Best Sport Touring Tire for the Rain?

vinehanger

vinehanger

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I need a new rear tire on my GSXR 600, the tire that the bike came with are the Michelin Pilot Power 2CT. The tire was amazing but the rear only lasted about 5k kms (buyer put it on new for me as term of sale). Granted, I was a bit aggressive on the throttle, to put it mildly. I'm looking for sport touring tire that is excellent in the rain, as I really prefer to have traction when the road gets wet. Also a tire that will last a long time, as I use my bike for touring rather than track. I'm thinking of Pilot Road 3 (http://www.petes-superbike.com/english/pilot-road-3.html) but will decide based on the consensus here.

Thanks
 
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I have PR2's on my bike and they do a great job for all types of street riding, I'm pretty sure PR3's are the same dry and better in the rain.
 
I have used many sets of Dunlop's RoadSmarts and absolutely love them. Well you know what I mean. Never had a concern in the rain. I average 25,000 km on a 750. Stick great in the dry for me and have 1mm chicken lines. Dunlop says it is their best wet weather tire of all their tires.

Rated as a better tire than the Bridgestone BT-023.


There is a new and improved RoadSmart 2 available now. I just ordered them today.
 
Ikan said:
I have used many sets of Dunlop's RoadSmarts and absolutely love them. Well you know what I mean. Never had a concern in the rain. I average 25,000 km on a 750. Stick great in the dry for me and have 1mm chicken lines. Dunlop says it is their best wet weather tire of all their tires.

Rated as a better tire than the Bridgestone BT-023.


There is a new and improved RoadSmart 2 available now. I just ordered them today.
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Where did you order them and where will get them mounted if you don't mind me asking?
 
vinehanger said:
Where did you order them and where will get them mounted if you don't mind me asking?
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I am not in Toronto.
Ordered from a local shop. I see Pete's Superbike online has them for a good price as is most of his tires and usually delivered to your door in under 48 hours.

Most shops can order them. I think it is through Motovan that they order them. At least that is the catalogue that mine were ordered through.

Sometimes the cost of mounting/balancing of a tire is reduced if the tire is also purchased from the same shop. Sometimes I do this and sometimes I mount them at home myself.
 
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Road 3 is definitely the best rain tire, Road 2 is better in the dry though. Riders Choice has some pretty killer deals on Michelin, I'd check there first.
 
I've got the 023s on my SV, great tire all around, but I don't feel super confident in the rain with them (that could be just me however). They are fantastic in the dry tho, lots of grip. I was going to get PR3s, but since I try not to ride in the rain i opted for the better dry weather tire.
 
MrBruce said:
Road 3 is definitely the best rain tire, Road 2 is better in the dry though. Riders Choice has some pretty killer deals on Michelin, I'd check there first.
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+1, I picked up a set from RC for $240 a bit before the season started.
 
Wish i had a scanner, have a picture of a BIKE magazine rider at serious lean angle with his knee on the ground when they first tested the PR3's. I'm still nervous as to what would happen to a set of PR3's on a twisty road in 35 degree heat but they seem to be holding up real well in reviews with average temperatures.
 
kamikaze said:
I've got the 023s on my SV, great tire all around, but I don't feel super confident in the rain with them (that could be just me however). They are fantastic in the dry tho, lots of grip. I was going to get PR3s, but since I try not to ride in the rain i opted for the better dry weather tire.
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It's not you...my old PR2's were better in the rain. I'm not a fan of the 023's wet performance.
 
PR3's are also really good in the rain and will provide good mileage. I road a day in the rain a few weeks ago with some one that had some. Mind you they where not trying to drag their knee.

Installed a new RoadSmart 2 on the front yesterday. Still have 50% on rear RoadSmart. Then will get a RoadSmart 2 for rear also.
 
I'm still a bit nervous about the PR3 uneven wear pattern I've heard about. You have to be careful of your tire pressure at all times if you expect long life out of them.
My friend just put a set on his CBF1000 so I'll be sure to see how they wear out.
 
FriendlyFoe said:
Wish i had a scanner, have a picture of a BIKE magazine rider at serious lean angle with his knee on the ground when they first tested the PR3's. I'm still nervous as to what would happen to a set of PR3's on a twisty road in 35 degree heat but they seem to be holding up real well in reviews with average temperatures.
Click to expand...

After approx 13.5k and at most 2mm chicken strips on both sides of the tire i'm about to order a second set of PR3.

Awesome tire, rain or shine
 
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Not a touring tire but how about the Metzeler M5? Supposed to be great in the wet and you get to keep a SS tire
 
I just rode 8 hours in a thunderstorm in pissing rain on Bridgestone 016's without a single slip on my trip to Philadelphia on the SV1S just over a week ago. Pretty sure that's going to be about the best advertisement you're going to hear.
 
I put a set of these Pirelli Angels on my Bandit 600 last July for my trip out to Nova Scotia by way of the northern states. They are a sport touring tire and my shop says they should last 15,000 km if you're not riding super hard all the time. We had several full days of rain, including riding from Amhurst NS to Edmundston NB in very heavy rain at speeds higher than the 110 km/h posted limit and the tires did excellently. I never had any times where traction was an issue. We got lucky and the sun came out when we got to Edmundston and we ended up riding all the way to Cornwall On that day! 1200 km in 14 hrs!

I would buy these tires again for sure.


http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/angel_st.html
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