Because I go through tires so fast, I usually buy the cheapest thing I can find which is usually Shinko's. Not a bad tire, but is not a great tire either...simply a cheap tire.
Anyway, I was invited to go on a ride in the Austin Hill country by a friend and was reluctant to go because my front tire was questionable. He offered to buy me new tires if I'd go so I did. Took the bike to Cycle Shack North in Conroe, Tx. and cannot say enough good about the place. Great, knowledgable people there and the service guys are top shelf.
Anyway, they fitted a Michelin Commander II on back and a Bridgestone BT30 on the front. Both radials. Took the bike to the hill country and rode it as hard as I have ever ridden a bike and what I can say about the tires is this - I will never put anything else on the bike. The grip and feel of these things completely transformed the bike. So amazing, and so fun. It took me a little while to adjust to them put once I did, I really pushed the bike into the turns.
These are soft tires, which accounts for the grip, so i don't expect them to last that long. We will see. I normally have to change tires every time I change oil - 5K miles. The exception to this was the Kenda Kruze - an excellent tire that lasted me over 9K miles and was only changed because I was offered new tires.
The Michelin
The Bridgestone
The front tire after hard riding on some fantastic roads.
Can't think of a better place to put tires to the test than the Austin Hill country. It was the best riding the 3 of us have ever done. I highly recomend it to anyone.
Anyway, I was invited to go on a ride in the Austin Hill country by a friend and was reluctant to go because my front tire was questionable. He offered to buy me new tires if I'd go so I did. Took the bike to Cycle Shack North in Conroe, Tx. and cannot say enough good about the place. Great, knowledgable people there and the service guys are top shelf.
Anyway, they fitted a Michelin Commander II on back and a Bridgestone BT30 on the front. Both radials. Took the bike to the hill country and rode it as hard as I have ever ridden a bike and what I can say about the tires is this - I will never put anything else on the bike. The grip and feel of these things completely transformed the bike. So amazing, and so fun. It took me a little while to adjust to them put once I did, I really pushed the bike into the turns.
These are soft tires, which accounts for the grip, so i don't expect them to last that long. We will see. I normally have to change tires every time I change oil - 5K miles. The exception to this was the Kenda Kruze - an excellent tire that lasted me over 9K miles and was only changed because I was offered new tires.
The Michelin
The Bridgestone
The front tire after hard riding on some fantastic roads.
Can't think of a better place to put tires to the test than the Austin Hill country. It was the best riding the 3 of us have ever done. I highly recomend it to anyone.