[Author Index] [Date Index] [Thread Index]
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]

RE: Tyre Test



Brad the tires pressures you are using are UN-SAFE !  You should 
NEVER exceed the maximum allowable pressure listed on the side wall 
of the tire. Over inflation is a very bad thing and could cause a 
blow out!  I don't think you'd enjoy that.

Erik


> I'm not running 42 lbs in them though it's closer to 50 rear and 45 
>front.  Part
>of the high pressure is to help prevent squaring the tread to early.
>  I'm looking to get close to what the BT57's gave me originally, 10k before
>replacement, I'ld be happy with 8K.  Is this unrealistic for them
>considering my riding style?
>
>Brad "Deviled Dawg" Applegate
>'00 Sapphire Blue Sprint ST
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-st@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:owner-st@xxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of Eric
>Sheley
>Sent: Wednesday, October 04, 2000 12:44 PM
>To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: Re: Tyre Test
>
>
>At 11:26 AM 10/4/00 +0100, Martin Fay wrote:
> >      Any chance of a mailshot summary for those of us without web access?
>
>Well, you won't get a lot of the individual results as the are graphical
>bars, but here is the rest.
>
>- Eric
>
>We used the sports tourer benchmark Honda VFR800 and the new pretender -
>the heavier but quicker Triumph Sprint ST. They were fitted with the kind
>of datalogging equipment race teams use, to help our riders check every
>detail of the way the tyres performed over lap after hard lap of
>Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground. We chose Bruntingthorpe because conditions
>reflect those you find on the road
>
>** 1st ** Avon Azaro II 98%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 36 Rear: 42
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:09.30 Keith 2:10.54
>OVERALL  98% Just as good on the Sprint
>(ST Comments)
>Marc: These behaved exactly the same on the Sprint as on the VFR. All
>comments apply. And the scores are identical, too.
>Keith: These are my favourites of all the tyres here - but it is amazingly
>close. Comments and marks as the VFR.
>(VFR Comments)
>Marc: These suit the bike in every aspect. There's a tiny bit of movement
>out of corners, but it's fun, not scary. No complaints at all about grip,
>feedback, stability, turn-in time, or corner speed. Brilliant.
>Keith: The tyres' profiles are just flat enough for utter stability and
>predictability going into bends and sharp enough for speedy steering.
>They're excellent and show Avon's extensive redesigning of this tyre over
>the past 12 months has paid off. I can't fault them.
>
>
>** 2nd ** Pirelli Dragon GTS 95%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 34 Rear: 39
>THE FACTS
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:13.60 Keith 2:13.12
>OVERALL  95% Solid stability
>Marc: The Sprint is a slow turner in corners but the Pirellis make it even
>slower. Still, that doesn't mean spirited bend riding becomes a chore.
>There's plenty of grip, they're very predictable and behave quite well on
>overbanding. Only a 150mph bridge leap would upset the bike. Comfort is
>good.
>Keith: They allow the entire underside of the bike to drag the ground.
>Feedback is good and the construction of the carcass makes for a very
>comfortable ride, especially considering the Triumph's rather squidgy
>suspension. I'd have preferred them to turn just a touch quicker.
>
>** 3rd ** Michelin Macadam 91%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 36 Rear: 42
>THE FACTS
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:10.24 Keith 2:11.19
>OVERALL  91% Cornering instability
>Marc: These squatted and weaved out of bumpy bends. They definitely ran
>wide a number of times and, although they were generally stable and grippy,
>I felt cornering stability could be better. The lap times were good but the
>tyre isn't the best choice for a Sprint for the road.
>Keith: There is a hint of understeer. They also tended to drift
>fractionally in tight, flat bends, extending the racing line by around 12
>inches. Fine for hard road use at sane speeds, but there are better.
>
>** 4th ** Continental ContiForce 90%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 36 Rear: 42
>THE FACTS
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:09.97 Keith 2:11.08
>OVERALL  90% Very fast and suits the Sprint
>Marc: A blisteringly quick lap, only a few tenths off the fastest time. The
>tyre is brimming with grip and the compliant carcass clearly suits this
>type and weight of bike.
>Keith: I also found these quick, but not to the same extremes as Marc. They
>are just as good on the Sprint as they are on the VFR. But I still can't
>get to grips with them on overbanding. Had they coped with this, they might
>well have got among my top three.
>
>** 5th ** Dunlop D207 89%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 34 Rear: 42
>THE FACTS
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:12.00 Keith 2:11.24
>OVERALL  89% Poor stability - exciting ride
>Marc: The D207s moved around a bit on the Sprint but turned into corners
>really quick. There was slight instability in a straight line. They were
>unstable exiting some fast bends but there was loads of grip and the
>feedback was good. This made them predictable.
>Keith: The Dunlops on the Sprint were the least stable of all those tested.
>This isn't surprising as Dunlop supplied D207s. Many sports tourer owners
>may opt for the D204s instead. The D207s tip in really quickly and offer
>bags of grip. I thought the straight-line stability was fine.
>
>** 6th ** Metzeler MEZ4 88%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 34 Rear: 39
>THE FACTS
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:11.21 Keith 2:12.05
>OVERALL  88% Fast, but hard to trust
>Marc: These moved around a bit going into and exiting corners, despite the
>similarity in carcass construction to the Pirellis. They were also a bit
>wallowy when powering hard and getting back upright. Again the front was
>vague. And the bike struggled to turn into corners on the brakes. Grip was
>good.
>Keith: These simply don't talk to me enough. There's no disputing there is
>quite a bit of grip, but I don't get the feedback to know where it ends.
>The turn-in time is slow, as I'd expected. I'm disappointed with the number
>of mini slides I got when riding at ten-tenths. You can be quick on them -
>if you trust them.
>
>** 7th ** Bridgestone BT020 86%
>
>Recommended tyre pressures (lbs/sq in):
>Front: 36 Rear: 42
>THE FACTS
>Fastest lap  Marc: 2:10.24 Keith 2:11.19
>OVERALL  86% Great feedback, but they squirm
>Marc: The Bridgestones don't suit the Sprint ST. If I hadn't known what I
>was riding on, I would have thought the Triumph and the VFR800 were on
>different rubber - the behaviour is that far apart. There was lots of
>squirm and movement in corners, which made what was actually a fast lap, a
>sphincter-contracting one. Straight-line stability was fine.
>Keith: I squeezed the second-fastest lap times on the Sprint out of the
>Bridgestones but they squirm on bumpy bends. But the levels of grip and
>feedback are totally excellent. A fast but choppy tyre.
>
>
>     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
>*
>      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
>          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
>   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info
>
>
>     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
>      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
>          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
>   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info


     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info

=-=-=-= Next Message =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=