i am currently looking for tires. i have the ones i think i want but i just know about their auto tiresnot moto tires.
1) continental conti road attack-sport mileage
2)michelin pilot road
3) pirelli diablo strada extended mileage

those are in the order of the way i like them. however if you know someone that has them or used them any info would be appreciated. remember about 80% of mileage is commuting to and from work. i have 9200 miles and would like to get more than 5k out of a rear.

Can't really help you considering the options. Have no real world experience with those tires. Use primarily Dunlop Qualifiers and Michelin Pilot Powers.

hmm...  well, while we are on topic, does anyone in the 999/1098 crew run 180s instead of the stock 190 size?  any thoughts on this as it applies to:  turn in, wear, general handling, etc..?

Hey Chris I got a Michelin Pilot Road 2ct I like it so far, but I only have 3 or 4 hundred miles on it so I don't know how well it's gonna wear.

Patrick, I think Lisa has a 180/55 on her 999 but I could be wrong.

Cory, I plan on getting a set of the Pilot Road 2 tires before the AR run in a few months.  3k out of the current Pilot Power is not going to cut it!

Swanny

I'm sorry Chris, but I can't really help you out on this; I've used the Pilot Powers.  I am looking to replace those on the Monster, when the time comes, with a more "touring" oriented tire.

As far as the 180 vs 190 thing goes, the first time I had the SBK tires replaced at AMS (back when Brian Sharp was there and they were all out in Alvarado), they recommended dropping down to the 180 size rear tire primarily because it was easier for the engine to turn a smaller contact patch.  Handling feel was also said to improve (I was a NooB then so I couldn't really tell you about the differences in handling between the two...)

I do know I routinely use ALL of the 180 tire - no chicken strips.  Apparently not being able to use all of the tire on a 190 is not unheard of (I'm fairly certain this won't apply to the SBK folks I know ).  

So, since the 999 is faster than @#$%, it MUST be the 180 tire  

Any friggin' way...

We now continue with our regularly scheduled on-topic banter  

cool.  maybe I'll give 'em a whirl...  thanks!

It's funny that the Tamburini bikes all had 5.5" rear rims and ran 180 tires. The 999 series also runs 5.5" width rims but uses 190 tires. Hmmm, puzzling evidence. Everything I have read says the factory designed the 999 to run that combination but I can't personally see why. Ah, why didn't they just stick a 6.00" rim on the bike if they wanted to run a 190 width tire? Otherwise put a 180 on the 5.5" rim like the Tamburinis. Never heard anyone complain about the Tamburini bikes not handling well. They certainly cut into turns faster/better than my 999. That's just a personal taste, nothing official. Wouldn't mind trying a 180 on the 999 just to see if it mimicked the 916/996/998. Would love to hear some more feedback from those who have tried it.

Chris, as far as the tire is concerned, try to match the front with the rear as far as manufacturers are concerned.  5 - 6K on the rear is par for the course as far as my experience goes.  the Avon Storms and Pirelli Diabolo Corsa IIIs are what I have right now.  Both are dual compound and less expensive than the Michelins.  Avons have been good in my experience.

A higher tire pressure and rare 100MPH rides with gentler acceleration is said to improve tire life.  But who does those things anyway?  Just saying.

Patrick, If you look at the 190 vs 180 issue, all things being equal (tire profile, manufacturer, etc), the 180/55/17 tire is typically "taller" than a 190/50/17.  Just going by the numbers, 50% of 190 = 95 while 55% of 180 is 99.  So the sidewall of the 180 is 4mm taller than the 190.  The 180 is lighter.  

If a tire turns in quicker it is either due to a more triangular profile or that the rear ride height has increase because of the "taller" tire.

A 6 inch wide wheel rim can accept a 190 tire but may flatten the profile of a 180.  A 5.5 inch wide wheel rim fits a 180 much better.  This is an uneducated guess and I may be blowing smoke but stock fitments of 180 tires on 5.5 inch wheels and 190 tires on 6 inch wheels seem to bear this point out.

Finally, with the stock motor, a 180 seems enough.  150+ RWHP motor on the otherhand may require a 190.

***

I have been running the Pilot Road ct2 for about 2000 miles now and love them. tread still looks new and has not even flattened out the center yet. I too mostly commute (64 miles a day all slab). I give them a big 

Quote from: cdc on July 09, 2008, 08:12:18 PM
Chris, as far as the tire is concerned, try to match the front with the rear as far as manufacturers are concerned.  5 - 6K on the rear is par for the course as far as my experience goes.  the Avon Storms and Pirelli Diabolo Corsa IIIs are what I have right now.  Both are dual compound and less expensive than the Michelins.  Avons have been good in my experience.

A higher tire pressure and rare 100MPH rides with gentler acceleration is said to improve tire life.  But who does those things anyway?  Just saying.

Patrick, If you look at the 190 vs 180 issue, all things being equal (tire profile, manufacturer, etc), the 180/55/17 tire is typically "taller" than a 190/50/17.  Just going by the numbers, 50% of 190 = 95 while 55% of 180 is 99.  So the sidewall of the 180 is 4mm taller than the 190.  The 180 is lighter.  

If a tire turns in quicker it is either due to a more triangular profile or that the rear ride height has increase because of the "taller" tire.

A 6 inch wide wheel rim can accept a 190 tire but may flatten the profile of a 180.  A 5.5 inch wide wheel rim fits a 180 much better.  This is an uneducated guess and I may be blowing smoke but stock fitments of 180 tires on 5.5 inch wheels and 190 tires on 6 inch wheels seem to bear this point out.

Finally, with the stock motor, a 180 seems enough.  150+ RWHP motor on the otherhand may require a 190.

***

  werd.   

That's the other thing about my 999 and the recommendation for the 180; it's an '04, non-deep sump motor rated at a mere 124hp at the crank... so every reduction in rolling resistance counts 

Quote from: calscrazy on July 09, 2008, 06:12:20 PM
i am currently looking for tires. i have the ones i think i want but i just know about their auto tiresnot moto tires.
1) continental conti road attack-sport mileage
2)michelin pilot road
3) pirelli diablo strada extended mileage

those are in the order of the way i like them. however if you know someone that has them or used them any info would be appreciated. remember about 80% of mileage is commuting to and from work. i have 9200 miles and would like to get more than 5k out of a rear.

I think if you go with a hard tire you may really be disappointed in the corners

Quote from: The Svoloch on July 09, 2008, 07:12:49 PM
hmm...  well, while we are on topic, does anyone in the 999/1098 crew run 180s instead of the stock 190 size?  any thoughts on this as it applies to:  turn in, wear, general handling, etc..?

A shorter tire will affect your ride height & turning in. You'll have to raise the rear to compensate. It will also affect your speedo/odo. Stick with the 190s

Quote from: cdc on July 09, 2008, 08:12:18 PM
If you look at the 190 vs 180 issue, all things being equal (tire profile, manufacturer, etc), the 180/55/17 tire is typically "taller" than a 190/50/17.

This is true, however, the 1098 runs on a 190/55 tire, not 50. Re-do the math.

If you want your bike to turn in quicker, raise the rear and/or drop the front. Also tire pressure is important.

Quote from: Cher on July 10, 2008, 05:26:54 AM
That's the other thing about my 999 and the recommendation for the 180; it's an '04, non-deep sump motor rated at a mere 124hp at the crank... so every reduction in rolling resistance counts 

A taller tire would seem to have a slightly smaller contact patch when going straight.