Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => General Monster Forum => Topic started by: misirlou on July 19, 2012, 10:52:58 AM

Title: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: misirlou on July 19, 2012, 10:52:58 AM
Hi

I need new tires on my 2007 S4R Testastretta and can not decide which ones to choose.
Right now I got a bt-16 on the front and a Michelin Power Race in the back.
The Michelin Power Race (not road legal but was on there when I bought it) is great, soft and very sticky but wears out really fast on this feisty 2 cilinder.

So I am looking for an excellent compromise between grip and durability around at least 4000km.
Oh and can not take to long to heat up properly. ;D
My mechanic only got Dunlop sportsmart now but I got a sportsmart in the back on my Hornet before I sold it and did not like it that much.

Before that I had a bridgestone which was OK but the Pirelli before that was way better.
But this was on a Honda Hornet 600 and reacts totally different then on a 1000 2 cilinder.

Any advice or experience?
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: Slide Panda on July 19, 2012, 10:57:02 AM
Why not go pack to Pirelli? The Rosso II is a good street-sport tire. They do have a Rosso Corse as well for the road. Sticker with less sipes - but won't last as long as the Rosso II.

Got the Rosso IIs on my 900 and StupidMoto
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: Grampa on July 19, 2012, 11:03:52 AM
 dunlop q2s
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: betarace on July 19, 2012, 11:13:58 AM
Q2. Rocky Mountain ATV has them cheapest right now.  $235 shipped a pair
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: Triple J on July 19, 2012, 11:16:19 AM
Any sport tire will work...Dunlop Q2, Michelin Pilot Pure/Power, Pirelli Rosso Corse, etc. They're all good tires.
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: thought on July 19, 2012, 11:34:41 AM
Quote from: Triple J on July 19, 2012, 11:16:19 AM
Any sport tire will work...Dunlop Q2, Michelin Pilot Pure/Power, Pirelli Rosso Corse, etc. They're all good tires.

Yup, it's pretty hard to go wrong with any major tire nowadays but I'm currently using Q2's on my SFS and they are working really well.  The side bonus is that they also tend to be the cheapest out of all the choices.

Here is a link to a tire comparison test... might help you decide what you want:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/545/8285/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Street-Motorcycle-Tire-Comparison.aspx (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/545/8285/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Street-Motorcycle-Tire-Comparison.aspx)
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: mic_on on July 19, 2012, 12:48:46 PM
+1 on Q2. I just ran them on the track. Stickier than just about any other street tires and definitely more lean angle than the PPs. They warm up real quick and ive read they got awesome mileage too.
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: SDRider on July 19, 2012, 02:41:48 PM
On my second set of Diablo Rosso II's and have been very happy with them.
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: ducpainter on July 19, 2012, 07:00:23 PM
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=2444.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=2444.0)
Title: Re: S4R Testastretta new tyre advice
Post by: Monstruo on July 25, 2012, 08:30:48 AM
Quote from: Triple J on July 19, 2012, 11:16:19 AM
Any sport tire will work...Dunlop Q2, Michelin Pilot Pure/Power, Pirelli Rosso Corse, etc. They're all good tires.

Fully agree!

Most of my riding is agressive canyon carving, some track days and some wet driving, and I have used Pilot Powers, Avon, ContiSport Attacks, Qualifiers and now I have the new Bridgestone S20. I am extremely happy with the S20s, they are a little better than the PP and the Contis, and definitely much better than the Q2s, especially in the wet - the Dunlops have horrible grip in the wet according to my experience. Avon are great tires overall but they only last 2,500 Kms.

If you are looking for durability in hypersport tires, nothing beats the PP (the standard not the 2CT) and the Contis: I got 6,000 Kms out of my PP without loosing any grip at all, while the S20s look like they will only last 4-5,000 (Currently they are on 3,500 Kms). The heating speed on the S20 is impressive, and, according to reviews and my own experience, they take a long time to cool down.

My 2 cents