question about tyres

[andytk]

more dumb questions from the rookie.

I'm hoping to buy an RVF tommorrow but I'll have to ride it 300 miles on the motorway to get it home (I have a suspicion it'll be torture)

will the tyres be knackered from 300 miles with no real corners?
Will I get flats in the centre that'll wreck the handling?
I don't know the tyre type but it is a sports bike so I would think they're relativly soft.

Andy

[Pesty]

Andy,
I have BTo12ss on my bike which are apparently realy soft.
Being a reletivly new biker I wondered about "squareing off" tyres
yesterday I did around 270-300 miles mainly motorway.

every time I get on the bike it seems to be handling different sometimes dropping into corners sometimes needing more input may be tyres may be just me.
personaly I wouldnt worry about it. motorways need to be used sometimes.

[954 girlie]

Tyres must be:

1.Round
2.Rubbery
3. NOT MADE OF THAT YUKKY GREEN AS SEEN IN MCN THIS WEEK!! (not cool!)
4. Checked regularly for uneven wear/pressures/or legal tread!!

Point 4 is of course the most important one!

[bikerkeith]

If your bike has really soft tyres then a motorway trip that long will tend to square the tyres. That results in the bike feeling very "nervous" when tipping it into bends, as if its running over a raised white line. Harder compounds will do the same but take a lot longer.

If you're that worried about it why stick to m-ways? Far more fun if you plot a route on other roads. You'll get a feel for the bike a lot sooner than plodding along endless motorway miles.

[andytk]

I probably will try and get off the M way at some point if only to break the monotony.

Its the distance I have to cover though. I'd like to get home at a sensible time, so it makes the M ways a necessary evil.

Cheers for the advice.

Andy

[Pesty]

954 girlie said:

Tyres must be: 3. NOT MADE OF THAT YUKKY GREEN AS SEEN IN MCN THIS WEEK!! (not cool!)

I thought they were quite fetching can you get them in red to match my bike?
or brown to match my fluffy ears and helmit tail?

[Pesty]

bikerkeith said:

If your bike has really soft tyres then a motorway trip that long will tend to square the tyres. That results in the bike feeling very "nervous" when tipping it into bends, as if its running over a raised white line. Harder compounds will do the same but take a lot longer. If you're that worried about it why stick to m-ways? Far more fun if you plot a route on other roads. You'll get a feel for the bike a lot sooner than plodding along endless motorway miles.

keith,
if they are soft will they sort themselves out after being squared or are they knakered?

My rear tyre is FCUKed on the right side probably square in the middle and like new on the left after a track day at donnington

[t-c]

A journey of that distance on the Motorway shouldn't square them of to any significant degree even though they are a fairly soft compound, it usually takes 2 - 3000 miles to really do any harm.

I have just returned from doing 1100 miles on European Motorways with 010's fitted to the Blackbird and there was no squaring off at all.

[bikerkeith]

As long as you've got legal tread left then some more varied riding around assorted bends and roundabouts should even things up a bit.
Interesting comments about 010s, I think they are dual compound so have less tendency to square off as the middle part of the tread is harder than the edges. I have an 010 on the front (020 at the back) and it seems less prone to squaring off than other rubber I have used.

[954 girlie]

Just put new 207rr's on my blade today AND new chain & sprocket (with one down on the front)

I've used these tyres on track trips to France before where we have done 500 miles to the track - then track day - then 500 miles back. Never found that they square off & they are yummy (techical term) on the track!! - Roll on Nogaro next week - woooooohoooooo!!!

Anna

[rsvnigel]

Anyone running with Metzler Rennsports?

I'm looking for something a bit stickier than the Metzler M1s that the bike came with, any other suggestions?

[cazzo]

I have been using Pirelli Dragon Evo's (Corsa front)for the last 4 years (not the same pair!) and I think their good, originally had Michelin on the bike when I bought it but the Pirelli's 'feel' better and seem to last slightly longer the rear squares off pretty quick but still handles OK when 'square'.

I find rear lasts about 3,000 miles and front about 5,000.

I've always liked Pirelli maybe there's better but since I like'em I don't see any reason to change.

[DennisTheMenace]

Ive just had dunlop 208's put on the kwack and very happy with them , Was going to go back to bridgestone 010's but thought i would give the dunlops a chance as they were recomended by a drag bike racing nutcase