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Tires for VFR 750

14745 Views 27 Replies 22 Participants Last post by jibosch, Apr 22, 2004

aknopak

Discussion Starter · Apr 2, 2003

Hi rpt,

I suggest you have a long look at the BT-020. It works very well in the rain, wears slowly. In fact, my rear tire lasted 23,000 km. At one point they were a bit squared off because of highway usage, but 3 weeks of twist and turns during a holiday later they were nicely rounded again. I believe it is a dual compound tire, with softer rubber on the sides. I have used the tire to the edge, and never felt I needed more grip.

I have seen a tire-test featuring a VFR800i and all the major tire brands (I think it was in MCN), and the BT-020 was the big winner of the test.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

MoeMoe

· #2 · Apr 2, 2003

I for one really liked the 205's and then Dunlop put out the D220's. I have run them on my 600r Yamaha and on my FZ1 and I love them. They wear just as well for me and my riding style. The 205's that I had squared badly after some serious highway miles, which is what I do the most of, and then I got a chance to do the mountain thing with some friends and they rounded back out again. When those tires were done I had 14,000 on them. The 220's are pretty much the same tire but they have more grooves and they are deeper for better wet weather riding. After this lond winded responce I guess I have to say that I would suggest the 220's

Adam

VFRJunkie

· #3 · Apr 2, 2003

For Sport touring I like the Metzler MEZ4's. Good wear, no cupping problems like the Dunlops have. I used these for years and loved them. However, they have a fairly round profile.

Now that I'm running the VFR on the track, I've switched to the BT020/010. Higher wear, but the tire's profile transforms the bikes handling.

jibosch

· #4 · Apr 2, 2003

Used to have the D205's on My Buell M2L Cyclone. They lasted 6000 miles. Considered the D220's, but chose the new Pirelli Diablo instead. I figured that in an Emergency, I wanted all the Grip I could get! In Your case, check-out the Metzeler Sportecs, pretty much like the Diablo, but may wear slightly better, and can be purchased for less money. Metzeler and Pirelli have some sort of 'arrangement', so both tires are somewhat similar. The Diablos have much better grip than the D205's, plus the bike tracks straighter and turns-in easier. Go Figure! MO has tests on both. I would have considered the Michelin Pilots, but have not had good luck with Michelin, in the past, in the rain... And the D208 is a very-soft compound, and I doubt I would reach 3000 miles with them!

Slimer

· #5 · Apr 2, 2003

Run, don't walk, and go buy yerself some Sportecs. I have a '96 GPz 1100, and the difference that those tires made compares favorably with a new motorcycle. I kid you not. Absolutely amazing. I haven't had them long enough, but they come highly recommended via the GPz mailing list. In fact, I've kept (informally) track of the tire recommendations and tire reports, and (names withheld), here are the top entries and comments, where there appears to be consensus on comments:

D220's wear /very/ rapidly, for no appreciable gain over the 205 or 207 (can't recall which it replaces).

D205's are well-received, if they can be found.

D207's slightly less so, but still well received.

Many are not happy with the BT010's or '20's. The 010's wear very rapidly (median is about 4k miles), the 020's ony slightly longer (5k miles).

The Macadam 100X's wear much better than the 010's *8-10K miles), with approximately the same grip.

The Continental ContiForce gets good reviews, esp. for stickiness, but doesn't last as long. As sticky as the '010s, but less expensive and about the same wear.

Despite Metzeler and Pirelli being of the "same" company, the Diablo and the Sportec *are* different tires. Nobody has run them yet, but they are supposed to be the Sportec + better wet and dry grip, *and* better wear. I'm optimistically sceptical.

The Pilot Sport hasn't been tried by many, but the reports have all been positive. Comparable to the Macadams, D207 and D205, Sportec, etc.. Yes, that covers quite a range, but they are sticky and wear well.

Summary:

100% (seriously, 100%) of the respondants felt the D220's wore too quickly.

Macadams and MEZ4's, D207, D205, Pilot Sport, and Sportec M1 all rate about the same (well).

I put on the Sportec M1's and am very happy (first Metzeler tire I'm happy with, that's saying alot). "Next" tire for me will probably be the Diablo or the a Michelin. Maybe a Continental, cuz they're cheap and if their price/performance ratio works out, well, what the hell. I'd rather have more sticky than not enough, right?

Oh. And for touring bikes, the Avon Venom X is fantastic.

