VFR Aftermarket Products-Tires [Metzeler] [Dunlop] [Michelin] [Bridgestone] [Avon Azarro] [Pirelli Sport Demon X-ply]


  • Metzeler MEZ1 front, and MEZ2 rear:

    I have the MEZ1/2 combination. I have about 4,000 miles on them, and they have lots of life left in them. They handle MUCH better than the Dunlop OEMs. No complaints. mtburr@skypoint.com (Michael Burr)


    I too ride the mighty Metzelers, but went to a 180/55 rear on my 1994 VFR. Turn in is sharper with the tires, and peg- scraping cornering limits to boot. Wonder what the mileage will be, though. dafeller@aloha.com (Dave Feller)


    Metzler MEZ1/2 combination feels good on my 94 FR model, but the back end seems to be a bit more squirrelly, especially in the damp, than it used to with OE Bridgestone BT54s fitted. Having said that MEZs are good enough to run out of ground clearence in the dry. Both of these tyres have good profiles for the VFR, and both give very good mileage. Andi_Picker@reading.sterling.com (Andi Picker)


    I have had Metzeler tires on my bikes. All of them. The only time I have had non-Metzeler tires is when the bike comes with something else installed. That said, I now have a pretty firm example of the difference between a ME33 (NOT a Comp K) and a Dunlop K591 Sport SP model. For the last few weeks I've been riding the VF500F, occasionally on fast rides with a top-ten Sportsman racer. The bike had been feeling vague, giving me lots of funny feelings in off-camber corners that made me want to get off and walk home... After replacing the front tire (but not the back) with a ME33 (and installing a new set of fork seals and brake pads) the bike feels much better in all conditions, including glass-smooth corners where fork damping is not a factor. This morning (and yesterday) I spun the rear tire around a corner that I had been previously afraid to hammer (technical term meaning "Kids, don't try this at home...") because the bike felt like it was going to slide off the road into the ditch. I would guess that the new ME55 will allow me to take the same corner with no wheelspin. This shows me that when push comes to shove, Metzeler street tires have more grip than Dunlop street tires. I have experience with ME33 (x3), ME55, ME99A (x2), and ME88 (x2 sets) tires. Further, when I had a ME99A with sidewall checking, the representative told me that they would give me a new tire if it had more than 1/2 the tread depth remaining, no matter how old the tire was. I got 8k from the ME33 and 10k from the ME88 fronts, and the rears all last ~5k miles. cptomes@gs1.cca.rockwell.com (Charles P. Tomes)


    I have just had to replace my original Dunlop tires and my local dealer, Sawyer Motorcycles in Wellington, recommended Metzeler MEZ2 tires for the kind of riding I do which is basically sport touring. I have found so far, after scrubbing them in a bit, that they give a much more stable ride than the Dunlops. The bike feels more like it is riding on rails giving me a lot more confidence in corners. The Dunlops felt like the rubber was just too soft, and on long runs they would start flaking badly. That aside I got 12,000 kilometres (7,200 miles) out of them and the front and the back ones wore out at about the same rate, so I replaced them at the same time. Price for the two tires in NZ was about $580.00 (about US$400). me.cbharvey@xtra.co.nz (Merv Harvey)


    I just replaced an MEZ1/2 combination with a combination of MEZ1 Racing front and an MEZ1 Street rear, and have to say that this is the best tire setup I have ever ridden on in my thirteen years of riding. They stick like glue, turn in is smoother and quicker, and high speed stability is excellent.

    I was a fan generally of the MEZ2/1 combination, but didn't like some of the characteristics which resulted from having to run an oversized (180) tire on the rear, such as less than progressive lean in and the bowing of the tire at the top of the sidewall. The MEZ1R/1 combination (properly sized since Metzeler is now making a 170 rear) is a huge improvement in handling and grip. Highly recommended! (P. Wheeler)


    I got 10,000 miles out of the Metzeler MEZ2/1 combination for my 91 VFR. I should have replaced them at about 8,500. The rear is now dangerously worn out -- past the wear indicators. (Yeah, I know, I should have replaced them earlier. Cut me some slack. I've been broke ...) Anyway, the front began cupping pretty early -- about 4,500 miles -- but it hasn't caused much detriment to handling. All in all, I've been very impressed with the MEZ2/1 combination.

