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Tyres
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Bike is a CBR600F 2004 model, currently shod with Dunlop D207's which
are IMO like riding on slicks in the wet. My last CBR got treated to
BTR 010s which were much better on wet/greasy roads but I understand
are no longer available. So any recomendations for new tyres which
behave reasonably on wet roads.
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Mark III Pirelli Diablo Corsas mmmm :) [1]
They seem better than the mark IIs, which - in the wet - were a noticable
amount better than the (good in the dry)D207RRs which kicked ***t out of
plain D207s in the dry and even more so in the wet.
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Good in what way? Fewer slides, easier to put the power down without
them spinning up, more stable under heavy braking, easier to turn in?
How are they better?
I defy most normal road riders to tell the difference between one
manufacturers offerings when pitched against someone elses, in either
the wet or dry conditions. Unless you're pushing tyres to their absolute
limits it's virtually impossible to give a good description of how they
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perform,
That's from when they've been close-ish
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I wish. I wish I could do it consistently for starters. Um. On second
thought I wish I could *afford* to go racing. *Then* I wish I could ride
fast and consistently ;-)
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perform, and if you're pushing them that hard then you ought to be
racing.
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Weell, sometimes something just feels... confidence-inspiring.
In a slightly different vein, someone recently said here that feedback
from a bike is useless if you don't have the skill to read it and use
it. I think that's only partly true: I have two litre V-twins, a TLR
and a Tuono. Both the TL and Tuono run Dunlop tyres: 207RRs on the TL
and 208RRs on the Tuono. The TL has no real vices, but *feels*
heavier, most especially in the wet, and there's little feel (to me)
as to what the tyres are doing. The Tuono by comparison may well be
metaphorically waving its arms and gabbling in Italian, but its
*friendly* gabbling that inspires confidence, even if I don't actually
understand the exact content.
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I should have been a bit clearer in my statement. I mean super-sports
tyres, such as SuperCorsas and Rennsports etc. There is a world of
difference between normal road tyres that even a mere mortal like me
can feel, but only the riding gods amongst us would be able to tell how
good or bad a super-sticky set of tyres was on the road.
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Quite. I was just about to offer the opinion that if you can't tell the
difference between Macadam 90x and Pilot Power 2CTs on the same bike
something is lacking in you sensitivity to grip department.
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I'm certainly no riding god but the difference between the stock MEZ4s
and Pirelli Diablos on my SVS was immediately and overwhelmingly obvious
to the most cack-handed unskilled rider, which would basically be me.
Just negotiating a high speed sweeper at a more or less normal pace you
could feel a quantum difference in how planted they were.
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You would probably experience the same perceived boost in handling from a
new set of MEZ4s. Almost any new set of tyres would feel better as the
profile is optimal for cornering.
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Ah, no. Believe me, there is a noticeable difference between new MEZ4s
and new Diablos. I put at least one complete set of new MEZ4s on the SVS
after the OEM MEZ4s, before I switched to Diablos and I'll never go back
(of course I couldn't even if I wanted to, right?)
I know what you mean about profile affecting handling, in fact I
frequently replace tires well before they're worn out, just because I
don't like the profile. In this case I am certain that there is a quantum
difference in grip, no matter what profile either type of tire has.
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Or for something more *exciting* try lots of water, overbanding and cold
D208s. Urgh. I prefered the D207s ;-)
[1] I'm not sure they're going to win prizes for longevity 'though.
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I use BT014s which I didn't rate in the wet until I did Mallory on the
rain where they performed really well.
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I didn't rate the 014, as I slipped the front on a greasy corner in
France after about 100 miles of riding (so should have been up to temp)
I don't think the 014 is the best on a lardy tourer, i'd have preferred
an 110/020 combo on the 12. The 014 compound seems to get ripped to
shreds on a heavy bike.
The 020 on the Blackbird wore fine ~4000-5000 per tyre.
Oh, and I got the rear Azaro on the FJ to let go just outside Hulland
Ward.
Looks like i've explored the limits of both bikes now in the wet :-)
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You don't say how hard you push the bike in the wet or the dry. Plenty
of tyres will give you confidence in the wet if you ride steadily but
it's a different story if you start to really go for it.
More info might get you a reasonable suggestion.
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I've got Pirelli Diablos on the Zed, (not the Corsas[1], just the ordinary
ones[2]). I've found them to be OK in the wet, although I do tend to take
it a bit easier and generally use the Tiger if I've got to go somewhere in
bad weather. The rest of the time they're certainly OK.
I had Bridgestone BT019/BT012 previously. They were OK, but I prefer the
feel of the Diablos. Mind you, I was happy enough with the D207s I had
before that.
{1] I'm not convinced that Corsas or any of that ilk are worth it on a
road bike unless all you do is ride (carefully) to track days.
[2] Not the Stradas, either.
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