I've been running the BT-016's for two years now. I've never ran Pilot Powers, so I don't know how they compare. I can say that I've done two track days and 3,000+ miles on my bridgestones and they still have another track day in them. The only thing negative I can give you is they do seem to get a little greasy when the temperature is up and start to slide a bit. The nice thing is they are very predictable when they do let go. They warm up very quickly too.

I'm sure there's better tires out there, I'm switching to Power Pures for my next set. Some people don't like Bridgestones, I personally don't like Michelins but sometimes you just have to try them for yourself.

 

BT016 aren't very good IMO. sure, maybe you get better tire life but you sacrifice too much grip. I love the Michelin Power Pures and the Dunlop Q2s but both of those tires are sticky and don't last me 5,000 miles. sometimes you gotta sacrifice a little tire life to get some serious grip, that's at least my take on it. I'd rather have good tires that stick rather that inadequate tires that I pushed too hard and slip out. Not saying either of the tires you stated are sh!t, but the extra $$ to get a better tire is slight peace of mind and will serve you better in the long run IMO

 

I always heard that the BT016s had pretty soft sticky compound on the sides, but the centers were make of harder, longer lasting rubber. The reviews said they stick awesome....but take that for what it's worth I guess. I ride to work a lot on the highway....40 miles round trip. It doesn't take long to wear the center down of a rear tire. I was hoping I could find something that would last longer, but still stick at least as well as the PP's do.

 

Yeah, loving the Dunlop Q 2's.... But if u ride road with them u wont even make 4000km.s

 

I've run three sets of BT016's on my GSXR1000. When they're fresh they're awesome; however, when they start to wear (the front especially) the handling goes to shit. I checked and double-checked air pressures, suspension settings (Dave Moss was quite helpful here) and yet the front tires always wore before the rear. In addition to that, when the front did go it wore in a really odd shape that changed the bike's handling from neutral to that "high-effort-then-fall-off-the-cliff" feeling, which I hated with a passion. Michelins are more neutral throughout most of the lives, and the steering is also lighter than the Bridgestones.

Bridgestone still has some work to do with their multiple compound designs, IMHO.

 

I've run three sets of BT016's on my GSXR1000. When they're fresh they're awesome; however, when they start to wear (the front especially) the handling goes to shit. I checked and double-checked air pressures, suspension settings (Dave Moss was quite helpful here) and yet the front tires always wore before the rear. In addition to that, when the front did go it wore in a really odd shape that changed the bike's handling from neutral to that "high-effort-then-fall-off-the-cliff" feeling, which I hated with a passion. Michelins are more neutral throughout most of the lives, and the steering is also lighter than the Bridgestones.

Bridgestone still has some work to do with their multiple compound designs, IMHO.

I completely agree. Stick with Michelins.

 

BT016s are what i use but the life of my rear is the same as your p powers

 

BT016s have a long live but do not perform like Pilot Powers. The Power Pure are the best michelin tires for street.

 

Are you talking about the original Pilot Powers that have been out for years and years, or the newer dual compound ones?

 

Pilot Road II's might serve you well for commuting and decent grip for sport riding.

 

The pilot road 3 front tires are supposed to have a softer side compound than the road 2's.

I got one and im happy with it so far.. it looks a bit round and fat compared to most sport tires but it turns in very consistently due to the shape and seems easy to get used to.

I have a road 2 on the back from a few months ago, and now a road 3 on the front.

never have lost traction with the road 2' rear in the dry(unless im braking ridiculously hard and put a bit much rear brake on with the wheel basically in the air)

in the wet once in 2nd gear with a lot of throttle around 60 mph the rear spun up once... which isnt surprising... but they are supposed to be one of the best wet tires out there.

 

Dunlop Q2s are best bang for the buck right now!
http://www.compacc.com/p/Dunlop-Sportmax-Q2-Motorcycle-Tires-Z-Rated-Package-Specials
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/545/8...usa.com/545/8285/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Street-Motorcycle-Tire-Comparison.aspx

 

I have the Michelin Power Pure "2CT". http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/index.cfm?event=powerpure I haven't yet done a trackday (hopefully this year) so all my riding is steet and El Paso just don't have the roads that will make the bike really perform. I put around 50-60 miles a day on my bike going to and from work along with some fun riding. I am working on about 8K miles and I still have rubber left. The rear has begun to flatten out but not much at all. I will replace them in a couple months and by then I will be at 10K. The wear and feel of mine has been great and I will be getting them again. Like I said I haven't done a trackday so I may have a different view after I have done a couple. I run Dunlop and Bridgestone on my 600 and I wouldn't go back, did not like them. I suggest going Michelin IMO.

