Just ordered a set of BT-003 Street Race tires (they are not the same as the 003 track tire) with the 190/55 rear. Anyone think i should have stuck with the Bt-016 with 190/55 rear like I have done the last two tire changes? I got 7300 miles from the last rear Bt-016 and `10,000 miles from the front. Both are cooked bald now.

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Rook it depends what you wantto get out of the tire the BT-003 won't last that long on a zx14 assuming you are changing the tires at or right before you get to the wear bars. For all out grip you went with the right tire but for milage the Bt-016 is a better choice. Even with the Bt-016 you will run out of skill,suspension or both before you over ride the tires. However just like many people I like the security of knowing that if I do something stupid with the throttle a good tire just MIGHT save me. I like to error on the side of caution an use sticky street tires. However this comes from a guy that changes both tires at the same time becuse the bike just feels so good on two fresh tires.

How the 'ell do you get that kind of mileage out of sport tires of any kind???
I'm doing good to get 2500 miles out of a rear, and 3500 on a front (barely). Best I've gotten is 5000 miles on a pair of Pilot Road 2s, and both front and rear were completely, edge to edge, burnt.

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Thanks Will. Time to try a new tire. It will be interesting to see how they feel. They were not much more than the BT-016. They look cool as hell with the sparing tread. I would have tried Micheline Pure Power but those were $400 for a set. Maybe I'll try that if I feel the BT-003 feels a lot better than BT-016.

However this comes from a guy that changes both tires at the same time becuse the bike just feels so good on two fresh tires.

I figure you must be feeling the slip and slide of cool pavement covered with dry leave dust. There's a reason they call it FALL! I think keeping the front tire up to par with the rear is a prudent move especially when it gets colder outside. An old tire is less tacky and you sure want to avoid a tire that is less sticky on the front than on the rear.

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How the 'ell do you get that kind of mileage out of sport tires of any kind???

I don't know. It's been a source of embarrassment for me ever since the 9,000 mile stocker. Lowest mileage I could get was 6,000 miles on a BT-016. I just don't know, I do my share of touring miles but lots of sport riding including some wheelies now and then. Lots of WOT straightline sprints 1,2,3......????????????

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Rooks maybe running the tire to the cords in which case you can get several thousand more miles out of a tire

Or maybe some decent pavement, instead of the grooved, gritty, rough, chip 'n seal junk we have here in the Ozarks.

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Rooks maybe running the tire to the cords in which case you can get several thousand more miles out of a tire

Nope, just to where the wear bars are flush with the contact surface. Well, the stocker I did run until the tread was gone on the center so that was probably close to the cords. I'd hate to think having tires that last so many miles means I'm missing out on a lot of fun. It is nice to not have to spend as much money replacing tires though.

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I posted a street/track tire question on another forum. Many riders suggested the BT003RS and Dunlop Q2's. After pricing the two, I ended up getting a pair of Q2's for $220 at my doorstep. I rode my ZX10R at Infineon Raceway last week and they were great! A couple of months ago I took my BT-16's to Fernley Raceway and I felt the front slid twice. A little concerning, but made it through to corner both times. Absolutely no slides detected on my new Q2's yet.

If you want mileage stick with a street tire; BT16's, 2CT's or comparable. If you want more grip to the road go with the BT-003RS or Q2's.

Char

How the 'ell do you get that kind of mileage out of sport tires of any kind???

This is one of the great mysteries of all time, I can wear out a set of tires, front and rear on a 600 supersport in 2000 miles and rook is getting almost 10,000 miles on a 14? I think rook must get up to speed and shut off the motor.

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^^I do start early in the season and end late. We have cold roads that keep the rubber hard for 4 of the eight months I ride. That could be part of it ??????

Speaking of which......

A couple of months ago I took my BT-16's to Fernley Raceway and I felt the front slid twice.

I'm feeling my front slip just a little bit when I corner hard and I think it is the cold roads; not just the old, worn out BT-016 on the front.

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