Rook choose your weapon. Not that I am biased or anything.

Thanks, CW. I'd try a set of Power Ones, perhaps. I don't see any info about there speed rating in the chart though.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/27/2010 @ 6:18 PM *

RATING RATED TOP SPEED MPH / KPH
J 62 mph / 100 kph
N 87 mph / 140 kph
P 94 mph / 150 kph
S 112 mph / 180 kph
H 130 mph / 210 kph
V 149 mph / 240 kph
Z 149+ mph / 240+ kph

There's a lot ofcharts like the one above if you do a search. I wasn't able to find one that seemed to have all the ratings. This one does not have W or Y.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/27/2010 @ 6:33 PM *

From Wiki:

Speed rating[citation needed]
Code mph km/h
A1 3 5
A2 6 10
A3 9 15
A4 12 20
A5 16 25
A6 19 30
A7 22 35
A8 25 40
B 31 50
C 37 60
D 40 65
E 43 70
F 50 80
G 56 90
J 62 100
K 68 110
L 75 120
M 81 130
N 87 140
P 94 150
Q 100 160
R 106 170
S 112 180
T 118 190
U 124 200
H 130 210
V 149 240
Z over 149 over 240
W 168 270
(W) over 168 over 270
Y 186 300
(Y) over 186 over 300
If the above chart is correct Z is good for top speed but (W) or (Y) would be even better.

OK. all done having tire conversation with self now. Any more comments more than welcome :)

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/27/2010 @ 6:49 PM *

Corsa 3 168 Mph +++++

Lots to choose from,all brands, click here
Good Read, Link

* Last updated by: Romans on 3/27/2010 @ 8:12 PM *

http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/pubs/fitment2010.pdf

http://www.michelinmotorcycle.com/pubs/brochure2010.pdf

So what ur telling me not all Tires are made for 150+ mph speeds? hmm. What, can they just snap when u go too fast???? harr harr

With the 190/55 tire i have (10 mm larger diameter), that should have been pretty close to accurate speed. The BT0s are rated for up to 168 and they didn't blow. I guess anyone is taking a pretty big chance going that fast in the first place so why do it on tires that were not made to be stable at that speed? I haven't heard of high speed crashes being caused by tire failure very often. I doubt any decent tire would be very likely to fly apart from spinning. Who's to say it couldn't happen though? If I'm going to go that fast I want to have the right equipment.

* Last updated by: Rook on 4/10/2010 @ 9:40 PM *

those ratings are for sustained high speed, any of the high performance tires will hold up to shorter blast of 170+.

The power pure looks like a beauty. I'm scared to try anything else. But I want too. Any body have these?

those ratings are for sustained high speed, any of the high performance tires will hold up to shorter blast of 170+.

We hope, anyway. I respect the opinion and I would imagine you are correct. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing something that looks a bit more like hard research data.

Those Power Ones sure sound great but I think I could almost buy two sets of good tires for the price of one set of those.

Honestly, I think it really boils down to what you're going to be doing with the tires for at least 80% of the time. If you're buying them to go on the track, the price will be well worth it because they "should" stick like glue. However, because of the composition of the tire, you'll likely get around 3k before you need to be thinking about buying a new set. I'd think the majority of us wouldn't need such a tire for typical riding conditions, but hell, I'd try them out just to see "how the other half lives". For me, I read that chart from left to right in relevance to aggressiveness. Hardcore, all the way left, touring, all the way right. I think I'll try the Pilot Power 2CT's when my factory's need to be replaced. And, for me, I don't believe the factory tires grip all that well. I feel unsure when doing anything beyond easy cornering so I'll continue to ride easy until I can get better tires. I hear the same thing from others on this and other forums regarding the factory tires.

" Speed ratings were established to match the speed capability of tires with the top speed capability of the vehicles to which they are applied.
Speed ratings are based on laboratory tests where the tire is pressed against a large diameter metal drum to reflect its appropriate load, and run at ever increasing speeds (in 6.2 mph steps in 10 minute increments) until the tire's required speed has been met.
When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities."

To me this means the speed rating must match the max speed of the vehicle. If it's rated at 149mph, how do you know how fast they tested it to, or what % over that speed is acceptable. If you follow manufacturers specs for size, load, and psi, why wouldn't you follow their spec for speed? However, at 149mph it's taking them about 4 hours to get to that speed when testing. The only downsides to a higher speed rating (theoretically) is the mileage and price, so I'd rather be safe than sorry.

Way back when...(circa 1991), I raced in the AMA Endurance Series.
We ran a GSXR1100 and a CBR600F2. We were a team of limited funds.

We'd run a set of V-rated tires for 3hrs at 180mph+ on the banking of Daytona. (The bike only weighed 400lbs)

Never had a problem.

I think the supersport tires of today are constructed much better than then, I wouldn't worry about an occasional excursion to top speed now and then.

