Best Tyres

Discussion in '8th Generation 2014-Present' started by jandd.calder@bigpond.com, Mar 11, 2018.

  1. jandd.calder@bigpond.com

    jandd.calder@bigpond.com New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    South of Sydney
    Map
    Hi, I purchased a 2016 VFR800 last year and for the most part its been great. However I am finding issues with the tyres. Firstly, I have been a couple of times on light gravel and found that from a standing start the the front wheel slides like it is on ice, this is despite the fact I took off very slow. I recently had a similar experience when being asked to park on a grassed area at a bike show. When I slowly took off the front wheel slid on the grass. I stopped and made sure I was straight and took off with slightly more power, then the back wheel slid sideways.

    I have been riding for 30 yrs and never experienced this on any of my bikes so I am thinking its the crappy Dunlop Sportmax D222 tyres that I have. So esentially I am hoping that someone can recommend a better grip tyre for these conditions as I dont always want to be looking for hard surface to park the bike.

    There are plenty of comments around regarding grip on dry and wet surfaces but I have yet to read anything on loose surfaces. Maybe I am expecting too much? Any advice would be much appreciated, Thanks in advance.
     
  2. fink

    fink Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    1,590
    Likes Received:
    457
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Ardnamurchan Penninsula, Scotland
    Map
    Are you still on Std fitment tyres?

    Sounds like typical lack of adhesion on slippery surfaces.
     
    XRedJar likes this.
  3. jandd.calder@bigpond.com

    jandd.calder@bigpond.com New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    South of Sydney
    Map
    Yes, these are the tyres that were on the bike when I purchased it new.
     
  4. Thumbs

    Thumbs Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2015
    Messages:
    1,582
    Likes Received:
    1,096
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Bath(ish)
    Bridgestone Evos
     
    Lint likes this.
  5. fatshoutybloke

    fatshoutybloke New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2008
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Essex, UK
    Map
    Any of the current crop of sports/touring rubber. Bridgestone T31, Michelin Road 5, Metzeler Roadtec01, Pirelli Angel GT, Dunlop Roadsmart 3, etc, etc. Or the more sports sector if that suits your style better, about which I know less but others will be able to help you with.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2018
  6. fink

    fink Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    1,590
    Likes Received:
    457
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Ardnamurchan Penninsula, Scotland
    Map
    Or the ones that go before them. available at a lower price but still as good. Having being a biker of 30 years I'm sure you have your own preference for tyres. Had them on mine too when I got it and if its any consolation it felt as if I couldn't go round corners.
     
    fatshoutybloke likes this.
  7. adprom

    adprom New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2017
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Dunlops that came with it are rubbish. Front last 7000km and rear 4000km

    I am on the Bridgestone EVO Max tyres at the moment which appear to be better. A bit better grip too.
     
    Lint likes this.
  8. jandd.calder@bigpond.com

    jandd.calder@bigpond.com New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    South of Sydney
    Map
    Thanks guys your info is very helpful
     
  9. Vulcanator

    Vulcanator New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Feb 4, 2018
    Messages:
    247
    Likes Received:
    102
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Curious, as my 2014 VFR has Bridgestone T30's as original fitment. I wonder why Honda saw fit to use two different tire brands for OEM fitment? No issues with my Bridgestone's though.
     
    Lint likes this.
  10. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    Yeah, when you look at the owners manual they will list the stock tires and there is usually more than one brand listed. Same for spark plugs, usually NGK or DENSO.

    The 6 Gen manual list Bridgestone, Dunlop and Metzeler I would assume it depends on where the bike's destination is going to be or perhaps what tires Honda may have sitting on the shelf, I'm sure they buy them in bulk! My 09 came with Dunlops and they were garbage, squared off really badly too.
     
  11. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,384
    Likes Received:
    324
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Utah
    Map

    They Suck Ass! I hate Dunlops and they hate me! Just like plastic parts and connectors! ;-) I have a set of Bridgestone T30 evos waiting to go on. If I get another 5,000 miles this year it will be done and others have really liked them but since then newer tires have come out like the new Michilens. Tires are always hard to say about. We all have many oppinions and riding styles. Some mix a set up and some like me keep to a base line on front and back. Good luck.
     
    Lint likes this.
  12. Bubba Utah

    Bubba Utah Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,384
    Likes Received:
    324
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Utah
    Map
    I wish that was the case on my bike and I probably would still have them on the bike with my mileage. I got the shitty Dunlops and am on my second set. Oh well life goes on.
     
