Those Slippery/Slimy Pirellis on my V7

[bpreynolds]

Anyone else had this experience with the SDs?  Now with 3200 miles on them from when I bought the bike, I kept saying I could just be careful and wait through them until they were worn enough to replace; yet, this weekend brought not 1, not 2, but 3 more close calls.  They are seriously the slickest tires I have ever experienced on a bike, this mostly under hard braking but very occasionally in a corner too where they just slide like butter across a hot pan, this with both front and rear brakes pulled.  Or at least they do for me and been this way since the day I got the bike.  Leaving on a trip Wednesday, wish I could get them gone before then.  Or maybe it ain't the tires?

[Cam3512]

I find them to be quite sticky.  I have them on both my V7's - Sport and Special.  What air pressures are you running?

[JoeW]

I run Sport Demons on everything and love them, very predictable dry or wet.

[Aaron D.]

I had them on an EV, didn't like them at all. But do check the pressures!

[Chuck in Indiana]

 Something strange is going on with your bike, BP.. I don't know what else to say. SDs are really good. <shrug>

[canuguzzi]

You don't put any tire dressing on the sidewalls do you? If you ever did and it contained silicon, it will bleed over to the tread and be there for close to forever.

Never ever put anything on tires to make them look nice. Safe tires are nice looking tires. Shiny tires are dangerous.

[lucydad]

BP,

My demons are sticky devils in wet or dry conditions.  Definitely figure out what is going on...be safe!

Puzzled.

[Kev m]

Something strange is going on with your bike, BP.. I don't know what else to say. SDs are really good. <shrug>

^ this


Tire pressure? Something you've cleaned them with?

<shrug>

[Offcamber1]

Ride slower?

[bpreynolds]

Sounds like the tires are fine for most folks.  The vast majority of negative experiences I've had with tire pressure were due to under inflation; however, I greatly suspect I have, in fact, over inflated the tires on the Stone.  I'll have to dig out my manual for recommended pressures.  What are you Stone owners running? 

Ride slower?

Dumbest idea like ever, Kip.     

[Kev m]

My notes say:

38 / 38 (loaded, otherwise 36 / 36)

Meaning that's what the factory rec was and was what I followed (still do at the front which is still on it at 10k+ miles but maybe not for too much longer.)

My notes also say:

Michelin Pilot Activs  32 / 36

So I've been running the rear at 36 for the Michelin too, but will run the front lower when I replace the SD with an Activ.

[paulbr]

I've been running 36 1/2 both ends as per the manual. But I've been finding that while the rear heats up (ie it feels warm when you put your hand on it),the front doesn't really.

I haven't really got any complaints at either end, the bike has moved a couple of times but it's always gripped again and I'm happy to blame the road surface. However I'm considering dropping the front to 34 or even 32 to get it to warm up.

[Chuck in Indiana]

 All those pressures sound high to me. ? The 10% rule will get you in the ball park. I'd probably start at 30/34 and see how they heat up.

[tonUPRacer]

I had similar experiences but reducing tire pressure to 32R/30F and getting my suspension sorted out fixed it.

[kingoffleece]

I thought the same thing from mile one on my 2015 Stone.  I'm no fan of the SP tires.  I'll use something else when they are worn out.  4000 miles on them and I'll agree 100% that at 36/36psi they are very squirrely.

Even worse than LazerTec tires. 

I never know what the Pirelli tires will do in any given corner at pace.  I have RT front end and Ohlins at the rear-it ain't the bike itself.

[Muzz]

I find the Sport Demon to be a very good tire. Never had them let go yet. Would like a bit better life on the rear though.

[SeanF]

All else being equal, any tire has a certain amount of traction to offer. It's also true that different tires offer relatively different traction, or at least feel/feedback, given the same stretch of road, same bike, same rider, ambient temperature, tire pressures, etc.

To me, it sounds like your technique is simply exceeding the available traction. Maybe you are used to Tire Brand X, and know it well enough to sense when you are at the limits of traction, and are expecting the same from the Pirellis.

Personally, I still have the stock Pirellis on my '14 Special and have experienced no traction issues, even dragging pegs/centerstand bits.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Trust me, I know several guys in SoCal that swear by the SDs in the canyons. Of course, I'm one of them, but remember, it's *not* a radial, and doesn't have the flexible sidewalls of a radial that need high pressures. All high pressures will do on a SD is make them less grippy, and steer faster.
I run 28 psi on the Lario front. After a hard run, it'll be roughly 31. Just right..
Oh, boy.. a tire thread..

[rocker59]

All those pressures sound high to me. ? The 10% rule will get you in the ball park. I'd probably start at 30/34 and see how they heat up.

Yeah. I was hating the 38 psi on the V7.  Funny thing, I was running that on the front of the LeMans 1000.

Anyway, I've been experimenting with running the psi in the 32-35 range and I like the handling much better.

[earemike]

I've been running 32psi & they've been OK.

Seems to punt along well holding mid corner speed & it's only stepped out when I'm trying to push.

[bpreynolds]

Basically convinced my experience here was/is due to over inflated tires.  I checked pressure today and, egads, it was pushing close to 40.  Didn't have time to test brake/ride with lower pressure but I should get a chance tomorrow.  Hopeful certainly as I leave on my Robbinsville trip on Wednesday. 

[johnr]

Sounds like you have found the problem.

I absolutely love the SDs on my EV, never had a moments worry with them. However they replaced absolutely atrocious Metzlers so I don't have anything else to compare them with on the EVT..   

[bpreynolds]

Taking a moment here to again thank everyone on this board.  You are eminently helpful in a wide range of issues, especially bikes 

In all of my years and miles of riding I never would have thought this was an air pressure issue.  As stated previously, ALL of the issues with inflation I've ever had on a bike were due to under inflation, especially handling issues, but yesterday I dropped pressure in the tires (then hovering close to 40) down to 32.5 in both front and rear.  Even under hard trial braking I could not make the bike slide even 1/3 or 1/4 even of the distance it was previously.    

Now I dunno if the 32.5 is gonna be for me per se as the braking/sliding TREMENDOUSLY improved but I did notice that along with this improvement the bike is now just very slightly chasing highway grooves more than it was previously.  I think there's a happy medium to be had here, however, and I'll begin easing it upwards to see what works best for me personally.

Another big plus to lowering the pressure is ride quality.  Not nearly as rigid as before.  I may actually brave the first leg of my trip today without the airhawk just to see how it goes.

Regardless, thanks again.  Even old dogs can learn silly and simple new tricks.