Sport Touring tires

[norcal1]

I have a slow leak in my front tire. I've decided to go agead and get new tires. But since this is my firast sport tourer I'm not sure what to get. I'll probably get them at a local Cycle Gear store as the dealer is too expensive. Suggestions?

 

[ionbeam]

I'm willing to bet that if you were to go to the Forum main page, scroll down to Never-Ending, Pointless, Recurring Threads, on the very first page you come to, you should find many threads about tires. In fact almost every page will have tires and oil.

If your only problem is air leaking look for nails, if you got one you need a tire. If not, make a dish washing detergent and water combo, first take off the tire valve stem cap and put a little on the schrader valve and look for bubbles. Now move on and put the mix around the tire bead on both sides, again looking for bubbles. If the valve bubbles it either needs to be tightened up or replaced. If the tire bead bubbles the tire needs to have the bead broken, the rim cleaned, the rim lubed and the tire inflated.

 

[Sully1300]

What kind of bike are you coming off of prior to the sport tour? If your edging more toward the sport side then go Michelin PR 2's, you'll love the confidence inspiring grip.

 

[Greg 03]

https://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=33_176_187

 

[Auron]

To me, no other tire exists right now other than the PR2

 

[Old Guy]

I have a slow leak in my front tire. I've decided to go agead and get new tires. But since this is my firast sport tourer I'm not sure what to get. I'll probably get them at a local Cycle Gear store as the dealer is too expensive. Suggestions?

We have a local Cycle Gear, and the last time I priced tires there I could buy them much better at our local Kawasaki shop. The local Cycle Gear store used to match Internet pricing, but they sure didn't last time. I was stunned at what they wanted for tires. No more.

You'll find that whatever tire everyone chose, in their opinion it's the best tire in the history of motorcycling.

 

[Fred W]

To me, no other tire exists right now other than the PR2

This from the guy who was the big "sport bike rider?"

A slow leak is seldom the tire. More often the bead seal (or lack thereof). You can buy a new tire if you want. Just send me those old ones and I'll see if I can get a few more miles outta them.

 

[JamesW]

PR 3s, 2s were great, I favor the 3s in the great northwet.

 

[SLK50]

PR2s are long lasting, non- compliant tires with a harsh ride that can't

hold a line in corners. They're a lot like marriage - great in the

beginning but then you spend a lot of time just wishing they would die.

Tires have evolved considerably the last few years...PR2s simply got

left behind. i.e. PR3, Angel GT, BT-023GT, etc.

 

[Myke Ramsey]

I use the Pilot Road 2. I got 11K on my last pair. The front tire I changed to Pilot Power and it seems less noisy than the PR2 fronts.

 

[Fred W]

I use the Pilot Road 2. I got 11K on my last pair. The front tire I changed to Pilot Power and it seems less noisy than the PR2 fronts.

I may try that combo next, after I wear out the current BT023GT front / PR2 rear combo. I like the PR2 rears just fine. I do not see any huge advantage to the PR3s and the BT023GTs are not even as good as them, IMO.

As for not "holding a line", I've never noticed that tendency at all, and have gone through several sets with PR2s front and back. This may have a bit more to do with suspension setup than the tire choice? Or maybe I'm just too numb to recognize it?

To each his own (tires) I guess.

 

[08FJR4ME]

PR2s are long lasting, non- compliant tires with a harsh ride that can'thold a line in corners. They're a lot like marriage - great in the

beginning but then you spend a lot of time just wishing they would die.

Tires have evolved considerably the last few years...PR2s simply got

left behind. i.e. PR3, Angel GT, BT-023GT, etc.

Valentino Rossi we are not. Some folks take the tourer side of the bike more serious. JMO.

Dave

 

[escapefjrtist]

PR2s are long lasting, non- compliant tires with a harsh ride...

This I gotta agree with - After moving on there are better choices out there. PR2s work OK for their first half of life then they deteriorate pretty rapidly.

--G

 

[norcal1]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitly price the dealers too.

 

[Old Guy]

Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitly price the dealers too.

The Kawasaki dealer here give me jobbers pricing, so I buy tires close to Internet pricing. They may be a couple of dollars more, but I enjoy doing business with people I know. I even bought my Goldwing tires there. But I mount them myself, so I don't have to rely on anyone for that.

A friend bought a set of Goldwing tires from the local Cycle Gear a couple of years ago. The prices were close to Internet prices, and they mounted and balanced for $20 a tire. Those rear 'wing tires are simply awful to mount, so he said that though it'd cost him $50 or so more than ordering on the Internet, he'd rather they mount them. So, a year later he did the same thing, and the price was over $150 more than one year before. He asked why, and they just said "We've gone up a little on tires." Yeah, like 35%!

We do them here now. As a matter of act, we did a set for him yesterday. That rear tire is still awful

By all means try your local Cycle Gear, but don't just assume they'll have the best deal.

 

[rbentnail]

I gotta agree with the harshness of the PR2's. They were not confidence inspiring at all for me but I routinely drag pegs. IMHO one of the best values around, particularly for the front, is the Pirelli Angel. I typically get 12-14k from them for much less money. By shopping winter specials I can usually pick one up for around $105 shipped.

 

[Auron]

To me, no other tire exists right now other than the PR2

This from the guy who was the big "sport bike rider?"

Well, street tires that is

 

[pcarnut]

PR2s are long lasting, non- compliant tires with a harsh ride that can'thold a line in corners. They're a lot like marriage - great in the

beginning but then you spend a lot of time just wishing they would die.

Tires have evolved considerably the last few years...PR2s simply got

left behind. i.e. PR3, Angel GT, BT-023GT, etc.

My exact experience. In fact by 4k miles on my Guzzi Norge I took them off. Currently running an Angel GT on the rear of the FJR, nice ride, stable in the turns, and at 4k miles it's wearing very well, at least 50% tread left after the trip to South Dakota.

 

[DennisJ]

19858 miles @ CleElum yesterday on the way back from Windy Ridge.

I have a BT 023GT on the rear and a BT 023 on the front. Around 12000 miles on the front with 3/32 tread left at the last service on 7/13. I replaced the orginal front BT-021 at 7400 miles because I just wasn't comfortable with the way it felt. It never felt really secure in corners, tip in was good, tracking so-so. Just didn't feel right.

Rear: replaced orginal BT-021 at about 16250 miles. Pressures are kept at 40/43 front/rear and checked every Saturday morning. I ride most of the year, quitting when black ice/ice/snow are forecast or when the temp at 5:30AM when I am deciding drive/ride for the day's commmute. The BT-023 holds the road well, wet or dry, for my riding style. I don't tear the FJR like a sport bike but it isn't a cruiser either so I don't have any trouble keeping up with faster riders.