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2004 Falco needs front and rear tyres.
Your advice would be welcome.
Haven't done enough miles on the current Battlax BT 021R's to have an opinion......but they have to be changed so any recommendations regarding which tyres to buy and where I can get a good deal (Worcestershire/West Mids) will of course be appreciated.
Over to you

I've read the replies to blinkey501's post, but there is no mention of some of the more modern tyres such as BT-09's and not a lot about Diablo's and Corsas, so I'm hoping that the comments will expand a little.

Corsa III suit the bike very very well. I also rate Mez6, based on the same carcass as the Corsa, but harder wearing and with more silicon in the mix for better wet performance.

I choose Pirellis myself.

It all depends on what type of riding you are after but Rosso Corsa, RossoII or Angel ST are all great choices.

I've run the Pirelli Diablo since swapping out the OE fits, been quite happy with them, good all round performance and last pretty well

i rated the conti road attacks I used to have

for assorted financial reasons I am currently running Maxxis - and they are fine - do what they say on the packet!

I'm a few hundred miles into a pair of Diablo Rosso IIs and up to yet they've been fine. They tip in well, hold a line without any effort and don't slide about. Ride feels a touch on the firm side though. They feel much better than the few thousand miles I did on the Stradas that came with it.

Might be a bit far for you but the locals round here use -

Tyre Sales, Queslett Rd, Perry Barr
Addisons Tyres, Tipton
Magnum, Wolverhampton

Also try WAS, Worcester. Very bike orientated and helpful. http://www.wasautocentre.co.uk/

I think you'd be very happy with any of the tyres suggested in this thread (other than the godawful MEZ3's, of course).

My present choice are Dunlop Roadsmarts, and I'm severely impressed with them. They are as good as trackday tyres from 5-10 years ago in terms of dry grip and handling, but last exceptionally well and give very good wet grip. They're also completely stable, even with the rear jacked up and the front dropped through the yokes.

They're so good I've got a pair of Sportsmarts ready and waiting to go on my OZ wheels...

Having said that I've also got Conti Attacks on my old VFR (Sport on the front, Road on the back) and they have been faultless as well.

Avon Vipers are a very nice tyre ......

The bridgestones that you have got fitted are the same has i have on my falco. I brought up the tyre topic has i was advised by a tyre dealer to change to a different make. i can tell you i am an experienced rider and do find the bridgestone very good in
1 feedback
2 grip
and 3 good life service.
I did a track day at mallory in may and the only two bikes that passed me were KTM superdukes. But these bikes are lighter and have a more modern chassis to the falco.
With the bridgestones i managed to get rid of the chicken strips has i was able to lean quite confidently.
But i am always open to other options thats why i brought up the topic previously.
has in regards to price you can buy new tyres on the internet cheaper, and might be able to get them fitted at the right price from a bike garage. hope this helps

But hope it may be of some use

Tyre fitment guide
Selecting The Appropriate Motorcycle Tyres Unless you are always going to replace your motorcycle tyres with exactly the same make and type that were fitted by the manufacturer when the bike was new, you are going to need to know (or ask a man who does) a bit about the huge choice of motorcycle tyres on sale and what specs mean. The days when all you needed to know was the size and how much motorcycle tyres cost have long gone. Modern tyres come in many varieties with many differing performance values. The speed rating of the motorcycle tyre must match the capability of the bike ie.
TOP SPEED OF BIKE TYRE RATING
Up to 93mph (150kph) P
Up to 112mph (180kph) S
Up to 130mph (210kph) H
Up to 149mph (240kph) V
Up to 150mph (250kph) V250
Over 156mph (250kph) Z & ZR
Then you have to watch how radials, bias belted and crossply motorcycle tyres are mixed. It's better to avoid mixtures if you can, but the following is law:
LEGAL
Crossply front, crossply rear
Radial front, radial rear
Bias belt front, bias belt rear
Crossply front, radial rear
Bias belt front, radial rear

ILLEGAL
Radial front, crossply rear
Bias belt front, crossply rear
Radial front, bias belt rear
---
---