    I'm considering trying the new MEZ4s -- more mileage yet, and they're supposed to grip well. (Michael Burr)


  • Metzeler MEZ4

    I just replaced the original Dunlops for the new metzler Z4 tires. 170-60-17 rear and 120-70-17 front. Turning becomes mutch easier and the infuence off bad road tracks much less. How the will hold in the future is a matter off waiting. Till now I am very satisfied. (Wouter Simonse - wjsmail@worldonline.nl)


    I just added a set of Metzeler MEZ4 tires to my '94 VFR750F. They replaced a set of Dunlop 202s. Since I'm no longer a hyper-sports type, I was looking for good handling, good mileage sport touring tires. My typical ride is about 100 miles through canyons and mountain roads.

    I thought they might be stiff since they are steel belted 'mileage" radials, but they are solid, smooth and with them the bike's handling is greatly improved! The bike now shifts side-to-side much more quickly and smoothly. They are also very stable on turns and long higher-speed (but well within the speed limit of course) sweepers. Since they do not have a center tread, they don't lock into rain grooves, and track very independently of inconsistencies in roads. It is pretty amazing how much difference these tires have made.

    I'll add more feedback over time, and report back on the mileage.

    Right now, they're winners! (Mark Trinske - mail@trinske.com)


    Follow-up from Mark Trinske: As a follow up to my original post, the MEZ4's have worn out and been replaced. I got about 5,000 miles on them. I ride mostly canyon and curves so the sides were wearing and the middle was looking new. However, I went on a 1500 mile trek throughout Colorado and front and rear wore flat in the center 500 miles into the trip! They looked okay prior to the trip, but when they start wearing, boy did they go! I must say they performed well until the end and then got very slippery and basically useless. I now have Dunlop 205's (that's all that Grand Junction Honda had, and I needed tires!), so I'll report back on those when I get a feel for them.


        I just replaced my stock D204's on my 98 VFR 800 at 15000 kms with MEZ 4s. The 204s had a squared off rear almost down to the wear bars, and a hardened front, starting to crack. They always locked into rain grooves and in the last 2000 km gave a disturbing "rear wheel steering" feel on some road surfaces. The new MEZ 4s were a dramatic difference. Neutral handling, confidence inspiring turn in, no more "rear wheel steering" , and much less susceptible to grooved pavement due to the tread design. Time will tell how well they last, as I have put 1000 kms on them so far and the molding flash is finally all gone. I live in BC Canada so rain riding is a fact of life, and the deeper tread with its' new silica compound really seems to make a positive difference. Specifically, more confidence in high speed braking on rainy roads. Cost was $ 430 Cdn for the pair + Tax + Installation. (Mike Taylor - amtayl@iprimus.ca)


    Followup:

    It's been over 9,000 kms (4500 miles) since I got my MEZ4s, and the wear and handling have been excellent. There is no squaring off, nice smooth even profile and lots of life left. With the rain in the winter here in the Northwest, the tread has been very confidence inspiring. The silica compound really seems to work. I have ridden on everything from 90 degree F days on blacktop to 36 degree F mornings in rain or on damp pavement. The tires have been even tempered, no surprises, and complement the neutral handling of the bike. I've even done some two up riding in the hot summer weather with a fully loaded bike and no squaring off. I am a very satisfied rider, they were worth every penny. (Mike Taylor - amtayl@iprimus.ca)


