Bad Ride home

[ditchdoc1017]

I was trying to get home before tha rain from the hurricane hit. The roads where already wet.I have rode in the rain alot but have wind gust suxs I got blown all over the road.If I got over 55mph man it was like riding on ice.Well glad to be home.What the best al weather tire for rain and still has good bite on twistie's ?

[Admiral Crunch]

Had it just started raining?  That's the slipperiest time -- when all the road crud and oil mixes with the water and turns into a slick film.  Can any tires cope with that?

[ukchickenlover]

I think most people recommend bridgestone bt45 for tyres. If it is windy it is best to slow down and also use a lower gear to keep the revs up for power so you can drive back to your riding line if you get blown sideways.

[Ed89]

Do a search and look for GSjack's opinions/reviews.  IIRC, the best tires he ever had were the Avon AV45/46 radials; one of the few radials that have sizes for the GS.  They are also kinda expensive.

HTH.

Cheers,
e.

[davipu]

pilot sport front, bt45 rear. in stock sizes.

[Gisser]

Most of the name-brand tires are billed as having high silica content tread compound which they claim aids wet weather grip.  If a busy tread is any indication of good water dispersal then it would be hard to beat Metzeler Lasertech...




I got'em.  So far nary a slip.  

[ditchdoc1017]

I have pilot sport front and rear.

[davipu]

ok, I just went and looked at my front tire because i was like wtf? it's the pilot sport road one.

[ashman]

What part of Alabama are you from? I know the feeling w/ the rain
I havnt even gone on 2 wheels the last day or two.

-ash

[buzz]

Same here I got a little wet with the factory bricks. Mine is in the shop, nice and dry now.

Careful we are having nasty time west of Jasper.

[ditchdoc1017]

Hey Buzz what part of Jasper do you live? I am just off North Airport road.

[buzz]

Actually I am in Kansas, just west of Carbon Hill.

[ditchdoc1017]

Thats why you seen me the other day.I ussally ride fish hatchery road on my way to work in fayette I be coming thru in the morning if the rain clears up.

[buzz]

I'll be heading East, on the bike, if the weather is good.

I am surprised you don't take 124 to get to Fayette. Much funner road.

[ditchdoc1017]

But 102 sucks with all the patch work hey did I pass you this morning on your bike, it was raining when i left jasper I drove the car.

[Stephen072774]

yeah I'm sure the roads were bad slippery, yesterday was the first time I've had rain at my house since katrina.  I loved the avon 45/46 when I was running them, but I didn't ride enough in the rain on them to comment.

[buzz]

Yep That was probably me. I rode today. It was a little slick so I putt..putted all the way to work.

Was it this bike?

[buzz]

Stephen072774 What is wrong with your bike by the way?

[gsJack]

Most of the name-brand tires are billed as having high silica content tread compound which they claim aids wet weather grip.  If a busy tread is any indication of good water dispersal then it would be hard to beat Metzeler Lasertech...




I got'em.  So far nary a slip.  

I've always liked the Metz ME33 Laser front tire and had one on my 97 GS that was the most even wearing tire I've had on the GSs so far.  Metzeler recommends use of their ME33 front bias ply tire on some Triumph models with their MEZ2 radial rear in the 130/80/17 size which I had on with a Z4 front as my first radials on the GSs.  

I've been toying with the idea of using a Lasertec front with a Z2 rear next year and just ran across their updated street tire guide comparing the new Lasertecs with their other sport touring tires.

http://www.metzelermoto.com/media/06_2_me_flyer_street_e_2005.pdf;jsessionid=5AIDEULHTFS3PFYKJOPCFFA

Of particular interest is their ranking the Lasertecs tops along with their Z6 radials and a couple notches better than the Z4 and Z2 radials in Wet Performance between their Sport Touring tires.  They rate the Lasertec a notch or two above all the radials in Mileage(tire life).  They rank the Lasertecs just a notch behind their best Z6 radials and a notch or two above their Z4 and Z2 radials in Handling,  Very, very impressive for a bias ply tire against radial tires.  

Right now I'm inclined towards trying a set of Lasertecs in OEM sizes next year, if Avon doesn't come out with AV45/46 tires in our OEM sizes before then(not likely).   :lol:

All this is based upon wearing out those AM51/52 tires I tried this year, looks like it'll take half of next season to wear them out.  Got about 8500 miles on them now and they still look only half worn.  Quite good for a bargain price tire.     Good dry handling and tire life and fair wet handling.  Good as BT45s in the wet I think, but not up to radial performance on a slippery surface.

[Mr.7]

I was looking to buy the Metzelers for my bike too. I heard they were good