Tyres the list

[Lord Vader]

Just thought we could start a threat for the varas for that.
Like the one in the @ section
It seems everytime a few of us meet we talk tyres a lot
If one of the mods could maybe make this a sticky
Thanks pete

[Sharribee]

Stickied

[Robster]

Just thought we could start a threat for the varas for that

Don't you go threatening me! Bloody Germans!

Urrrm well so far on my Vara I've had:

Michelin T66: Standard equipment I believe in the Vara. I found these particularly poor and scary in even the most slightly damp of conditions and would often have the back end of the bike break away from me on roundabouts and the like.

Metzeler Tourance: Have these on the Vara at the moment, and for the last 5 months or so. Have found them extremely confidence inspiring in both wet and dry conditions and they seem, after probably 5,000 miles to be wearing very well indeed up to now with no real degradation visible front or rear..

Continental TKC80 Twinduro: Currently languishing in my car boot and awaiting fitting for The Stella in July. Having had these on my AT I found these superb in all conditions from baking heat to pouring rain. The feeling of "falling into corners" when you lean the bike over and go off the edge of the "knobbles" takes a little getting used to but I'm really looking forward to trying them out on the Vara.

[Lord Vader]

Yep mine is on tourance's as well at the moment and i must say they seem to wear well.Bought the bike with them on so i do not know how long they been on.Done 4000 od miles on it now and must say there is still a bit of life left in them.Reckon i got to change them after the haggis and i might go for anakees as i had them on the @ and realy liked them but i also hear and read a lot about the Avon tyres which seem to be god and are cheaper than the anakees

[Mr NiceGuy]

Trialwings - original fitment on FI. OK let go in a predictable manner, only got around 4000 on the rear.

Road Pilots - Brilliant!!!!! At the rate these are wearing they'll probably outlast the bike. Grip is great in the wet or dry, encourages you to be bad. Much sharper steering too so you can really annoy sports bikes down those country roads. I haven't heard any bad reports of them.

[Confucious]

I've had Dunlop Trailmax on the Dommie for aprox 2000kms and the back tyre is square

[Dee Duble Yuh]

Trialwings - original fitment on FI. OK let go in a predictable manner, only got around 4000 on the rear.

Road Pilots - Brilliant!!!!! At the rate these are wearing they'll probably outlast the bike. Grip is great in the wet or dry, encourages you to be bad. Much sharper steering too so you can really annoy sports bikes down those country roads. I haven't heard any bad reports of them.

I concur.

The name Trailwing covers a whole family of tyres, so the opinion of someone on a smaller bike, narrower tyre fitment and so is irrelevant for the Vara. Trailwings in Vara sizes are pretty good road tyres and I've used them in light off-road too (fine on gravel, hopeless in wet mud!) They tun in a little slowly so you need to muscle the bars a bit for exuberant riding. My original fitmet pair lasted over 7000 miles and I changed them only because I was about to go on a long road trip.

Pilot Roads are great for road use (as the name implies). Good turn in, excellent grip wet and dry, The front tyre has lasted onver 7000 miles too and looks okay for a bit longer. Can't speak for the rear as it got punctured and replaced after a few thou'.

[Chad]

this has really got me wondering what to get now as my tyres are due for imminent replacement. on the list so far are.

avon distanzia's
michelin anekees
continetal road attacks(recomended by mcvicar)
metzler tourances

and michelin road pilots

feck i havnt a clue help!!!

[faantjie]

I have Avon distanzia's and I would highly recommend them!!! I bought the bike with them on and was a bit sceptical at first but they have and still do perform really well. It looks like I might make the 10k miles mark with them and those are not motorway miles, a lot of it was in town. In the wet they feel confident and provide more grip than I have guts for.
I read in the Ride that they "talk" to you and let you kow weel in advance if they've had enough and I can vouch for that. As a novice rider I felt a lot more confident on them than I did on Tourances, mind you they were on the TA but even so there is a noticable difference in the wet.
It also has a very smooth feel and perform really well at high speed.

The Avons are "sticky" to the touch even when cold. I think they mix gum with them

[SMT]

I seem to be one of the few getting the Tourance front end wobble at low speeds. They were fitted to the bike when I bought it and are both almost new, so I guess I will just have to put up with them until they wear out.