    I have about 4000 miles on a set of Metzler MeZ4s that I replaced the OEM skins with. Center wear is much less than what I expected. These tires have commuted extensively in the Jacksonville, N.C. area and the Beaufort, S.C. area. In addition, they were recently subjected to an 1800 mile round trip tour that included the Blue Ridge Parkway and (a cop free) SkyLine Drive. Not once has the ability of the tires to aquire grip been a concern. Cold, hot, dry, or wet, they have always found what I was looking for. Before my '97 VFR sees the limit of these skins at the PACE, it will require some suspension mods for my heavy self( 6'1" and 200 lbs.). In addition, the  tread pattern's ability to ignore rain stripping is much improved over the stock D202s. Dropping the rear to 36 PSI will fulfill the fantasy's of the squids out there. FYI I tend to stay off of the brakes going into corners and use the torque to get me in and out; AT least on streets on streets where I think there may be a cop/ and or 4 wheeler around every corner. Whenever these tires wear out, I may try a set of the new Bridgestones for the hell of it. (Sudmeyer - sudmeyer@gosiggy.com)


    I have a 98 VFR800 with MEZ4's and 4500 miles on the tires. Up until now the tires were great and the best I've ever had in the rain. The problem is a raised flat on the front and back tire. The sides are worn more than the center. It's only a problem when cold out, below 40 degrees. It's unstable going straight and hard to turn, becoming squirrelly when rolling over the 'cornered' tires especially in low speed turns. I ride 30% highway 70% back roads on my 70 mile commute. I've had tires get flat spots before but never a raised flat. They would probably be better for someone riding more highway. No problem at all when warm. No problem at high speeds (130 my max) when warm. (Rich Ossman - RSO427@aol.com)


  • Dunlop D205's

    This is a preliminary report, as I only have about 500 miles on my new set. Previously, I had a pair of older Sportmax's on my 94 VFR that replaced the OEM tires. The bike now has about 11,800 miles. All comparisons are made against these two past tire sets. First impression: the 205's steered more slowly than the old sportmax's, but lent more stability in the corners. The mold release compound was no-kidding slippery (more so than previous tires), but suddenly gripped very nicely after the initial 80 miles. Due to the slower steering and lack of initial grip, I did not like them and was wondering if I should have bought the 204's and saved some money. After the 1st 100 miles: A huge change. These tires grip like crazy; much more than the older sportmax's. In the rain, I have to put in much more throttle to break the rear loose. Cornering feels very planted, stable, and confidense inspiring. Minor to medium bumps in the road seem to the soaked up nicely, much better than the previous tires. They heat up relatively quickly, and I am glad I went with them. Time will tell if they wear better than the 204's while retaining these impressive features.

    (Ed. Mark sent in this update)

    After seven months of use and 5000 miles, the tires still grip wonderfully and look as though there is plenty on life left. I recently went on a 2800 mile trip with my 94 VFR, to include two trips down the Blue Ridge Parkway and teaching several ERC classes. On the Parkway, the VFR was heavily loaded with saddlebags, tank bag, and Aerostich clad rider. The tires, wet and dry, performed beautifully. After countless curves well over the posted speed limit, the tires did not overheat (we're talking HOURS of this stuff!) and were consistent in grip. When the rear slid, it did so very predicatbly and without drama. Much debate centers around cupping with the 94-96 VFR. While on the parkway, a fellow on a 96 VFR pulled up with Macadam 90's and only 2000 miles with said tires. His front was VERY cupped, and he was horrified to see how little to none my tires were cupped after twice the miles. After thoroughly inspected my tires at the 4500 miles point, the cupping is barely perceptible to the hand, but not the eye. And, it has stayed this way since about the 1500 mile point. This seems to be better than other reported tires. I expect to get about 7500-9000 miles out of these tires at this point. If they do not get hard before the tread depth is too low, 9000 is a good number. I fully intend on replacing them with D205's when ready. Enjoy! VFRdriver@aol.com (Mark Rose)


    I've got a set of the Dunlop D205's on my '92, stock sizes. So far, about 3500 miles. Thought I'd share some impressions.

    I got these to replace an aging set of D202's that were pretty bad, especially in the wet. The D205's are much better in the water, but I'll probably never trust the big heavy VFR as much on NYC's greasy roads as I did my stripped down little VF500 on rural Maine's clean roads. I should point out I've never ridden with any other current VFR rubber (Azarro, BT5x, D204, etc.), I've only had the D202's on the VFR, and always used Metzlers on the VF500.

