tire preferences

[SIR REAL ED]

Hello WGer's,

I am curious to know what manufacturer and model of tire you prefer and why. 

I'm looking to buy some tires in 4 x 17", 3 x 18", and 2.5 x 19" rim sizes.

Right now I am thinking 80-90% On-Road and 10-20% Off Road tires, but I am interested in all opinions.

thanks in advance!

[Huzo]

I’ve used nothing but Michelins Pilot Road 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6’s.
I stay with them because I can get up to 20,000 km (a bit more on one occasion) and I just like the sound of the name…
It’s the inner confidence that just makes me feel “safer”.
The only time I got less than stellar results, was with a Pilot 4 in 2016, which showed some scalloping at half life.

[Guzzistajohn]

I used to run Mich. Anakees on my Tiger starting in 2006 but the front would cup badly making a row of "bumps" on the outer edge of the tread.

I finally gave up and went to Shinko 705's on both the Tigger & the T7, they do fine for the price.

[80CX100]

I've never used them on bigger road bikes,but for my DR650, I put on a set of Shinko 705's.

Used as intended they're great; used foolishly in springtime, swampy mud holes,as expected,they suck.

fwiw ymmv

[Stretch]

I put some Shinko 705s on my KLR650, and after an 800 mile little tour, I like 'em.
They're quiet, stick fine in the corners, don't seem to follow rain grooves or ground up
pavement unduly, and are fine on gravel roads. I haven't tried 'em in mud, deep sand, or any
remotely technical off-road stuff. Pressures are 34 front and 32 rear. Haven't ridden in heavy
rain on 'em yet, either.

And have I mentioned that they're quiet on pavement?! 

We'll see what the mileage is like.

                                                  -Stretch

[faffi]

You can get radials for all those rim sizes, as well as bias ply tires. Radials tend to last a bit longer.

I have used a number of tires (brands and models) over the years, but my favourite is the Michelin PR4. These also work fine on gravel, but not on dirt. For light dirt work, I would opt for Conti TKC70 or Michelin Anakee Wild or similar. As for the PR5, which can be had as a 10/90 version, it is a tire I have not been comfortable on. In my experience, they wear faster and less even than the PR4, and offer very little grip in the wet. The 10/90 version wore quicky on the edges, the street only PR5 wore slightly semi-flat in the center, whereas the PR4s I've had wore evenly and always gave grip, or would let go gently and controllable.

The picture below is of the rear PR4 that I used on my Honda Deauville - I was very impressed by it, and you can see that it has retained its profile from new, no flattening whatsoever in the center. It lasted about 7k miles on the rear, the front around 10k.

[jcctx]

When it comes to tires, always liked the round black ones???

[RinkRat II]

     K75s...Metzeler ME888 touring
     Ducati 907......Dunlop GPR sportier riding
     V 11 Sport Guzzi...Conti Motion sport/tour
     KLR... Shinko 705 Hiway/ offroad 80/20
 
     All wear and work for my usage.

     Paul B

[Perazzimx14]

What is the 10 to 20% off-road you will be doing? If it groomed gravel fire roads any 100% street tire will be okay. If it mud, sand or forging rivers that'll be something different. I have had several sets of Shinko 705's on a few different bikes and I have come to dislike them. They are a decent tire, and the fronts seem to last decent but cup like crazy and get harder than a rock in short order and once about 50 to 60% worn they are sketchy in the rain. Up front Shinko's are cheap but last 1/3 as long as top tier that is double the cost. So, if you are paying to have you tires changed at a shop you actually spend more money on a cheaper tire. I only buy them now when selling a bike if it needs tires to add curb appeal.

Currently I have a set of 705's on my 2016 DRZ and only put them because the seller included a new set of them in the purchase. I really did not want to use them, but the OEM tires were needing replaced and didn't want to spend more money until I was sure I liked the bike.

[SIR REAL ED]

When it comes to tires, always liked the round black ones???

Yeah, but what shade of black?  Shirley, not flat black.......

[chuck peterson]

My most expensive tire at $280 has been the best, too..I’ve got 16k on the rear of a Nevada and it still feels great, still more rubber before the wear bars





https://www.jpcycles.com/product/metzeler-me888-marathon-ultra-tires

Some of these are over $400 for a 300 size rear, but I’ve never gotten that much mileage before. It’s actually overbuilt for the purpose on my lighter bike. Also, I’m not crossing Texas at 140 degree asphalt…

[egschade]

I really liked the Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires. Performed like a sport touring tire but had open enough tread for gravel/dirt roads. Currently running Pirelli Scoprion SCRs on my V85TT. More of a 70/30 tire and prefer them to the OEM Anakees.

[bad Chad]

Sounds like you might be bias curious?

[SIR REAL ED]

Sounds like you might be bias curious?

Either my standards have risen, or my interest has diminished over the last 40 years.

Not sure which.... maybe my apathy has increased...?

Still able to discern front from rear, though.  that makes life easier......

Left from right is much tougher......

and what with those rotational arrows anyway?

[JJ]

My opinion is that...."Your LIFE rides on your tires...", so you should never skimp.
Always go with a quality, name brand tire...(just sayin'...) 

I used Bridgestone's on the Victory, and in the past, I had used Pirelli's on the Guzzi, but now have had good success and results with SHINKO Ravens .

[acguzzi]

For a while you could get tires in all crazy colors, fortunately that didn't seem to catch on.

[jcctx]

Yeah, but what shade of black?  Shirley, not flat black.......

White letters OK; but not whitewalls???????

[Turin]

I'm a Conti Attack fan. Road attck trail attack etc. The have confidence inspiring grip at severe lean angles. I also like Bridgestone Battlax tires, but not as much as the Contis. Pirrelli makes a great tire, but they don't seem to last.