180/60 - 16

[mike_bike]

Which is the best 180/60 16 tyre in the market?

[paso750]

I guess you should search the web for tests or other forums for experiences. I`m sure everyone who actually has a 180 on his Paso is still driving the first set. Hence noone will actually be able to say which model is better due to the lack of comparison.

G.

[mike_bike]

I found Brigestone Exedra G704, Metzeler ME 880 Marathon, Dunlop Elite 3 Radial, Dunlop D250 and Avon Cobra. I have to found which is the best for Paso' s sport character

[paso750]

There`s also a Shinko 757. I`d recommend to call the tire manufacturers and talk to them personally. I did that a couple of years ago and the feedback I got from Metzeler and Dunlop was negative. Bridgestone said I could do it if I didn´t find anything else. Only Avon was positive that the Cobra would work fine on a bike like the Paso. Of course that`s the manufacturers feedback which still doesn`t say much about actual handling or performance.

G.

[mike_bike]

Do you find 150/80 - 16 to be better than 180/60 - 16?

[paso750]

there`re many different opinions about this. I personally chose the Avon Cobra because the tire suits the rim size better than a 150/80.

G.

[mike_bike]

Is it sport enough for Paso? How it corners? What you use in the front wheel?

[paso750]

Avon recommends an AV45 front with the AV72 rear as it has a rounder shape and will match the Cobra better than their Supersport models. I didn´t have the chance yet to ride the bike. Others did, search the forum. Avon themselves write about the Cobra: "Aimed at the power cruiser/custom/touring market. Incorporates sports tyre technology for nimble handling" and about the Azaro AV45: "Specially designed for high performance and extended tyre life".

G.

[Mobius]

I have a Metzler M3 sportec 130/70 on the front, and the Dunlop D250 180/60 on the rear. I needed to trim the left edge of the D250 quite a bit to get it to clear the chain.

Because the tyres on it (Michelins) when I got it were 9 years old, and the bike had been off the road for 6 years, they were rock-solid, and the sidewalls were cracked. Riding on them was frankly horrendous.

The new tyre combo I have works very well indeed: the grip levels are phenomenal, except under heavy braking with the rear tending to lock reasonably easily. Under power there are no problems whatsoever.

I was 20 years off bikes, and the "new" tyres of 2010 are light years ahead of the shitty old Pirellis and Michelins (despite them being fantastic back in the day).

I dare say that any and every tyre you can stick on a Paso today are much much better than any original rubber, by any and every measure possible.

[pasoalf]

I know its a bit late, but I'm usually in the 750 Forum "on the way"
Made so far 2500 km on the Avon Cobra. Perfect Grip and still looks like new. Would not change it for any other tire. With the Michelin it occasionally happed that it slided a bit. I so far did not manage this withe the avon cobra (....not brave enough).
In front I ride the Metzeler Sportec, which combines good. But I ones had a slight slide on the front wheel with i did not appreciate (was the first time I had a slide over the front wheel on the paso). Don't know whether there was something on the road..
Anyway concerning front tire I will probably look for an alternative when it's flat. But for the rear tire the Avon Cobra is "set".
The only thing i do not know is how it' behaves in wet condition. But that cant be worse than the original Michelin.

[paso750]

if you have an Avon on the rear why put a Metzeler in the front and not the Avon AV45?

G.

[pasoalf]

I believe there is no problem in mixing brands.
I always had a different tire in front on the 750. In the past I used the Metzeler Laser (120/80/16) which even was a diagonal tire in combination with the Michelin. Worked perfect. Never had any complain with the laser.
After the conversion to 180/60/16 I was just looking for the best tire on the market for the front wheel (was comparing some tyre tests), because the avon is not a real sport tire.
On the 906 I have now a continental in Front. Will have the possibility to compare the metzeler sportec with the continental.
As I already mentioned, the slide I had over the front wheel with the Metzeler sportec made me a bit doubting....