Tyre Guide

Since some of us keep asking what the best tyre for the usage, I'll try to guide you guys on what I know. I'll briefly talk about the top three manufacturer that is Bridgestone, Pirelli and Michelin, just because it's easily available here. So this will leave out Avon, Continental, Metzeller and so on. And I'll only talk about supersports, sports, and sportstouring categories. I know jack about motards, enduro, cruiser and so on...

Okay...

To direct compare them with each other, for supersports & sport tourer, price indicated are roughly the market price for 120/70 and 190/55 a set, you may get cheaper in the street or a little higher from what I said. Don't brag on the if the price here is lower from the street. Just bargain.

1. Track oriented use first, street second.

• Michelin Power Race - RM 1,300.00 (my choice personally)
• Bridgestone Battlax BT-003 - RM 1,500.00
• Bridgestome Battlax BT-002 - RM 1,200.00
• Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa - RM 1,500.00
• Pirelli Dragon Corsa Pro - RM 1,500.00
• Pirelli Dragon Corsa - RM 1,400.00

2. Street Riding first, Ocassional track day

• Bridgestone Battlax BT-016 - RM 1,000.00
• Bridgestone Battlax BT-015 - RM 950.00
• Bridgestone Battlax BT-014 - RM 950.00
• Pirelli Diablo Corsa III - RM 1,400.00 (my choice personally)
• Pirelli Diablo Corsa - RM 1,200.00
• Michelin Pilot Power - RM 1,200.00

3. Street Everyday Riding - Touring style

• Bridgestone Battlax BT-021 - RM 1,000.00
• Bridgestone Battlax BT-020 - RM 1,000.00
• Pirelli Angle ST (unreleased)
• Michelin Pilot Road 2 - RM 1,000.00 (my choice personally)

More to come...

New Pirelli Angle ST Sports Touring Tyre

Pirelli have update their new product lineup for 2009. The Pirelli Diablo Strada which has never been here are to be replace with their new wicked Pirelli Angle ST. The Angle ST has unique different tread pattern that in the shape of an Angel tread and the Devil himself.


Product Manager for Pirelli, Federico Bodini told : “This is a tread pattern that is not only functional but it also has a design that communicates our new concept. We have the shape of angels and demons as the tread pattern as it translates to how the consumer wants to use their motorcycle.”



The new motorcycle tyre - Angel ST will be a single compound tyre, with more of a focus on the same EPT, or Enhanced Patch Technology, thesis that the Diablo Rosso sport tyre was centralized around last year.

Using a complex method of testing the pressure through the tyre, Pirelli has developed the Angel ST to have a much bigger contact patch for improved grip levels.


Don't worry. This not the pattern on the tyre will be.

Here how the tyre tread looks like :

The Angel and the Demon can be seen on the thread and as Pirelli said, it translates to how the consumer wants to use their motorcycle. It best to be said as a The Double Soul, as the people who chooses to buy a Sportstourer, who at the right times, does not want to sacrifice the thrills of the curve and the emotion of acceleration. Angel ST will fits best on a 1400GTR, ST1300, FJR1300 and ZRX1200. Should be best on Hayabusa and ZX14 too. To sum it up, it'll be a close rival to Bridgestone BT-021 and Michelin Pilot Road 2.




The Angel motive clearer seen when the tyre are new.


After 1000km of running in Demon mode, the tread then reflects your riding characteristics.
It's sings, kill the angel and live the demon. Huh. Is this right?

Hopefully MotoMillia as the new Pirelli Moto Tyres distributors will have them in their rack.

Tyre Choice!

OK. Every 3 or 4 months, I'll back on this dilemma again. Which one to choose and which suites me best for riding in few months to come?

This is my final list.

1. Pirelli Diablo Corsa III
I had been 2 sets of this tyre on my ZX10R. It is great and absolutely wonderful. It is a real balance between street and track. I get 5,500km mileage on this tyre until it reaches the marker. It is retail at RM 1,300.00 for 120/70 & 190/55. I search for these tyres a year ago when it is still not brought in. Mok says it would cost me RM 1,700.00. The jump on the price is due to the stock, the Pirelli distributors doesn't keep them. Now they do and you can get them at the retail price. Corsa III is totally a different character than the first Corsa from what I heard. I haven't tried the Corsa, but Corsa III has my recommendation.

2. Michelin Power Race
This is the new addition to the tyre line up here. It would be best for track use. Retail at RM 1,400.00 (I'm talking about the same size for the tyres here) and I am tempted to have this tried. Great feedback from users around the world. I'm not sure how much mileage you can get on this, but I doubt it can last longer then the Corsa IIIs. It's main rival would be the Diablo SuperCorsa. I found this on the net, Who should buy these tyres? - Track day riders and racers all compounds based on personal preference & street riders who ride “near the limit” medium compound.

3. Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa
For track, this would be absolutely amazing! For street use, you have to have a deep pocket cause it'll last only for about 3,000km and retail at RM 1,600.00. I love them so much. I use them before on my previous ZX6R and I swear I wouldn't want to get out from the track with this tyre on. It's useless on wet condition. The rubber is so sticky and soft, you can even see the rubber shaped if you pinched the tyre even when it is cold. This tyre only design for one thing, to make you faster on your bike.

4. Bridgestone Battlax BT016
Favorite tyres among all bikers here. I never used them before, but from what I see, it's a perfect balance for street and track as well. Street price tag at RM 1,100.00, it's a real bargain, so no wonder it's the favorite among superbikers here. I'm sure it has the most mileage among all fours. I got 8,000km with the BT-015 on my previous ZX6-R, so it kinda predictable. You can be extreme using this tyres, not that you can't. So it would pretty hard to leave this tyre from my wish list.

So to sum it up,
1. Pirelli Diablo Corsa III vs Bridgestone Battlax BT-016
2. Pirelli Diablo SuperCorsa vs Michelin Power Race
3. Track oriented use or Street/Track use
4. Twisties and short distance ride or Long Way Up and Long Way Down.

Hmm.... So if I get the Supercorsa or the Power Race. I would only concentrate on track riding for a while. Corsa III and BT-016 would suites more for street riding and some track day. I'm not sure we'll going for a long ride for a while, so the time is kinda perfect to try and test those track tyres. My heart wants the Power Race cause I never tried them before ...and I love experimenting. The Corsa III has been excellent on my ten. Supercorsa is too expensive. If I were to get the Battlax... I think I better get the Corsa IIIs. Hmm...