 

Pirelli Angel ST's............

 

Not my video found on youtube

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in the video it looks like that bluish stripe was causes from "hot tearing"....he was running to low of pressure, getting the tire too hot? He said he was running 28psi in the rear if I remember right.

 

I've always run Michelins. Right now I have the 2CTs and they've been on for 2 track days. They are rediculously good as far a grip goes for a steet tire. I'm switching this year because of the incredible deal Brad has on the BT-016 right now, i just couldn't pass it up.

I've always run 28-29 cold psi on the rear 28-30 cold psi for the front if I'm on the track, the heat will build up and pressure will rise. I learned that from some WERA guys back in the day when I would run their old take-offs.

 

I have bridgestones 016 and I'm not liking them shitz at all. I've ran about 4 sets PP 2cts on my 600, very grippy and responsive. The bridgestones on the Thou is a different story, slow to lean at low speeds but smoother at higher speeds. i like to fall into my turns instead of forcing them

 

I ran a front P-Pure and couldn't get used to the "fall in" feeling of the triangular profile. I switched to a Q2 during a STAR rally in Taos, NM last summer. I immediately liked the round-profile Q2 and my confidence went way up. I had control of my lean angle, felt more grip(just confidence maybe?) and went so much faster I ran right up the tail pipe of my friend as he overcooked a 15 mph corner. I stood it up into a guard-rail! Whoo Hoo! But I never was able to get close to that guy before. Went to BT-016's and they slide unless PSI is perfect and I don't get nearly the feedback. Going back to Q2's. I don't care about rubber mileage, I want skin mileage!!

 

I'm running one of the new dual compound pilot powers on my bike right now, I only had it on for about a month or so last summer but I prolly put 1000 miles on it or so and it seems to be holding up fairly well to my highway riding and it handles very well wet and dry. Imo I think its one of the best tires out there for the money. I only paid like a little over a hundred dollars for it brand new from my Honda dealership but they treat me very good, I'm not sure what they normally go for. But when these tires are beat I think I'm going to get a set of the pirelli angels, they are supposed to be an amazing sport touring dual compound tire. They replaced the dialog corsa I believe, which was always my favorite tire. I know a few people who are running them and I've heard nothing but good stuff about them. Plus they have a really cool tread pattern with an angel figure that fades into demon eyes after 650 miles which I think is pretty cool little feature. Plus they are supposed to be one of the best handling tires in the rain which imo is a really good feature. I think I'm gonna post a little review on how they hold up because I ride pretty hard and lots of highway miles. But everyone has their favorite tires they swear by. Hope u find one u like. Later guys, try to keep the rubber side down.

 

Best Tires

I like to go through as many diffrent brands of tires as i can, from Avon to shinko. It sounds stupid but I feel like the Metzler m3 rear tire was one of my favorite. Second comes to pilot power, not the 2 ct, i feel the 2 ct isnt very smooth from side to side with the hard centers. idk if the people who like the dunlop q2's have ever tryed a diffrent tire, im my opinion the Q2's are a joke. Dunlop makes one GOOD tire and its the sportmax gp-a, super sticky, and soft, although i only got about 2000 miles on it. Another tire i love is the avon vp-2 extreame, its like riding with glue on your tires. The 016's are an amazing tire, i feel like you have to run way to many PSI's to get the tire to drop into turns nice, they do heat up fast and have even compund all around. The PP 1ct's are comparable, i feel like the pp is a taller tire that u can run less air in and it will still stay round and have good side to side response. So if you stuck between the 2, try the Pilot powers, not the 2ct's. if you want to try something new grab a metzler m3, or a avon vp-2 extreame. I'll never run another shinko, dunlop, or continental tire ever again.

I worked in a motorcycle shop for 2 year and rode a million tires, its all about the bike and rider set up.

 

It’s amazing to me seeing all of the different reviews of different tires that people have. You will find dozens of people that just love a certain tire like the Q2 or PP, and then find a whole other set of people that absolutely HATE those tires, and say that the BT-016’s or M3’s are amazing! I’ve even seen some posts where a guy will say that a certain tire is horrible…and then a year later in a different post the same guy says the same tires is great! I wonder how many people actually have experience with all of the tires they are giving reviews on? It seems like lots of people love to jump on the internet band wagon and go with whatever they hear others say, even if they don’t have any experience with the tire they are giving their opinion on.

Well….I guess that’s the internet for ya! Ha!

 

i've never had the Powers... but i have BT-016's now(190/50). A friend has 190/55's and he likes them better b/c they turn a little easier.