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sarnali

· #6 · Apr 2, 2003

I ran the D205's on my '97 VFR, I'm running D220's on my '01 1200 Bandit, the 220's have about 5k miles so far w/ no cupping on the front and a little squareing on the back, however I ride in the wet quite a bit and the 220's stick better than the 205's, also the Michillin Mac 100's are supposed to work well, The mac 90's I originally had on the Bandit stuck good but cupped as bad as the 205's

5706

· #7 · Apr 2, 2003

The VFR list seems to like BT-20 rear, BT-10 front for both good traction and reasonable wear plus they are priced among all the others or cheaper. That said I just got a set of Michelin Pilot Roads for my 96 VFR at a $20/30 premium to dunlops or bridgestones just to try something different plus lots of good reports from europe where they have been available for a while. FJ1300 list seems to like them also.

19616

· #8 · Apr 2, 2003

I have a CBR1000F which currently has the Metzler Z4's. My previous set was Pirelli MTR23's and I agree that the Metzlers have a more rounded profile which affects handling. They feel very secure and seem to wear well but handling is appreciably slowed, which is not a good thing on a big heavy bike like the 1000F.

Not to knock my CBR; it's been a long term love affair.

If I was buying tires today I'd try Michelin's Pilot Road. Pretty soft compound, good for generally cool weather as we have here in Seattle most of the time. Check out Bike magazine's review of the Michelin Pilot series (Road, Supersport, Race compounds) in this month's issue.

john

· #9 · Apr 2, 2003

Man, i cant get sportecs to wear worth a crap. even with the pressures WAY up there for slabbin, that tire is getting eat up fast. my 207's will have outlasted them by 1000 miles i think.

i got about 2x the wear out of the macadam 90x that came stock on the bandit as either of the 2 above.

Slimer

· #10 · Apr 2, 2003

However, the Macadam 90x isn't nearly as sticky as either of those tires is. The 207's and the Sportecs are *sport* tires (not sport/track, but sport, sort of between track and touring. ;-) With another bike, I thought I'd buy less sporty and go stickier if need be. Well, stickier needed be and it wasn't there, and I very nearly lowsided several times (felt it slide....), and I was /not/ happy. That was with BT45's. The stock on the GPz is a BT54, which is rather hockey-puck like. hard round and blank. emphasis on hard.

Consider the Macadam 100X or the Pilot Sport, but with the type of ridng you do, you might not care.

VictoriaVFR

· #11 · Apr 2, 2003

I just put a set of BT020s on my 93 VFR 750. I know there are riders that put a 010 on the front but Bridgestone recommends running the same tire front and back.

I previously ran D207s. I would have to say I like the BT 020s much better. If I had to summarize the differences it would be that it takes much less steering input to navigate a turn then with the 207s. The bike just feels more "flickable" and is more enjoyable to ride.

The 020s are made from a harder compound and should last longer to boot. Good luck.

417

· #12 · Apr 2, 2003

My experience with my VFR750 on New Zealand roads with coarse chip seal are the original Dunlops (can't remember what code they were) did 12,500kms - front and back wore at the same rate so I replaced both. The Dunlops always felt a bit squirmy. Next set I got were Metzeler MEZ2 and they transformed the bike and it was like running on rails it corned so well and they lasted 13,000kms. Next set the MEZ2 was obsolete, replaced by the MEZ4 so I bought those. Immediate impressions were a harder tire with less grip and made the bike chatter a bit on turns with corrugations on the road. I thought what the hell, they will last. Bad news, they only did 8,000kms so they are crap - no grip, no life. I stirred up the importer and got told they had a harder carcass and softer rubber. So all up a bad tire for the VFR. I then switched to Michelin Macadam 100X but have only done about 5,000 on those so far so don't know how long they will last. The feel more squirmy to ride on (like the Dunlops were) but seem to have good grip and I hope they last. To compensate for the softer feel I have screwed the rear damping up 1/4 turn and that has made the bike feel very good again. Basically the VFR does seem to wear front and back at about the same rate though it tends to be the middle first at the back and the sides at the front as you would expect so I always replace the tires in pairs and I have stuck with matched pairs.

Just don't bother with MEZ4 is all I can say.

Friends swear by BT020 but I have no experience on those.

Cheers

Merv.

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Cherii

· #13 · Apr 2, 2003

Get on the VFR List!

If you want to know anything and everythng about VFRs, get on the VFR list at www.cs.wisc.edu/~john/vfr-list/ .

