Hi guys,, Im an easy rider, no burnouts,, no knees down.

I have about 2600 miles on the stock battleax tires and wondering when they would need to be replaced? Should I put a thread gague on the treads and see how much they have left?

And what a number were you will want to replace them?

And what is a better tire than the stock ones? Maybe longer lasting. Not so much for all out performance.

Thanks!

they have wear indicator bars molded into them.
it will look like a bump across the tread groove. Once you get to the bars it's time to replace, but, if just cruising I'll run mine till cords are showing.

as far as tires, someone that buys high mileage tires will chime in soon.

* Last updated by: Jeff01ss on 3/4/2011 @ 3:15 PM *

I see no Indicator bars i the tread?

I got over 8K on the stockers. Can't say I recommend it but it is possible. Prolly should have been changed at 6K which is til 2x as many miles as most get out of a tire on their 14. This tire is offering about 0 insurance in the wet/dusty riding conditions dept. + riding on ~1/8 rubber in the center. I stuck my hand inside after tire was removed and felt the thickness and trust me, when it gets down this far it is about 1/8 inch.

The ware bars are the small transverse bits of raised rubber down within the tread lines. You can see them pretty clear in this pic. Supposed to be time to switch when the tires ware down enough that the ware bars are touching the pavement. The center tread often gets worn more than the outlying tread where the ware bars are located. Mine is about bald on center here and big ol' chicken strips on the sides.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/7/2011 @ 2:43 PM *

Wear indicator bars:

Chicken strips:

I'd say get rid of those stock tires as soon as you can, if you're asking my opinion. I had zero confidence in corners with those worthless Pieces of doggy doo. Seriously, to this day, I don't understand why Bridgestone was contracted to make this particular tire for Kawasaki's fastest sportbike. It's beyond me. If you're looking for a tire that has good grip and decent mileage, I strongly recommend Michelin Pilot Road 3's. The older version is the Pilot Road 2's, and you may find it easier to buy the older ones, but the newer ones seem to have better grip without sacrificing too much of the mileage. More info here and here. I just had my tires replaced with these recently. I had PR2's before and got 8500+ miles on them with a little left on the rear. I don't like running mine down to the cord because I commute on mine and don't want to risk losing my job (trying to get to work on time) over a bad tire. I rode my Speed Triple home in the pouring rain right after the tires were installed and they do quite well as well as aggressive cornering. However, if you prefer cornering over miles, I'd say go with Dunlop. I work across the street from the Dunlop test track and can't say enough good things about their tires. Some folks here swear by Pirelli's. But, I'm not aware of a tire besides Michelin that offers the softer edge tires for curve grip combined with the harder compound center of the tire for the best of both worlds.

* Last updated by: loadedmind on 3/7/2011 @ 3:27 PM *

As I read these several tire threads....one thing seems to stand out to me.Loaded said it....."they seem to grip BETTER"...just thinking out loud here...but I wonder about the guys who are running those Pilots and such.I'm wondering what kind of cornering are you doing.I'm not being sarcastic,or anything like that.Seriously....just curious.I'm NO racer....wouldn't really know what getting a knee down feels like.I think I've come pretty close...if I knew HOW to get my body to tweak right.I've run my tires all the way to the sidewall.Leaned in pretty good.....and most of my leaning in has been above 100mph.Most nice curves I am running around 125,135.I've never had my tires slip.Not once.I don't gas it coming off the apex...I try to remain smooth and "lined up".I will accelerate out of my corners,but not too much.I've had my turn with tankslap.In all my riding times,in VERY cold weather.In 90 degree stuff as well,my tires have always gripped and never made me feel like something was about to happen.
Saying that...I put a set of Pilot 2CT's on my bike last year.Just to see what everyone was gaa gaaing about.I have to say...they did not inspire confidence.I don't know why...but to me they felt like they were getting ready to let go.They didn't,but I can't really explain how it felt...just...different I guess.On my bikes...first my zzr1200,then my zx12,and now my 14...I've faithfully used Pirelli Tires.Either Diablos,Diablo Stradas,or Rosso's.I never feel "just at the edge" with these brand tires.They apparently grip like crazy.The Angel ST's are no different.Same deal.Crazy good grip.I think my highest speed running through the canyons here has been around 145,150 at a few curves.I feel confident that the bike is going to lean in and not slide .Maybe I'm just getting more trusting as time goes by.The Pirellis are generally the LOWEST price in the models of "higher end" tire MFG's that I see.

I don't know what it feels like to have the rear suddenly let go.And don't want to find out either.I can't right now imagine any street tire that could be better in terms of road feel,comfort.Tracking,or gripping(not to mention tire life)than my Pirellis.I've gone through umpteen sets along the way so far.Sweet tires...always perform great.Just thought I'd toss that out there..don't hear much feedback on the Pirellis...seems like hardly anyone is using them.

As far as you said Loaded..about the dual compound.The Stradas and Angels are dual compound...But I don't think Pirelli really focuses on that area in their marketing.They are dual however.