I like them a lot. warm up fairly fast and they are sticky on the twisties. I only have about 1500 miles on them but they are holding up very well.

 

aftermarket 55 016 is a great tire for the 08+. for the street esp. had em. very linear turn in with plenty of grip.

 

I have had both also on my Blades and found the BT016 crap as they flaten out if doing any sort of motorway/touring on them although feel was ok.

I am no on Power Pures and love them. they have dual compound to protect the crown from flattening out and have much lower weight than the BT016s so feel and turn in at speed is noticeably better IMO. they also have a unique tread pattern which is meant to improve wet weather riding as well.

 

Tires

There are a lot of people that dont know much about tires and seem to talk like professionals. The taller 55 tire will work on ur 1000rr. Try out a new tire, if you have a little extra cash pick up a Avon vp extreame... Another thing that made me feel diffrent about my tires is having my bike set up to my riding style, makes ur tires feel way diffrent in the turns.

 

Another thing that made me feel diffrent about my tires is having my bike set up to my riding style, makes ur tires feel way diffrent in the turns.

Yeah, that's an often over looked and very important piece of advice. You can spend all the money in the world on tyres, but if your suspension is set up wrong, no tyre will work well.

I killed my OEM tyres in 2000km, then had my sag set up properly and trippled the life of the tyres from the following sets. I then had the suspension fully customised using Racetech components and it became 10x better again.

If anyone is struggling to find a tyre that works, spend a few dollars and have your bike's suspension set up properly, just the basic set upmakes a noticeable difference. Once it's done, you'll be kicking yourself you didn't do it sooner, as not only will the tyres work to their fullest, the bike will be much easier to ride and that can only make you a better rider!!!

 

I know this is not a new thread, but it might still help some.

There is a road bike magazine (franchise, I guess) here in Europe. In my country it's called MotorRevu. They had quite an extensive test of (amond others in the series) street sport tires last year. 7 brands/types all on indentical bikes (guess what, '09 Fireblades, of course ).

The undoubted winner was Pilot Power 2CT. The last one was the BT016 (they never said it was bad, but thats's the result).
The only place the PP2CT came last was on the track. However, it yielded astonishing results in wet conditions. Road use when brand new was a tie between PP and Continental SportAttack, but after 3000kms (apprx. 2k miles) PP took the lead.

Semi-off-topic: I bought my Blade 1 month and 1k kms ago. Have been enjoying it and love it more and more. Always gave me lots of confidence around bends with the Conti Sport Attacks on. But today in the rain and on twisty hilly roads it slipped twice. Quite scary with my girlfriend sitting behind me. The second one was just a minor slip, but the first one was a real near-lowsider situation. I can only think I'm used to the P.Powers I used on my VFR750F for years, and this one -while awsome on dry roads- is much less solid on a wet road.

Anyway, we survived, I washed and chain lubed the bike, which is now peacfully slumbering in my garage awaiting its next mission. :thumbsup:

 

Glad to hear good things about the Conti Sport Attacks. Don't hear much about these tires. I have them on my S1000RR and they work great. Hard to believe any literbike is more nimble than the '08+ Honda, but the S1000RR with the Contis turns in noticeably quicker/easier than my Blade with BT-016's (190/55 rear). The reason? The Conti 190/55 rear is about .5 inch narrower than the BT-016 190/55. It's obvious looking at the two bikes parked next to each other. I'll be going with the Contis next tire change.

Anyone else using Conti Sport Attacks on the '08+ Blade?

 

Mine is actually a late 2004 one, but I enjoy it all the same.:hail:

Any experience with the Contis in wet conditions?

 

I’ve probably put close to 1800-2000 miles on my BT-016’s so far, and the more I ride on them…the more I like them. They are holding up very well, much better than the regular Pilot Powers that I used to run. The edges of the BT016’s are soft, really soft. It doesn’t take much hard riding on a twisty road before the softer rubber near the sidewalls starts to bead up and look like a trackday tire. I do like the fact that when I’m getting on the gas really hard coming out of a corner, when the BT016’s start to slide or spin a little….they are smooth when they do it. The PP’s would slip-grip-slip-grip-slip-grip….and really make the back of the bike hop around. Not very confidence inspiring. As soon as I wear out these BT016’s…I’m going back for another set!

 

Hated 016's on the track, and the Pure's get greasy on the track if it's hot too. Dunlop 208GP's are GREAT as are a lot of other tires. Best tire depends on where and how you ride. I ride the track with guys that are setting INSANE times on Q2's and would be on their asses if they tried the same with 016's in the heat. PP's are OK for casual track days.