that are out there. The Forks of the Credit (really??), the 507, Glamorgan, 518 etc..... are curvy roads, but you'd have to be running them way way over the speed limit to put any real demands on your tires. If you are on much more technical roads that you're more likely to find in the US then there are differences that the average rider would certainly, IMHO, be able to determine.

So, T30 and T30 Evo are great tires, sticky and inspire great confidence in corners, short lived. Metzeler Z6, good tire, somewhat sticky, does slide a bit in corners, Avon XM 3D, terrible tire, when pressed slides way too much in corners and very slippery in rain, will never buy another Avon tire... T31 GT, so far, good tire, long life predicted vs T30 and T30 Evo, have only used in Ontario this season so aggressive cornering capability TBD.
 
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