I know if a guy just installed the Stradas or Angels and rode "sanely" all the time...they would last a lot more than what I've gotten out of em.My rear will normally go to around 5,000 miles...somewhere in that area.The front will last a good 7000.70 mph and they would run many miles.I know that.

There is one more area of interest to me anyway.This deal about balancing tires.Okay....my baby came factory with those Bridgestones on there..lasted all of 1500 miles.The factory weights were on my rims.At my first tire change,the mechanic(s) removed the factory weights,and reinstalled those sticky ones.I was a tad pissed(to myself).Those are a part of the bike.Not just decorations.Saying that.....I rode my baby for about 5 miles and noticed a perceptible vibe going on at around 70ish.And increasing as I accelerated.I pulled over.Just for the heck of it,I removed their sticky wheel weights.All of em.Front and back.Powered up and rode.Vibes....gone.This was with new Pirellis and having the red spot lined up to the valve stem.EVER SINCE...I have not used tire weights...none.My mechanic now was putting those on there at first..the first few changes I had him do.Everytime she would vibrate at some point along the mph span.And everytime I'd stop and pull those off....she was as smooth as glass.Finally I was able to get him to NOT install wheel weights on my wheels.And this has been exactly how my tires have stayed....NO WHEEL WEIGHTS.Maybe I just got very lucky with the factory wheels...IDK.But it seems to me...that Pirelli really did their homework in this balancing area.I always line up the red dot with the stem....and they run smooth as glass everytime.That's been my experience so far.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 3/7/2011 @ 4:22 PM *

That's crazzzy blue! No wheel weights! But if it works ,,,well that'great. I'll look again close for those bars. I'm also looking into a BMW k1300s. Have you guys seen sharkey around? I use to get a lot of good feedback from him...really cool guy. Thanks.

I concur with loadedmind and blue07 -- but I'm more partial to Dunlops personally, had them on my old KZ, my YZF trackbike, and now on my 14. The Dunlop Roadsmart 2ct's are a great tire for commuting and daily riding, plus you can still have fun with them getting deep on corners without fear of these big brutes stepping out on ya much. Used the old 207 and 208 GP's on the YZF until they were both pulled off the market for the Qualifiers, had one set of those on my 14 before I tried the BT002R's but shredded the Battlax up in less than a season between 20 laps at the local roadcourse and maybe 2000 mi. on the street - good traction, but NO longevity. That's when I swapped over to the Dunlop Roadsmarts since I do more street riding than trackdays anymore. Considered the Pilot 2ct's, but the performance history I have with Dunlop tires ended that conflict and I stuck with what I preferred.
Typically, balancing these sport tires isn't so much a necessity as long as the mount marker is lined up with valvestem and the wheels are true - but results may vary:D
Guys at the track just swap and go - I had a rear tire swapped at a trackday without balancing and no vibration to speak of, even running a 160mph backstraight with a hard hairpin left into a keyhole chicane.....not a shimmie, wiggle, or wobble of any sort when flickin' it around on and off the brakes / gas. Seems most sport tires have a fairly accurate balance to them as they are, sort of like OEM wheels in that respect.....not like they'll wobble apart when out of balance, but in my opinion, I'd have to say constant vibration will eventually play a part in premature wheel bearing failure.

ave you guys seen sharkey around?

Blue, don't give out the secret about the P-Angels pricing is still great. Ur right, not to many are using them and I think part of that is from the hype with the Pilots 2C's. I did want longivity out my next tires and considered how I rode with the fact I put 240lbs (me) on my 500lb beast. With every twist of the throttle, I knew the stock Bstone tires were melting away. The PAngels have been great with over 3k and no signs of squaring at the rear; I was done with Bstones rear at this mileage. I also heard good things about the Dunlop Q2's.

Shogun, what have you been averaging for mileage on those Pirelli's before you have to discard them?

Loaded, not done yet. Blue07 might have better review at this point. I think he has more mileage on his tires. The grip in the corners wet or dry is excellent. What I am most impressed with is the fact I rode almost 800 miles in two days all highway last Oct and no signs of wear in the middle......

fwiw, I just discarded a set of corsa IIIs after 9000km (5500mi?) they had squared off as I commute gently most of the time. I just put on a set of supercorsa SPs. I doubt they'll last as long but so far they've been lovely

I'm testing out some Pirelli Corsas I got a sweet deal on this year. Though a local group I got $280 pricing on two rears and a front, which depending on how they hold up, will last all year. I will easily put more than 10K on them and I don't race around since our roads up here in west Michigan are falling apart and there's gravel in every corner. I've been a Power fan for several years, but I just don't think they can stand up to this bikes power and weight. Heck, no tire will last like they did on my ol GSXR, but that's the nature of the beast. I figure I will probably run different tires every year and still never really know which is the best because they'er always coming out with new stuff it seems. I hope to try some sportbike track time this year if time permits so this set may get punished a bit more than the last powers did.