Top 5 Tire Choices ?

[RedFlame99]

Great information here spread over a lot of chat areas. Wondering what everyone's top 5 choices/recommendations would be.

Thanks

[Antares]

1. Michelin Road 5
2. Michelin Road 5
3. Michelin Road 5
4. Michelin Road 5
5. Michelin Road 5


 

Ok all jokes aside:

1: Michelin Road 5 - Best all around with good life, amazing wet and dry grip and sporty profile, do tend to wear a bit weird though
2: Continental RoadAttack 3 - Cheapest of the "best sport touring tyres" , closest in all aspects to the Road 5 but better wear pattern and more "neutral"
3: Bridgestone T32 - A fair time on a bike different from my usual but really impressive wet weather performance and confidence, not as sporty as the other 2 though and can't comment on life.
4: Michelin Road 6 - Better than the road 5 in outright grip, similar life but bit weird profile and handling, I didn't really like the shape, it really raises the front of the bike and makes it the focus of attention compared to other tyres.
5: Continental SportAttack 4 - I really liked these, had a full pair on my XR and bought my 1290 GT with them on, great tyres a tad cheaper than the RoadAttacks but only about 60-70% of the life of the Road attacks, great profile, great warm-up and dry grip, still dependable in the wet, albeit not quite as much as those above.

I currently have a set of Conti RoadAttack 4s on my 1290 GT and I'm really liking them, great wet grip and dry grip whilst being confident, definitely an evolution that puts them on par or above the road 5s but all depends on how long they end up lasting.

[bobdave]

I've always liked Michelin Road 5 but put Road 6 on at last change and I like them. The only others I've used in recent times are the Metzeler Roadtec 01 that came as standard on the XR when new - they never let me down but didn't give me the confidence that the Michelins do. Can't really advise on any others as once you find one you have confidence in you tend to stick with it. 

[Mareng1]

On the XR

1) Continental Road Attack 3 / 4.  [These, by a country-mile!]
2) Michelin Road 5
3) Metzeler Roadtec-01SE


Wasn’t so impressed with Dunlop Roadsmart 3?  (Might have been better with lower pressures)

[Salem]

Also very pleased with Road5, I had 3 sets. From what i see the Road 6 is very different, and not better. Conti RA3 is also a superb  tire, want to try the RA4. Had the Conti SA3 too, great tire if you can transport the bike to the twisties on a trailer. Mine was beyond gone after 2k miles

[Crosshairs]

Dunlop Roadsmart 4....every bit as sticky and responsive as the Michelins 5 and 6 but way better mileage for me

[Mareng1]

Originally Posted by Crosshairs

Dunlop Roadsmart 4....every bit as sticky and responsive as the Michelins 5 and 6 but way better mileage for me

Did you use the recommended pressures?  I found the sidewalls stiff.

[Crosshairs]

I started at 36/42 and ended up at 32/36 . They do  ride a bit more "rugged" than the Michelins but nothing crazy .

[smithy]

Originally Posted by Crosshairs

Dunlop Roadsmart 4....every bit as sticky and responsive as the Michelins 5 and 6 but way better mileage for me

Yep, I have the Roadsmart IV on the rear of mine. Very good all-round tyre IMHO, gives decent mileage too. I found taking a couple of psi out of it was a good thing, they're quite stiff in the sidewalls....I wasn't too impressed with the front though, it cupped quite quickly, maybe 2500-3000kms. I then fitted a Dunlop Alpha14Z to the front, bit of an overkill on a normal everyday road bike but it gives great front end feedback/feel....seems to be lasting better than I thought it would.

Smithy.

[RedFlame99]

Many thanks to all for the information.