Stock tire question/poll

[gixxerjasen]

It seems to me that one of the most commonly changed out parts on a motorcycle is the tires. And yet, there seems to be much ado about what tires come stock on a motorcycle. Magazine reviews will actually put emphasis on what tires were on the motorcycle while testing and often it reflects into the review of the bike. Knowing that I'm going to change out the tires I do put more stock in a multi bike review when they shod them all with the same tire as it eliminates that variable.

However, watching this video recently (and you should watch it, great stuff, Megafactories - Ducati - Multistrada) I noticed how important to the Ducati it was to get the right tire on the bike and finding a manufacturer who could produce something to meet their needs.

So, what say you? Do you run the tires that the manufacturer felt were the best for your particular bike or something else. Do the tires on the bike really influence your purchasing decision?

[trainman]

I just want one that won't go flat.

John

[bigjnsa]

I think stock my bike came with Michelin Power Commanders (its whats on there now) and I hate the front tire. The rear is perfect with lots of traction, but the dual compound front tire is a piece of crap. When its set to the recommended air pressure, it feels flat to me. I do not get the right *feeling* from it until I have 35-37 psi and even then its twitchy.

[Fiddyone]

I'm partial to Michelins. But I'll wear out the stock tire no matter what it is before I switch. Funny I do look at the tires that bikes come with stock but depending on the bike they'll be replaced anyway from 1000-10,000 miles with prob Michelins.

[Hood Ornament]

Tires are the least consideration for me. Why would I care about something that will be worn out before I change the oil?

[Gravel Guy]

The stock tires on the KLR are just cheap.....and NOT very dual-sport oriented.....so I read a zillion tire threads, spoke with some good dual-sport riders, and came up with my own choices......

[DaveAlvarado]

I'll wear out the set of stock tires, but I won't replace them with the same kind. I'm picky about the performance of my tires, since they're the only thing keeping the shiny side up in a curve.

I run Pilot Road 3s on my commuting / touring bike (the Versys) and am trying out some Dunlop Q2s on my sport bike (the Triumph).

[Mark_M]

I use the info in the appropriate forums and testimonies to buy my tires. Am running Pirelli Diablo tires on my FZ6 right now and loving them.

[gixxerjasen]

This is about what I was thinking it seems. Also seems that I should have modified my poll. Dang polls, they are always created wrong. I should have said I replaced my original tires with the same as stock. Forgot that some folks out there actually have new bikes and still on the original set perhaps.

Anyway, just seemed odd to me that manufacturers spend so much time and effort on something that will be quickly replaced by the owners and yet doesn't have to really conform to regulatory requirements (ie exhaust), or that reviewers wouldn't equal up the table in a comparison review.

[The Bruce]

The tires that came on the Ultra in '08 where designed for the bike by Dunlop for the new frame setup. HD held license to the design for two years so the first replacement set had to come from an HD dealer. It's a heavy bike and there aren't many options so I went with the stock D407/408 combo. Now that the agreement is expired Dunlop has a new tire based on the Elite series they call the American Elite for the heavy HD touring bikes. They are awesome tires and about $100 less for the set. I got 15K out of the stock touring tires and expect that much from these as well. Good tires.

[Moekazi]

I assume that the tires that come stock on a bike are garbage. This is because manufacturers are try to save as much money as possible when making them. They are going to buy whatever adequately works for the cheapest they can get. They also make deals with tire manufacturers to build cheap, one off tires.

For example, i had a VTX and it came with Dunlop tires. The tires felt bad and wore out fast. A lot of people didn't like them. However, Dunlop sold the same tire aftermarket. They wore better, felt stickier, and were generally well liked. Looking up the Dunlop tire, there are two listings for the same model. Only one says roughly "(stock on VTX)". Other manufacturers have done it, too (Suzuki and Metzler come to mind).

The exception to this is supersport bikes. People pay a premium for the handling, and they will be pushed hard in the review process. Having a review of "front end lacks feel", "lost grip under power", or "was unsettled at steep lean angles" will demolish sales of a bike sold for its handling prowess.

In addition, some bikes can sit around for a few years before being sold. I would not expect a bike's tires to behave the same 3 years old as they would if they were new.

.

[DaveAlvarado]

Originally Posted by gixxerjasen

Anyway, just seemed odd to me that manufacturers spend so much time and effort on something that will be quickly replaced by the owners and yet doesn't have to really conform to regulatory requirements (ie exhaust), or that reviewers wouldn't equal up the table in a comparison review.

The exhaust can't be legally changed in some states in the US and many countries around the world.

As for comparisons, they frequently *do* level the field when it matters. Most sport bike comparisons are done on a standard tire. The rest of the time, I don't remember seeing much in the way of stock tire comments beyond "they work" unless it's an unusual stock tire, like the Pirelli MT-60's (a supermoto tire) that comes stock on the Ducati Multistrada.

[tshelfer]

I have no idea what came stock on my Wee. When I bought it at 20K, it had a Kenda up front and a very slippery-when-wet Dunlop on the back. I currently have a low-bucks Kuhmo 705 on the front, which works just fine, thank you very much. And a Bridgestone Trailwing on the rear, which is at 6200 miles and going strong.

[ed29]

I run the factory tires out, then put on what I want. Exception to this was the WR. I took the stock Bridgestones off only about 25% worn. They were alright on the road but lacking off pavement.

The Metzlers that came on the FJR did not have the life nor the traction of the PR2s I replaced them with. I often wonder how one tire can excel in both areas over another when the two areas seem exclusive of each other.

The Dunlops that came on the Versys were pretty good, even off pavement. They got replaced with my favorite... PR2s.

[focus frenzy]

Originally Posted by tshelfer

I have no idea what came stock on my Wee.

it should be on the sticker that list size and what pressure to run at. on my SV it is on the swing arm.

my SV1K came stock (according to the sticker) with Michelin pilot road (B higher load range) tires. I have Michelin tires on it but have a pilot power front and a pilot road 2 rear. they work realy well on it. I have no clue why Suzuki went with a higher load range version of the pilot road, the SV1K is 38lbs heavyer than the GSXR1000, but at 408lbs dry it is still pretty light compared to most other bikes out there.

[Morgan Buchanan]

I didn't like the stock tires on my Concours, but I still wore 'em out, because I'm cheap. LOL But they'd have had to be PREEETTY terrible before I'd have not bought the bike due to the tires.

But I think it is a huge leap of logic to say that just because the manufacturer puts a tire on a bike stock that it means they think that is the best tire for the bike. I'm not denying that it COULD occur but I think it's the exception, not the rule.

[gixxerjasen]

Originally Posted by Morgan Buchanan

But I think it is a huge leap of logic to say that just because the manufacturer puts a tire on a bike stock that it means they think that is the best tire for the bike. I'm not denying that it COULD occur but I think it's the exception, not the rule.

Watch the video link I posted. Apparently Ducati went to some lengths to get what they thought was the perfect tire for the MultiStrada.

As for the previous comments about sportbike manufacturers putting on good tires...not exactly true. They've shod them with some crap over the years in my opinion, including the crappy Dunlops that came on my GSX-R.

[The Bruce]

I think a lot of manufacturers, especially Suzuki, put on a low bid minimum spec tire knowing they will be used up quick and/or people will put on a tire they like. I don't know of any Suzuki that comes with a good tire.