TLS_MAN

· #14 · Apr 2, 2003

I have about 2k miles on Michelin Pilot Road tires and love them. I will probably get at least 5k miles on them. They stick as good as the Sportec M1's, which lasted less than 2k miles on my TL1000S. A friend put them on his ZX12 after two sets of Pilot Sports and loves them. I ride in the North Georgia Mountain roads every weekend and have leaned over far enough to wear the Michelin man off the edges of the tires. For mileage comparison, I have 48k miles on the TL and have tried all the different brands, and have only gotten over 6k miles out of the Michelin 90 and 100x tires, all the others last less than 2.5k miles on the TL. Hope that helps.

38092

· #15 · Apr 2, 2003

Michelins...

You can't get Macadams anymore. They have been replaced by Piolt Roads. I have one on a rear wheel but haven't mounted it yet.

The wear has been good on the Macadams and I'm even going to do a second track day on them.

2536

· #16 · Apr 2, 2003

Thanks ppl for all the feedback.

You've been very helpful.

As I just need to change the rear tire I'm going to get a D205 again. If not possible (don't know if in Portugal they're still available) I'll get the D220.

Remember:

rubber in the down side (at least one wheel...)

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15311

· #17 · Apr 2, 2003

I can happily recommend the 010/020 combination. My '98 800 came with 020 front and back. I wasnt too confident in the handling, so swapped the front 010 from my VTR to see if it helped.

The difference was ENORMOUS - transformed is a good description. Confidence is way up.

Also, a Brit magazine did a test of wet weather tyres and the 010's were an outright winner.

The reason for the 020 rear is to get increased wear, and I've not had a problem with grip in any riding situation, including hard exits on my VTR1000.

Part of my like for the 010 is psychological - knowing it's a grippier tyre in all conditions and use, but there certainly is a dynamic difference INCLUDING when just putting around town - more neutrality, linearity, lightness etc etc.

I'm also very happy with the wear at the moment.

DONT believe you have to have 020 front if that is what you have on the rear!

Contact Bridgestone yourself if you have to, they told me the combo IS approved by them (Australia).

The profile and tread pattern are different but they still compliment each other .

Here's some sites with tyre threads and other VFR stuff:

www.vfrworld.com

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/

http://www.vfrriders.com/

http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/

I havent ever had a brand bias - but my own experience with the Bridgestones means I will not look anywhere else for my next tyres - they'll be 010/020 Fr/Rr (NB this combo suits the VTR beautifully).

"when you find a good thing, stick to it"

Cheers

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15311

· #18 · Apr 2, 2003

I can happily recommend the 010/020 combination. My '98 800 came with 020 front and back. I wasnt too confident in the handling, so swapped the front 010 from my VTR to see if it helped.

The difference was ENORMOUS - transformed is a good description. Confidence is way up.

Also, a Brit magazine did a test of wet weather tyres and the 010's were an outright winner.

The reason for the 020 rear is to get increased wear, and I've not had a problem with grip in any riding situation, including hard exits on my VTR1000.

Part of my like for the 010 is psychological - knowing it's a grippier tyre in all conditions and use, but there certainly is a dynamic difference INCLUDING when just putting around town - more neutrality, linearity, lightness etc etc.

I'm also very happy with the wear at the moment.

DONT believe you have to have 020 front if that is what you have on the rear!

Contact Bridgestone yourself if you have to, they told me the combo IS approved by them (Australia).

The profile and tread pattern are different but they still compliment each other .

Here's some sites with tyre threads and other VFR stuff:

www.vfrworld.com

http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/

http://www.vfrriders.com/

http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/

I havent ever had a brand bias - but my own experience with the Bridgestones means I will not look anywhere else for my next tyres - they'll be 010/020 Fr/Rr (NB this combo suits the VTR beautifully, too).

"when you find a good thing, stick to it"

Cheers

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19616

· #19 · Apr 2, 2003

How about for a CBR1000F?

Has anyone put the 010/020 front/rear combination on a CBR1000F or a Blackbird?

I was thinking Pilot Roads next but you MOfos are making a good case for the Bstones.

john

· #20 · Apr 2, 2003

yes, i would like to try either the new avon 45/46 or else try the SuperMaxx.......i have heard good things about them from different people, ranging from trackday guys to motorcycle couriers.

What i do not like about the 207's or the bridgestones is that since the tread doesnt go across the middle, the local m/c shops wouldnt renew the registration even thought tires had 1000 miles and tons of tread.

They wanted to measure tread at the center, i said you idiots, that tire never has tread in teh middle. sheesh. Both the local suzuki and honda houses said this. bastards.

1 - 20 of 28 Posts

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