Tyres for the Bandit

It's that time again........looking for replacement tyres for the B12.
I'm looking for a bit more mileage this time and below is a record of
the last few sets:-

Metzeler Sportec M1 - good grip but only lasted 2000 miles

Avon Azarro AV45/46 - expected them to last longer than 3900 miles

Bridgestone 020 - I keep coming back to this tyre with mileages
between 3500 and 5000 depending on season.

I'm considering the Continental Road Attacks or the Metzeler Roadtec Z6
(as well as the 020).

Any views?

Mark

 

Mark Peard emerged from their own little world to say

Stick with the 020 unless the others have a substantial cost benefit.

Do they actually wear in pairs? I've never owned a Bandit but I'd expect
the front to outlast the rear; which would tend to make me stick with the
same make so that sometimes I only needed to replace the rear.

 

My 1200 Trophy had well-scrubbed-in Azarro 3s on when I bought it. Bearing
in mind that the Trophy is a notorious torque monster and heavy with it, and
I was riding it everywhere at about 95%, I expected them to be shredded
within about 3K. They were still good when I binned it after 7K.

You must be a fucking loon.

 

platypus says...

Simes gets approx 10K from a rear AV46 on his Pan Euro, and he doesn't
ride slow. I got 5K IIRC and they weren't even half worn on my last
ZZR1100.

Or have them at the wrong pressures.

 

<checks mileage>

11,300 km on my Azaro3s on a CBR1000 with approximately 500 to the wear
indicator. JFYI, like.

 

Talking of which, what are your recommended pressures for the 'ace - I
am running Dunlop 208's at book pressures and the handling is ok. Next
change though, I want to fit 020's.

 

Foto man says...

Can't remember offhand, but 36 - 40 rings a bell.

 

Cheers Loz, pretty much what they are at the mo.

 

My Trophy's also surprisingly light on tyres.

It's heavy and torquey, but not wildly powerful, remember.

 

What I was mostly doing was either 120-odd mph cruising on the M5, or
serious stop-go (up to about 110) on the A38. Mad bursts of acceleration
and tank-shagging panic stops. When I first got the bike, I was overtaking
without changing down. After about a month, I was in the habit of knocking
it down two and snapping the throttle open in practically any circumstances.

 

I'm running 020's on my '96 Ace. I checked with Bridgestone and they
reccomended the same pressures that are in the book, 2.5 bar front and
2.9 bar rear. I've used these without problem.

Have been thinking of putting 208's on when I next change. As with
all tyres, it's the wet weather grip thats most important. Almost all
tyres will be good enough in the dry for me. So, had any wet problems
on the 208's or do you rate them? Dunlops sales bollocks says that
they were designed with increaded wet weather grip as a part of the
philosophy.

 

Strewth. Overkill ;-))

I still ride the torque - get it into a highish gear and stick there.

 

Nope......36/36 or 36/42 depending on the tyre. Info from the relevant
manufacturers website. Pressures checked at least once a week with a
digital guage not the garage crap.

Mark

 

The Trophy was like a comfy middleweight tourer from a universe 10% larger
than our own: unfeasibly large and heavy, and needing to be thrashed to get
out of its own way.

 

Mark Peard says...

In that case I'd check the wheel/frame alignment. I've never heard of
anyone getting that little mileage from AV45/46s

 

I'm currently running D208 front and D220 rear on my B12S, the 208 has
great grip, the 220 I'm kinda wishing would hurry up and wear out
because it's wet weather grip is a bit ordinary (had the rear sliding
around the other day a bit which was a little hairy).

Getting about 8,000Km (errm 5000miles ?) on the 208s, the 220 is up to
10K and still has tread, I'm guessing it'll go about 12K. 34psi front,
36 rear.


JL
96 Bandit 12, 89 KR1-250

 

Made a change for the boot to be on the other foot.

 

Admit it, you liked thrashing the bitch...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

 

Hmm, you made me smile their... Careful...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----