Best tires for ST1300

carpdm

carpdm

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Joined
Dec 13, 2005
Messages
514
Location
Waite Park, Minnesota
STOC #
8107
It's time for me to replace my tires (front and back) and I am looking for recommendations.

What tires have you used and why?

How many miles have you gotten on them before needing to replace?

Thanks.
 
I have used BT020's, BT023's, and PR2's. I've gotten 12-14k per set out of all of them. I prefer the PR2's, but I think I will try the new PR3's if they are available in the next few weeks.
 
I need to change the rear tire. I have about 5000 miles on the Avon Storm I put on last spring and I think I will move to something with higher mileage. Any recommendations?
 
Best milage two up on the OEM 'stone 020Fs ...85% of time running that way ( loaded weigh of 350 to 420 )
10k+ on rear, 14k+ front.
 
I'd go with the PR2's or PR3's myself... PR2's plenty sticky and decent life... PR3's are supposed to be even better as far as sticking to the road, and have same life. ;)
 
Looking for a little help on tires as well ... I'm in Guelph Ontario Canada and need front and rear tires. Any good deals and or reputable tire dealers that you would recommend?

Thanks ....
 
PR2's here too, 12.5k rear 13.5k front, only issue was cupping and noisey off center. Call Tim at Keel Brothers, PR2's at $260 shipped last I checked but price going up soon, per Tim.
 

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Thanks for the replys thus far. My bike has 8,800 miles and currently I have the BT020's. The front is really worn and cupping; oddly, especially left of center. The back is still fairly good. The bike had 2,000 miles on when I purchase and maybe the psi was not properly monitored.

It looks like riders have had the best success with BT020's or PR2's. My Keep the suggestions coming. BTW, I tend to ride more touring miles over sport miles.
 
carpdm said:
Thanks for the replys thus far. My bike has 8,800 miles and currently I have the BT020's. The front is really worn and cupping; oddly, especially left of center. The back is still fairly good. The bike had 2,000 miles on when I purchase and maybe the psi was not properly monitored.

It looks like riders have had the best success with BT020's or PR2's. My Keep the suggestions coming. BTW, I tend to ride more touring miles over sport miles.
Click to expand...

Tom that wear is pretty standard for the ST and other bikes. I have had the best mileage with the PR2's 16,000 on a front and 14,000 on a rear. The worst rear PR2 was 8,000 miles. Good luck.

170/60/17 rear tire is the size I us as I tried the "B" 180/55/17 PR2 and had trouble with the tire wanting to slip out on the twisty roads. I took that tire off after about 5000 miles and went back to the 170/60/17 and have had no problems.
 
Smoking deal on on Metzlers Z6 at CowBoy Cycle in Sauk Rapids!!!! Call me on this!!!! I just bought 2 rears and Ordered a front!
 
Well it's spring time in Minnesota and apparently time for new tires. My BT021's are down to the wear bars (on the rear) and I'm also looking at the 020'S and perhaps the PR3's. I too ride mostly tour (95%) so I am watching this thread closely. With the impending price increase my tire buying decision is being rushed. My only real question is will the bias tire BT020 wear better for my style of riding or should I go for the radial PR3? I'm at a loss at what to do here.

Gary
 
tlartist said:
Here is some info. http://www.mototirereviews.com/motorcycle/top_picks.htm
Click to expand...

A problem with reviews like this one is the limited info given.

What size and type would help a lot.

For example, different sizes of the same model rear can wear and ride totally different due to construction based on size and type.
PR2's come in a normal type, as well as a heavy type "B".
Just like the BT020 come in the standard "U" or the heavy "F" type.
Or Avon in the standard type, as well as re-inforced type.
Which one is tested, and what size?
Without that, you can not compare tires on a list.
 
We are using Michelin PR2's and getting >15,000 on the rear consistently and 20+ on the front. Talking with Tim from Two Brothers at Moonshine, he thinks the PR3's will have better wet performance but the PR2's should be better on mileage. Lynne did get 16737 out of one rear tire........
 
Currently, I'm running a ME 880 on the back (PR2 on the front) and have been quite pleased. It looks like that tire will outlast the PR2s I've had on before. The chip-seal roads here in AR are very hard on tires. My rear PR2 last anywhere from 6700-9700 miles. The ME 880 has 6500 miles on it and still has plenty of tread left. I don't have the confidence in the rain with the 880 as I did with the PR2 though.

Just ordered a set of PR2s from motorcyclesuperstore.com for $257 delivered. The PR2s are my favorite all around tire for the ST that I've tried thus far.
Mike
 
I get 9,000 to 10,000 out of the OEM Bridgestones. I tried a Continental Road Attack on the front once and got about the same miles out of it, but it squared off more than the 'stones. I also tried a set of Bridgestones 021's, but only got 6,600 out of the front. I went back to the OEM 'stones.

Riding: Solo
Miles per year: 10,000
Weight: 200 lbs.
Tire Pressure: 42 PSI front and rear, checked before each ride.
Tire change determination: When either tire hits the wear indicators. I change them in pairs and they generally are close to each other in the amount of wear. The exception is if I have a puncture.
 
I think the BT020 F codes will be better off if you take a nasty road hazard. They are a pain to mount because of the stiff sidewall but they also work better if you have to plug them because the kevlar doesn't shred the worm/plug. If you put the PR2 on and tried to ride on the back tire with no pressure I don't think you will get very far due to weak sidewall strength without air. I do know that the BT020 F can go very fast with 0 PSI in the back tire for short periods. The tire will come apart if abused like that but it makes me feel better about possible road hazzards. The tires demounting from the rim on a heavy bike doesn't sound like fun to me :22yikes:. There are two minor problems with the BT020F over my last 130,000 miles. If I brake often in a corner while leaned over the front tire will cup. If I accelerate hard coming out of a corner the back tire will. One thing in the favor of the PR2 is they mount easy on the No-Mar
 
Maverick said:
Looking for a little help on tires as well ... I'm in Guelph Ontario Canada and need front and rear tires. Any good deals and or reputable tire dealers that you would recommend?

Thanks ....
Click to expand...

My last 2 sets of tires were installed by Donald at Platinum Powersports in Clinton. It's a bit of a ride for you but you can schedule an appointment and shoot the breeze while watching the work. It's an interesting set-up he has and a group of us were there last spring for a "group buy" on tires. Then I was back in November as I had added 15,000+ km to my bike and needed another set of PR2s.

Going by memory, my OEM tires were good for 15-17,000 km. Then the PR2s were good for about 17,000 km.
 
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