Ok, I had a pretty big scare the other day. I had decided to finally wash my bike after probably more then 1 month. I felt bad. Anyways, i washed her and i was cleaning the wheels when i though, why dont i press on my tire. OMG! My fist went into it. I quickly took it to my shop and grabbed a gauge. ZERO. Not one psi in the tire. I could not believe it, it was solid and i really could not tell by looking at it that it was empty. Well, i grabbed a hose and found a tiny pin hole leak.

Well, i am not needing a new set of tires. They were getting close, but i thought i would make it through the season. So i am needing to figure out my next tires. I ride very easy, i mostly cruise. I need a good tire that can handle the twisties even though, it will almost get no twisty time. I just like having a tire with soft sides in case.

So i was reading up and people mention the 190/55 instead of the stock 190/50 size. I want to know what i need to do other then buy the tire. The stock wheel supports the taller tire, correct?

I am also wanting a little guidance on tire choice. I have pretty much decided between the Michelin Road 2 or the Pilot Power 2CT. I think the Road 2 will be a better tire overall for me. Again, i will be riding around town 95% of the time. I just like to feel safe.

IF you have a hugger on there...it will most likely interfere with a 190/55/.I had to remove my hugger.It's cool.The taller tire is gonna give you a slightly better turn in...but,it will also cause your speedo to be a bit more inaccurate.My speedohealer is now set to -2.3.PERFECT.

A good tire choice could be the Angel ST's..Pirellis.I don't think they have a 190/55 however.But they grip great and will last you really well if you're staying out of the throttle.

The stock wheel will handle the 190/55 no problem.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 7/27/2011 @ 12:57 AM *

I've already been down this route.
I put on a 190/55 and it was better, but not as good as the 180/55 I had on my R1. Anyway, I recently put on a Pirelli Supercorsa SP 180/55. Best damn mod I ever did. great tire, great profile. awesome turn in. I'll never go back. If you are a corner junky then do the 180/55. Fits inside my geelong carbon craft hugger. sometimes the tire will pickup gravel and scrape inside the hugger.

Not meaning to hi jack this thread but I am also going 190/55 with the Pilot Road 2's. What front tire size do I need to go with? Will I just stick with stock 120/70 ZR17?

That is what I did, 120/70.
I have not recieved my rear tire yet, so i am still riding on my bad set. I will update when i try them out.

Just thought I'd stop back in and comment on my new Pilot Road 2's. Got both front and rear but on the rear I went with the 190/55. OMG!!! It feels like a new bike! Compared to the lame ass BT016, I feel like leaning is just effortless. I want to thank everyone that has recommended 190/55. I haven't hit the twisties yet but I can already tell its going to be so much more fun!

To anyone trying to decide between 190/50 and 190/55, if you like to lean your bike, go with the 55 hands down! I personally would consider this a performance upgrade!

Now lets just pray that I dont get yet ANOTHER nail / screw / random hole this season!

* Last updated by: retsam on 9/13/2011 @ 1:05 PM *

I have to agree with retsam completely. OMG!!! It freaked me out the first time i took the new tires for a spin after leaving the shop! OMG! The bike just leaned when barely moving. It freaked me out! But within maybe 10-15 minutes it felt natural. I cant imagine the bike any other way now. I think it is funny my original reaction. I thought for a short time that i was not going to be able to ride it. My old tire was very worn and flattened out completely, so it was very hard to turn. I had to really put energy into leaning. This new tire just turns. It makes me much more confident on the bike. This upgrade is a no brainer! Thank you to everyone who suggested it. I have the pilot road 2 tires too.

Blue, get in here. You ripped up any pilots? YOu still think the Pir's are still the cat's meow?

WhooHooo...Hubster...you actually WANT me to chime in?Sheesh...you feeling alright? "oh LORD...it's a MIRACLE"

Okay....well,ya...I DID rip through some pilots...the 2CT's.The front...was 'pretty nice'...at least it lasted two rear tire changes.The rear...hhmmmm...how can I say this.....okay...didn't impress me at all.Actually,the more I rode on it,the harder it got.It never did feel like it was REALLY gonna hold in the big sweeps.EVERYBODY likes the Pilots.I didn't so much.I gotta say..the BEST gripping tires I have used were the BT003's.Yes....but their service life is.... They are actually more of a track tire...so I kind of didn't expect em to go TOO far.Like....2000 miles far.Ran two sets.Same mileage whether cruising or blasting.

