I recently swapped out my 14's stock 190/50ZR-17 for the 190/55ZR-17 and have a couple hundred miles on it now. I would say a worth while improvement, turn in is noticeably quickened and the bike feels more stable at full lean with the increased side contact area. Will not be going back to the 190/50s and will be doing the same to my CBR1000RR as soon as the rear tire needs changing.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/15/2011 @ 1:58 PM *

i like too. have only tried one other 55 since i went through two sets of BT-016 190/55. They are not all the same feel. The Bt-003 doesn't have the the safe neutral feel that the BT-016 has. I'm sure we've discussed it. the 003 has broader, flatter side tread with a small round on the center. The 016 is closer to a circle all the way from side to side. The grip of the 016 is better for street too I think.

Myself I've run a few BT-016 front and rear and I am done with dual compound tires especially those. I put the Michelin pilot powers on really it is much better. The front lasts longer if anything while providing better grip. The rear power has a great profile feels light. Mostly the dual compound when transition to side can't exlain how it feels but not as good as these power single compound.

It is an amazing improvement, no doubt. It gets better again with a 180/55. The handling goes from 'more neutral' to 'completely neutral'. It is well worth the change.

I am on my 2nd set of pirelli's with a 180/55 on the rear. I replaced OEM with 190/55 pirellis when I bought it. I thought that was good until I changed.

Now this is the first I've heard of going to a 180/55 on a big bore, always thought of it as more of a Supersport tire.

Well, tires are a very personal thing Kawnow, so I won't argue with you. If it works for you then it works. I have the BT-016s on everything and have no complaints. Just changed over to the new Pro version, supposed to give 20% more tire life. 14 rear tire lasts about 2k, 2.5K on the literbikes and 3K on the 600. You won't catch me complaining about tire life, sticky tires wear out faster but that's OK, pay me now or pay me later!

* Last updated by: Kruz on 12/17/2011 @ 2:53 AM *

I used a set of 016s for track tires, 190/50 version. They worked well enough on the Busa for novice class work, toast after 3 trips though. Pretty well blued on the sides, but granted, it was hot and track days aren't really what 016s were designed for.
As for the 190/55 thing.. Maybe better on the track, but honestly, I can't tell any real difference on the street. Using Pilot Powers and really, the 55 doesn't feel any different than the 50. I'll definitely be trying a 55 of some sort next summer on the track. May come away with a completely different opinion then.
Just notice there's an 1/8" chicken strip I just can't seem to scrub off on the street, at street pressures. Could probably let it down to 30-32psi and get it off of there, but at 37psi, it ain't happenin'. The shiney rubber band remains, taunting me.

The reason for 016 dislike is a sort of a coincidence of stories. One spring day in cool partly damp road conditions while braking for a corner kinda hard the front without warning was sliding off the road luckily just wet grass so I rode it out on to a gravel driveway. Maybe a couple months later riding with a group and was discussing tires this guy tells me of a track day and while braking for a corner he suddenly slid straight past some other riders. He said I'll never use BT-016s again. So I go look at my front tire BT -016. That hard compound down the middle that is supposed to make for better mileage ain't so great for predictable sliding. You're probably thinking I hit some wet pavement or gravel but I chose a dry patch for braking. It was for me the shock of braking hard 1 second to slide in a transition so smooth and complete that your mind could not believe it.

Hillbilly Tom, I noticed the same thing, if you drop tire pressure way down then chicken strips are toast, on the street with book pressures, definitely harder to get rid of them. I run 42/42 on the street on my 14, by the book.

Never really had good results with bridgestone tires on my bikes. Great on my truck though. I'm running the dunlop Q2's on my 14 and R6 love the feel and turn in grip is excellent. Wear is great my 14 flattened the rear within about 2k with the b-stones no such problem with the Q2's.

I tried a Dunlop Qualifier on my 14, 1900 miles on the rear and it was done. BT-016 now on everything I own.

As for the 190/55 thing.. Maybe better on the track, but honestly, I can't tell any real difference on the street. Using Pilot Powers and really, the 55 doesn't feel any different than the 50. I'll definitely be trying a 55 of some sort next summer on the track. May come away with a completely different opinion then.

It's true, one 190/55 is not the same size/shape as a dif brand 190/55. AFAIC, the dif between the stock 190/50 BT-014 and the BT-016 was extremely noticable in the way the bike tips into a corner at all speeds. It actually was a little scary at first because the thing turned in so effortlessly that it felt like it might fall over. The BT-003 190/55 is like the next stage of turn after the 016. The 003 I thinh is too radical for the street. I had no problems with them track riding when i lowered the pressure.

55s are more expensive than 50s. Maybe not all 55 are more desirable than there 50 counterparts but I can see a dif in the look of all 55s. The 55s look nicer because they stick up more and they do not square off as noticeably if you do a lot of highway miles. They wear down to a round shape because they start off as an oval..

55s also correct your speedo.