Good Day Everyone,

After reading a lot on here about what tires to replace my factory Bridgestones with, I finally pulled the trigger on a set of Pirelli Angel GTs (190/55 rear, stock - 120/70 front).

Right of the bat the bikes turn in and general posture through the turn has completely been transformed. I absolutely love riding it after the new tire.

However, I am a little concerned on the high speed stability of the rubber. Typically enhanced flickability came at the price of making the bike that little bit more twitchy, not too big of a problem on the roads or during turning but I took it to the track last night for a few high speed runs, and it was just not confidence inspiring at anything over 130 miles and becomes uncomfortable at 140... I've reached the speed limiter every single time on that track with the stock tires even towards the end of their life with no issues. I find the observation I walked away with last night quite concerning.

Any one else noticed that with the 55 rear tire profile? made me think maybe 200/55 would've been the best of both worlds?

I dropped the front 0.50 in in addition to the /55 profile on the Mich PP 2CT, Hit 150 to 160 every lap at Auto Club Speedway track days - solid as normal for a 14R.

Maybe it's the dynamic response of your suspension setup with the new tire?? What tire pressure are you running?

* Last updated by: cruderudy on 12/16/2015 @ 10:43 PM *

Could the rear wheel be slightly misaligned?
I have not tried the 190/55 but I do have angel gt tires in oem size and they have been fine up to 190.

or maybe with the slightly taller rear tire the front is now starting to get a bit light at those higher speeds and dropping the forks as suggested above may help.

Well off the line it doesn't want to wheelie as id did before so the higher rear profile certainly shifted the CofG slightly forward but funnily enough it does feel lighter in the front... I run 40PSI Front and Rear but I'm comparing all factors similar to the factory sized Bridgestone Battlax. It feels very twitchy at speeds where you get a sensation that a tiny overcorrection could send you overboard.

Well off the line it doesn't want to wheelie as id did before so the higher rear profile certainly shifted the CofG slightly forward but funnily enough it does feel lighter in the front.

I'd say a steering damper will add a bit of a stable feeling at those high speeds.But the 14 has got the weight to dampen any quirkiness.As was mentioned...rider position at those speeds is VERY critical to a planted feeling.More than the difference between a 55 and a 50 size.Getting the weight closer to the frontend will give a better stability feeling.The seat's long enough to stretch a bit more and still get your torso kinda of over the tank.Making sure your toes are tucked in the fairing shape helps as well.Along with your elbows being inside the cockpit.A light grip on the bars will allow the front to track better than a death grip,though it does take some trust.This bike is extremely stable at high speed by design.

Suspension should be set according to the manual for high speed driveability.You don't want the bike bouncing around.

I've never noticed any stability issues with either a 50 or 55 tire.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/17/2015 @ 1:32 PM *

I checked my pressures today and found the front to be at 30psi and the rear at 35... I usually run 40/40 but I put the front and 38. Now it became even more twitchy... I tried slightly rocking the handlebar at around 60mph and once I stop rocking the bike still wobbles about for a second or 2 before maintains the line... Before it would simply not rock especially with speed creeping up.

A steering damper has certainly crossed my mind but I'm just surprised I never felt like I needed it and when I change the tires it becomes necessary all of a sudden. I want to find the culprit of this since tore size doesn't seem like one of them.

Any chance it could be over torqued wheel nuts or any issue with installation since it was done at the dealer who aren't that great in all honesty.

What bike to you have, what year? When was the stem bearing cleaned, serviced and set to spec per the maintenance schedule. I have the GPR V4 stabilizer and I love it, especially on hard breaking into corners on the track.

Something seems not right with your bike/suspension set-up and tires/pressures, these zx14 are very stable bike at high speeds

* Last updated by: cruderudy on 12/17/2015 @ 5:15 PM *

I think I would put the bike on stands first before anything else and check both wheels to make sure they are not bent/damaged and check rear alignment.. Just basically look at everything the dealer would have touched ???? If it was ok going into the dealer and not ok after coming out, that points a pretty big finger from where I set.

I'm debating a stabilizer. In all my few years of riding I never had a tank slapper like a lot of people have. I don't know, it's sure and hell not from slow, not taking risk, or riding only on pristine roads. Maybe it's something to do with how I sit on the bike, size, weight (although I was ~50 lbs lighter when I had my old bike), stature. I think there could be something to my stature, which might put more weight on the front tire.

I like how they look but prefer the look without better. This bike is much more prone to power wheelies though I could see some value there there's been a time or two the front hasn't come down perfectly in line. Wouldn't want to find out if the bars turned further some time.

A stabilizer seems to me like a bandaid cure for something wrong.