    Stability at speed, even over grooves and pavement ridges hit at an angle, has been very good. No twitchiness or wiggles at all. No shimmies, no hands off head shakes (that's a first!), good stable commuter tires on the turnpike.

    Corner grip is good, better than the D202's, but not hugely (?) better. What _is_ hugely better is the stability and smoothness in mid-turn. On the D202's, I always felt I was chasing one end or the other, on the D205's it's _balanced_ and feels a cohesive whole. Even with my worn-out original shock the bike is planted and stable when cranked _way_ over and just skimming the pegs (remember, this is the '92 with the short feelers). Transition from full-grip to that 'soft-zone' where it's beginning to drift is really nice. I've just replaced the shock, and am still getting that dialed in, so will know more over the next 1000 miles. I still get quite a bit of a -snap, see ya'- when the rear breaks loose in the wet under acceleration, but that's just the right hand talking. In the dry, when I'm pushing it, they are very communicative; very gradual, very clear.

    Turn in is great. I find that I trust the front a great deal more than with the D202's. I don't have a lot of experience pushing that hard with a bike this heavy, but the D205's make it fun even for me. I've noticed a few roads where they were a bit uneager to stand up coming out of the corner. Not unwilling, just needed some incentive. The D202's didn't do this.

    I live in New York City, so don't get a lot of quality time in the corners, but I've been able to scrub the tires just shy of edge to edge. There is noticable but slight feathering in an area about 2/3 of the way out towards the edge front and rear (which is where I unfortunately spen most of my corners). No cupping.

    My guess is that these things will last 10,000 miles at this rate, maybe longer. I really don't understand it myself. But I'll take every mile I can get. In all, I'm very happy, but as always, YMMV. test_guy@msmail.bms.com (Brendan Guy)


    Just got a lightly used 99 vfr 800. Rear D-204 was toast at 7000 km. Wanted some longer life, so I contacted Dunlop about running D-205 on rear with stock D-204 on front. Was told no way, don't do it. Only mount tires in matched pairs. Went ahead and did it anyway. Early results show no problems whatsoever. Stability and grip are excellent, even up to 230 km/hr. No misbehavior at all. Will try a D-207 on the front when it's due for replacement. I think they were just giving me the standard corporate line. Probably afraid of Lawyers they are. (Rob McKinnon)


  • Dunlop D204

    My recently purchased '92 VFR had a 10K mi run on its stock tires. Severely cupped and handling was scary. So I began my search and wondered about replacing the stock 170/60 size with the wider 180/55. The guys at Honda said it was possible and after asking around alot I did it. The D204 was on the the '98 VFR so I figured it had to be good. The Dunlop 204 sticks beautifully...My bike feels brand new and I love the look of the 180 on it. I also removed that 6' euro-fender and replaced it with the Comp-Werkes eliminator to show it off a bit. So don't be scared, the 5.5 inch rim was meant for it. I believe Honda was being conservative in its sport-tourer mind set when they decided on the 170 size. The 180 size will make you hunger for some twisties! After a few inline fours both sport and standards, this bike is the closest thing I have felt to perfection - I am a happy man. Keep it sunny side up! Bill Magsamen (BM942@aol.com)

  • Dunlop K591

    I made a big mistake. I used Metzeler's ME33 CompK front and ME99 rear tires on my VF500F. When it came time for new tires I was disappointed to find that the CompK front was no longer available. So, thinking that Dunlop K591's might be a good alternative, I spent what little money I had and bought a set. Big Mistake. Charles P. Tomes, I wish I had read your report before I bought.

    I think the Dunlop K591 Front does not belong on a VF500F, and they shouldn't even sell it in the 100/90 V16 size. With the Dunlop tires the bike never feels planted. The front is vague and slides way too soon. Easy corners suddenly turn into "oh shit!" The front's round profile, fitted onto the narrow rim, never provides enough rubber. On moderate turns I reach the edge of the tire and get a slight drift. The front feels like it wants to wash out. With only 200 miles on the Dunlops I parked the bike in the garage and haven't ridden it in two years. I will not ride it again until I can replace the front with a new Metzeler ME33.

