ST1100: Michelin Pilot Road

[Brad Felmey]

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[CarSalesman]

I understand the Pilot Road isn't available in the correct rear size for the ST1100.

[GRN]

sounds to me like a Z6 needin' kinda situation...

[Clair]

What are some recommendations for tires for an ST1100? What have y'all found that workks or doesn't?

[tricky_micky]

What are some recommendations for tires for an ST1100? What have y'all found that workks or doesn't?

Clair

The European St1100's used to come new, fitted with Exedras. I found that these were excellent for mileage but a little skimpish in the wet, so you ride accordingly.

The O2O's are brilliant for grip but give less mileage, that is what I found over here in the UK. I was getting over 11,000 miles on the Exedras, but the mileage dropped to 8,000 miles on the O2O's.

When you are in the motorcycle training industry like I am, I look at mileage from a tyre firstly for obvious reasons.

I have tried the Macadams and Avon tyres, the only reason I tried those were because they were fitted free for me to test. I was glad to get back on the O2O's, my thoughts entirely of course, but I was glad that I did not have to pay for the test tyres I had.

I have listened to many bikers blabbing on about how sticky their tyres are on their Ginger Ninjas and they have had to renew the tyres after 2,000 miles. Geez, what a laugh, I just take em out on the road and ask them to follow me and see how long it is before I see them dissapear from the rear view mirrors. Normally this happens on the first combination of twisties!

Me, I am just the BOF (boring old fart), so they think, on an ST1100 (now a 1300).

For me, the O2O's take some beating, but for mileage, I would go with the Exedras. Just my $.02 worth

Mick

[saaz]

It is interesting how people's experinces are different with the same tyres. I have only tried 3 different tyres on the ST1100.

The first were the 020s, but this was not a fair comparison as I think the previous owner had not run the right pressures, so they were quite unevenly worn, and in the last 1/2rd of their life (I think). I thought they were quite good, but thet were a bit 'off' in terms of wet grip and a bit greasy after they got a bit hot after spirited riding on tight. They lasted another 6000kms, so tyre life would have been 18,000kms or so or more if I had them from new.

The Z6s were the 120/170 combination. Light feel, handled well, ok in the wet, but only lasted 10,000kms the pair. Nothing bad to say about them. half way through using these I upgarded the suspension front and back, so again comparisons with the 020s is a bit unfair. I have found that really good suspension improves grip and life quite a bit.

Avons 45/46s in the 110/160 sizes. I think they are better allround than the Z6s in terms of grip and stability, better in the wet as well. Grip is great in all conditions, they need no warm up time. The only slips I have had are on full power over a slippery white line and when hitting oily patches under power (and gravel but that does not count!). I have used the tyres right to the tread edge front and back, but have not managed to scrape anything doing this riding solo. All in all very impressed with them, so we shall see what tyre life is like. After 7000kms they do not look worn at all, so looks promising. They are also A$100 cheaper over here per pair than the others.