I posted in another thread about my new Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT tires: Whereas the OEM tires were solid as a rock in turns at all speeds, with the new PR4GT's the bike gets a little twitchy in high speed curves. Not enough to scare me off, but certainly got my attention. I don't ride like that often enough to be in a hurry to try to figure it out. If it was worse, then I would. But my first try would probably be to get the tire balance re-checked. And if that didn't do it I'd be trying new tires. Cuz to me, if the bike was stable with the OEM tires, how could the problem be from anything other than the new tires.

* Last updated by: extrapolator on 12/18/2015 @ 8:06 AM *

Exactly my thoughts Extra; that's why I wanted to see if anyone else has this sensation.

Bike is a 2014 with around 3k miles only but it is ridden pretty aggressively most of the time .

I genuinely feel the issue is a characteristic of the new tire size.. The rebound needs to be adjusted and a steering damper's necessity has become more apparent.

What about extending the wheelbase just a tiny hit like an inch or less.. Wouldn't that enhance the stability ? I don't want to go all out and destroy turn in but I feel the hike truly can benefit from a small wheelbase extension.. Will also help with launching after the exhaust and CBlast tune.

Please excuse any spelling mistakes.. Thank Apple autocorrect

* Last updated by: Blown3UR on 12/18/2015 @ 2:57 AM *

It shouldn't be acting strange with the PR4's.Mine didn't.Both my bikes have those.They work great.I'd say at this point...tire pressure.I run 40-40.TOTALLY doubtful anything else is amiss with the mechanicals of your bike.Damn unlikely.Especially if it felt fine with the other tires.

Let's see...these are NEW tires,right?Okay then.Take some time to carefully scrub em in then.You could be experiencing some minimal slipping leaned in.Probably all that's going on.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/18/2015 @ 7:52 AM *

Soften up your front suspension settings slightly and the front tire will feel more planted. I run the 190/55 Angel GT with the front dropped 1/2" from stock (which also helps plant the front tire) and even though these factors result in a steeper front end, I've noticed no stability issues.

Everything's a compromise; if you set the machine up to turn, it's less stable at high speeds. If you set it up for LSR runs, it won't turn as well.

Okay...I see you have Angels on there.They're excellent tires.They SHOULD be fine...I've run those several times in the past.

"and it was just not confidence inspiring at anything over 130 miles and becomes uncomfortable at 140"...not sure here what you're actually talking about.You mean in TURNS?They are 'grand Touring' tires.Not really built for track.
But as was mentioned,maybe a lowering of PSI could resolve this.These tire companies come out with 'updated' tire compounds and stuff all the time.These Angels are for high mileage and street performance.So they're bound to be less forgiving on a track.That may be all it is really.

Doubt the size has anything to do with what you're feeling at 130-140.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/19/2015 @ 9:18 AM *

Thanks GRN14... Very helpful ideas on here.

130-140 mphs are done on straights no turns... Basically, I have noticed what happens is that the bike is very eager to turn in with the new tire size so sometimes when you're WOT, concentrating ahead as the speed builds up, I notice the bike starting to lean ever so slightly on once side or the other, mostly towards the drainage slope on the road. With the factory 50 tire, it was less eager to lean.

Now that the tires have scrubbed in, the bike definitely feels better but it the front wheel feels a lot lighter than before... I Believe a steering Damper will solve provide for more confidence. Until then, I will take it a little easy on top end.

Danno summed it up with this:-

" Everything's a compromise; if you set the machine up to turn, it's less stable at high speeds. If you set it up for LSR runs, it won't turn as well. "

I love the way the bike has become after the new tires and will just work on improving it with this setup.

. But my first try would probably be to get the tire balance re-checked

So I can understand this here...the front feels lighter,but isn't wiggling,right?At those higher speeds.The 'lean into the road camber' is normal.If it was wiggling or something similar...I'd be concerned.

These bikes aren't known for actually needing a damper...but it doesn't hurt at all to install one anyway...you never know.Some sand,oil spot,hole in the road...all these could cause a front end wiggle.Especially at anything above 100.Or leaned in and hitting something like this.If you're staying at legal speeds or somewhat above...the bike should easily ride over this stuff with minimal drama.Those tires are very good.Higher PSI's are gonna exaggerate any road condition.As well as a firm suspension setup.