    I got over 10,000 miles per set of ME33/ME99 tires. They worked perfectly over the years. On the VF500F the tires provide excellent feedback, and give a very satisfying feel when leaned over. The front feels like it is glued to the road. Very stable, and responds well to small inputs. The VF500F has always been a quick flick type of bike. With a hard fast push on the bar, I can go to maximum lean instantly, and consistently. Tracking is great, and small corrections are communicated back. They heat up fast and have excellent cold traction. I was always amazed that after 3-4 months of cold storage, I could foolishly jump on the bike and ride hard. God I miss them. mgmccaffrey@worldnet.att.net (Michael McCaffrey)


  • Michelin Macadam 90X

    I own a 94 VFR and recently replaced the stock tires with the new Michelin Macadam 90X. These tires are great! Turning is actually easier, they are quiet, (as compared to the Dunlops) and really stick (I finally got my pegs on the ground, I trust these tires). I will give a full mileage report down the road. fred_lewis@hp.com (Fred J. Lewis)

    (Follow-up) I've been riding on the Macadam 90Xs, both front & rear, and still love the tires. I replaced the front at 5K miles and the rear at 8K miles so mileage is okay, not great. The rear went up quite a bit in price ($150 vs $119) but I still went for a second set. (Fred J. Lewis)


    I have gone through two sets of Macadams in the past two years. Both sets wore very well. The fronts lasted about 4K-6K miles while the rears oddly enough lasted about 8K-10K. And once the rears did wear down they did not square off like my previous set of Sportmaxes. The 50-40mph decelerating wobble was also eliminated. I would highly recommend these tires!! Randy @ kalski@Mediaone.net


    These tires made my VFR handle tremendously.....I have always rode Dunlop in the past....never again....I am a "macadam man" now!!! (Timothy B. Burkett)

    Michelin TX15/25 Race Tires I put a Michelin TX15 Race front tire & a Michelin TX25 Race 2A rear tire on my VFR800 for a CLASS school at the Road Atlanta raceway. We spent the rest of the week in the Smokey Mountains practicing what we had learned. For those that aren't familiar with the Carolinas, the turns are usually extremely tight, lots of 1st & 2nd gear stuff. They include downhill decreasing radius & frequent off camber turns. There are virtually no straights, just 25 to 40 miles of intense countersteering (my idea of heaven). The Michelins I put on are NOT the more expensive, more race oriented Race 3 compound. I've had Metzeler MEZ1 street compound tires on my '96 GSXR750, YZF1000 & currently, a '98 GSXR750. I have been well satisfied with them, including a track day aboard the '98 GSXR. However, the Michelins are by far & way the best tires I have ever used. The VFR is also the finest motorcycle I have ever owned. At the CLASS school at Road Atlanta, I literally shredded the edges of both tires. That involves some pretty serious lean angles to use all of the front (my street riding uses all of the back & leaves about 1/4" used on the front, even at a serious, but sane pace). After removing the footpeg feelers, nothing touched down, including the centerstand. Reg Pridmore, the head instructor, uses a VFR800 as his track bike & takes passengers around the track at speeds you wouldn't believe with the centerstand on, so ground clearance is not a problem. The Michelins stuck like glue all day long (one small slide in the tightest corner) & steered the motorcycle absolutely perfectly (neutral with plenty of front end feedback). I couldn't make the VFR do anything wrong at a pretty serious, though not full out race, pace. The VFR's suspension was set up full stiff per Reg's recommendation. It was the same in the mountains. These tires never did anything but work perfectly. The combination of the VFR & the MIchelin tires is the finest handling & most comfortable sportbike I have ever ridden. The 800 is not a sports tourer, it's a genuine cornering fool that's too comfortable to know any better. The downside is the rear tire was toast at 1900 miles, the front appears to be about half gone. I'll get another rear tire & save them for a track day. I have put the stock 204s back on and, much to my surprise, they are fine for street riding. The 204s have been discontiued by Dunlop. The CLASS school uses street compound D207ZRs on their track bikes. They must work really well, as witnessed by Reg passing other riders regularly on the outside of the turns when the rest of us felt we were going like blazes. I have used the 207ZRs on my '98 GSXR & they are excellent street tires. Unfortunately, mileage isn't one of their greatest assets. The rear 207 on my Suzuki lasted for 1700 miles & the front is more than half gone. I'm too old (51) to do wheelies & burnout so that wasn't a factor. However, I dearly love the sensation of lean angles. Much more fun. I hope this is useful information. Best regards, Jack. (Jack Roe - pjr@ithink.net)