I also ran an RZ350 in the sprint races, it would do 140mph+ with H rated tires...

Load Index & Speed Rating
This code, when present, appears after the size marking. The code comprises three characters:
two numbers and a letter, e.g. 73 W, known as a service description. The two-digit
number is a code for the maximum load carrying capacity of the tire. The letter is a maximum
speed rating indicating the maximum speed at which the tire may be used with maximum
load when the maximum listed inflation pressure is used. The load index/speed symbol indicates
the speed at which the tire can carry a load corresponding to its load index under conditions
specified by the tire manufacturer.

Example
Load Index
Code lb
73W 805 Michelin Pilot Road 2 190/50ZR17 - 168mph with an 805lb load
75W 853 Michelin Pilot Road 2 190/55ZR17 - 168mph with an 853lb load

You are not going to be at the maximum load, you've got room room to play with...

like I said, the speed rating is for extended periods at the speed rated. Short blast of high speed with anything above a z rating isn't gonna hurt anything. The heat build up from long runs at high speed is what does them in!

I don't buy Michelin, and haven't for 25 years. Its sort of a Corbin thing for me, but I digress.

At one point in the 80's I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which came with high end Michelin all-purpose truck radials. After one year, well within warranty, the sidewalls split full circumference on 3 of the 4 tires.

I contacted Michelin, and they admitted they had used the wrong compound for the white rubber imbedded in the sidewalls spelling out Michelin and tire information / name. But here is the kicker. Having admitted this, they refused to replace the tires as defective, and only offered me pro-rated trade in on them amounting to maybe $40 off a new set of four tires in the $1,000 range for all four.

Last time I ever purchased a Michelin product. I'm sure they didn't miss me at all, but I didn't miss them either. For a sportbike, nothing beats Bridgestone, and roadracing results prove it.

Every manufacturer has there problems once in while...

Remember the Firestone (Bridgestone) Ford Explorer tires blowing up in 2000!

Speaking of Bridgestone, here's some new ones:
http://mc.bridgestone.co.jp/en/products/battlax/bt023.html

I think they all make good tires.

For a sportbike, nothing beats Bridgestone, and roadracing results prove it.

* Last updated by: CycleJunkie on 3/29/2010 @ 6:16 PM *

I asked for Michelin Power Ones and the parts guy told me he had them in stock and would sell a front and back to me for $250. They are close to $400 on the net so I was very interested but a bit skeptical. I brought my rims in and asked to look at the Power Ones they has set aside for me. Then the guy says, "OH your the person I was talking to on the phone......well I set aside some Pilot Powers for you instead because the Power Ones would have worn out in no time on the street.

I have to say I was a bit pissed. I asked for Power ones and was offered them at an outstanding price. The sales person took it upon hoimself to choose a different tire for me and then intended to sell it to me without ever saying a word ---like I am some sort of a dumass who wouldn't wouldn't have known by looking at the tire. I told the guy it was very lucky for him that he told me the tires I had been sold were not what I had asked for because if I came in to get my wheels and they were wrong, they would be taking the tires back off.

I told them to keep their tires they had in stock. I went with BT-016s again. Not a Y rated tire but I know they wear well and they stick good in the warmer weather.

I don't know how folks want to keep going back to these stock tires. I really believe these factory Bridgestones are crap and I don't feel confident enough to corner much with them. I lose traction coming out of a turn and I'm no where near WOT. Definitely going with a softer compound tire - and maybe even before they need to be replaced. I spoke with the mechanic at the dealership who came in 1st in our area for the AMA superbike events and I trust him. He agrees, telling me he thinks they're just not cut out for any kind of cornering and believes they're meant mostly for sport touring. He also recommended the Pilot Power 2CT which will be my next set. Maybe sooner than later. Just real disappointed right now.

the 014's are JUNK! The 016's are a great tire, they just don't last long with hard cornering, but, they still like glue!

^^+1 Lots of people like BT-016. The BT014 is the stock tire and I don't think it's too good if you want to corner. I trust the triple compound rear on the 16. I never had a problem except for when the weather was cold in late Fall. That's no time to be testing cornering IMO.

^^+1 Lots of people like BT-016. The BT014 is the stock tire and I don't think it's too good if you want to corner.

I have had nothing but bad things to say about Bridgestone tires so I will keep my gob shut. But I will Admit the BT-16s were a eye opener. When I bought the 6R, I asked for the tire change to be worked into the deal because I hated them so much, but I failed to make it happen.

The BT-016 will impress even a skeptic. Sweet Tire. I did not give the new 16 a fair shake.(my bad). They are still on the sixer and will stay there till worn out. I'm trying to keep a open mind but slipped up on that one.

What tire size do you all recommend? I was thinking of going to the 190/55/17 for the rear.

* Last updated by: loadedmind on 4/2/2010 @ 8:14 PM *

I was thinking of going to the 190/55/17 for the rear.

There is allot of guys here run this size tire and are very happy with there choice.