Nothing against the Japanese made Bridgestones on my 696, they are good tires and I like them, but why didn't Ducati go with Pirellis of all brands for the Italian made motorcycle? To keep the cost down?
I may be wrong but maybe its because Bridgestone and Ducati have a good relationship in Moto GP and part of that deal is that Ducati will use Bridgestone tyres on Ducati street bikes.
Don
Firestone traditionally has GREAT marketing for OEM tires. Ford has been using them since Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone would sit around campfires together and talk about eugenics. It's weird to see new vehicles without bridgestone/firestone tires.
Of course, I'm posting from Akron. The only correct tires are Goodyear since everyone else moved out. ;) ;D
i think ducati is kind of schizophrenic when it comes to tires. my first monster came new with dunlaps, (cant remember the model) and my s2r came new with Michelin pilot powers. most interesting of all, another new s2r uncrated at the same dealer the same month was not wearing the powers.
i think ducati uses whatever is on hand, size wise...
+1 On the Motogp deal [thumbsup]
They don't seem to have a deal with any particular manufacturer...
If you get a Multistrada you get Pirellis, an S4Rs Monster gets Michelins, and a 696 gets Bridgestones..
Either they thoroughly test each bike with tires to find the best fit or it's whoever cuts them the best deal on a given model/size.
I doubt it has anything to do with MotoGP... Those tires are as specialized and prototyped as the bikes they are on.. And what about WSBK (which Ducati currently dominates), they use Pirellis..
Quote from: herm on April 14, 2009, 05:32:30 AM
i think ducati is kind of schizophrenic when it comes to tires. my first monster came new with dunlaps, (cant remember the model) and my s2r came new with Michelin pilot powers. most interesting of all, another new s2r uncrated at the same dealer the same month was not wearing the powers.
i think ducati uses whatever is on hand, size wise...
Yup, my 800 came with Pirelli Diablos, my S2R1000 came with Battlaxes...
Quote from: NAKID on April 14, 2009, 07:32:54 AM
Yup, my 800 came with Pirelli Diablos, my S2R1000 came with Battlaxes...
bummer :P
interesting....
my s2r800 came with the good ol' bt1014 battleaxes...
in fact, they are still on it...
I just checked on the floor of our local dealer all the 2008 and 09 bikes have Bridgestones on, only in africa [roll]
I just picked up a set of the BT016's supposed to be a great tire. I didn't get my M750 new but it had Dunlop Qualifiers on it when I got it.
My M750 has Qualifiers on it and I don't care for them. I'm going Pilot Roads or Bridgstone 021's next. Always had great luck with Diablos as well ~
JM
I have been really impressed with the BT016s on my 1100. I will probably stick with them or Michelin Pilots.
I bought my s2r 800 used with about 1500 miles on it and I always wondered if the Battleaxes were the stock tires. I guess theres no real way to ever know but it sounds likely. I'm at 6000 miles right now and they are holding up nicely, maybe its because I only really commute on the bike and never use it anywhere near its full potential.
Quote from: the_Journeyman on April 14, 2009, 10:50:58 AM
My M750 has Qualifiers on it and I don't care for them.
That seems like serious overkill for an M750. I run those on my 848 for trackdays and love them...next step up is slicks. Wonder if they just aren't getting hot enough with street riding?
Quote from: Triple J on April 14, 2009, 01:23:13 PM
That seems like serious overkill for an M750. I run those on my 848 for trackdays and love them...next step up is slicks. Wonder if they just aren't getting hot enough with street riding?
I guess you have never seen JM slaughter the Dragon (or any other WNC road) on Molly. [thumbsup]
I'm sure they get warm enough. [moto]
All of the Dunlop moto tires are built here in Buffalo just north of the city. Too bad they take the tires all the way Alamaba for testing. It would be nice to have a track close by. :-\
Quote from: DesmoDiva on April 14, 2009, 01:33:15 PM
I guess you have never seen JM slaughter the Dragon (or any other WNC road) on Molly. [thumbsup]
I'm sure they get warm enough. [moto]
Fair enough...it was just a thought. You never know how people ride their bikes. [thumbsup]
Quote from: Triple J on April 14, 2009, 01:23:13 PM
That seems like serious overkill for an M750. I run those on my 848 for trackdays and love them...next step up is slicks. Wonder if they just aren't getting hot enough with street riding?
...next step up is DOT race tires,
then slicks.
Quote from: Triple J on April 14, 2009, 01:23:13 PM
Wonder if they just aren't getting hot enough with street riding?
