Recommendations for 1st New Tyres

[PapaDac]

Evening all, as the Wales game is done. 
Thoughts turning to call for a bit of advice, I have a Gen 2 and my T31 original fit tyres will need replacement soon.
I ride almost exclusively solo, I’m a fairly quick rider. Also getting the suspension sorted by Maxton.
So looking for tyres to suit scratching around Welsh roads. Maybe a track day or two as well.
MCN seem to rate the Metzeler Roadtec’s but wondering about the Pirelli Rosso or Rosso Corsa.
Any experience of these or other options greatly appreciated.

[Antares]

I'll keep harping on about the Road 5 for every tyre thread there is 
It's just the best.

[runnerhiker]

I strongly recommend a dual compound tire, soft shoulder and harder canter.  I prefer the Dunlop RoadSmart 3 or 4.  The Michelin Road 5 is also dual compound and an excellent tire.  The Roadtec is single compound, I think.  I am sure Pirelli has a dual compound but I don't know which model.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by runnerhiker

I strongly recommend a dual compound tire, soft shoulder and harder canter.  I prefer the Dunlop RoadSmart 3 or 4.  The Michelin Road 5 is also dual compound and an excellent tire.  The Roadtec is single compound, I think.  I am sure Pirelli has a dual compound but I don't know which model.

Angel GT 2s for Pirelli, have them on the bike right now, they are okay grip wise, I'd put them about 90% of the Road 5s dry and 70-80% of the Road 5's wet performance but wear badly, square off even with a lot of twisty riding and the fronts develop a slight drop (albeit after a lot of miles). Life is probably about 80% or so too there. I'm kinda pulling the numbers out of my ass but then everyone is. I just think the Road 5s are better all around by a noticeable margin.

[Winger]

Got Road 5’s on a K1200r Sport but run Mich Power RS on the X/R and KTMGT.

[getsome460]

I'm running T32s and did do 2 trackdays last year. At Donny and Brands.

Front was rock solid wet and dry. Rear moved around a bit in the dry and I was sliding a lot in the wet.

Fine at Novice/inters pace. 

If you mostly ride on the road I would get the road 5s or T32s.

I have been running S22'S on my Gixxer 750 And they do offer more grip especially at the rear, you'll be getting more friendly with your tyre fitter though.

[Mareng1]

Road 5 seem to get almost universal approval with no downside other than price.

Roadtec-01 - great tyres in wet and dry, but my only concern is the thin carcase when tread gets low.  I have around 17,000 miles on 4 pairs of Roadtecs (I fit new before each annual tour)

Roadsmart-03 Tried one set and thought they were rather 'stiff'.   Did one continental tour and took them off after around 3,000m - didn't like the 'feel'

Conti R Attack3 - not tried yet, but they get highly recommended.  Got a pair to go on the bike - next.

Angels - It seems they have fans and haters in almost equal numbers.

Metz M9RR - seem to be the latest great road tyre if you aren't so bothered about the mileages achievable with the tyres above.   

I would recommend do some shopping around of the highlighted ones, and who knows - one might be sig cheaper than the rest and sway your choice?   Metz might have a £30 cashback going if you get fitted by an authorised fitter?

[PapaDac]

Originally Posted by Mareng1

Road 5 seem to get almost universal approval with no downside other than price.

Roadtec-01 - great tyres in wet and dry, but my only concern is the thin carcase when tread gets low.  I have around 17,000 miles on 4 pairs of Roadtecs (I fit new before each annual tour)

Roadsmart-03 Tried one set and thought they were rather 'stiff'.   Did one continental tour and took them off after around 3,000m - didn't like the 'feel'

Conti R Attack3 - not tried yet, but they get highly recommended.  Got a pair to go on the bike - next.

Angels - It seems they have fans and haters in almost equal numbers.

Metz M9RR - seem to be the latest great road tyre if you aren't so bothered about the mileages achievable with the tyres above.   

I would recommend do some shopping around of the highlighted ones, and who knows - one might be sig cheaper than the rest and sway your choice?   Metz might have a £30 cashback going if you get fitted by an authorised fitter?

This is brilliant, just what I was hoping for. It would seem that there’s not much love for Pirelli tyres. As a returning biker, I have no idea what’s good in things as changeable as tyres, ‘back in the day’ if you were a quick rider you fitted Pirelli’s.
From looking at tyre manufactures sites, I’m liking the M9RR’s, not too bothered about mileage just performance. After the summer I’ll bung on some more sensible sport/touring tyres, were rain grip and mileage is more important.

[BobT]

I just love posts with questions like this. Everyone has their own opinion on what is the best tyre. All modern tyres are dual or more compound. so when this thread has listed every modern tyre that fits the bike what decision are you going to come too? Why not just read MCN or similar for an independent tyre test and make up your mind from that? By looking at a MCN test you will see someone who has tested every tyre on the same bike on the same day. Anyone on here will probably try 3 makes of tyres in 3 years on their bike and cannot really give you a comparison. Any one who tells you that a Roadtec 01 is the best will probably have used a Roadtec 01 for the past 4 tyre changes and has little recent experience of any other tyres.
Modern tyres are all so much batter than stuff that was available 20 years ago, and there is little between them. You should go and see what deals your local tyre place has at the moment and use them.

[Antares]

Originally Posted by BobT

I just love posts with questions like this. Everyone has their own opinion on what is the best tyre. All modern tyres are dual or more compound. so when this thread has listed every modern tyre that fits the bike what decision are you going to come too? Why not just read MCN or similar for an independent tyre test and make up your mind from that? By looking at a MCN test you will see someone who has tested every tyre on the same bike on the same day. Anyone on here will probably try 3 makes of tyres in 3 years on their bike and cannot really give you a comparison. Any one who tells you that a Roadtec 01 is the best will probably have used a Roadtec 01 for the past 4 tyre changes and has little recent experience of any other tyres.
Modern tyres are all so much batter than stuff that was available 20 years ago, and there is little between them. You should go and see what deals your local tyre place has at the moment and use them.

Fair point, tyre opinions are always subjective, but there are undeniable quirks that can be uncovered by reading these posts, like the wear pattern that "on the day" tyre reviews can't uncover. All tyres are good enough to ride on, some are just better then others. I'm sure whatever Pirelli Diablo rosso angel GT Rossi 8 slicks are better in the dry than the Road 5, but I had Road 5s on 3 different bikes and can vouch that they are universally good enough to do trackdays on and be competent, and the wet grip is objectively the best out there, simple as that. They also get very good mileage and have no weird characteristics, they're very neutral as opposed to brand new Pirellis which have such a sharp curve it almost feels like the bike falls out from underneath you when you start to lean. The cost like 50 quid more for a set, and from what I keep hearing "its a premium bike, so why cheap out". I think with the mileage these tyres get, price is completely irrelevant, at least when it comes to new set vs new set. The difference between all the top sport touring tyres is less than 50 bucks a set but even if they each last only 5000 miles that works out to a penny a mile. You literally save more money by going to a slightly cheaper petrol station when you refill...