Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050

Oily Rag - Dedicated to Pat, Greywolf. 26/06/45 - 04/06/18 => Tyres => Topic started by: rimscar on June 27, 2019, 10:42:35

Title: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: rimscar on June 27, 2019, 10:42:35
Hello,
Can't believe my oem rear tyre is virtually square at just over 4k miles. Front looks hardly used.
Riding a 2018 1000XTA, in yellow natch.

I commute all year, come hell or high water, and do 100% of it on A roads round Buckinghamshire at a "pressing on...a lot" sort of speed.
I'm after a tyre that is excellent in the wet and inspires confidence--and one that hopefully can handle a heavy right wrist.

Appreciate your recommendations. :)
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Hugo Magnus on June 27, 2019, 10:54:52
Sadly there is no such thing. I have the same problem and sacrifice tyre wear for good grip. (Pirelli Scorpion 2).
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: rimscar on June 27, 2019, 11:15:25
Do you get better mileage than 4k out the rear?
I`m suspecting it may well be my riding style, lots of squirt going through the tyre, so if mileage has to suffer so be it.
But grip, especially wet grip, is the number one priority. My wallet will just have to enjoy the use :)
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: porter on June 27, 2019, 11:33:58
Just replace the rear tyre with the same or something like a Bridgestone A41 or 40. I used an A40 with the oe front after the oe rear went  in about 5k and they matched OK.
You'll  get much better wet and dry grip with something like Michelin pilot roads 4 or 5 but you'll pay big for them in both price and mileage, I get 4k from a rear. But I think there worth it. I just changed to Anakee 3's because I wanted more miles but the bike handled better and smoother on the road 5's, wish I'd just paid up!
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: wurzel on June 27, 2019, 12:33:42
Pilot 4 &5 will give you the performance,wet or dry,but your rear will take a pounding.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: kwackboy on June 27, 2019, 12:59:53
Oooo eerrrr ... :shock:  Can we keep it clean please ..  lol
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Hugo Magnus on June 27, 2019, 19:24:14
You can get about 2,000 miles more from your rear tyre if you ride like a girl :smirk:
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Rusty Nuts on June 27, 2019, 19:50:32
Bit sexist. You obviously don't know the right girls. Or, more accurately, the wrong 'uns.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: mr_diver on June 27, 2019, 20:09:26
SWMBO get about 3k less from her tyres than I do :shy:
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Rusty Nuts on June 27, 2019, 20:45:52
...... but you have been known to exercise the 14 once or twice.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Dark-Strom on June 27, 2019, 22:40:05
I changed to Bridgestone BT23's on my old Triumph - seemed a good sport/touring compound and wore well.
Believe they fit the vstrom 1000?
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: mr_diver on June 27, 2019, 22:44:18
It's funny how the front tyre never needs replacing  :auto-dirtbike:

to be honest the best commuting tyre for grip and longevity is the Bridgestone BT-023. The T30 came to as a dumbed down version.
The 023 was so good they needed it replaced with a lesser tyre as it lasted too well and they didn't sell so many tyres as a result.
If it was crap I wouldn't put it on SWMBO's GSX1400.
5k miles on a heavy muscle bike is very respectable and never a twitch unless I've really gave it the beans while banked over.
It'll be a sad day when they too get discontinued.

I'm back on road tyres, Tourance (original) get good feedback so trying them now.
Anakee3 also last well with good grip.
Conti's tend to be a soft compound for grip but wear faster.
Dunlop and Avon would not be top of my list as they always seem to be 5-10 years behind the other brands.
Maxxis would not be a brand I would trust on anything bigger than a 250cc enduro.
(The tyre supplier I dealt with said "I'd never recormend Maxxis for anything with two wheels"- and he was trying to sell them)
Pirelli - good an a track bike, wouldn't choose them for a road tyre brand as they seem completely track focussed.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Dark-Strom on June 27, 2019, 22:48:06
Cor diver, brings back memories of my LC350 on Pirelli's - even bigger smile  lol
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Froglodyte on June 28, 2019, 10:16:10
Fitted BT023s on my 650 to replace the deathwings. Totally transformed the handling. 7000 miles on them now and still lots of life left. Cheap too.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Chris on July 01, 2019, 21:19:56
Maybe give PIRELLI ANGEL GT 2 a try?

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb/motorcycle/all-tyres/sheet/angel-gt-ii
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Banditbilbo on July 02, 2019, 20:53:57
If you're squared tyres were BW501/502, you are not the only one.
Now I ride with PR5 and they are great performance tyres.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Mattwprice on September 13, 2019, 20:22:16
I can't seem to find any BT-023 in 19" for the front. Is it just me or is it not made in 19inch?

It's funny how the front tyre never needs replacing  :auto-dirtbike:

to be honest the best commuting tyre for grip and longevity is the Bridgestone BT-023. The T30 came to as a dumbed down version.
The 023 was so good they needed it replaced with a lesser tyre as it lasted too well and they didn't sell so many tyres as a result.
 a
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Ianmc on September 14, 2019, 17:18:17
I am afraid it must be you as I had a pair fitted to a Wee last week.
   They are a great road only tyre and give you great confidence.
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Ticker on September 15, 2019, 20:48:56
It's really good to hear that the BT023's suit the Strom. It was my tyre of choice on my previous bike and have to say, they were great in every way. I could chuck the bike into a corner with full confidence.

These will be my next tyre, for sure  :thumb:
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: hookie on September 17, 2019, 06:40:51
The Holy Grail for tyre makers is to find a combination of good grip and long life, and it's always going to be a compromise. If you ride the bike hard and use all that torque it's better to use tyres that give you the maximum grip (and of course safety and security) even if they don't last as long as you'd like. I've never had more than around 2,500 miles out of a rear tyre on my Vee, but I've never had many more on any bike I've owned in the last 20 years. I've used Dunlops, Metezlers, Michelins (which I've never liked on cars or bikes), Maxxis, Avons, Pirellis and Bridgestones. It's just the way I ride. I'm currently trying some Avon Trailriders which are claimed to be dual compound and should last longer but I'm not holding my breath....
Title: Re: "Spirited" commuting tyre?
Post by: Froglodyte on September 17, 2019, 09:31:51
The BT023 on the rear of my 650 has now done 10,000 miles. At the last MOT in July, I had an advisory for "rear tyre slightly squared off". Can't complain at that!