    Michelin Pilot Sport Tires I bought my 1998 VFR used with 12,000 miles on it from a private owner. It was in very nice condition, although it came with a worn Dunlop D204 OEM tire on the front and a good Michelin Macadam 90X on the back. When I rode it home the first time I thought something was seriously wrong with the bike...tire going flat or suspension problems. I had read in the magazines what a wonderful handling bike it was, so I suspected the problems were due to the mismatched tires right away. Within a week I had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport tires installed based on previous experience I'd had with Michelins on a Ducati and the bike was transformed. Steering is smooth and turn in, even while braking, is precise and stable. You can alter your line easily if you need to as turns tighten or increase radius. Grip is great both laterally and under heavy braking. As far as wear is concerned, there is still plenty of tread left on the rear after 3000 miles and the front looks good to go much further.

    One note: I have experimented with tire pressures, from 33 psi front/36 psi rear recommended by an experienced and respected track-day riding acquaintance to the (Honda) factory-recommended 36 psi front/42 psi rear. These relatively small variations make a significant difference in the way the bike feels and handles, with the lower settings making the tires feel softer and a little "squirmy" through a turn although with perhaps a bit more "stick" than the firmer but more precise ride you get with the higher pressures. I prefer the stiffer feel of the higher settings myself. For what it's worth, the Michelin web site says stick with the manufacturer-recommended pressures, too. My opinion is that the Pilot Sports are great tires for the VFR, and I will definitely buy them again. (Allan Davies - afdavies@ix.netcom.com)


  • Dunlop Dunlop D207

    Have a 1996 VFR that came with Dunlop 202's. Did not experience any headshake. Replaced the tires with Bridgestone BT-56 race compound tires and took them to the track. Same result. Third set of tires where the new Avon 35 and 36. These tires definitely have a wobble at around 40 mph. My bike now has 12000 miles on it and all the tires were tested on the track. I have to say that the Avons were the best track tire of the bunch. (Matt MacKenzie macrach@telis.org)

    I purchased a set of Dunlop 207's at the Laguna-SECA Superbike races in July for my 1999 VFR800. I have already ridden almost 1000 miles on the tires and they show a good amount of tread remaining. These tires have given me considerably more confidence in tight corners and the tread pattern attracts a lot of attention in my favorite watering hole on Mines Rd. in Livermore, CA. The tires have inspired enough confidence that I am now diving the front-end in corners far more than on the previous Dunlop 204's. As a result I plan to continue using 207's but am now looking for a solution to the soft front-end suspension. The VFR still comes with minimum adjustability of the suspension system and I have tightened the pre-load on the forks considerably. Overall the tires will wear more quickly than the sport-tour choices, but for my purposes the increased maintenance cost is worth it. I have not experienced any scalloping or other problems related to the higher weight load of the VFR, a concern as these tires are optimal for the 350-400 pound range of pure sportbikes. Tire walk is very predictable in high apex turns and feedback is good considering the suspension limitations. (Rick McDaniel - rmcd@chevron.com)


  • Bridgestone BT57

    I had Bridgestone BT57s fitted to my VFR 750 FT after getting 9,500 miles from the originally fitted tyres. The dual compound works really well and builds high confidence especially in the dry on curvy English country roads. Use has been a mixture of English country lanes & roads (daily - come rain or shine) and high speed motorway (freeway) riding (including a trip to the 1996 Bol d'Or). Sizes fitted were the Bridgestone recommended sizes and the tyres lasted just under 7,500 miles. The wear pattern was mainly to the centre of the tyre on the rear and mainly to the sides on the front. Pressures were maintained at the recommended levels. Have since fitted BT57s again but this time with a 180/55 at the rear. This has changed the feel so that more feedback is experienced to road surfaces and there is an impression of rear wheel steering. I'm not sure that this change is for the better and the standard sizes are better if you want to retain the neutral feel of the VFR. Not sure what, if anything, this all means, other than that I must be a wimp to get such high mileage out of my tyres, though the round trip to the Bol cruising at 110 to 120 mph (on the clock) in convoy with a Duke 748 SP. designpackage@globalnet.co.uk (Peter Wheelhouse)


