Time for new tires - Duc ST2

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Shorts · #1 Unread post by **Shorts** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:57 am

As it says, I'm in the market for a new set of tires for the ST2. On the list so far are Pirelli Diablo Stradas, Diablo Corsa, Michelin Pilot Powers, Bridgestone BT21...

Looking for a Sport Touring tire, good tread life and good traction in rain (this would be make or break). We get random showers and ride wet roads so that would be a plus.

Incidentally, I have the BT45 on my bike and have been pleased with them. It is my understanding the BT21 is the new model of those BT45 tires. Keep that without turning into a terror ride. Regardless, I'd like some help deciding what to try on the big bike.

jstark47 · #2 Unread post by **jstark47** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:30 pm

Heya, Shorts! Long time no hear!

The April issue of Motorcycle Consumer News had a positive write-up on Avon Storm-ST's. I didn't check yet if these are made in the right size for the ST2. Mrs. and I are both coming up on new tire time for our Trophy and V-Strom -- we'll be looking too.

#3 Unread post by **Skier** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:13 am

Pilot Powers are not sport touring tires. The Pilot Roads are and I recommend them. My Hornet was on track to getting 10,000 miles out of a set before a nail ended the rear tire's life.

Great traction when warm, above average when cold and above average in the rain.

You might want to look into the Pilot Road 2s, they have a dual compound design that might work even better than the original Roads.

Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:16 am

Skier wrote: The Pilot Roads are and I recommend them.

Skier tested, storys approved!

Or in other words, I like these too!

I only got 3,000 out of my battleax rear compared to 12,000 on my OEM Trailwing on the strom. You could say that it pissed me right off. I went back to M tires with a Metzeler Tourance to facilitate some light offroading. Otherwise I'd have picked up another pair of michelins.

Shorts · #5 Unread post by **Shorts** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:09 am

Hi jstark, I'll take a look at those. Avons do ring a bell.

Skier, Story, I'll check those out as well too. On the Duc forum some guys weren't real impressed with the mileage, which perturbed me. I read a review of them on a Bandit 1200(?) sometime time ago and they were given a very good thumbs up.

I'll be thorough though.

Thanks guys

#6 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:34 am

I've had good luck with Avons in the past...

Shorts · #7 Unread post by **Shorts** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 7:35 pm

Ok from my JPN online store. Iust keeping track of my search here. Free shipping over 10,000Y order, plus installation at the shop ($?):

Diablo Strada - 41,327Y
F 17,203Y
R 24,124Y

BT021 - 35,889Y
F 14,826Y
R 21,063Y

Pilot Road 2/Pilot Road - 34,755Y/31,605Y
F 14,385Y/12,390Y
R 20,370Y/19,215Y

Avon Storm - 56,651Y
F 22,536Y
R 34,115Y

#8 Unread post by **Big B** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:05 am

avon's for the most part are a decent tire, however, we ran into a big problem with avon tires on the fjr1300's last summer. dealing with avon was a royal pain in the "O Ring".

now, understanding that "poo poo" happens, those (isolated) incidents aren't enough for me to try to dissuade someone from looking into them, just be conscious of the fact that they've had issues with sport touring tires in the past.

i'd highly recommend the pilot roads, as we mounted a ton of those last summer and got nothing but good feedback on them

Shorts · #9 Unread post by **Shorts** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:44 pm

Big B, I appreciate the info. One of the things I've heard from some ST riders on Avons was that towards the end of the tire life, they seemed to square off which made them a little harder to drop in. But prior to that, they thought they rode well. I don't know if that's the common pattern for them or not.