Now....the next best thing IMO....the Pirelli brand.NO wheel weights needed.(on mine anyway).Great grip.As good as the BT's.Service life....cruising...well....I did at one time pull down 5600 miles on a rear....front went two rear changes.Went back to my faithful Angel ST's for the rear this time around,Pirelli Rosso Corsa for the front.Again...no weights.Smooth as glass...excellent turn in and grip.VERY neutral.180/55 on the back.Nice.I was able to get some serious leans in on those BT's.Didn't really know for sure if the Pirellis would do the same....they did,and do.I THOUGHT I was doing well before the BT's...with my Pirellis.I found out I could blast even better with those Bridgestones on there.Then,I rode the Pirellis the same.They work great.Possibly better....Every ride is a new R+D outing for me anyway.

Guess you could say...I won't be buying any Pilots....anytime soon!

Oh and BTW...HUB...thanks fer askin!

Almost fergot...the 190/55 is a killer tire....whether it's a Pirelli or not.I'm runnin a 180/55 only cause of price.I'd rather run the 190/55 for sure.And will again up the road.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/13/2011 @ 2:48 PM *

+ 1 on pirelli rosso corsa. I think they were in fast bikes top 3 for best road/track tires. I love mine and they perform as good as they look. I'm glad u said that blue cause after reading some of ur previous threads I was gna follow you and downgrade to the BT's which I'm sure are decent. I think the rear for the rosso corsa is about 200 on sportbiketrackgear.com. It's not the sheer speed and danger tthat scares on the 14 is the money I spend on upgrades! So if I ever switch to a cruiser u'll know why.

* Last updated by: dragking on 9/13/2011 @ 8:49 PM *

Yeah, blue, you're one of the rippers here who treats his bike like it should be ridden = Lots of tire changes. LOL!

So what I gather you are saying is that both are not bad, but you give a tiny prop to the Pee'z. I've been on D's since I've owned the bike. I just want to have fun and try another set. Pee'z or Mich, don't matter. I kind of know what the D's do, somewhat cold or warmed a little.

Now, the chime-in goes, WOT Is:

1. The best miler = No sport riding but tour - Privvy?
2. The best sport/miler = Can hook it and lasts better than...
3. ... The best flat out... IMO, remember... Better than what came on the bike. Those went fast. They were the best than the rest I've been on. I'm talking the 003's, right, blue? Those were some light carcasses. That was one greasy, hooked up when warm... Wore out just looking at it were the, D 003's, right?

* Last updated by: Hub on 9/13/2011 @ 5:36 PM *

Ya...the BT003's go fast.Once you break through the initial wear...they start goin quick.I'm not sure if mild throttle will save em or not...they're really more designed for the track,unless you have LOTS of money to spend!Personally,I'd have to go with the Angel ST's...very very good grip.And if you take er easy on the throttle,yer gonna see some good mileage,with good tire performance throughout the life of the tire.

Dunlops for me were not a very good performance tire...they got hard very quickly...way before they were worn.Not good IMO for transitioning and taking deep fast sweeps.I can't say about any new generation of 'performance street' tires.I just know I feel very safe with my Pirellis,as I did with the BT003's.Both had(have) excellent cornering grip at all kinds of speeds.But for the money....I'll most likely stay now with the Angels.(or corsa up front).

I think anyone who tries out the Pirelli Angels are gonna have a good experience with em.They will hold the curves,most definitely.Actually,any street Pirelli tire would be a good choice IMO.I've never had any issues with feeling safe running Pirellis.Though I did burn through two sets of Angel rears in pretty short order...I've learned to tone the higher speed straights down to sane legal speeds since then!So we'll see with this fresh rear on here now.So far,so good.Couple thousand miles and no real sign of wear to speak of.The BT's would have been done by this time.Too bad really,they are excellent tires IMO.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/14/2011 @ 1:04 AM *

I am impressed with my Michelin Pilot Road 2s, they are standing up quite well after 7,000 miles. They are for sure making it into next season.

I do a mix of 80% state and county roads, and 20% slab. Sometimes I just cannot avoid slab due to it being the only way to proceed or me being in a hurry to get where I'm going (unusual).

