Best Street Oriented Tires?

[MotoPumps]

I can't find a 19" offering in the Storm...

Rob

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.

 

[klunsford]

I am running the Shinko 705's (radial) right now. They do a great job on the street and handle pretty well on off road (not to harsh). I like that they are smooth at highway speeds and not buzzy like some of the other semi off road/street tires. The price was extremely good on them.

 

[terryth]

The 705's are really good on the street and better that the BW's off road, they don't vibrate but, do make a good amount of noise compared to the stock bridgestones. The rear on the ST is a 4000-6000 mile tire, but at the price you can get them, still a good deal, I got my set of front and rear for 149$ to my door. I have some K60's in the shed to go on next and will probably try the Pirelli trail attack's after that.

I am running the Shinko 705's (radial) right now. They do a great job on the street and handle pretty well on off road (not to harsh). I like that they are smooth at highway speeds and not buzzy like some of the other semi off road/street tires. The price was extremely good on them.

 

[Mikef5000]

Another vote for the PR3's.

Although, if I was riding strictly street on a bike with a somewhat limited lean angle like this one... I'd seriously look at going dark side (unless twistys are commonplace). I sure hope that doesn't send this thread in a downward spiral.

 

[3putt]

I'm running the K60 front and Anakee II on rear (just to get rid of it). I really liked the EXPs that came on the bike. The K60 on the front is pretty nice, but I don't really push it hard in the twisties.

This is what the Anakee II front looked like when I got home from the Alaska trip (10,006 miles). It did not impress me that much! I had a K60 on the rear, and it was squared off, but plenty of tread.

 

[EricV]

Although, if I was riding strictly street on a bike with a somewhat limited lean angle like this one... I'd seriously look at going dark side (unless twistys are commonplace). I sure hope that doesn't send this thread in a downward spiral.

Nothing narrow enough to fit. (I looked) With our 4.5" rim and the 17" dia the smallest common size is still 205/50-17 and you're not going to fit one of those to the S10, and even if you did get it on the wheel, there isn't clearance between the swingarm. (For those that didn't know, I'm Darksider #1 on the FJR forum.)

 

[broncodave]

Hey Rob... I haven't been on this site in months and logged on as I am also in the market for new tires and just happened to see your post. I have had EXPs Anakee II's and Scorpion Trail. I think the EXPs are very good street tire and not too bad in dirt. The Anakee, which I was surprised you were running, has had the best wear for me but slides around way too much on blacktop or dirty roads. So unless you want to go to a sport-type tire, I think the EXPs are very good. I am just trying different tires because I am wearing the rears out in 2500-2700 miles but I think most people who ride less aggressive could easily do 5000+ miles. Happy Holidays to you and the familly.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Hey Rob... I haven't been on this site in months and logged on as I am also in the market for new tires and just happened to see your post. I have had EXPs Anakee II's and Scorpion Trail. I think the EXPs are very good street tire and not too bad in dirt. The Anakee, which I was surprised you were running, has had the best wear for me but slides around way too much on blacktop or dirty roads. So unless you want to go to a sport-type tire, I think the EXPs are very good. I am just trying different tires because I am wearing the rears out in 2500-2700 miles but I think most people who ride less aggressive could easily do 5000+ miles. Happy Holidays to you and the familly.

I have 14,000+ on my Heidenau K60s and probably another 2,000 to go for the back. The front will just go on and on.


Shinko 705s? No way - never again. They had less stick than the K60s, were great at the start for feel, but the rear burned off like butter.

 

[justbob]

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

Thanks.

OK I rechecked the mileage, I've got 5500 miles on the PR3's , not 6500.
When I mounted them I measured the tread depth, rear was .225, front was .180. The rear is now at .080 and the front is .140
They have a good wear pattern, no cupping on the front and only very slightly feathered, the rear has not flattened out the center.

 

[Nimbus]

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

This is exactly what I was thinking. I sold my '07 CBR600RR that I put PR2s on. When I first put them on the CBR, I was just a touch hesitant about grip. I routinely rode up to the mountains and ran the twisties really, really hard. The PR2s never, ever scared me despite me melting the Michelin man off the side. The first time I took the S10 to the mountains with the EXPs, I was a touch hesitant about grip. Right up until the point I dragged the pegs at what felt like no significant lean angle. I don't honestly think the S10 needs stickier tires as it drags hard before it reaches anywhere near the limit of the grip of decent ST tires.