This was my though, the M750 doesn't really make enough power to properly abuse tires, nor am I an overly aggressive rider. That's why I think a sport-touring tire would be my best bet ~
JM
Yeah, I was kinda surprised when I saw they weren't the Powers...
I think when it's time, I'll replace them with the Road 2CT's...
I'm thinking about getting a set of pilots for my m750. Most of my riding is commuting, but I want to do an occasional track day this summer.
05 s2r had diablos, i replaced them with same after 2 years
buddy's 06 s2r had michelins, dunno
Quote from: sally101 on April 14, 2009, 07:13:28 AM
I doubt it has anything to do with MotoGP... Those tires are as specialized and prototyped as the bikes they are on.. And what about WSBK (which Ducati Spies currently dominates), they use Pirellis..
;D
Although I've only had the Duc for a few months, I've tried nearly every tire on the market over the last few years, on a whole load of different bikes. I think you've got to try out different tires, and repeat buy the ones you feel most comfortable on. Some tires work better than others when they aren't fully warmed up, and to be perfectly honest, some people never get their tires up to race speed temps. Normally, and it doesn't really matter what bike I'm riding, I get 3000 or so out of a rear, and maybe 5000 out of a front. So, if you ride a lot, maybe 3 or 4 months for a rear. Race compounds, maybe 1/2 to 2/3 that mileage. I know guys that won't buy anything but Pirelli super soft compound tires, but they cost too much and go away too fast for my needs. I kind of like Bridgestones, they're pretty cheap, they slide predictably, and wear reasonably well. It really depends on what you want/need/can afford.
My 620 came with Pirelli's and I've kept putting Pirelli tyres on it. I like the feel of them and I tend to have a lot of confidence in the front end grip.
The SS still has some Michelin sport-touring tyres from the previous owner. I'll be replacing them with Pirelli's as well to se if I it gives me any better feel from the front end, The Michelin's just seem a little vague. I imagine it'd be better if I got Pilot powers but I tend to stick to something that I like rather than mess around a lot.
Quote from: derby on April 14, 2009, 05:14:59 PM
...next step up is DOT race tires, then slicks.
I thought the Qualifiers were Dunlop's DOT race tires...equivalent to Pirelli Super Corsa Pros? ??? I take it they're more comparable to Pilot Powers?
Quote from: NAKID on April 14, 2009, 05:40:37 PM
Yeah, I was kinda surprised when I saw they weren't the Powers...
I think when it's time, I'll replace them with the Road 2CT's...
it amazes me that we have the exact same bike, color, year, etc.... and they came with different brand tires.
no, i take it back. it doesnt amaze me. but still.........
and you will like the 2ct's [thumbsup]
Quote from: herm on April 14, 2009, 07:20:11 PM
it amazes me that we have the exact same bike, color, year, etc.... and they came with different brand tires.
no, i take it back. it doesnt amaze me. but still.........
and you will like the 2ct's [thumbsup]
Yeah, it's hit and miss with who got what tire on their S2R1k....
my zx10 came with Dunlop qualifiers and i loved the grip, but hated the mileage...
I've since run Supercorsas. and Pilot Power 2ct's...
for street riding, i couldnt really tell much difference... at the track though the SCs performed great and I'm still playing with tirepressure on the 2ct's for the track... i have a feeling i'm gonna penny pinch for a while and eventually get some DOT race tires though..
Quote from: Duki09 on April 13, 2009, 09:46:29 PM
Nothing against the Japanese made Bridgestones on my 696, they are good tires and I like them, but why didn't Ducati go with Pirellis of all brands for the Italian made motorcycle? To keep the cost down?
I can't speak for the 696 but Ducati has put Pirelli's on the 1098, 848 & Hypermotards. I think the 1198 comes with them too.
Going to get some new shoes this weekend, BT016. Should be a nice day to test. which leads to a question. Is there a "breaking in point" beside warming up the tires. Will throw up some feedback after the weekend.
You will love the BT-016s. You may not like the mileage. I am currently running them and they are great. As far as a breaking in point, I just took it easy for the first few miles and corners slowly leaning the bike further and further.
I retract my statement about Qualifiers. They stuck fantastic today. However, I think the whole warming up & pushing thing applies. I spent 57 miles on a tight, twisty road working on my form. They did good then. I'll either go back with Diablos or go to Pilot Roads for the M750's next set though. I've made the Qualifiers wear funny.
JM
Quote from: Duki09 on April 13, 2009, 09:46:29 PM
Nothing against the Japanese made Bridgestones on my 696, they are good tires and I like them, but why didn't Ducati go with Pirellis of all brands for the Italian made motorcycle? To keep the cost down?
To sell Michelins after you buy the bike. ;D