Road Tyres

[KTMsm]

KTM 990 SM - I was a surprised how quickly I've worn out a BT016 Pro

My 950SM was running BT023 and they seemed fine

The front BT016 is hardly worn but 8yrs old - as it's a softer tyre which seems fine, I'm tempted to just stick a BT023 on the rear £106

I'm mostly enjoying fast A/B roads in the dry but do ride in the rain, I've seen a few tyre deals - would any of them be noticeably better ?

Price / Pair
Conti Road Attack 2 £145 !!
BT023F £185
Pilot Road 2 £187
T31 £243

No point buying more performance than I need but happy to spend more if they feel better for longer - I'm aware some are very old designs but does that matter ?

[TT1138]

I’m just going to recommend what I always do for all round road riding, Michelin Road 4s or 5s. Not much better in the wet I don’t think.

[Freakuk]

I've got Bridgestone S22's or the SDR1290R, the rear is pretty much done at 2500 miles, they're great tyres wet or dry... I'd expect you'd get more out of them from your 950SM given it's about 1/2 the power.

Saying that when I owned the 950SM it didn't hang about either.

[Jakey123]

I've got metzeler roadtec 01SE on my 950sm.
Can't fault them

As above pilot roads are great - but very expensive.

[scorcher]

I use to run Pilot Power 2cts on the front and pilot Road 2’s on the rear of my 990 smt’s. Got Conti Road Attack 3’s on my 1290 sdr. Run Conti race attack endurance on my 690 smcr anc only use to get about 1500 miles from the rear one..

[Gibonz]

Jakey123 said:

I've got metzeler roadtec 01SE on my 950sm.
Can't fault them

As above pilot roads are great - but very expensive.

The Roadtec's have consistently won the recent MCN's sport touring tyre tests

[KTMsm]

Gibonz said:

The Roadtec's have consistently won the recent MCN's sport touring tyre tests

Did some reading and found one for £115 delivered so ordered it

Thanks

[Jazoli]

KTMsm said:

Gibonz said:

The Roadtec's have consistently won the recent MCN's sport touring tyre tests

Did some reading and found one for £115 delivered so ordered it

Thanks

I'd have thought a matched pair would have been better if you are riding in the wet, having consistent grip levels helps a lot.

[KTMsm]

Jazoli said:

I'd have thought a matched pair would have been better if you are riding in the wet, having consistent grip levels helps a lot.

I thought about it but where do you stop ?

I've been happy with its grip levels up to now as I was with my previous tyres on the 950

Perhaps if the rear is a revelation I might, I'm upgrading a load of other stuff and remapping too, so l'll see.

[Jazoli]

KTMsm said:

I thought about it but where do you stop ?

When you've stopped sliding on your arse

I personally wouldn't have put a new roadtec on the rear whilst running an 8 year old sports compound tyre on the front, but that is just me, both will warm up at different rates, both will have different profiles, both will have different grip levels wet and dry, its not a set of variables I'd be happy with but its your bike and your money, the best money is spent on decent tyres, as they can change the feeling of the bike much more dramatically than remapping and other stuff.

[Birky_41]

Freakuk said:

I've got Bridgestone S22's or the SDR1290R, the rear is pretty much done at 2500 miles, they're great tyres wet or dry... I'd expect you'd get more out of them from your 950SM given it's about 1/2 the power.

Saying that when I owned the 950SM it didn't hang about either.

I've never heard a bad thing about them S22's and once my Mich RS+ expire will use as my autumn/spring tyre

[KTMsm]

Just moved my Speed Triple out to take sale pics and realised it's got Roadtec 01 fitted

Hadn't noticed a vast difference between it's capabilities and my 990SM on the old Bridgestones whether that says more about my riding, my insensitivity or how close all these tyres and bikes are on the road - I'm unsure

[black-k1]

If it were me, from the list you've provided I'd go for the pilot road 2's. I really liked them when I could get them in the right sizes for my (then) bike. I never had any issues with dry weather grip (they were better than me) and wet weather grip was good too although I tend to be a little more cautious in the wet and there wasn't quite as much feel as the PR4s or Road 5s in the wet. They'd last a good 7500 miles (K1300S) and would not start white lining until about the last 1000 miles.