Tires suggestions
08-28-2008, 02:56 PM
#1
Junior Member
Squid
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 16
Tires suggestions
I am new Hawk owner and have fixer upper on my hands. One thing I need to purchase immediately are new tires. Any suggestion on what kind and the best place to buy? I have been looking on Ebay and see combo front and rear packages. I would like to keep the price between $250-$300.
08-28-2008, 03:33 PM
#2
Uhhhhh..huh.huh..Member..
Superstock
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 269
Great question. Click here for some more details:
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ighlight=tires
We happen to have gone over that very subject before.
(Many times)
https://www.superhawkforum.com/forum...ighlight=tires
We happen to have gone over that very subject before.
(Many times)
08-28-2008, 03:39 PM
#3
AZ RIDER
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 294
I purchased Michellin Pilot Road 2 , they are a dual compound tires .. soft on the edges and hard in the middle.you cant get any better really.180 series, fattest i could go in the back.. $350 installed..
08-28-2008, 03:42 PM
#4
AZ RIDER
Superstock
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Arizona
Posts: 294
DO NOT GET SECOND HAND RACE TIRES. They are not made for the street and rarely do they heat up to thier working temp..also once they are heated up they have only a small window of life...that why people get them for free.. i bought my bike with second off race tires on it, and it was soooo slimy on the road.. almost dangerous..i had them taken off immediatly, i have read about people saying this is what they are doing and all i know is it isnt the best way to go..if i didnt have a job and had thread or metal showing, i would consider putting one on until i could get a real tire..
08-28-2008, 04:13 PM
#5
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 714
Just spent the last hour looking for tires myself.
Sportec M3's on Ebay for $250 shipped for the set. Excellent tires. On the SH now.
Bridgestone BT-021's on Ebay for $223 shipped. Excellent high mileage tires. Just bought another set for my friend's VFR.
Metzeler Z6's on Denniskirk.com for $275 shipped.
Pirelli Diablo Strada's on Ebay for $274 shipped.
So what type of riding do you do? I took the M3's to the track and they were great. Seem to be getting good mileage from them as well. The other tires I listed are agressive sport touring tires, so they would be good if you slab a lot or like straight lines.
Sportec M3's on Ebay for $250 shipped for the set. Excellent tires. On the SH now.
Bridgestone BT-021's on Ebay for $223 shipped. Excellent high mileage tires. Just bought another set for my friend's VFR.
Metzeler Z6's on Denniskirk.com for $275 shipped.
Pirelli Diablo Strada's on Ebay for $274 shipped.
So what type of riding do you do? I took the M3's to the track and they were great. Seem to be getting good mileage from them as well. The other tires I listed are agressive sport touring tires, so they would be good if you slab a lot or like straight lines.
08-28-2008, 04:19 PM
#6
Senior Member
SuperBike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 1,051
DO NOT GET SECOND HAND RACE TIRES. They are not made for the street and rarely do they heat up to thier working temp..also once they are heated up they have only a small window of life...that why people get them for free.. i bought my bike with second off race tires on it, and it was soooo slimy on the road.. almost dangerous..i had them taken off immediatly, i have read about people saying this is what they are doing and all i know is it isnt the best way to go..if i didnt have a job and had thread or metal showing, i would consider putting one on until i could get a real tire..
as far as heating up this is just a lack of understanding of what & how a tire heats up. i would agree that if your just an average rider putting around .. race takes offs are not for you.
a tire heats up by friction, road surface temp & carcus flex. there is a heat range that you'd like to hit but it's easier to just read tire pressure. from cold to hot you want to see about 4-5 psi change. if you under that reduce the tire pressure... & if you over then increase tire pressure.
too many people want to run take-offs at tire pressures that relate more toward a standard street tire. i run 30 psi up front on pretty much any tire & 26-28 rear depending on manufacturer. ( my dunlop rear was 23 psi at the track
) i will raise them a bit on days that are REALLY hot, like over 90.a track tire will heat up SLOWER than a street tire & at the lower pressure will feel a little flat until it gets up to temp. both street & track tires get very greasy when they are done but i've always felt you need to continue to ball up a track tire to expose new rubber.
the plus to a track tire ( race take-off ) is the grip & the feedback. just like suspension... you only know the best you've riden on.
just some info for the small minority as most people do just fine on street rubber.
tim
08-28-2008, 04:42 PM
#7
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Back Marker
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Santucky, CA
Posts: 186
$350 installed? I hope that was for front AND rear!
I would expect well under $300 at my local shop.
08-28-2008, 04:53 PM
#9
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Eagle, ID.
Posts: 599
I had a set of Michelin Race that I rode on for a couple of thousand miles with Hotbrakes and they worked out really well, plus they had a lot of tread on them to begin with.
I replaced those with the Metzler M3, purchased online from Aloha Sports for $250 shipped, and I have really enjoyed the way the bike handles with them.
Good luck.
I replaced those with the Metzler M3, purchased online from Aloha Sports for $250 shipped, and I have really enjoyed the way the bike handles with them.
Good luck.
08-28-2008, 06:11 PM
#14
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Pa
Posts: 734
use rubber
I have now Dunlop Q's (not by choice as I got a flat in Vt last Nov. & was only tire they had - matched front as well in the spring - only about 2500 on both
But they seem to be ok - good grip. Paid way too much for the rear $260. mounted - but when ur away from home - U'll pay it 
But Cycle Gear had a sale this spring Pirelli Daiblo for $170 set - um no brainer will save for next year.
