Avon road legal wets

[szrdave]

I posted this on VD recently but everyone seems to have left!!

I'm looking for a decent set of winter tyres, as Rennsports aren't the best in this weather.

I've used BT021s and Pilot Road 2s before which are both good tyres for winter use, but I won't be doing massive mileage over winter (2-3K on two different bikes) and would prefer something grippier.

The Avon Pro-Extreme road legal wets look like they could be just the ticket, but I'm a bit worried they might fall apart if I had to do a longer journey or not last until the weather warms up.

So has anyone used these on a sportsbike before? Any opinions?

[RiceBurner]

Sports Touring tyres would seem the logical choice?

I'm using Pirelli Angel STs at present - seem pretty good on anything other than sheet ice. (but then I'm not pushing hard).

[Vince]

Bear in mind that anything that's designed for "track day" or racing is designed to take longer to warm up and needs lots of input to stay warm. I would say "sticky" tyres are actualy worse for cold winter days as they may not come up to their working temp and a stop at the lights will lose it anyway even if you have managed to get them up.
Tyres designed for road use all will be within their working temperature even on ice cold days.
IMO of course.
\v/

[stoo]

The fronts are popular on supermotos but even with a light bike and 40-60hp the rear seems to wear out in no time in the dry. I've not run one of the rears myself but have heard of folk wearing them out in 300 miles or so.

I guess they'd last a little longer in these kind of temperatures, but still

[stoo]

Originally Posted by Vince

Bear in mind that anything that's designed for "track day" or racing is designed to take longer to warm up and needs lots of input to stay warm. I would say "sticky" tyres are actualy worse for cold winter days as they may not come up to their working temp and a stop at the lights will lose it anyway even if you have managed to get them up.
Tyres designed for road use all will be within their working temperature even on ice cold days.
IMO of course.
\v/

This definitely does not apply to the Avon PXRs - they stick like shit to a blanket from cold IME.

[szrdave]

I've used sport touring tyres before, and while they're ok I was hoping for something designed more for cold/wet weather grip than mileage.
I'll be changing tyres again once the weather improved anyway, and a set of Angel STs or similar would'nt even be half worn.

You're right Vince, my current tyres don't get anywhere near the correct operating temperature and feel rubbish in these conditions. But I think the wets are designed to warm up quickly and operate at a lower temperature.

My main concern is them falling to bits at the first sign of a dry stretch of tarmac, as a 'real' wet tyre would.

[Weeksy]

How about Pirelli Scorpions ?

[RiceBurner]

Originally Posted by szrdave

I've used sport touring tyres before, and while they're ok I was hoping for something designed more for cold/wet weather grip than mileage.
I'll be changing tyres again once the weather improved anyway, and a set of Angel STs or similar would'nt even be half worn.

So keep em in the shed for next winter?

[szrdave]

Originally Posted by RiceBurner

So keep em in the shed for next winter?

I did consider that.
One pair of wheels with track tyres, one with road tyres and one with wets!!

Weeksy, have you tried the Scorpions?

[Funners]

I ran them on my Supermoto, the fronts are excellent, but the rears even on a light bike I managed one winter out of them but bear in mind as the temps rise they wear VERY quickly, in warmer temps I managed to destroy one in 300 miles this is on a 100kg, 50 BHP bike...
in the wet and cold however, they piss all over any other tyre I've used, they stick like shit from cold and are an excellent choice for grip in this weather....it's only the longevity I'm unsure of.

as for Sports tourers are better etc....NO...No a thousand times no, this is what the Pro extreme was designed for
they aint a "race tyre" they are an extreme road tyre...

[szrdave]

I'm very tempted to try a pair. The ride back from work today in the ice and slush after the rain washed away all the salt, is the dodgiest I've had for a while. Especially on TD rubber that past its best!

If the rear only lasts 500 miles I can always leave the front on, and fit something else on the back.

I'll have a shop around and see what the prices are like. Anywhere got them on sale?!

[Funners]

Originally Posted by szrdave

I'm very tempted to try a pair. The ride back from work today in the ice and slush after the rain washed away all the salt, is the dodgiest I've had for a while. Especially on TD rubber that past its best!

If the rear only lasts 500 miles I can always leave the front on, and fit something else on the back.

I'll have a shop around and see what the prices are like. Anywhere got them on sale?!

a wild guess given your "name" but are you on an SZR 660 ?
if so, a few folk with MZ Mastiff SM's etc ran the Pro Extremes with good results especially in winter, but again the rears are short lived in warmer temps... fronts last well tho

[szrdave]

Oops, forgot to mention the bike. Schoolboy error!

The SZR is my very twisty trackday/general commuter/use it when its working bike, which is wearing a pair of Avon Viper Sports with plenty of like left.

The bike in question in this thread is a 2001 CBR600F1, which actually seems to be kinder to tyres (on the road) even though it makes more than twice the power.

[Funners]

Originally Posted by szrdave

Oops, forgot to mention the bike. Schoolboy error!

The SZR is my very twisty trackday/general commuter/use it when its working bike, which is wearing a pair of Avon Viper Sports with plenty of like left.

The bike in question in this thread is a 2001 CBR600F1, which actually seems to be kinder to tyres (on the road) even though it makes more than twice the power.

right, just check the speed ratings on them then, I can't recall if they go fast enough for a CBR tho as I recall they do go up to 180 section rears so should be OK.

[szrdave]

They're H rated, up to 130 iirc.

Not too bothered about that, of course they are going to fall apart if you sit on the motorway at 100+