S2r 1000 tyre recommendations please?

alastairS2R · 29-08-2024, 06:27 PM

I've had a set to Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart 2 on for a while [8000+ miles].
All good for me. I'm looking for distance more than performance. "Performance" tyre would be a waste given my mostly ponderous riding.
All or any advice and guidance gratefully received. Cheers

yellowfever · 29-08-2024, 11:14 PM

I’ve used Michelin pilot roads for many years. I’ve generally found them decent and they seem to last well tho’ a rear puncture has made it hard to be certain. Your own 8k with Dunlop’s sounds a decent lifespan tbh (for reference I got 10.5k from pilot road 2 front and 6k from rear when rear puncture intervened and I swapped both. Rear still had plenty of tread at that point but they do tend to wear faster than front I think, so doubt I would have got to 10k with them).

I put the latest pilot Road 6’s on last Autumn and initially found them a bit twitchy tbh but that was probably adjusting from squared off old tyres as I do a lot of motorway miles travelling to see gf! I like them now I’m used to them. They are reassuring in the wet and the dual compound is meant to make them last well, we shall see.

However, I’ve not used other brands for many years so who knows if there are better out there as I have no recent experience with other brands to compare with. I’ve used Dunlop's ages ago and was happy with them too!

Probably any sport touring tyre offering from a name manufacturer like Continental, Dunlop, Metzler etc, would be similarly good (or better) so long as you choose the versions designed for bikes with the the S2R’s weight (ie avoid the GT versions meant for heavier full on touring bikes).

I stuck with Michelins partly for familiarity, partly as I got a decent deal and partly as I live in Belgium so Michelin is an easy brand to find anywhere around here (eg if I get a puncture and need a matching tyre in a hurry).

So I’d suggest pick a standard sports touring option from a name brand that’s readily available in your area with a decent price. Going for the version a generation or two back can save money and you’re not likely to notice much difference tbh (my gf recently put pilot road 4’s on her bike as she got offered a super deal and she’s happy with them),

alastairS2R · 30-08-2024, 12:06 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. I'll have a look at the Michelin pilot roads.

What tyres did the S2r come with originally?

yellowfever · 30-08-2024, 09:06 AM

Had mine from new but honestly don’t remember now what tyres it came with originally at this remove … maybe Pirelli’s? I think Ducati have used Pirelli as OE for various models over the years…

But after all these years I doubt the OE designation really means much given how much tyres have developed in the interim - the latest version of whatever the OE tyre was nearly 20 years ago is going to be quite different to the original OE version given how tyre technology has developed.

So I’d just go with what’s readily available at a good price from a name brand. If you’ve been happy with Dunlops why not get the roadsmart IV? (Or early generation for less money). They were on my possibles list but I could get a better deal on the Michelins which are a more popular tyre brand out here…

Kato · 30-08-2024, 09:23 AM

IIRC Pirelli Diablo were the OEM

Tipusss · 30-08-2024, 10:02 AM

I had Rosso IIIs on all my bikes, but then tried Road 5s and they feel a lot better for everyday riding and especially in the wet. My next tyre will surely be the Road 6s

walkingpictures · 30-08-2024, 01:15 PM

Mine came originally with Michelin so that's what will go on it when they get changed.Have always liked Michelin tyres over the years

yourguitarhero · 31-08-2024, 01:50 PM

Pilot Road 4 or maybe 5? on my S2R.

They have more grip than I have skill and seem to be lasting well. Not sure what else I can ask for from a road tyre..

alastairS2R · 01-09-2024, 11:48 AM

Thanks for the posts. I got a front puncher last week, first in a long time but it forced the issue of replacing the tyres. Went to Wheelhouse Tyres near Birmingham and got the latest version of the previous Dunlop, a set of Sportmax Roadsmart 4.

I looked back at the old receipts I've got and the original tyres only did 4000 miles so whatever they were, they were too soft for me.

