'Tourist' tyres for the GRiSO 1100

Hello fellow GRiSO riders

I did a bit of research but couldn't really take out an answer for my question:

I would like to buy a new pair of tyres for my newly acquired GRiSO 1100.

Here in the UK the offer is as follows:

the cheapest ones around GBP 120 a pair:

- Pirelli Diablo
- Pirelli Diablo Strada
- Bridgestone BT014

then around GBP 170 a pair:

- Bridgestone S20 EVO
- Dunlop D209 Qualifier 2
- Metzeler Roadtec Z6
- Bridgestone BT023

and finally over GBP 200:

- Michelin Pilot Road 4
- Michelin Pilot Road 3
- Bridgestone S21
- Metzeler Roadtec 01 D

I am a calm rider; I don't need sporty grip; I however would like to have grip in wet; and do some milage before I need a new pair. Can anyone report me about the above mentioned models?

Thankful for any suggestion.

Best wishes
Tom

GRiSO 1100
T3 Cali (on Bridgestone BT45 - which are clearly the best for the Tonti framed Guzzis).

Pirelli Diablo is the worst tire I ever experienced in my lifetime...I'd stay away from that crap.
Michelin seem to be the best on the wet...

In the wet the Michelin Pilot Road 3 is mighty good. But I use Pilot Power3 on both the 1100 and 1200.

I once sold a 1200 sport to a lady, and needed to put new tyres on before selling, I put on Michelin Pilot Road, the first series, they cost almost nothing, she did 20.000km with them and was happy. other tip, the pilot power, first series. good rain tyre, and the rest too.

For what you want, possibly Road 3's are great for mileage and good in the wet. If you ride hard and lots of cornering they are vague at extremes. I took a set off at 12000k's with plenty of tread left to change up to stickier rubber.

Diablos don't last long and are not as good in the wet. They are more sport tyres, the Rosso II's a bit better for milage, supercorsas terrible. The corsa is supposed to be in between. Generally they have great dry grip and are precise and stable in high speed cornering.

At the moment I've got a newish corsa front and rosso II at the back which is being changed for another today after 6000kms. Next front/rear change I will try the bridgestones. I've also used pilot powers. Fine without being exceptional. A good all rounder.

The best handling and cornering were supercorsas at 32/34 but in the wet they slide all over the place and the rear was dead after 4000kms. Ridden very hard.

Michelin MP4 and Metzler Roadtec 01 are both excellent in the Wet

The stock Metzelers on my GRiSO were the worst tires ever. Bridgestone and Michelin are both safe choices. Pirelli Diablos seem to be universally despised, but the Pirelli Angels on my Norge are very good. It seems Pirelli is in cahoots with the Vatican on those two.

Pirelli's have their place. I just followed up my Rosso II rear with a Rosso III fitted today. Not for the OP

I've not used an Angel ST but hear good things about them for better mileage and may be an option.

Metzler? Not like they used to be. Last on my LM1000 but now using Sport demons.

Also not for the op, but my next for the GRiSO will be Brisdgestone S20/evo to compare against the Rosso's.

bottom line is, everyone's taste, riding style, ability is different.
I have Diablo Stradas on my 1100 GRiSO and they work just fine for me. - coming up on 6,500 miles with plenty left on them.
My GRiSO is used mainly for distance runs - two tours round Europe, but no problems when giving it the beans either, and they have behaved well in all weathers.
Don't know if we have a different compound for Europe but I have to disagree with the general opinion - I would certainly fit them again.

Yes i have to say i run Pirelli's on my GRiSO too, i have tried the Angel ST on the rear and a Strada on the Front, got the footrests down on that combination, currently have a pair of Diablo Corsa II (they were on offer) went to Mugello this year on them down the Route Atlantic, fantastic!, changes the rear after 4200 miles as it wouldn't do another 1000 to assen and back. I think in this day and age most tyres are pretty good, i too did not get on with the original Metzelers.

Don't forget there are different flavours of eg Pirelli Pilot Road 4's. I switched from Angel GT's to Pirelli PR4 GTs (GTs are stiffer for extra weight bikes). I can't say I noticed much difference in grip but they have barely worn despite my efforts so feel like a good mix of life and grip. Worth shopping around for prices also !

Im a tourist as well. My bike had almost new PR3s on it and they held up well until the last 500 miles. Those tire just fell off the cliff at the end.

I replaced with the Angel GTs and at least in the first 1k miles they have a much nicer feel on the front. Time will tell though.

paulbrice wrote:

Don't forget there are different flavours of eg Pirelli Pilot Road 4's. I switched from Angel GT's to Pirelli PR4 GTs (GTs are stiffer for extra weight bikes). I can't say I noticed much difference in grip but  they have barely worn despite my efforts so feel like a good mix of life and grip. Worth shopping around for prices also !

OK, I know that I live in a perpetual state of near confusion, and I also know that there are some interesting "relationships" between major tire manufacturers, but I did think that Michelin, not Pirelli, made Pilot Road tires.

Bill

Definitely the Road 4. I did 18000km with a set, front and rear tyre. Super on wet and cold conditions. Good handling when somewhat more sporty riding. Best sport-tour tyre I ever had! Price/km is low.

I had a few sets of Angel ST's and now GT''s on sport tourers and I can't fault them. Certainly more stable in hot weather/ road riding than Pilot Road 3's where I found the PR3's tend to squirm around a bit on hot bitumen.

Maybe I meant Michrelli's - it's all rubber to me :-)

Thanks guys.
Very impressed; did not expect that many statements.
I might go for the Michelin Pilot Power3 as most of you mentioned it positively and thet are now as cheap as the ambiguous Pirelli Diablos.
Again many many thanks.
And you just encouraged me to open another topic
Best
Tom

tjo wrote:

Thanks guys.
Very impressed; did not expect that many statements.
I might go for the Michelin Pilot Power3 as most of you mentioned it positively and thet are now as cheap as the ambiguous Pirelli Diablos.
Again many many thanks.
And you just encouraged me to open another topic
Best
Tom

While one can study such things 'til too old to need 'em   , you may wish to do a bit more before going for anything just yet .. well, unless you are so flush that money is a mere administrative inconvenience.  It isn't for me!  

Anyway, the difference -- at least as I understand it -- between the various MP series (whether Power or Roads or 3's or 4's) has to do with how the different compounds are arrayed within the tire.

Powers are softer all around than Roads.  The best combo I have ever had on a motorcycle -- from a "performance," meaning adhesion, perspective -- was on my Norge, when I had Powers on front and back.  I later went to a Road 2 rear, with a Power front.  Still very (as in VERY) good.  But I could not afford reshoeing with such a soft tire as I got only about 3K out of that rear!  

Again "as I understand it," the R3's have a S/M/S (soft side, medium center, & soft side); the 4's have a M/H/M.

If that is true, I have to say that my own experience with the MPR4 GT's on my Norge and the "plain" MPR4's on my GRiSO has been to not notice any less traction when riding above my limits than with the ostensibly softer-sided 3's.  I liked the 3's lots, tho, and would not hesitate to put 'em on the Norge or GRiSO, tho the apparent wear on the 4's does seem to be less than the 3's in same time.

You may want to find some objective source of info about the actual composition of the various Michelin (or other) offerings before tendering dollars to a vendor eager to sell some overstocked inventory.

Let us know what you do.

Bill

paulbrice wrote:

Maybe I meant Michrelli's - it's all rubber to me :-)

Funny.  

Trust you exercise more care with some other rubber products.

Bill

Thought of trying Durex tyres but was worried that with less grip I might 'come off' on my usual ride