Roadsmart II Tires

[wheatonFJR]

Hey...it was worth a shot.

Nerds...I'd love to fit that in. That and CFR and EOM and...

Looks like that would have to be a next year trip for me and wifey...running out of vacation time and $$ this year.

 

[monkin]

Where did the OP go??

I liked his avatar...

 

[RossKean]

I would be very interested in finding out what kind of mileage people are getting out of the RS II; especially the front (I've gone Darkside on the rear) I liked the set of Road Smarts I had on the bike when I first bought it but didn't get much life out of them. While the PR2's have given pretty long life, I am less than enthusiastic about performance of the front in the last third of their life. Don't suppose anyone has some real world data on tire life?

 

[Cavy]

Thanks for the input! I have had 4 sets of Roadsmarts on my bike and loved them. Not a high mileage tire but great grip and feel. I will be installing a set of the RSII at next tire swap. We'll see how they compare.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

*BUMP*

Any updates on the RS IIs? While doing winshield rain testing today I found two punctures in my rear tire. I am looking to replace my front and rear before I do my ride across America in May. Because of the rear leaks it looks like the new tires will be coming soon.

Fred suggested running a Roadsmart on the rear and Pirelli Angel on the front. This leads me to these questions:

Roadsmart or Roadsmart II on the back?

If Roadsmart II on the back Angel or Roadsmart II on the front?

 

[wheatonFJR]

*BUMP*

Any updates on the RS IIs? While doing winshield rain testing today I found two punctures in my rear tire. I am looking to replace my front and rear before I do my ride across America in May. Because of the rear leaks it looks like the new tires will be coming soon.

Fred suggested running a Roadsmart on the rear and Pirelli Angel on the front. This leads me to these questions:

Roadsmart or Roadsmart II on the back?

If Roadsmart II on the back Angel or Roadsmart II on the front?

Just a question...how many miles is your trip? How many miles do you get on a RS? A PR2? Doing a cross country trip is one thing...typical 3-4 thousand mile trip is another. You want to make sure you get a tire that will last the trip...if you don't want them to wear out on the trip.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Just a question...how many miles is your trip?

Somewhere around 3K

How many miles do you get on a RS?

I have never had a RS on my bike.

A PR2?

I have about 10.5 K on the PR2s that are on it now. Still a lot of tread until I hit the wear bars (not enough to get me across the country though).

 

[HotRodZilla]

I've been across the country 3 times on Roadsmarts. I run them in full sets. Never had an issue, and they always come home with plenty of tread.

Its been rainy, windy, and hot. They never let me down, and never wore funny at 41 front and 43 rear.

I've never tried the RS rear and Perilli combo, buts lots of people swear by it.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Just a question...how many miles is your trip?

Somewhere around 3K

If your trip is 3000 miles, most any tire will do. If it's 7-8k, then you gotta be more choosy. I got 8k out of my PR2s...but I doubt that I would get that out of RS tires.

Now the RS2, OF THIS THREAD, could be entirely different. Looking forward to someone's report on the RS2...LD PLUS stickier than the PR2 would be great.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

Got the RS II's put on the bike today and took the long way (~75 miles) home. First impressions are they are quiet, seem to be very neutral and stick better than the PR2's I just had on. I didn't push them at all because of not being scrubbed in, but they gripped very well on all of the gentle curves I took. The mechanic said "these are really heavy tires!"

I am running 41 PSI in both the front and rear.

I will post every so often to let everyone know how they are doing.

Front:

Rear:

 

[FJR Bill]

I'm sure they are fine tires and look forward to your results. However, I wish manufacturers would make tires with the tread across the center. This makes it much easier to see when the tire is at the end of its life. The typical tread pattern shown in the pic makes the tire look prematurally worn out as the tread off center line wears away making the tire look bald in the center 1/3rd. Maybe its just me but I prefer a tire that lets me see an accurate representation of center wear. Bill

 

[Fred W]

I'm sure they are fine tires and look forward to your results. However, I wish manufacturers would make tires with the tread across the center. This makes it much easier to see when the tire is at the end of its life. The typical tread pattern shown in the pic makes the tire look prematurally worn out as the tread off center line wears away making the tire look bald in the center 1/3rd. Maybe its just me but I prefer a tire that lets me see an accurate representation of center wear. Bill

Assuming here that you are talking about the rear tire, the Roadsmart tire does have tread that goes all the way across the tire, just not one contiguous tread groove. If you look closely, every other tread line goes just past the center line, so there is no point on the tire that doesn't have tread.

Of course you could always work on wearing the sides out faster so then you don't have to worry about the center tread.

 

[FJReady]

IIRC I used to have atire that had several simple stepped holes strategically positioned around the tire. Some near the center and a few halfway to sidewall, etc. The hole was maybe a total of 1/4" deep and was maybe 3/16" dia in the first 'step' and slightly less diameter in the second step and slightly less dia in the last step. Each step depth was about 1/3 of the total depth (I know, I know you've got it already.) To monitor the tread, you'd just take a quick look at the indicators.

That way you wouldn't use up valuable rubber surface in the middle of the tire by putting a silly groove across it.

But I haven't seen anything like this for a long time, so maybe its a bad idea now. Or maybe I just can't see shit anymore.

 

[FJReady]

so there is no point on the tire that doesn't have tread.

Hey Smartypants, I'm trying to come up with a witty response but am failing miserably.

 

[Fred W]

so there is no point on the tire that doesn't have tread.

Hey Smartypants, I'm trying to come up with a witty response but am failing miserably.

Well, see... That just goes to show what I know.

I always thought that the two words (tread / grooves) were essentially synonymous. :blink:

 

[RickyRey]

Im going with the Road Smarts and will see how it goes. I have P2s now and the front tire is cupped and has a ridge line just like yours. Had Avons before and they cupped too. Beads and lead made no difference.....

QUESTION for all. How fresh should I expect new tires to be from a retailer? I received one tire that is two years old and am returning it. The others are 1 year old.

Thanks.

 

[wheatonFJR]

QUESTION for all. How fresh should I expect new tires to be from a retailer? I received one tire that is two years old and am returning it. The others are 1 year old.

Thanks.

Have Roadsmart II tires even been out for two years? Are you sure they are Roadsmart IIs?

 

[HotRodZilla]

QUESTION for all. How fresh should I expect new tires to be from a retailer? I received one tire that is two years old and am returning it. The others are 1 year old.

Thanks.

Have Roadsmart II tires even been out for two years? Are you sure they are Roadsmart IIs?

No...He's talking about regular RoadSmarts. I wouldn't care if the tire is 2 years old if it was stored inside. More internet myth making people, that don't know anything about tires, tire experts.

 

[wheatonFJR]

I was just asking because this thread is about RS IIs.

RS we already know about: Nice sticky rear tire...front RS sucks the wazoo.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Im going with the Road Smarts and will see how it goes. I have P2s now and the front tire is cupped and has a ridge line just like yours. Had Avons before and they cupped too. Beads and lead made no difference.....

QUESTION for all. How fresh should I expect new tires to be from a retailer? I received one tire that is two years old and am returning it. The others are 1 year old.

Thanks.

I was just asking because this thread is about RS IIs.

RS we already know about: Nice sticky rear tire...front RS sucks the wazoo.

I'm just going off the bolded part...And the fact that the RSII is brand new.