I know someone that has Avons and swears by them too.
http://www.avonmotorcycle.com/us/en/default.asp







--- In ncSport-Touring@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Danckert"
<mdanckert@...> wrote:
>
> Rick,
>
>
>
> As a new rider, I don't have any experience to talk about
regarding tires.
> When I was getting ready to replace my rear tire I sent an email
to one of
> my friends in Atlanta. He has been riding all of his life, is
extremely
> meticulous, does tons of research, and is very aggressive (type A++
> personality). I trust his opinions on everything that I've talked
to him
> about.
>
>
>
> I asked if he had any recommendations for tires and I also asked
if there
> were any safety issues using a different brand between front and
back.
>
> Here is an excerpt from the email that he replied to me:
>
>
>
> Mike,
>
>
>
> I've tried virtually all the sport touring tires on the Concours,
and I
> think the Avon Azzaro ST45 and ST46 are the best. Best cornering,
and by
> far the best wear. They should wear even better on a 750 than on
the
> Concours, because of the lower weight. You would have to check to
make sure
> Avon makes them in the right sizes for the ZR-7S, but they very
likely do.
> 17-inch wheels are the most common.
>
>
>
> I liked Dunlop 205's better than the Concour's stock Dunlops. The
205's
> later became 220s. They have a reputation for long mileage, but
not the two
> sets I had. The front was hard to lay over in a corner, and the
rears wore
> out in only 4K miles. The Michelins handled well, but didn't wear
well
> either. Bridgestones are pretty good tires, with a good grip. I
haven't
> heard anything bad about them, and I haven't used them on the
Concours, but
> the Battlax won't last as long as the Avon. It's more of a sport
bike tire
> - perhaps over-emphasizing traction at the expense of mileage -
for the kind
> of everyday riding you are doing. Metzler ME-6s are great as
well, but they
> stopped making them for the Concours 16-inch rear wheel. They
would be a
> good choice. You really can't go too far wrong with any premium
Sport
> Touring radial. The dealer or someone with a ZR-7S may have
contrary
> experience with THIS particular bike; but, all in all, I would
recommend the
> Avons. They are particularly good in the wet.
>
>
>
> The ideal situation is to use the same brand and model tires front
and rear.
>
> They are generally designed for this with complementary and
supplementary
> tread patterns. Typically, the front outlasts the rear about 2 to
1, so the
> best time to change brands is every second tire change. But be
careful,
> because it isn't exact timing.
>
>
>
> In reality, there isn't that much difference, and it certainly is
not
> dangerous to mix brands. Just don't mix radials and non-radials.
You could
> certainly put an Avon ST-46 on the rear now, and replace the front
with an
> ST-45 later. Or put on another Battlax for now, and when it wears
out, put
> on two Avons. Or bite the bullet, trash the front Battlax, and
put on two
> Avons NOW!
>
>
>
> It's generally not a good idea to change tire sizes - that's
somewhat
> experimental. You might find some combination that works better
than the
> stock sizes, but probably not. Bigger tires can increase traction
and reduce
> wear, but the tires on the 7S are already pretty wide. After a
point, bigger
> width tires slow down steering and can cause interference problems
with the
> swingarm or chain. And they cost fuel mileage. You can generally
go UP
> only about one width with existing rims; after that you need wider
rims.
>
> Different profile (height) tires can raise or lower the front vs.
the rear,
> which can have significant effect on cornering and stability. Some
people do
> that on purpose - often a taller back tire, or shorter front tire
speeds up
> steering - weighting the front wheel and decreasing trail. The
opposite
> makes a bike more "stable" and slower steering. But it's probably
best to
> stay with the 160/60ZR-17. That's a 160mm width, sidewall height
60% of
> width (profile), 150+mph rating, and radial, for a 17' wheel.
>
> If you haven't been through the motorcycle tire changing thing
yet, you will
> find you have to consider the price of the tire PLUS the price of
> installation. Many dealers will charge $25 or more, per wheel, to
install!
> Some will charge $50 if you don't buy the tire there! So you have
to find
> the best total price package, tire plus installation. My local Kaw
dealer
> has good tire prices, but charges a fortune to install. If you
buy 'em
> online cheap, the dealers will try to punish you on install. So, I
use a
> little guy who does only tires - sells all brands for a decent
price, but
> installs them for only $10, if you bring in the wheel. Best
overall price.
>
>
>
> It's definitely worth investigating. By the way, it's virtually
impossible
> to change and mount a large rear radial yourself - without
automated tools.
> Possible but VERY difficult!! Plus you will screw up the rim.
You can
> readily change dirt bike tires with hand tools, but not street
bike tires.
> Particularly the rear.
>
>
>
> I have generally found ideal tire mileage and handling to occur at
about 2
> or 3 pounds ABOVE manufacturer's spec for air pressure -
particularly for
> the front tire. Too low and the front will cup. Over the long
term, you
> can tell by wear patterns - if the tires tend to wear out too soon
in the
> middle of the tread, it is too hard. If it tends to cup, it is
probably too
> soft. My bikes corner MUCH better with 2 or 3 extra pounds in the
front
> tire. Even quality tires can leak down 3 or 4 pounds a week, and
need to be
> checked and inflated EXACTLY every time you ride - well, every DAY
that you
> ride.
>
>
>
> _____
>
> From: ncSport-Touring@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:ncSport-Touring@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Rick
Carnagey 'Yaahoo'
> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 5:58 PM
> To: ncSport-Touring@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ncSport-Touring] Tire Suggestions
>
>
>
> Well it looks like the rear tire has about 1000 miles left on
it. That
> won't last long!
>
> I've been getting about 7k miles on rear tires and was wondering
if anyone
> any suggestions for a longer lasting tire. Since I do ALOT of
touring the
> Micheline Powers Roads and the Metzler Z6's I ran before lasted to
7K which
> isn't bad. But I'm wearing them out right down the middle. I
did notice
> my chicken strip was smaller on the Micheline's and that made
sense to me
> cuz I felt more confident in the turns with them than I did with
the z6's.
> Just never could get used to the flat shape of the z6's.
>
>
>
> Mike (Allen) what did you run on your VFR? I know you did ALOT
of touring
> on it. What kind of milage did you get on your tires? Any
suggestions?
>
>
>
> I have thought of moving to a more touring oriented tire, but an a
little
> hesitant to do that cuz I do still like to wick it up through the
turns
> sometimes and am concerned with loosing too much grip.
>
>
>
> Live to Ride!
> 96 Honda VFR 750
> NC Sport-Touring Group
> Southern Cruisers
> Greater Raleigh Chapter
> Member ID #70024
>
> _____
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