Tyres recommendations for a sports tourer

[dern]

I’m looking for a pair of tyres for my vfr1200f and am looking for recommendations please. I’m looking for good turn in characteristics as the bike is long and steers relatively slowly. I need the tire to feel good in all weathers. I don’t really need the latest thing as I won’t be teaching the limit of grip by any stretch, I’m just looking for a good feel from the front. Thanks.

[Bustaspoke]

It's all a bit subjective,but I've always got on with Michelin,I like the Road 5's on my Street Triple & have never read anything bad about them.
For more specific feedback I'd have a look at a VFR forum.

[wull]

So many good tyres now, you don’t really get any bad nes like you did years ago.

Pirelli Rosso 3’s or newer

Bridgestone S22’s

[r1flyguy]

Would these be of any interest to you

Unused tyres, were fitted but the bike was never ridden on, They are in as new condition, no cracks and kept in a dry garage fitted to the bike. Please note the DOT dates.

Tyres Dunlop sports smart

Front 120/70/17 DOT 17/12

Rear 190/55/17 DOT 24/12

[Rockburner]

Iirc the 1200 is pretty heavy?

There might be a special fitment, iirc the K1200R had special fitment tyres because of the weight.

[Supermofo]

Metzeler roadtec are rated top usually. I notice there is a new version coming out so the old version might be cheaper. I think the Roadtecs are supposed to have a sporty feel too.

I'm using Road 5 at the moment and like them a lot but then I liked the 3s and 4s. I'm sure there is a specific GT version for heavier bikes. Road 6 is the latest version of Michelin but I went for the 5 as a bit cheaper and still good.

Pirelli have the Angel GTs I think they are.

Bridgestone are on 23s now for sports touring tyres I think.

But tyres are really subjective as said.

[Skub]

Road 5 or 6. Rock solid on the road no matter what you're at.

Last mileage on 6s was over 9k miles front and rear over 5k.

[mangocrazy]

Metzeler roadtec are rated top usually. I notice there is a new version coming out so the old version might be cheaper. I think the Roadtecs are supposed to have a sporty feel too.

But tyres are really subjective as said.

The Metz Roadtec seem to win all the sports-touring tests and they are on the 01 SE at the minute, but as my learned fiend says, that can change quickly. FWIW I had a set of OE Metz M7RR on the Duke 690 and they were brilliant tyres, quick to warm up, confidence inspiring and steered really nicely (but then the Duke is a quick-steering bike).

[dern]

Would these be of any interest to you

Unused tyres, were fitted but the bike was never ridden on, They are in as new condition, no cracks and kept in a dry garage fitted to the bike. Please note the DOT dates.

Tyres Dunlop sports smart

Front 120/70/17 DOT 17/12

Rear 190/55/17 DOT 24/12

Thanks for the offer but that’s what’s on there at the moment and although they’re worn I’m not that keen on them.

[Bigjawa]

Road 6.

Superb.

[dern]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I’ll go for the road 5s. They quite a bit cheaper now the 6s are around. The Michelin site doesn’t say that I need the gt tyres. Thanks

[Bigyin]

Pirelli Angel GT2 ….. excellent wet or dry, warm up quickly, decent mileage too.

I have used a few other tyres on my 2 Multistradas but none get close to the GT2 and have used them for commuting, touring and the track days you were at

[Bigjawa]

Iirc the 1200 is pretty heavy?

There might be a special fitment, iirc the K1200R had special fitment tyres because of the weight.

When I got mine it had a Road 5 GT on it, I went to get it replaced and my tyre guy said it would be fine with just the normal one, the GT is for big things like LTs and RTs that are loaded to the gills.

[Cousin Jack]

I had Road 5s on my 800VFR and loved them. I have them on the CB500 now and they are good on that too, no experience on a really heavy bike (although the 800VFR was no lightweight).

[Flux]

Got road 5's on the k1300 and they're great, very confidence inspiring in the wet.

[Beancounter]

Iirc the 1200 is pretty heavy?

There might be a special fitment, iirc the K1200R had special fitment tyres because of the weight.

When I got mine it had a Road 5 GT on it, I went to get it replaced and my tyre guy said it would be fine with just the normal one, the GT is for big things like LTs and RTs that are loaded to the gills.

Yet my tyre guy reckons the RT just needs a normal one, not a GT.

[mboy]

Iirc the 1200 is pretty heavy?

There might be a special fitment, iirc the K1200R had special fitment tyres because of the weight.

When I got mine it had a Road 5 GT on it, I went to get it replaced and my tyre guy said it would be fine with just the normal one, the GT is for big things like LTs and RTs that are loaded to the gills.

VFR1200 is about the same weight as an RT would you believe!

Personally if being used as intended, I’d go with the GT version of the Michelin’s on such a heavy bike myself as Michelins tend to have a very soft carcass compared to the competition. Even on a lighter bike, running lower pressures can cause more squirm than you’d expect because they don’t have the carcass stifness.

I have got a pair of the Dunlop Roadsmart 4’s about to go on my KTM today, bought in the recent BOGOF promotion (you buy the rear, get the front free) that Dunlop were doing through their dealers… £195 for the pair fitted can’t be sniffed at! It’s like the 1990’s again!

Anyway, reports are that they steer a bit faster than most sports touring tyres though possibly not quite as quickly as the Michelins, which should suit me well. I have Road 5’s on my GSXS and though I like them, their profile is very aggressive for a sports touring tyre, most people will never get the last inch or so of chicken strips on the side of the tyre on the road where they might get to the edge easily on a Bridgestone or Pirelli…

[dern]

Just fitted the road 4s on the vfr and they’re pretty soft, they mount on the wheel very easily.