If it's wallowing leaned in at higher speeds,dial in some firmness at the rear.Just for starters.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 12/21/2015 @ 10:28 AM *

Blown3UR There are 2 things to take into consideration, I do roughly about 12k-15k miles a year commuting, back roads, weekend trips 2 up, ect,

1). The construction difference's with the 2 tires. - the stock Bridgestone tires ( I'm assuming bt-016 0r S20's)
have a much softer side wall and tread construction as compared to the Angel Gt's. I have run all versions of the
Bridgestone's Bt-016, Bt-016 pro, S20, S20 evo ect. Bike came with Metzler M5's Not a fan of that tire as it never gave me the confidence to run as hard as I liked, Slow turn in , twitchy over road imperfections, always seemed to feel like the front in was pushing or sliding in turns when ridden aggressively. Now running PR4's sport not gt version as they are a little different. all in a 195/55/17 profile.
2). With the 195/55/17 you will need to make a slight suspension change to the bike depending on how you ride as it does change the geometry of the bike a little bit especially for track riding. Also you have to take into account for the tempter changes as the GT's will take longer to warm up, and they also have a harder side wall and tread rubber to give you longer tire life as compared to the others, you will feel bumps, irregularities in the road more.
Also air pressure will need to be adjusted higher I have found for the PR4's to have the feel I like as the tires don't heat up as quick as the other more performance tires.
I do have a Scotts steering damper on my bike and I love it. It truly has saved my butt a few times. Hit a pot hole
one time at a weird angle and it went into a tack slapper that shook my hands off the bars, couple wiggles and it settled down an ran straight, without it I would surely have crashed. On the Track Its a must in my opinion.

GRN:- I seem to have miscommunicated the issue I'm facing.. The wheel is not wobbling, the front end just feels a lot lighter and less planted than it was with the stock tires... The ironic thing about this is that the bike has been slightly raised with the new tire size which should mean that the front has more weight and should be even more planted but that's not the case... You mentioned rubbing in the tire earlier and I must say, it has been improving. The GT's have a 'GT' stamp in the middle of the tire which is wearing out. I presume this is to highlight that the tire has been properly run in?

CASPER:- That's some valuable information sir... 195/55 also seems like a unique size on the 14.. Care to post pics please. The stock tires were 190/50 Bridgestone Battlax. They weren't really great on turns and traction wasn't that great either whilst leaned in. The GTs are far superior but I just felt the bike was more planted at high speeds (above 130mph). A steering damper is cheap insurance and I presume will boost confidence all round.

I am majorly considering a 2" swingarm extention.. Would I need a different chain and rear brake line for this? I do not want to kill cornering credentials but I wanna plant the front end especially after installing the Brocks CT and getting it all tuned up.

Which version of the Bridgestone battlax were u running as the stock and aftermarket battlax actually have a different feel I have found. ??. You really don't need an 2 inch extension. Just use the stock swing arm and run back as a far as u can on on stock chain. This will extend your wheel base. I run my bike currently with a 10 inch stretch and lowered 2 inches front and back. Not the best for street or track. I would say lower front about 1/4to 1/2 inch for quicker turn in and adjust rear suspension. Set rear as far back as possible, probably at 4-5 dash mark on swing arm adjustment. This will extend your wheel base in the rear. May need longer chain.. stock swing arm will go from 0 to 3 inches. My old setup . Lowered 2 inches ft/r , rear set at 4th hash mark on swing arm. For track I wouldn't suggest the 2 inch lowering. Only 1/4 in front. This picture was at stock length swing arm.

* Last updated by: Blkcasper on 12/22/2015 @ 1:59 AM *

As she currently sits now. Pic is with stock tail and 6 over stock tail

Wow I did not know the stock swingarm was length adjustable... The stance in your first pic looks superb! Do you recall if it were using the stock chain? I need to look into this!

Regarding suspension adjustment, the bike is still on factory settings and I am 330lbs, 6'5" so its lowered more than enough with my weight as is haha... I know everyone is going to suggest setting up the suspension properly first, and maybe even ordering a custom setup for my weight but again, we are comparing all static factors with the only variable which is tire/size.

I heard that about the aftermarket battlax but it just left a sour taste for it in my memory, especially when I never liked any of Bridgestone's tire applications cars and trucks included!

Yes in the 1st pic I am using and after market ek candy green chain. Left a few more links in it to allow wheel to sit farther back than stock and running a 41 tooth rear sprocket and it is also lowered about 1/2 to 2 inches front and rear. Lol with your size and weight you probably have the same stance when sitting on the bike. But I'm only weigh about 180 with full gear. I would say you need to run a higher air pressure front and rear. I found with the pr4's they need to be at 40f/42r or the bike did seem to be a little twichy at times where as with the Bridgestone I could run a lower pressure. The 190/55 will also raise the rear a little bit as it has a sharper tire profile. More pointy in the center.

That seat's impressive Blk.Looks like what I'd want...and have been trying over the years to achieve.One can only buy so many seats!I'm burnt out on doing that...especially at 200 plus a shot.Connie's are even more.