Michelin
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Front 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) PILOT POWER F TL PILOT POWER
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Front 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) PILOT POWER 2CT F TL PILOT POWER 2CT
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Front 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) PILOT ROAD2 F TL PILOT ROAD 2
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Front 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) PILOT SPORT F TL PILOT SPORT
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Front 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58W) Power One Front TL POWER ONE
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Rear 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) PILOT POWER R TL PILOT POWER
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Rear 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) PILOT POWER 2CT R TL PILOT POWER 2CT
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Rear 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) PILOT ROAD2 R TL PILOT ROAD 2
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Rear 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) PILOT SPORT R TL PILOT SPORT
SL 1000 Falco 2000 2004 Rear 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73W) Power One Rear TL POWER ONE

Continental
Model Front Size Speed Pattern Rear Size Speed Pattern Pressures
SL 1000 Falco 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58 W) TL ContiMotion 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73 W) TL ContiMotion 2,5 / 2,9
SL 1000 Falco 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58 W) TL ContiRaceAttack Street 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73 W) TL ContiRaceAttack Street 2,5 / 2,9
SL 1000 Falco 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58 W) TL ContiRoadAttack 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73 W) TL ContiRoadAttack 2,5 / 2,9
SL 1000 Falco 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58 W) TL ContiRoadAttack 2 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73 W) TL ContiRoadAttack 2 2,5 / 2,9
SL 1000 Falco 120/70 ZR 17 M/C (58 W) TL ContiSportAttack 180/55 ZR 17 M/C (73 W) TL ContiSportAttack 2,5 / 2,9

Bridgestone
Model Year Type Dimension Tyre Type Dimension Tyre Type front in bar
SL 1000 Falco 2000-2005 PA 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) tl BT 023 F 180/55 ZR 17 (73W) tl BT 023 R 2.5 2.9
SL 1000 Falco 2000-2005 PA 2000 - 2005 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) tl BT 003 F Street 180/55 ZR 17 (73W) tl BT 003 R Street 2.5 2.9
SL 1000 Falco 2000-2005 PA 2000 - 2005 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) tl BT 016 F 180/55 ZR 17 (73W) tl BT 016 R 2.5 2.9
SL 1000 Falco 2000-2005 PA 2000 - 2005 120/70 ZR 17 (58W) tl BT 021 F 180/55 ZR 17 (73W) tl BT 021 R 2.5 2.9

Avon
Aprilia From To Pressure Front Pressure Rear Recommended Fitment Front Recommended Fitment Rear
SL 1000 Falco / R 2000 2005 2.5 bar (36psi) 2.9 bar (42psi) 120/70ZR17 (58W) AV55 Storm, AV59 VP2 Sport, VP2 Supersport 180/55ZR17 (73W) AV56 Storm, AV60 VP2 Sport, VP2 Supersport

Another thing often discussed is the choice of section of the rear tyre.
The Falco and the Mille share the same rims but the Falco comes with a 180x55 section tyre and the Mille with a 190x50 section.

Some choose to run their Falcos on 190 section too as this is a fatter tyre - the theory being that you get a slightly bigger contact patch.
On the appropriate rims the 50 profile is flatter so can be a bit less quick to corner.

The bigger issue is chain clearance. Some 190 section tyres fit and others foul the chain (the tyre sections being nominal sizes rather than precise measurements).

Personally I stick with 180 section tyres as it avoids these potential problems, I prefer a bike that turns a bit quicker and 180 section tyres are normally slightly cheaper.

If you consider the 190 section, then go into this with your eyes open to the potential issues.


BTW I think you can also get 190x55 section tyres but they will increase your rolling radius having a bit of an influence on effective gearing and speedo accuracy.

and bought the roadsmarts so I'll let you know how that goes. I generally have stuck with Michelin but have heard nothing but good reviews about these till after I fitted them. When the fitter said go easy leaving here of the 9 people last year who fell off when leaving 5 were on dunlop DOH!

I think you will be impressed with the roadsmarts. As regards the tyre newness i normal take some 80 grit sandpaper with me, then when the wheel is being balanced and spinning i hold it against the tyre just enough to take some of the shininess off, at least it gives you a head start when scrubbing the tyre in.Have been told this doesn't make a difference but it seems to work for me