I have now Dunlop Q's (not by choice as I got a flat in Vt last Nov. & was only tire they had - matched front as well in the spring - only about 2500 on both
But they seem to be ok - good grip. Paid way too much for the rear $260. mounted - but when ur away from home - U'll pay it But Cycle Gear had a sale this spring Pirelli Daiblo for $170 set - um no brainer will save for next year.
Last edited by nnjhawk02; 08-28-2008 at 06:20 PM.
08-28-2008, 06:23 PM
#16
Member
Squid
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 68
Michelin Pilot Power 180/55-120/70
I live in California. RideDirect.com I believe is in Kentucky so I was not charged sales tax or shipping and handling. UPS ground to my door with tracking updates set me back $246. I dropped the entire bike and new tires at the local non-corporate bike shop (Redline Cycles in Riverside California across for Malcolm Smith Motorsports) and they mounted, balanced, disposed of old dunlops, checked the brakes all for $140. Malcolm Smith quoted $189 over the phone and Skip Forcyde Harley Davidson shop guys said " is that a sportbike?" I said yeah and he said oh and I said have a nice afternoon. About 1500 miles on the Pilot Powers and they have yet to stop impressing me. Granted I did replace the oem dunlops due more to age than wear. Now I understand what a stiff tire feels like and really enjoy the feel I get from the Pilot Powers. +1 to Ride Direct they have a great site and user friendly tire guide. Tires you trust are worth their weight in confidence alone.
08-28-2008, 09:25 PM
#18
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 277
New Tires for Superhawk
I am new Hawk owner and have fixer upper on my hands. One thing I need to purchase immediately are new tires. Any suggestion on what kind and the best place to buy? I have been looking on Ebay and see combo front and rear packages. I would like to keep the price between $250-$300.
08-28-2008, 10:12 PM
#19
Senior Member
Back Marker
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 223
Currently on Dunlop Qualifiers. Paid 225.00 for the set! I really like them, I have 4 track days on them and some casual riding and they still have a little left in them. What is nice is that they are wore evenly from one side to the other EHEHE!!!
Dennis
Dennis
08-29-2008, 04:10 AM
#20
Senior Member
SuperSport
SuperSport
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada
Posts: 880
The BT-21 are pretty good all around tires, I took them to the track, they are easy to heat up and once heated they will stick enough to scrape both sides of the bike.
They last 8000 miles.
Pirelli and Michelin have good offerings too, but I haven't tried yet.
They last 8000 miles.
Pirelli and Michelin have good offerings too, but I haven't tried yet.
08-29-2008, 04:49 AM
#21
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Leander TX!!
Posts: 9,049
I like the Concoursica's 3HLP (High low Profile) Tires...It is like a Triple compound, but you add a tab bit of 30W synthetic oil along with air, it keeps the temps low at high speeds, allowing more tread to stay in contact with the street longer without breaking free..
Check them out, they are the bomb!! Very cutting edge..Not cheap either...worth every penny...
Check them out, they are the bomb!! Very cutting edge..Not cheap either...worth every penny...
02-27-2009, 05:53 PM
#24
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 229
Monday morning I ordered a new front and rear set of Michelin Pilot Powers from RideDirect.com. They had them in stock which was more than I can say for some other places. As I live in MA there was no sales tax or shipping/handling charges. UPS delivered to me in 4 days. They had the best price I could find $266.90.
+1 for RideDirect. Good to work with and fast.
+1 for RideDirect. Good to work with and fast.
02-28-2009, 09:10 AM
#26
I could ride in
SuperBike
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Dayton, TN
Posts: 1,729
I love tire threads, lol! Pilot Power 2CT front and Pilot Road2 rear. Good combo. My buddy's pilot power 2CT rear on his BMW K1200RS is already showing wear and mine looks like new, so I'm happy.
02-28-2009, 10:20 AM
#27
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 987
I'll have to give these harder BT-021s or the Michelins a shot.
I do a lot of freeway riding, and I burn these BT-014s up in less than 6 months.
I've had the bike since July and already replaced the front and rear and now I need to change the rear again.
I do a lot of freeway riding, and I burn these BT-014s up in less than 6 months.
I've had the bike since July and already replaced the front and rear and now I need to change the rear again.
02-28-2009, 10:38 AM
#28
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 987
Hmm. Many of the reviews I'm reading say the front BT-021 wears twice as fast as the rear (~3500) and is not dual compound. No complaints about the rear though.
Then everyone says they're going to switch to Michelin PR2s.
Then everyone says they're going to switch to Michelin PR2s.
02-28-2009, 01:55 PM
#29
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Delmar NY
Posts: 805
Perhaps not the hotest rubber, but still a fairly good sport touring tire - the Dunlop D220 is on close out at:
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...=CGC_CG-0702_G
I picked up a set with shipping for $156 couple weeks back.
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...=CGC_CG-0702_G
I picked up a set with shipping for $156 couple weeks back.
02-28-2009, 05:57 PM
#30
Senior Member
SuperSport
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Posts: 714
Monday morning I ordered a new front and rear set of Michelin Pilot Powers from RideDirect.com. They had them in stock which was more than I can say for some other places. As I live in MA there was no sales tax or shipping/handling charges. UPS delivered to me in 4 days. They had the best price I could find $266.90.
+1 for RideDirect. Good to work with and fast.
+1 for RideDirect. Good to work with and fast.
Last edited by Hotbrakes; 02-28-2009 at 06:07 PM.