 

[justbob]

PR3's at 5500 miles.
The front has a lot of tread left, started with .180 tread depth and still has .140
The rear is nearing the end of its life, started with .225 tread depth and now only has .080
I'm guessing the rear will only go about another 1000 miles.

 

[tomatocity]

A friend said he was going to install PR3's on his 2012 RT. When he went to the store the tech mentioned the big difference with the PR2 and PR3 is the PR3 is better in heavy rain though lasts fewer miles. He went with the PR2's. So the first long trip he takes is from SoCal to NorCal. For anyone that knows California roads, he rode Carrizo Plains / Soda Lake Road and up Parkfield Grade in heavy rain. Soda Lake a flat 45 miles and has 20+ miles of dirt/gravel and Parkfield Grade is 4 miles of uphill dirt (mud) and some gravel and good pavement down the other side.

 

[CDMartin884]

I can't find a 19" offering in the Storm...

Rob

Wow, I just went to Avon's website, and it looks like they discontinued it. I know Twisted Throttle did have them, but went to their website also, ad it came up as a bad url. Thats stinks, Avon makes a great street tire.

 

[avc8130]

I have had good results with PR3's on other bikes. In the rain they are simply the best tire I have ever ridden. You can ride like it is dry. I plan to put them on the S10 this summer for a trip from NJ to TX we are planning since we won't hit any dirt. I have been happy with my stock BWs. The Anakees I have on now were great, but now that they are at the end of their life (7k miles) they are wearing all wonky and handle like crap. Next up: Tourance, the originals.

ac

 

[tomatocity]

Bridgestone and Dunlop tires are on sale at Bike Bandit.

Battle Wing
Front, $107
Rear, $133

 

[MotoPumps]

I have the same warts on mine! What the hell is up with that?

I'm running the K60 front and Anakee II on rear (just to get rid of it). I really liked the EXPs that came on the bike. The K60 on the front is pretty nice, but I don't really push it hard in the twisties.

This is what the Anakee II front looked like when I got home from the Alaska trip (10,006 miles). It did not impress me that much! I had a K60 on the rear, and it was squared off, but plenty of tread.

 

[Mikef5000]

Nothing narrow enough to fit. (I looked) With our 4.5" rim and the 17" dia the smallest common size is still 205/50-17 and you're not going to fit one of those to the S10, and even if you did get it on the wheel, there isn't clearance between the swingarm. (For those that didn't know, I'm Darksider #1 on the FJR forum.)

Really? They run the 205 width without issue on vstroms, I guess I just assumed that meant it'd cross over.

 

[EricV]

Really? They run the 205 width without issue on vstroms, I guess I just assumed that meant it'd cross over.

I was unaware of the Vstroms using the 205 tire. I know some of the 1200GS hack guys are running Bridgestone Potenza RE040 175/55R17 tires sourced from the UK, but they are expensive to have shipped as a single tire. Sort of defeats the cost effectiveness that sent me to the darkside on the FJR. http://www.motopodd.com/ is the source.

I'll spend some time reading the Stormtrooper thread when I get a chance. I hesitate to put a 205 on a wheel narrower than it's rated for, and wonder if the standard sources I used for mounting CTs would do it on such a narrow wheel.

Apologies for the off topic posts.

 

[markjenn]

I don't honestly think the S10 needs stickier tires as it drags hard before it reaches anywhere near the limit of the grip of decent ST tires.

This is a good point. Unless you've done suspension upgrades, the S10's effective cornering limits are set by dragging footpegs long before tire grip. Any of the 90-10 dual sport tires (Battlewings, Tourances, etc.) should have plenty of cornering grip given the lean angle constraints.

- Mark

 

[justbob]

I ran thru 3 rear Battlewings in 19,000 miles on my SuperTenere, I liked them for a good, inexpensive all around tire but I could slip the rear tire coming out of the paved corners, without trying very hard.
The PR3's rear stick much better.