best front tire?

What's the best tire to replace my stock Metzler on my '12 ??? Twisty roads around here.

CC, For what it's worth, I replace my front when I replace my rear - good performance match at both ends - bigger smiles. Pilot Road 4's are what I currently have and would use again.

A round one. Black. Big hole in the middle. Preferably made of rubber...........
has worked for me thus far.

ghezzi wrote:

A round one. Black. Big hole in the middle. Preferably made of rubber...........
has worked for me thus far.

I already have one asshole. Oh that was mean spirited. I haven't started drinking yet.

I've been pretty happy with the Metzler's performance. Any reason you don't want to go with them again?

KevinEmpire wrote:

I've been pretty happy with the Metzler's performance. Any reason you don't want to go with them again?

I've got a little ove 7k miles on them and the front is worn enough to warrant change. On close inspection I'm seeing a bit of cracking, though not severe. Besides others may have found better overall satisfaction with other brands having switched from Metzler.

I've just put Road Pilot 4's on mine to replace the Metzlers and has totally transformed the handling (for the better)

Canyon Carver wrote:

I already have one asshole...

I'm glad to hear that CC, having two would be a real pain in the ass!
I think maybe what you meant to say was, "I already have one, asshole."

Street wrote:

Canyon Carver wrote:

I already have one asshole...

I'm glad to hear that CC, having two would be a real pain in the ass!
I think maybe what you meant to say was, "I already have one, asshole."

One of us is bonkers and it aint me.

It's time for me to replace the stock Z8s also and am currently considering the PR4. The Z8 front now has approx. 16500kms on it and has done well for me. Would like something a bit better for rain though.

Have heard some good reports on Avon tires but don't know anyone running them.

uuurggh... I thought the original metzlers were probably the worst tyres Ive ever used... and thats in 30 plus years of riding!
The first week of Guzzi ownership left me with the impression of "nice bike, pity it doesn't go around corners".
Got rid of the liquorice hoops, and all of a sudden...
Currently have 10,000k on a set of Pirelli Angels, ST up front and GT rear, and very very happy.
Due for a new set, and tossing up these again, or maybe Pilot 4s..... think I'm being swayed to the Pilots...
- but as Oz says, do 'em both.

I am another who replaces tires as a set, cant see the advantage of one before the other, heat cycles are what wears them out in the first place..just because they have some tread left doesn't mean they are still good.
Front tires.. usually.. are pooched at the same time as rears , they just look better ..
check em closely for cupping and there's a good chance you will see some, especially if you brake late in the corners and drop her in..

my 2 cents

My GRiSO has the original Metzlers on it at 5K+ miles. I am planning on putting on a pair of PR4s when I drop the bike off for the 6K service. I had put a set of them on my V11 Lemans this spring. I was very happy with them, in both dry and wet conditions. Frankly, the tires currently on my GRiSO suck. I am looking forward to a whole new experience after the change.

I'm running Dunlop Sportsmax qualifiers. They leave the Metzler M whatevers for dead with regards to handling. Despite being a soft tyre, they still like a warm up. Don't think they'll last as long but it's all about fun with me.

bahamazoo wrote;Currently have 10,000k on a set of Pirelli Angels, ST up front and GT rear, and very very happy





Can you tell me why you prefer this set-up , bahamazoo, ST up front and GT in back?

Looking at new tires with my next tune-up, so I'm keen to see what people are running and why.

I'm a Dunlop guy as well but any Pilot tires will do I rekon...
Never was impressed with the Metzeler on the GRiSO and the same with the Pirellis.
For those of you that don't push it and ride conservative, any tire just about, is good enough...

I was planning to try the michelins pilot st as my metzeler really love to cup, I love twisties, anybody have an opinion on the st? I know the pilots will be better but still do a lot of touring so looking for a compromise here...

Kinkajou wrote:

I was planning to try the michelins pilot st as my metzeler really love to cup, I love twisties, anybody have an opinion on the st?  I know the pilots will be better but still do a lot of touring so looking for a compromise here...

I have pilot 3 on at the moment, a good tyre sure, but I didn't notice a big improvement over the pilot 2. I am going to give the Pirelli Angel GT a try next. My Son has the Angel ST on his CBR and is pretty happy with them!

