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[aviationfred]

Casper is in need of some new tires. I have been debating the Pros and Cons of Budget Sport-Touring tires versus Premium Sport-Touring tires. I have even considered sportier tires. Cyclegear has Continental Sport Attack tire sets on sale. I came across a smoking hot deal on a set of Pirelli Phantom Sportscomp tires. These will give Casper an almost period correct look. The tread pattern is a reproduction from the 1990's M28 Phantom tires.

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/motorcycle/all-tyres/sheet/phantom-sportscomp

Fred

[andyoutandabout]

Always interesting to see how Fjs go on a variety of tires.
I can’t ween myself off Michelin road pilots.
The 2s, 3s and my favorites the 4s have all been excellent.
I hear the 5s are also brilliant, but those huge cut outs put me off.
Anyway, see how the Pirellis go Fred.

[T Legg]

Those tires don't look like they would pump much water. How are they in the rain?
        Ian's ZZR has been chewing up the road pilot fives. He has gotten 6000 miles out of them but they look misshapen and start to loose their handling towards five thousand miles or so . The rubber on the sides orange peels badly. The 590 lb weight and 167 crankshaft hp may wear the tires differently than an FJ would.

[Millietant]

The tread pattern looks exactly like the Phantom's that came on my bike as new.....they were absolutely awful...total junk, especially in the wet.

But, with another 30 years of tyre development, I'll bet they're excellent now 

[Motofun]

Things not to skimp on............safety gear and tires.   

[red]

The tread pattern looks exactly like the Phantom's that came on my bike as new.....they were absolutely awful...total junk, especially in the wet.
But, with another 30 years of tyre development, I'll bet they're excellent now

Fred,

Sad to say, it would be fair to add that these are 17" tires, not 16."  They are not an option for my stock 1985 FJ1100.

As for performance in wet weather, I believe that the tread pattern is vital.  The rubber formula may not mean so much; the old tread design on new rubber still may not be the best choice on wet roads.  If you get good results there, please keep us posted.  Someday I might get 17" rims on my FJ, just to have more choices in tires.
.

[Waiex191]

Back in the day I was a big fan of Metzler ME33 Comp Ks.  They were the Tyres of the Gods.  At least, once they warmed up.  Tread life was awful.

Sadly, I'm no longer the rider that I was, and there are no corners in Illinois to help me get back.  So I find most tires are just fine.

[giantkiller]

Back in the day I was a big fan of Metzler ME33 Comp Ks.  They were the Tyres of the Gods.  At least, once they warmed up.  Tread life was awful.

Sadly, I'm no longer the rider that I was, and there are no corners in Illinois to help me get back.  So I find most tires are just fine.

I too. Loved the comp Ks back in the day. Got pilot road 3s wow what a tire. Great in the rain  always good  grip. Didn't like the  road 4s as much. Didn't get to ride any real rain with  them.  My  favorite thing to do with the 1350r is gas it hard  coming out of a roundy round.  Still laid over.  Would bring the front up controllably spinning the back tire. Will  rotate the  bike around on the back tire. And spit you out into the straight. The  4s let loose too much a couple of times when on the back tire.
I tried some  pilot powers i got from a  member who  tried them and took them off.  If you weren't positive you had  plenty of heat in them. They would let go terribly.  Not good on the street.
Have PR 5s to mount for next year.

Oh yah got a warning ticket on my  89 beater bike. For doing a small wheelie coming out of the roudy round last summer returning from  Menards. I think being old on a bike with a collector's plate. Got me the warning.

[aviationfred]

Those tires don't look like they would pump much water. How are they in the rain?
        Ian's ZZR has been chewing up the road pilot fives. He has gotten 6000 miles out of them but they look misshapen and start to loose their handling towards five thousand miles or so . The rubber on the sides orange peels badly. The 590 lb weight and 167 crankshaft hp may wear the tires differently than an FJ would.

Casper is my 200 mile bike (100 miles out and 100 miles back lunch runs) and weekend rider. No touring and definitely not ridden if rain is in the forecast.

Travis, I will say the 600lbs and 130hp at the tire most definitely plays into the Michelin Road 5's odd wear and short life. I currently have a set of Road 5's on my VFR750. 500lbs wet and 80hp at the wheel. The tires have 6000 miles and still look brand new, not even a hint of flattening in the center.

