Sport Touring tire input

[the_Journeyman]

Ok, so I'm coming up on tires for both bikes (1999 M750, 2000 900SS) in the next couple months.  Based on the type of riding I do and where I ride, I have decided to go to a sport-touring type tire.  After looking around a pricing & options I've got a couple questions.

Looks like my options are:

Michelin:  Pilot Road or Pilot Road 2CT
Dunlop:  Roadsmart or possibly D220
Metzler:  Z6
Bridgestone:  BT-021
Pirelli:  *didn't find a sport-touring tire, the Strada didn't last much longer than standard Diablos on my M750*

Looks like Pilot Road 2CT is the most expensive, followed by the Pilot Road & & Z6 are the next expensive, following in price are the BT-021's & Roadsmarts, with the D220 being the cheapest.

Question #1:  Have I missed a tire that I should be considering in my search?

Question #2:  How do the profiles compare for tip-in compare?  I found the M750 practically turning on it's own on the Diablo's, it would dive into the turn with almost alarming speed.  What is steeper than the Diablos and what isn't as steep?

I'm used to Diablo's on my M750.  The 900SS came with Pilot Powers that are old enough to get hard and not stick like they should.  I was very unhappy with a Dunlop Qualifier on my M750.  I had Bridgestone BT-012 (I think) on my Bandit 600 and they seemed to work well, 5500 miles of good riding before wearing out.

So, there you have it.  Any input from FHE is valuable 

Thanks!

JM
I know the only way to REALLY know what I like is to try them.  However, knowing things like

[Buckethead]

Conti Road Attack. A fairly triangular tire. It tips in well, and is very stable once you're over. Got my set right before the end of riding season, so I can't tell you exactly how long they'll last, but 7-8,000 miles is not unheard of.

[herm]

cant beat the pilot road 2ct...........and they should last long enough to offset the extra cost

[scott_araujo]

I'm getting good life out of my Piot Roads and they're great in the wet.  About 6000 miles so far and plenty of tread left.  I have gotten some small flat spots in the center of the rear tire from commuting, a good ride in the mountains erases it.

I don't have anything else to really compare them to, the tires that came with the bike were factory original (Pirelli I think) and I got rid of them right away, very old and hard when I bought the bike used.  The Pilots have a pretty round profile and have a nice smooth turn in, not twitchy at all.  I have low pipes.  I drag parts on both sides with plenty of grip and still have chicken strips left.  Lean any further and the bike slides on the muffler and starts to lose rear traction.

Scott

[pitbull]

cant beat the pilot road 2ct...........and they should last long enough to offset the extra cost

my thoughts as well...............love the pilot road 2ct.........can't say enough about them.

the only other ones I have experience with is the BT-021 and I thought they were absolutely horrible in comparison.

[vaclav]

and they are on sale at stg for $311.00 a set!

[VisceralReaction]

Don't forget the Avon AV55/56 Storm. I used them 2 years ago and they were pretty good
but not long tread life and when they started to go, they just went.
After the Avons I went to the 021s and i love them. I put 8400 miles on them last year
and I'll bet I get 10K easy. They stick in the dry and the wet and their profile is steep enough
that turn in is easy and they stay there once you go over.
I will buy another pair for certain, I had the Michelins too but am getting way better mileage out of the 021s.
at www.motorcycleproshop.com they are about $216 a pair.

[BumpaD_Z28]

Q #1 = I agree don't forget the AVON's Viper's AV59 / AV60

~DaVe

[Howie]

The Z6 was a great tire when it was released.  Time marches on.  Not great anymore.

[Desmo Demon]

We currently have the Michelin Road II 2CT on the Monster and they are holding up fairly well and stick really well from edge to edge.....
the Michelin Roads are on the wife's ST2 and I've railed the cr@p out of the bike and the tires are holding up well.....
the Diablo Strada is my ST tire of choice, mainly because of the price and my affection for Pirelli products......
The Metzeler ME-Z6 is basically the same tire as the Strada and has given me the same performance as the Strada, but the Strada is usually cheaper....
the Dunlop D205/220 were pretty good tires, but we have run into issues with the front and the rear cupping at the same pressures and riding as the other tires. I have no idea how the RoadSmart is.....
The Bridgestone BT-020 didn't impress me and the front cupped pretty badly. I have a BT-021 on the way to test out, soon....

I have no experience with any of the other sport-touring tires, and, if it wasn't for the price difference, I'd go with the Michelin Road or Road II. I'm waiting to see how many miles we get out of the ones on the Monster and ST2, and depending on the mileage difference, the difference in mileage may offset the cost difference.

[DEVO!]

Conti Road Attack. A fairly triangular tire. It tips in well, and is very stable once you're over. Got my set right before the end of riding season, so I can't tell you exactly how long they'll last, but 7-8,000 miles is not unheard of.

I AGREE!

[ducrider45]

I ran my Z6's for 12k miles. they were great. Looks like There is some new stuff on the market now. I just moved up to Sport tires. I went with great grip over long life.

[grandpa nate]

my thoughts as well...............love the pilot road 2ct.........can't say enough about them.

the only other ones I have experience with is the BT-021 and I thought they were absolutely horrible in comparison.

+1...the 2cts will be my next set o tires.  I have the bridgestones now and i swear they have got to be the loudest tires on the planet

[ScottRNelson]

Sport Touring tires I've tried - from worst to best:

Michelin Macadam 90X - Okay, they don't make those anymore, but I wouldn't want to ride on tires like that again.  Slip way too often when pushed.  Had other flaws, but it's been quite a few years since I had them.

Bridgestone BT-020 and BT-021 - I can't tell a big difference between the older ones and the newer ones.  Better than Michelin, but still not the best out there.  Works well when cold.  Tend to follow road grooves and occasionally slip at the rear.

Avon AV45/46 Azaro and AV55/56 Storm - Very well behaved tire, but still didn't get the claimed mileage.  No better than the Bridgestones for distance until worn out.  Ignores road grooves, works well when cold, and provides very good traction.

Pirelli Diablo Strada - Priced like the Bridgestones, but behaves more like the Avons.  I really like this tire and it's the one that I'm currently using.  Ignores rain grooves, seems to last well, and sticks to the road better than any other Sport Touring tire that I've tried.  Highly recommended.

[the_Journeyman]

Thanks folks!  After reading, I've been very happy with Diablos, so I might try them out on the SS.  I know the Strada felt great on the M750 but didn't seem to last any longer.  I've never run Avons before, and those will probably go on Molly when she needs tires.

JM