  • Bridgestone BT54

    I have the VFR750FV, using it for the 70 mile (112km) round trip to work every day and some weekend fun. Sometimes fully loaded with panniers, top box, tank bag and pillion, other times just me. Moving on from the original Dunlops I was persuaded to try BT54s. The back tyre has been great, loads of feel, but squared off rapidly during a 1000 mile (1610km) week (normally 350+ miles (564km) a week). The front is totally uninspiring, invoking a strange wobble when de-accelerating (amplified when loaded with baggage), and providing a few scary moments when in knee down mode i.e. It's too hard. Despite the front end wobble, hauling the bike down from high speed has provided little to worry about.

    I have found it extremely difficult to wear the 'hero nipples' off the front but no problems with the rear. And I have been seen sliding around bends with some strange riding positions. Reverse steering has also been interesting, the profile of the front tyre throwing you on to the edge, in a frantic rush, instead of gently easing over. The Bridgestones have performed admirably in the wet, allowing for quick, smooth riding. Tweaking the suspension up at both ends helped with the front end slightly but these tyres have been no match for the Dunlops. After only 4500 miles (7240km) both tyres are looking a bit sad so I'm off to try something else. Local tyre shop experts have recommended BT57s or a BT56 front with BT57 rear. (Robin Haddon)


  • Bridgestone BT35/BT45 I have experience of both as a fronttire. the bt35 on a gpz500s -88 (ex500 in the US) and the bt45 on my vfr750f-87. boht are very sticky rubber and they got fast warmup time. the older bt35 got a more slick disign and wears god, and you can lean ower to the edge whit no problem. the wet traction is so god that I several times botomed the front whil leaning!. The bt 45 is softer compund and wears fast and "cruncs". Grip is god in dry and wet and warmup time shorter than bt35. but in grip and confidens when warm the bt35 is one step ahed. Both recomended rubber! ( Österberg Kenth - Kenth.Osterberg@sauk.fi)


  • Bridgestone BT020 I just had a set of Bridgestone BT020's mounted on my 97 VFR750. I bought the bike used with a set of 207's with about 2/3 tread left.I put 4k miles on the old tires with the tread bars just barely showing. I like the handling better (of the BT020's), more stable, no odd head shake. The grip seems to be great, they seem as good as the old tires. Those black tar "stripes" don't seem to affect these like they did the 207's. I hope to get more than the estimated 5-6k miles of the 207's. The price for the set was $194 from Chapparal mail order. I still need to see how the grip is in wet/rain conditions. I will update as I get more miles on them. (Raymond V. Evenson - evenson@bmf.com)


  • Avon Azarro

    Okay so I got bored with my Macadams. I had to try something else with a strange tread pattern. Burn up the Michelins and shoehorn on some new Avon Azarros. First off the tread pattern is definitely odd, but it does garner a lot of attention from others. Grip is excellent quite a bit better than the Michelins. Of course they are also a little more expensive $124 front, $132 rear. With a good discount. They also have excellent wet weather traction, provided you don't ride like DuHamel in the rain. Only two drawbacks is

    1. the decelerating wobble is back!
    2. the rears squares off as it wears down.
    Randy @ Kalski@mediaone.net

    Followup: Well its time for some new rubber the Avons did not last very long, well... at least the rear did'nt. 3162 miles have gone by and the Avon Azarro rear is history. The squaring off I saw on other bikes was not as bad on my VFR ('92). The front still has about 3K-5K miles left in it. Think I'll try the new Dunlop rear. But once the front wears out it'll be back to the Macadams. The front end wobble did fade away as the front tire wore. (Kalski@mediaone.net)