I like the grip when cornering, very stable and good feedback. On slab, they are as quiet and smooth as the road surface allows.

I am almost always loaded down to one degree or another. I haven't had the Givi luggage off once this season, it seems like every week I'm going somewhere. I did have last weekend off though. LOL.

* Last updated by: privateer on 9/14/2011 @ 4:26 AM *

http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/index.cfm?event=pilotroad2

Thanks guys. I think Privvy has me swayed to the 2's {far right} Are those the ones you are running, Priv? I'm going after [straight up] slab. That is all that is here if you really need to get somewhere. And slab is high speed pass their ass.

* Last updated by: Hub on 9/14/2011 @ 7:04 AM *

Ya, I have had Pilot Road 2s on all season. Love them. I'm using stock profiles, too, I figure KHI engineered the geometry to near perfection, which is reflected in what everyone says about the ZX14.

If I want something to turn in faster, I'll get a ZX10R. Besides, the PR2s turn in quickly enough anyway.

When my 2s wear out, I'm putting Pilot Road 3s on as they are slightly better, but right now significantly more expensive.

I've been running the Q2's and honestly the best tire I've ever run.

Hmmmm....If Heathun says 'best tires',well....maybe I just need to mosey on down and give em a shot next time?Thanks Heathun!

Blue, you can also stick with the 190/50 in the Q2, if you do a little research you'll find that because of the profile the Q2 in a 190/50 is actually just as tall as the 190/55 in other tires.

Okay....great info Heathun!Thanks my man.Ride fast and safe Bro!

WOw, i would have liked to see that recommendation before i bought my PR2s 3 weeks ago. The Q2s have very good reviews.
One very strange thing that has been happening with my PR2s is that when i come out of a corner in town, i can fairly easily loose my rear. This is strange because i did not have this problem with the crappy tire that i bought the bike with. It was extremely had an extremely flat shape. This one is very round, but man, it sort of scares me. I am careful, but i don't like almost loosing the bike just turning around the corner.

My Pirelli Rosso Corsa is really working well up front.EXTREMELY planted feeling.The Angel out back is hangin right in there!I think the turn in factor has improved noticeably.Took some good curves today with quick transitions(the ones I always go rail on).She dropped right in and held perfectly.NO DRAMA...and I upped my curve speed today just to see how the combo would work pushin it.VERY HAPPY with these tires right now.Very smooth.I don't think at 140 I'm anywhere NEAR the limit on these buns.Not the way they feel today anyway.Better than the BT003's...yes.I have to say so.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/16/2011 @ 3:44 PM *

The Angel out back is hangin right in there!I

* Last updated by: dragking on 9/16/2011 @ 7:41 PM *

Not bad there Dragking.Maybe I'll have to give STG a try next time.I'm a bit leerry about Dunlops though.I know things change...but the 208's I had on my 12 got hard as a rock in short time.Switched to Diablos...200 rear...never looked back.That was....at least 8 years ago.200 rears are nice though.Very.Gettin hard to find seems like to me.

.Maybe I'll have to give STG a try next time.I'm a bit leerry about Dunlops though.I know things change...but the 208's I had on my 12 got hard as a rock in short time

Never ordered from STG but I'll give it a go. There is this taichi summer jacket that I want and they seem to be the only 1s with Spiegler SS brake lines for the 14 right now! If they keep that deal (Q2's) going till the end of the month I'm gonna have to try them, that's like 2 tires for the price of 1! I get your point since I was little the idea was that pirelli were from sena and prost while the dunlops where for dad's car! Man you shoulda kept that 12 it's a collector piece!

She was a sweet bike.My first dedicated crotch rocket.Ya....very nice indeed.Lots of em still out there too.If that new 14 is the 'next' baby for me...I'm gonna hate to part with my 14.But I can't afford to pay full price.She'd have to go for a trade up.Long as she gets a good home,it'll be okay.My 12 didn't fair so well.Actually got stolen out of the dealer's property!To this day I don't get why a beautiful silver sportbike like my 12 was being pushed out to the 'shed' at the dealer's every nite.They found her about 6 months later...stashed behind some one's garage...sat out in the Winter and all(uncovered no less).Just declining.What a waste.Some people...gotta wonder sometimes.