29-08-2024, 06:27 PM	#1
alastairS2R Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 34	S2r 1000 tyre recommendations please? I've had a set to Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart 2 on for a while [8000+ miles]. All good for me. I'm looking for distance more than performance. "Performance" tyre would be a waste given my mostly ponderous riding. All or any advice and guidance gratefully received. Cheers

30-08-2024, 09:23 AM	#5
Kato Dismantled Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East Molesey Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,242	IIRC Pirelli Diablo were the OEM __________________ "Political correctness is just intellectual colonialism and psychological fascism for the creation of thought crime"

29-08-2024, 11:14 PM	#2
yellowfever Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 245	I’ve used Michelin pilot roads for many years. I’ve generally found them decent and they seem to last well tho’ a rear puncture has made it hard to be certain. Your own 8k with Dunlop’s sounds a decent lifespan tbh (for reference I got 10.5k from pilot road 2 front and 6k from rear when rear puncture intervened and I swapped both. Rear still had plenty of tread at that point but they do tend to wear faster than front I think, so doubt I would have got to 10k with them). I put the latest pilot Road 6’s on last Autumn and initially found them a bit twitchy tbh but that was probably adjusting from squared off old tyres as I do a lot of motorway miles travelling to see gf! I like them now I’m used to them. They are reassuring in the wet and the dual compound is meant to make them last well, we shall see. However, I’ve not used other brands for many years so who knows if there are better out there as I have no recent experience with other brands to compare with. I’ve used Dunlop's ages ago and was happy with them too! Probably any sport touring tyre offering from a name manufacturer like Continental, Dunlop, Metzler etc, would be similarly good (or better) so long as you choose the versions designed for bikes with the the S2R’s weight (ie avoid the GT versions meant for heavier full on touring bikes). I stuck with Michelins partly for familiarity, partly as I got a decent deal and partly as I live in Belgium so Michelin is an easy brand to find anywhere around here (eg if I get a puncture and need a matching tyre in a hurry). So I’d suggest pick a standard sports touring option from a name brand that’s readily available in your area with a decent price. Going for the version a generation or two back can save money and you’re not likely to notice much difference tbh (my gf recently put pilot road 4’s on her bike as she got offered a super deal and she’s happy with them),

30-08-2024, 12:06 AM	#3
alastairS2R Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 34	Thanks for the quick reply. I'll have a look at the Michelin pilot roads. What tyres did the S2r come with originally?

30-08-2024, 09:06 AM	#4
yellowfever Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 245	Had mine from new but honestly don’t remember now what tyres it came with originally at this remove … maybe Pirelli’s? I think Ducati have used Pirelli as OE for various models over the years… But after all these years I doubt the OE designation really means much given how much tyres have developed in the interim - the latest version of whatever the OE tyre was nearly 20 years ago is going to be quite different to the original OE version given how tyre technology has developed. So I’d just go with what’s readily available at a good price from a name brand. If you’ve been happy with Dunlops why not get the roadsmart IV? (Or early generation for less money). They were on my possibles list but I could get a better deal on the Michelins which are a more popular tyre brand out here…

30-08-2024, 10:02 AM	#6
Tipusss Registered User Join Date: May 2013 Location: London Bike: S4Rs Posts: 50	I had Rosso IIIs on all my bikes, but then tried Road 5s and they feel a lot better for everyday riding and especially in the wet. My next tyre will surely be the Road 6s

30-08-2024, 01:15 PM	#7
walkingpictures preneolithic frebie Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge Bike: S4Rs Posts: 328	Mine came originally with Michelin so that's what will go on it when they get changed.Have always liked Michelin tyres over the years

31-08-2024, 01:50 PM	#8
yourguitarhero Registered User Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Linlithgow Bike: S2r Posts: 24	Pilot Road 4 or maybe 5? on my S2R. They have more grip than I have skill and seem to be lasting well. Not sure what else I can ask for from a road tyre..

01-09-2024, 11:48 AM	#9
alastairS2R Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Birmingham Bike: S2r 1000 Posts: 34	Thanks for the posts. I got a front puncher last week, first in a long time but it forced the issue of replacing the tyres. Went to Wheelhouse Tyres near Birmingham and got the latest version of the previous Dunlop, a set of Sportmax Roadsmart 4. I looked back at the old receipts I've got and the original tyres only did 4000 miles so whatever they were, they were too soft for me.