Hello all! I'm new to this forum so i hope i picked the right section for my post. If not i apologize in advance. So i'm currently on a 2012 zx-14r and i'm having an issue with my tires that i cant seem to solve. I've only gone through one set of tires, and that was the stock metzeler sportec M5s. Initially i was wary of them but they grew on me and i was able to push them hard and they were predictable, gave excellent feedback from the front and rear end. I would've gotten the same brand but none were available, so i went with the pilot pures because i've ridden on hat tire a few times with no problems.

So long story short i roll away from the dealership and the handling characteristics of the bike seem way off, so i check the tire pressure literally right next door and the front and rear are over 50 psi. So i brought it down to 38f 40 r and that worked well, felt great. More rigid then the metzelers but i figured i could manage. Its been three days and now when i make left handed turns it feels like the front end is on ice. I've slid the rear on corners about four times but i just chalked that up to the tires being new, but now the front slides around as well. Im currently at 36f 38 rear. If anyone has any reccomendstions it eould be appreciated.

"So i brought it down to 38f 40 r and that worked well, felt great"...okay...why lower it more then?.I personally didn't care for the "pilot" series tires...I didn't get the same results a lot of guys did?Went with Dunlops this time around...Sportmax 1's.(Streetsmarts).Second rear on here with this brand...front is new..Sportmax Streetsmart(matched..new and new).I've been hitting curves here at well over 120....they grip like crazy.No squirm,slip,nothing.They will however spin if I punch er right with the right RPMs going.I try to avoid that actually.I want to save my tires...not trash em.KTRC on '1'...power mode...F.

Virtually 'straight outta the box" these tires gripped like glue without having to worry about slipping.I hit one set of my favorite curves...new tires...forgot they were new...rocked on in....they held great....all the way to the edge...no prob.New.

BTW.... ...

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 8/12/2012 @ 1:57 PM *

wow... i guess i don't ride nearly as hard as others on here, I'm running the pilot ROADs (2nd set of them), I had my last set out on the track and even scraping the pegs they never gave any indiciation that they were about to slide. Granted I wasn't hitting the throttle very hard. (I usually run 40/40psi but dropped it on the track due to the extra heat generated from harder cornering, etc)

Apark759 check your tire alignment!

Without any more info, it's hard to tell. Road surface, temp, speed, lean angle, how hard you accelerate etc. If it's not your alignment, try the Rosso Corsa or my second favorite: The Q2's.

Believe or don't, your tires are part of your suspension, and whenever you put a tire on with different grip and stiffness characteristics, your suspension setting can suddenly be null and void for the new tire.

I was surprised to learn KHI specced Metzlers for the 14R, but normally OEM tires are different (cheaper) than the same tire off-the-rack. Not familiar with the M5s, but the Pures are a sport tire; soft rubber and less stiff sidewalls-better for adjusting the psi to suit. Maybe this is why they had them pumped up so much, although 50 psi is way over max pressure.

Try running the pressure back up to max recommended and stiffen up the suspension a bit. You may have to do some experimenting to get the right combination.

* Last updated by: Danno on 8/13/2012 @ 5:14 AM *

All stock tires are aged by the time they get to a new owner's garage. Many times they are on the obselete side of old, but often work fine.

The stock tires on my ZX14 lasted a full season, and performed admirably well. When I replaced them with Pilot Road 2 tires, the handling improved, as did the grip and how long the tires lasted.

When I traded my ZX14 on a 2012 Connie, the PR2s on it were still quite good. The guy that came down from Canada to get it and rode it on the Tail of the Dragon probably killed the tires but had plenty left to get it home.

My 2012 Connie came out of the shop after prep with new Pilot Road 3 tires, as I told the dealer they could keep the stock Bridge-Rocks and they put the new PR3s on for free.

My PR3s have been from Maryland to Arkansas and back, all over the very abrasive Arkansas mountain roads around Eureka Springs, and to two other locations each 200+ miles each way. So they now have 4,000 miles on them and they are doing great, I expect to put another 4k on them without any problems.

And its not like I am babying them, and they aren't flat spotting from slabbing all the time. In fact, both front and rear are scrubbed to the sidewalls, no chicken strips left on either. Running mountain twisties helps to balance out the time on slab to keep the tires in good shape.

But tires are very personal choices, like oil, and so YMMV and though this works for me, it may not work for you.

zzr 1400 spec tire is bridgestone S20, it really is a very grippy tire, and has a pretty quick turn in, i think im gonna try usa spec metzler next just for comparison, bike feels light on its feet, id like to see if tire is contributing to this, or merely suspension/steering geometry, the only downside to bridgestone so far is now that they are getting worn down, is the handling is effected a lot, more than most bikes ive had, likes to shake the steering a little , well a lot, but im riding on pretty rough roads, but im deffo getting more little wobbles,and its more difficult to change direction , tires have only 1100 miles

* Last updated by: motero on 8/22/2012 @ 3:33 AM *

Alright i'll make sure to try what you all have recommended. A lot of what was said was new to me so thanks everyone for all the help :)! I ended up buying the metzelers and putting the pilots on my cbr. Both bikes feel normal again to me.

fwiw: My latest numbers on the rear tires are bringing the PR2 in at over 8,000 miles. I have used the Pure on the front, and really REALLY like that tire, but I don't like changing tires ever other month, so I have settled on the Pilot Power up front. many of my touring buddies have been using this combo and love it, claming as much as 12,000 miles on the rear of a couple Ducs and BMWs. the group I ride with ride pretty hard and all year around, so tires are a big deal for a few of us, and these seam to be the best bang for the buck.

$.02

I am using the Pilot Powers front & rear I am getting around 8 to 9 thousand K's from a set love the grip & the feel from these.

Neil