    Followup #2: The front tire lasted an amazing 8277 miles! It still wasn't worn out when I swapped it. It had just lost it's grip. On to Dunlops. No one in my area carries Michelins any more. :( (Kalski@mediaone.net)


    The Avon Azaro 39/40 are the absolute BEST tires I have ever had on my '96 VFR750F. I'm only considering traction and not longevity. The roads here on Okinawa are always slippery, dry or wet. But with the Azaros on, I definitely noticed a lot better traction. Unfortunately, there is a wobble when decelerating, I thought it was just my bike, but someone else had the same problem. I also noticed a slight vibration (hardly noticeable) in hard right-hand turns when doing a steady speed, but when accelerating in right-hand turns I felt nothing but a solid connection to the pavement.

    You can force the rear tire to slide on your way out of the corners, but it always feels controled, and it never gets away from you. And it's kinda fun, and it looks cool for the people behind you.

    The Azaros seem to alway, ALWAYS have about 5% more lean and traction than you might think is available. I was going pretty tight in a turn and I was alittle too hot, but what could I do but trust the tires? So, I trusted the tires, leaned alittle more, and SHA-ZAM, in and outta the turn with nothing to worry about.

    The Key to the Avon Azaros is "Trust the Tires".

    Unfortunately, the Azaro 40 (Rear) didn't last long at all (Gee I wonder why). And I made the mistake of replacing it with a Bridgestone Battleaxe (it's cheaper). Never again will I downgrade my tires to save a buck! For the first week of riding on that Bridgestone, my back tire was constantly slipping and sliding all over the place (UNCONTROLABLY). It took alittle getting used to. I'm getting rid of the Battleaxe for good. (James C. - roadrasher@hotmail.com)


  • Avon Azarro

    Coupla points I feel I need to raise re - the above tyres. I've had two VFR's an '86 FJ which I always ran metzeler's on and my current '92 FL which has ran on Michelin Pilots and the Avon Azaro Supersport MKII (it is now on it's second rear).

    These tyres, apart from the rear wear rate, are the absolute business for the FL.

    After fitting the original set of azaros, I immediately went on a ride with 5/6 friends. Unfortunately, living in Scotland, the first 100 miles were ridden in torrential rain. I was very nervous as the tyres hadn't been scrubbed in. However I did not experience one slide or any twitchiness in the handling.

    My last rear was past it after approximately 2000 - 2500 miles.I was stunned when I realised it needed replaced. However, I felt the azaro was so good that it was worth another, particularly as the front still looked like new !

    They inspire total confidence and encourage you to lean the bike progressively and you can really feel the tyres grip as you roll on the power out of corners.

    I have never had any vibration problems accelarating or decelarating and I think folks should check the tyres have been fitted with the tyre's valve indicator exactly opposite the valve and every time a wheel comes off the bike for a new tyre it should obviously be re-balanced !!!!!!!! (Paul Kytzia - PKytzia@aol.com)


  • Avon Azarro

    I own a 1990 VFR750, currently running Avon Azaro AV45 front and AV46 rear. I put Avons back on after trying some Metzeler Z4's. My personal experience with the Z4's was not positive. They seemed to take a long time to scrub in and did not instill confidence when cold. The Avons broke in quickly and have transformed the handling of my bike. In the 1500 miles I have had them, they have yet to give me a moment of concern. I am running 36psi front and 38psi rear, and it seems to be working well. I had a set of the original Azaros, and the new tires have the same qualities that I enjoyed in the old. (Joshua Gies - ishgorilla@yahoo.com)

  • Pirelli Sport Demon

    This is one good thing that have hapened to all that drive on x-ply tires! It offers good grip in wet, exelent grip in dry. Its stable and well dehaving, and works from the first corner. Have no experiens on milage yet, but seems to wear well. Its awable in size to all vf/vfr from -83 to -89(included-89). I have them on my wifes Yamaha xj600 div. (seca2 in us), and testdrived on a buddys -89 vfr750. Highly recomended! (Kenth Österberg - Kenth.Osterberg@a-katsastus.fi)