GT are getting good reviews (so are ST) but no personal experience yet.

Grisonut wrote:

I'm a Dunlop guy as well but any Pilot tires will do I rekon...
Never was impressed with the Metzeler on the GRiSO and the same with the Pirellis.
For those of you that don't push it and ride conservative, any tire just about, is good enough...

Favorite ever set of tyres were the 207RR's that came on my Tuono, a bit anti social as they would pluck stones out of the tar and throw them at those following me...Warmed up nicely and sticky as a sticky thing, turned blue after a track day heat cycle..

I have Pilot Powers on the GRiSO, way better turn in than the Metzeler, now wear issues yet, about 3k on them.

cya
Scot.

Dunlop Roadsmart 2 ...for me ..on my second set now they stick well give good duration ...but i am thinking of PR4 as a replacements ...any one out there tried the Roadsmart 2 as compared to the PR4..

Scot p wrote:

Grisonut wrote:

I'm a Dunlop guy as well but any Pilot tires will do I rekon...
Never was impressed with the Metzeler on the GRiSO and the same with the Pirellis.
For those of you that don't push it and ride conservative, any tire just about, is good enough...

Favorite ever set of tyres were the 207RR's that came on my Tuono, a bit anti social as they would pluck stones out of the tar and throw them at those following me...Warmed up nicely and sticky as a sticky thing, turned blue after a track day heat cycle..

I have Pilot Powers on the GRiSO, way better turn in than the Metzeler, now wear issues yet, about 3k on them.

cya
Scot.

I mentioned it already on this board before...best tire I ever had on the GRiSO was the Dunlop Roadsmart before it was discontinued for the RSmart II. I got 8000 miles out of that tire including two track days and it was on my 09.
I put the Roadsmart II after that and it was not as sticky and it was gone in 5000 miles. Disapointment...
I do like the qualifier but I kill that one in 4000 miles. lol

Daves-I-Know ,
it was likely a "oooh, the ST is stickier up front, the GT will last longer down the back" type of decision...
It may also have been as I was 'forced' to get the tyres at 2 different places and 500km apart, and may have been stock on the shelf related. I can't recall (many things my wife says...).
Regardless, am very happy with them. I just checked the mileage (kilometerage) and the GT actually has 13,400 on it, and still has plenty of meat in the centre -edges are a bit scuffed tho...
There is a change in the profile, you can see that it has flattened off across the middle a bit. If I was going to canvas, then I'm guessing another 3 or 4 thou left there.
Previously ran a pair of Conti Road Attack II's, pretty happy with grip and life...got 10, 000 out of them too... mmm guess I don't enough burnouts anymore!!
The only reason that I am thinking of going to the PR4s is public opinion, I cannot fault the Angels.
Would I go ST and GT combo again....? Probably.

I'm confused !!!
Lots of differing views including journalistic ramblings
Looks like this tyre issue is an individual 'suck it and see' situation
As someone else just wrote there are too many variables for definitive answers
For my situation I think I will just buy an economical example, Bridgestone, Shinko ect
I struggle to see, for my style, why I should pay an extra hundred bucks for a more well known brand
I can fully understand for those who push the limits the need to not be concerned primarily with the price.
Ciao

wardentm wrote:

I'm confused !!!
Lots of differing views including journalistic ramblings
Looks like this tyre issue is an individual 'suck it and see' situation
As someone else just wrote there are too many variables for definitive answers
For my situation I think I will just buy an economical example, Bridgestone, Shinko ect
I struggle to see, for my style, why I should pay an extra hundred bucks for a more well known brand
I can fully understand for those who push the limits the need to not be concerned primarily with the price.
Ciao
 

as far as tires go...one mans opinion is just that ,they are all good depends on who you talk too , i have had great performance from one brand and it will be put down by someone else ..
Tire threads are best read between the lines so to speak IMO ...

my 2 cents
Keener

wardentm wrote:

I'm confused !!!
I can fully understand for those who push the limits the need to not be concerned primarily with the price.
Ciao
 

A worn(not extreme just starting to square off a bit) Metzler contributed to my crash, was getting some tram-lining in the month before and under Heavy front breaking it followed a road contour and it pitched me over, strange crash bike went lowside but I went high...

cya
Scot.