Also, factor in your proximity to curvy roads. I will use Joe Berk (Country Joe) for reference. He lives in the Ozarks of Arkansas. He pulls out of his driveway and he is on curvy roads. He has ran premium Sport-Touring tires. Metzeler Roadtec 01's, Dunlop Roadsmart 3's and budget minded Continental Conti-Motions. 2000, 2500 and 1500 miles respectively for the rear tires on his 92 FJ.
In a direct comparison, I got 10,000 miles out of a set of Metzeler Roadtec 01 HWM's on my 95 FJ. I could have put another 1000-2000 miles on them, but pulled them a few days before my Colorado trip in July.

My expectations of these Pirelli Phantoms will be equal to the Conti-Motions. If they perform better, that will be a bonus.

Photos are the Michelin Road 5 with 6000 miles on the VFR and Dunlop GPR300 on the 95 FJ with 3000 miles. The Dunlop is a budget tire and has already started to flatten in the center.

Fred

[FJ_Hooligan]

. Cyclegear has Continental Sport Attack tire sets on sale. .......
Fred

I tried a Conti Road Attack rear and Sport Attack front combo on my FZ1 and will never buy another one of them.  Although they never gave me a slip or slide, they were both worn out in less than 3000 miles.  The Road Attack on my S1000XR didn't make it to 2500 miles.

Not necessarily bad tires from a performance/cost view, but the low mileage is unacceptable.

Currently running Road 5s on the rear of the FJ, FZ1 and S1000XR and so far I'm loving them.  Paired them up with Pilot Power fronts.  So far it's a very good combo.

If I could get 6Kmiles out of a tire on my XR, I'd be ecstatic.  Nothing has lasted over 3700 miles on it so far

BTW, Fred, Joe's FJ is a '93.

[ZOA NOM]

Absolutely love the Pirelli Angel GT II's...

[giantkiller]

Lol! I  even got sucked into the tire thread.  At least I haven't given in to an oil thread. 

[aviationfred]

Absolutely love the Pirelli Angel GT II's...

I'd like to give the Angel GT2's a try, but the deal i found for the Phantom Sport-Comps cost less than the price of the Angel GT2 front tire.


Fred

[ribbert]

 .........He has ran premium Sport-Touring tires. Metzeler Roadtec 01's, Dunlop Roadsmart 3's and budget minded Continental Conti-Motions. 2000, 2500 and 1500 miles respectively for the rear tires on his 92 FJ.
In a direct comparison, I got 10,000 miles out of a set of Metzeler Roadtec 01 HWM's on my 95 FJ. I could have put another 1000-2000 miles on them......
Fred

Fred, tyre manufacturers seem to keep leap frogging each other with 'best of breed' but until such time as I hear any credible reviews to the contrary, the 01's remain my favourite all seasons tyre. I was so impressed after a few sets on the FJ that last year I fitted full sets to 3 bikes in as many months.

David touched on a subject that might ruffle a few feathers, changing tyres in pairs. I gave away the idea years ago of replacing tyres individually as they wore out. It is my observation that a modern front tyre on a modern bike ridden with any pace goes off somewhere around half wear, the change in handling not worth the few dollars saved by riding it to the wear limit. I am long past fretting over whatever tread is left on the front when I scrap it because I'm only interested in handling and imo, at that point, it's past it's prime.

It is always interesting to read just how diverse opinions are on the same tyre on the same bike with different riders, just as well we're not all the same.

Experience has taught me a lot of things, like staying away from tyre, oil, air filter and clutch discussions.....if it works for you, go for it, just don't be offended it not everyone agrees with you.

Noel

[ZOA NOM]

David touched on a subject that might ruffle a few feathers, changing tyres in pairs. I gave away the idea years ago of replacing tyres individually as they wore out. It is my observation that a modern front tyre on a modern bike ridden with any pace goes off somewhere around half wear, the change in handling not worth the few dollars saved by riding it to the wear limit. I am long past fretting over whatever tread is left on the front when I scrap it because I'm only interested in handling and imo, at that point, it's past it's prime.

Holy shit we agree...

Experience has taught me a lot of things, like staying away from tyre, oil, air filter and clutch discussions.....if it works for you, go for it, just don't be offended it not everyone agrees with you.

Noel

And yet here you are...