  13. fatshoutybloke

    fatshoutybloke New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2008
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Essex, UK
    Map
    The UK manual lists Bridgestone T30 G and Dunlop D222 K but I know the D222s aren't the same as the Sportmax Roadsmart2 version although they look the same, according to the guy at my usual round rubber thing supplier they're a single-compound version not commercially available. I suspect the same of the Bridgestones, they won't be the same as the T30s or the excellent T30 EVOs.


    Manual.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 14, 2018
  14. fink

    fink Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    1,590
    Likes Received:
    457
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Ardnamurchan Penninsula, Scotland
    Map
    That's what I heard about them too. Cheap Oe tyres cos a lot of folk change them even before the bike leaves the showroom floor.
     
  15. fatshoutybloke

    fatshoutybloke New Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2008
    Messages:
    211
    Likes Received:
    35
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Essex, UK
    Map
    By the way, don't let your experience of the 'crappy Dunlops' put you off the brand, I have the Sportmax Roadsmart 3 at the moment and they've brought me through the worst winter we've had in Britain for a number of years without any hairy moments at all. Very nearly as good as the Roadtec01 and T30EVO I had before and cost considerably less.

    2017-09-26_5 Roadsmart3s.JPG
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2018
    PetePower and Lint like this.
  16. jandd.calder@bigpond.com

    jandd.calder@bigpond.com New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    South of Sydney
    Map
    Thanks a lot for all your opinions. Its much better than hearing them from the suppliers. At the moment I am looking at Michelin Road 5's. They are a new version so I have not been able to find out too many opinions on them.
     
  17. James Bond

    James Bond Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    1,313
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Dixie
    Map
    This is not tire related. What you described is normal on a low or no traction surface. Riding for 30 years and being an experienced rider are two different things. The OEM tires are junk but no tire is going to grip better on gravel or grass.
     
  18. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2011
    Messages:
    6,479
    Likes Received:
    949
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    Anaheim, Ca.
    Just used the Road 5 at the track and although I didn't push them as hard as I would with track tires, I did push them harder than I would on public roads. Also got a chance to ride them in the rain and they did very well, no concerns at all, even did a little panic stop on wet surface and it felt good. Not counting the track miles, I had about 300 miles on them before I hit the tarmac. I like the way these feel, probably because they are very similar to the Pilot RS I have on my 5 Gen.

    When on public roads I used the standard 36/42 PSI air pressure, at the track I used 32/28 (which is what I run on the Pilot RS) and with both examples, they feel really good. With the higher air pressures, you will feel the bumps and ripples in the pavement a bit more but with good suspension, it's a non issue IMO. They feel really planted on the street and even on the track but as I mentioned, I really didn't push them at the track. I have no reservations about using these a little more sportingly while out touring or an occasional canyon ride.

    My 6 Gen is my commuter/tourer and I have been using the Michelin 'Road' series tires on it for quite some time as they last a long time and I don't ever really push them beyond their limits. If your looking for an all season tire with good grip and good longevity, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Road 5.
     
  19. jandd.calder@bigpond.com

    jandd.calder@bigpond.com New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2016
    Messages:
    9
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    South of Sydney
    Map
    Thanks OOTV this is a good detailed opinion which convinces me even more these are the tyres for me.

    And thank to James Bond for his input. I am not expecting to have tyres that track well on gravel but these Dunlops are the first tyres I have had that slde sideways on very light dust and to be honest I have never experienced this before on any of my other bikes when I have been on dusty surfaces and even when going slow of grass none of them have ever moved sideways as easy as this one does. Maybe it as you say and not the tyres, maybe its the design of the bike or maybe its me. I just know that this is different from any other bike I have owned. Having said that I love the bike !
     
    Bubba Utah likes this.
  20. Thomas Gessner

    Thomas Gessner New Member

    Country:
    Germany
    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2017
    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    34
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Munich, Germany
    Map
    Agree with the recommendation of the BT S20Evos. Certainly one of the better tires out there, although they do not last much more than 5k kms on my bikes. The Dunlops are a bit of a mixed bag. They are not great, but they do ok when the tarmac is warm (well, that is probably true for most tires today). They do not offer the ultimate in terms of grip, but they also announce their limit very clearly. Riding in the cold recently (7 degrees Celsius here in Bavaria) on a somewhat dusty road surface, they were not able to inspire a lot of confidence, though. As the VFR is my touring bike, I would still at least consider the Dunlops as a viable alternative for long distance riding.
     
Related Topics

Share This Page