Tyre age and sport tourer tyres

[dern]

I don't like the tyres on my vfr1200 much, they're Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart 2s and they don't give much confidence and tramline a lot on bad roads and joins. I don't know if it's the tyres or the bike as the bike is new to me but I'm thinking of changing them to give me something to compare. They're also eight years old with the manufacturing date of 2015 and not many miles on them. Is that old for tyres? I've never had anything that had tyres that old before so could it be a factor? Thanks.

[weeksy]

Older than I'd like. But if you don't like em, get rid

[wull]

If you’re not happy with them then swap them out regardless of age and mileage.

[Bigjawa]

Get Road 6's on it, they're in a different league to anything I've tried.

[Cousin Jack]

Tyres are funny things. I had a pair of Bridgestones that went 'off' after about 4-5 years, despite plenty of tread left. Change them, nothing ruins your ride like a pair of tyres you dont trust.

[Taipan]

Might help with your choosing?

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/advice/b ... ing-tyres/

[westers151]

As Wull says, swap them out. Metzeler Sportec 01 are what I like - good enough to almost get rid of the chicken strips on the front. wet weather performance is great. Other's swear by the Michellin's - TBH, there's no such thing as a bad tyre from the premium range of the major brands.

[asmethurst99]

I swapped out ancient tyres for s21’s on my CBR night and day difference -

[Couchy]

Roadsmarts one of my goto road tyres lol. Along with pilot roads. Tbh I don’t worry too much what’s on my road bikes so long as they feel ok as grip is rarely an issue. Change them for a more rounded tyre like a Bridgestone, maybe a T30/32 or whatever their latest touring tyre is

[MyLittleStudPony]

I think they'll be fine. I have ten years in my mind as a sensible cut off,no idea where that came from. But if you don't like them and can afford to change them, why not. The old ones might go for a few quid on ebay.

[Bigyin]

Pirelli Angel GT2 are my normal go to sport touring tyre but the price hike since I last fitted a pair is “interesting”

I have been looking for something else and now the PR 6 is out as the latest “best thing” the price for last years “best thing” PR5 has dropped so might grab a pair of them to get on the bike prior to Pembrey

No use in getting something like S22 or R11’s as i wouldn’t get the mileage I need and I am sure the sport touring give me more than enough grip for my level

[mangocrazy]

TBH, there's no such thing as a bad tyre from the premium range of the major brands.

^^^ This.

Pick your favourite tyre manufacturer and go with their offering in the market segment you want.

I was dead impressed with the Metzeler M7RRs that came as standard on my Duke 690. When the Falco's tyres need to be changed, I'll probably go with a set of M9RRs (or whatever the latest iteration is).

But in the last 10 years I've used tyres from Avon, Continental, Dunlop, Metzeler and Michelin. They've all been much better than me.

[Demannu]

Dunlop themselves say 10 years is max age for a tyre.
Dunlops are also quite a stiff sidewall tyre, which transmits a lot of information back to the rider, whether you want it or not!
Perhaps a pirelli/metzeler might suit you better.
Those big viffers are a big lump to chuck about though!

[dern]

Dunlop themselves say 10 years is max age for a tyre.
Dunlops are also quite a stiff sidewall tyre, which transmits a lot of information back to the rider, whether you want it or not!
Perhaps a pirelli/metzeler might suit you better.
Those big viffers are a big lump to chuck about though!

It could be the way it transmits information, they do feel pretty hard. I think that I'll service the forks first, it's way cheaper and getting those back to a known point is probably better than chucking £320 at tyres when I don't know what state the forks are in. It's mainly the wandering of the front over bad roads I'd like to improve.

I hit some of that really small gravel that can sit in corners in the middle of the lane and the front slid across it and then gripped. While scary, they didn't chuck me off so they can't be that bad.

The traction control is pretty rudimentary also. I hit some crappy pavement turning out of a t-junction and all the power went away for about 2 seconds accompanied with the flashing on the dash and then it all cut back in again. I've never noticed the traction control working on the KTM despite the light flashing at me on occasions.

[Dickyboy]

When I replaced the original tyres (@ 2.7k miles but 15yrs old) on my GS the difference in comfort levels was immediately felt. It was almost like I'd been riding on solid rubber when the old tyres were still on there.

[The Spin Doctor]

I didn't like the original Roadsmarts on my XJ6 either - they were vague-steering, wore badly and eventually turned the bike quite unstable. Still, they were better than the Bridgestones that were the alternative OE fitment.

I went back to the Contis I've been using for years.

[Supermofo]

I've had 2 sets of Dunlops.

1. the OE D207 that came on my Fazer. I thought they were alright, but were a patch on the Bridgestones I had after.

2. The OE tyres on my GSXS. They were pretty horrible and panned by everyone. Wore fast, tracked the road, felt hard/harsh and had no real feel or feedback.

I've got Road 5 at the moment and like em but then I liked the Road 3s and 4s on other bikes. Only went for 5 as bit cheaper than the 6s and better than I am.

Metzeler 01SE have won pretty much every sports touring tyre test in about the last 5 years though. I'd have got them but they were even more expensive than the Road 6

[porter_jamie]

id say thet are old. this is good because you have the joy of rolling on some lovely brand new tyres soon which will feel night and day better as people have said above. im pretty sure most new sport touring tyres from a major brand in recommended fitment will be great.

[rodbargee]

like my pilot road 5's on the ZZR14 performance

[v8-powered]

As soon as you have it in your mind that tyres are old, they need replacing - confidence will be gone and always a nag in the back of your mind.