Best Street Oriented Tires?

[MotoPumps]

Having mostly finished off a set of Anakee IIs, I am looking for my next set of tires. The BWs that came on the bike were taken off at 3400 miles due to a slice puncture that I couldn't patch. The Anakees were good, but have gotten very noisy and rough as they have worn. They didn't square off like the BWs, which is great, but have not been fabulous. Not bad, but not fabulous.

So, I am looking for a more street oriented tire. I have thought about the PR3 Trails, Scorpion Sync and Conti Trail Attacks. Thoughts? Advice? Experience? Most of my riding is on the pavement, at a spirited pace, and commuting two up... I change my own tires as well...

Thanks-

Rob

 

[markjenn]

For a 90-10 tire, I think the Battlewings are hard to beat and they're dirt cheap. If the bike is not going to see any dirt, I'd put Pilot Road 3's on it.

- Mark

 

[MrTwisty]

The Tourance EXP's that came on my Tenere were good on the street. However, if I were going to ride my S10 almost entirely on the street, I would try something like the Dunlop Roadsmart rear and the Michelin Pilot Power front. I found this combination to be outstanding on my FJ R. You get excellent traction and wearability from the rear and great feel with a quick turn in from the front. Also, the front doesn't turn into a trapezoid before it wears out.

 

[ThatsLife]

Dunlop TR91 Trailmax

No experience but I have read some positive reviews for them.

 

[markjenn]

However, if I were going to ride my S10 almost entirely on the street, I would try something like the Dunlop Roadsmart rear and the Michelin Pilot Power front.

Keep in mind that there is limited selection of sticky street-oriented tires in the S10's 19" front end size. Don't know about the Roadsmart, but I don't think here is a Pilot Power in a 19". I think the PR3 is unusual in having a 19" size.

- Mark

 

[~TABASCO~]

Thats what I just posted and then took off the page.... I would suggest Dunlop Road Smart, but I dont think you can get them in the correct size... If you can, this is what I would go with....

 

[MotoPumps]

I searched Dunlop's site and couldn't find a 19" offering.

Any first hand experience with the PR3s?

::017::

 

[Z06]

I have the Dunlop TR91,s on mine and am very pleased with them. Very good grip dry or wet and OK for the limited time I spend off the pavement.

 

[MrTwisty]

You don't want the Roadsmart front anyway. It sucks. Takes on the dreaded trapezoid shape after about 1K miles. The Roadsmart rear is awesome, but I would pair it with a sport bike tire for the front if you can find one in a 19". Sport bike tires are softer and give much better front end feel, but they will still outlast the rear, even on a big heavy pig like the Tenere or an FJR.

 

[TreeMuncher]

Any first hand experience with the PR3s?

::017::

I've been running PR3's on my Honda ST1300 for the past 2 years. They are my LD street tire of choice. Great mileage, smooth ride, good performance. They last the longest on the STeed.

 

[justbob]

I have about 6500 miles on my PR3's now and really like the ride and handling.

 

[creggur]

I have about 6500 miles on my PR3's now and really like the ride and handling.

Thinking about these next - how are they wearing? Are they squaring off prematurely? How much life left after 6500 miles?

Thanks.

 

[fredz43]

I have about 6500 miles on my PR3's now and really like the ride and handling.

That is good to hear, Bob. I have a rear PR3 ready to install, but the front has been on back order for a couple of months now. Latest estimate is Dec 10. I haven't found anybody that has the 19 in stock.

 

[MrTwisty]

The PR2's were better than the PR3's IMHO. However, neither are what I would call a performance street tire. They are high milage tires and with high milage comes harder compounds and less performance. Yes, I know they are multi-compound, but they still don't perform like a softer tire. However, if you're looking for a long lasting, good performing tire, the PR3's are a pretty good choice, but don't be afraid to mix and match, just don't mix radials with bias plys. IMO, mixing can sometimes bring the best of both worlds.

 

[EricV]

If you want a road tire for the Super Ten, I would not hesitate to go with the Conti Road Attacks. They are a Sport-Touring tire, but do come in our sizes. I've run them on the FJR and was quite pleased with traction, tread-life and handling characteristics. Very smooth turn in, very good tread life, (10k+ on the rear, and I took the front to 16k, but would not advise that). It resists cupping for a long time due to the large tread blocks, but when it does cup at the end of tread life, the front gets pretty nasty with some pretty good tank slap potential. In hindsight, I should have pulled that front at 14k. The last couple of thou was... interesting.

I did take the Conti RA on gravel and it didn't suck, but it would not be as confidence inspiring as Conti Trail Attacks or any of the 90-10 tires like the Anakee.

 

[tomatocity]

Bridgestone Battlewing: I have been impressed with the performance of this tire and the low price is a plus. Have an almost new pair in my garage.
Dunlop RoadSmart: Had one on my V-strom and it performed and handled well but I used to (pre-Tenere) be a rear braker and locked up the rear tire more than once.
Continental Road and Trail Attack: I used them on my KLR as well as V-strom. Has to be the roundest tire I have ridden. My KLR currently has an almost new set of Trails.
Michelin Pilot Road 3: I have heard good things about and really want to give them a ride.

 

[thfraser]

On my other bikes, I have had good experiences with the Conti Road Attacks. The wore well, and provided good grip. I managed to pull 13k miles out of a rear Conti Road Attack on my '01 Sprint ST.

I had the PR's (as OEM) on my Tiger1050. The were pretty good, except I didn't like the wet traction for the front. I found it slipping on some off ramps in the rain, a disconcerting feeling I didn't like. I managed just over 11k miles on my OEM PR's. I replaced them with the PR2's. Which I had on the bike for about 3k before I sold it. They were wearing very well and provided a nice smooth comfortable ride. I understand the PR3's are excellent in the wet. No personal experience, just feedback from others.

IMO, you would be good with either the Conti's or the PR2/3's.

 

[markjenn]

The PR2's were better than the PR3's IMHO. However, neither are what I would call a performance street tire. They are high milage tires and with high milage comes harder compounds and less performance. Yes, I know they are multi-compound, but they still don't perform like a softer tire.

You keep coming back to recommending softer/sportier tires. Honestly, I don't think there is anything in a 19" front that is softer/sportier than a PR3. In the S!0's sizes, that's about as street-oriented as you can get. And they're PLENTY sticky enough for the performance envelope of the S10.

- Mark

 

[EricV]

You guys know we have a sticky on tires, right?
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=3937.0

Elizilla did a really nice job researching all that info. And FWIW, having ridden the PR2/3s and Conti RAs and TAs, I'd most certainly rate the Conti RAs as higher performance than the PRs or TAs. If you're not doing any more gravel than you would on a more street oriented bike, the RAs would be the ticket for our sizes. I liked them in the wet too, no real difference in traction levels until you were pushing way harder than you should on the street.

 

[CDMartin884]

For a pure street / sport touring tire, I always liked the Avon Storm 2's. I went with them several years ago on my Beemer. Hands down best street tire IMHO.