[dreamseller]

Changed the front and rear tyres of my 248xx kms run CBR 250R to Michelin Pilot Street, about 800kms back. They seem much better now. Very well rounded profile. Although not exactly VFM, but great product nevertheless.

Below is the testimony to a good corner that it took on my way back home. Don't know if you guys can make out from the pic or not, but I sure did have fun!

P.S. Now I know how the TWI wears out. The ContiGo left so much to be desired.

[Sheel]

Wish to change both tires of my CBR-250R. Any further updates on tire front?

At few places, the front tire/handlebar sometimes tries to turn on its own. Say on a concrete road with unevenness. This did not happen with the R15 or any other bike [same place, same rider]

Usage will be commuting & small highway runs.

With the Continentals, I have flown over bad roads [roads peeled off for construction and or stones lying prior to relaying the road] with 2 tonne weight and nothing went wrong but grip on dry isn't very good.

Thanks

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by Sheel

Wish to change both tires of my CBR-250R. Any further updates on tire front?

At few places, the front tire/handlebar sometimes tries to turn on its own. Say on a concrete road with unevenness. This did not happen with the R15 or any other bike [same place, same rider]

Usage will be commuting & small highway runs.

With the Continentals, I have flown over bad roads [roads peeled off for construction and or stones lying prior to relaying the road] with 2 tonne weight and nothing went wrong but grip on dry isn't very good.

Thanks

Yeah I got Michelin Pilot Street fit just a few weeks back. Got the back first and the front a few weeks after. A world of difference I tell you. And what you are referring to - "the front tire/handlebar sometimes tries to turn on its own" is tramlining. Yes, it is was very pronounced on the Contigos. But it is negligible on the Michelins. These really hold their line well. I have still not had a chance to ride in the wet but the Contigos used to scare me in the wet! In small wet patches of road (rubble, water, tarmac combo), even when turning, the Michelins have held well.

My 2 cents...

[man_of_steel]

Originally Posted by Sheel

At few places, the front tire/handlebar sometimes tries to turn on its own. Say on a concrete road with unevenness. This did not happen with the R15 or any other bike [same place, same rider]

Just Checking. Are the tire pressures maintained correctly?

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by naveenroy

Yeah I got Michelin Pilot Street fit just a few weeks back. Got the back first and the front a few weeks after. A world of difference I tell you. And what you are referring to - "the front tire/handlebar sometimes tries to turn on its own" is tramlining.

A bit of tramlining should happen with others, but doesn't happen. Tires are the culprit though.

How much for The Michelins? And what about Pirellis?

Been hearing positive reviews for MRF's as well.

Originally Posted by man_of_steel

Just Checking. Are the tire pressures maintained correctly?

Yes, pressure is ok.

[aargee]

MRF NON Radial is good, but looses air on long run due to wear & tear; if there's a tube inside, good, cheap & best alternative option
Dunlop NON Radial - good, VFM but < MRF radial
MRF Radial is good, VFM
Michelin NON Radial is so-so, I'm not having a great opinion on it though, still experimenting & might have different opinion later
Michelin Radial - not used, heard its good, will try them next

Only tire left out is Conti, I don't think you'll want to know about it

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by aargee

Michelin Radial - not used, heard its good, will try them next

Only tire left out is Conti, I don't think you'll want to know about it

I have had very good experience with MRF's on the R15, if the tire compound is any closer, then I can go for them, else I am veering towards Michelin. Have used Pirellis about a decade back. Lets see what might be readily available.

I am not a very gifted rider to explore CBR's limit on Metro badged Contis.

Will update post a shoe change.

[naveenroy]

Originally Posted by Sheel

A bit of tramlining should happen with others, but doesn't happen. Tires are the culprit though.

How much for The Michelins?

Front - around 4.2k and 5.3k for the rear. Depends on your bargaining skills too - I am not good

[Mashblue]

Just changed the front tyre to michelin radial and realized how pathetic the stock contigo was (had 11 punctures). Now the bike can properly take corners and doesn't tramline. Rears will be replaced shortly.

[phamilyman]

Is there a knobby tyre recommended for the CBR besides the Pirelli / Michelin reccos?

I was hoping to buy one which has a tread like the ceat vertigo but can't find any such tyre in the gurgaon market.

[bblost]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

Is there a knobby tyre recommended for the CBR besides the Pirelli / Michelin reccos?

I was hoping to buy one which has a tread like the ceat vertigo but can't find any such tyre in the gurgaon market.

I don't know about CBR and ceat.
But I used such a Dunlop on my Thunderbird.

It was the worst thing to have on good roads.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by bblost

I don't know about CBR and ceat.
But I used such a Dunlop on my Thunderbird.

It was the worst thing to have on good roads.

Interesting. Why do you say that? Tell me more.

I had the most scary fishtails of my life in a 10km downhill on muddy under-construction NH22 30km from Bilaspur on the OEM Contis. Even at 15 kph the CBR was all over the place.

While on the pulsar with the vertigo sport, I would just fly through the same with confidence at the usual 60-80 kph!

[Sheel]

Originally Posted by phamilyman

I had the most scary fishtails of my life in a 10km downhill on muddy under-construction NH22 30km from Bilaspur on the OEM Contis. Even at 15 kph the CBR was all over the place.

The OE tires are BS, they aren't good on the road [designed to be] so off-road behavior like that is norm for them.

I bet on any sports bike with road biased tire, you would be fishtailing in similar fashion.

KTM riders have fitted groovy tires on their trip to Leh, but I am unsure as to how would they perform on tarmac.

[man_of_steel]

Originally Posted by Sheel

KTM riders have fitted groovy tires on their trip to Leh, but I am unsure as to how would they perform on tarmac.

Mostly Ceat Vertigo Sport. Usual opinion I have heard is that they hold good on the tarmac till about 120kph. Beyond which it is just plain dangerous.

[phamilyman]

Originally Posted by man_of_steel

Mostly Ceat Vertigo Sport. Usual opinion I have heard is that they hold good on the tarmac till about 120kph. Beyond which it is just plain dangerous.

Please help me understand your comment: "plain dangerous".

That kind of behavior sounds perfectly fine. I have never pushed my CBR beyond 110 kph so a 120 top speed is more than I'd want! I cannot ride my bike confidently on any tour, at the moment knowing how bad it would perform in just 100m of wet mud.