Dunlop Qualifiers...I like them

[Jammer]

A previous thread I asked about Dunlop discontinuing the 208's...so I ended up changing the tires to the new Qualifiers. A friend of mine got a new set of Micheln Pilots. My friend says he hates Dunlop. Both of us ride 04 Gixxer 750's. Both bikes are identical other than mine is blue his is yellow. Both tires worked fine.

Yet I think the Qualifiers stick a bit better in the corners than I remember from last year with my 208's. Here's what I do know. With temperatures ranging from 70 to over 90 now here in Pennsylvania...the tires grab the road fine. In blasting down to Baltimore there is a stretch of road that is grated. My old 208's the front tires was capping...uneven wear. With the new Qualifiers..with 145 miles on them now...I went over the same grates with no movement on the grates that happened before. Why, not sure. Next came the cornering. As I was cornering I felt the bike hugging the road. I always felt this..but somehow it felt more....sticky. I put my fiance on the back...she's my guage when I lean too far..I hear this "Straighten up this bike now!" At times when she whispered that loving command...I felt the bike just hugging the corners. Speeds ranged from 30 up to 65. With me alone, I just reversed steered the bike down turning on to the highway..as I was turning..it just...stuck...do you know what I mean? Now of course in testing I wasn't going to gun it hard in the corners..but I kept the trottle on increasing as necessary to lean down...it was enjoyable.

One last thing on safety. Another friend on an 05 Gixxer 1000 also put on a set. As we rode..he visited his parents..and sure enough...got a nail in his tire. We didn't notice it til we stopped for a drink. The tire got him home fine..and..he said it felt fine.

Retail cost at the local dealership here in York, PA is 199 for a rear 159 for the front...we usually get 10 percent off of that..and something free..mine was an inspection.

Overall..I wouldn't hesitate recommending these tires to any rider. Yet it seems those that ride Pilots..love Pilots...and they work fine..I know. To add one thing more...there' another guy names Jose..and he likes Continental.

I'm looking forward to the testing them out in the rain. The friend on the Gixxer 1000 has a cage so we can see how well they grip with rain in the local parking lot.

[Nexus242]

Will you feel the same way if you get less then 3k miles out of the rear??? All reports say they stick well, very well out of the box but are wearing faster then PPs. Grip Vs Miles X Cost analysis will prove which is the better tire for the not so rich riders.

[Jammer]

I've heard about the lower milage..I haven't seen it. Yet for from a cost standpoint...and really I have found noone is rich..or..rich enough...we all want to save money.

At this point in my life...or money...I personally want stick and safety.

Did you have a suggestion on different tires?

Sincerely,

Jammer

[Jammer]

I have my second trip set for when I purchase the tires...I'll keep it there and not reset it once I know how many miles I get from the tires..and then post it.

[chrisan]

michelin PP stick well enough for me and they last long. But I take your point about the dunlops, I may try them. Thanks

[Danr]

Originally Posted by Jammer

I've heard about the lower milage..I haven't seen it. Yet for from a cost standpoint...and really I have found noone is rich..or..rich enough...we all want to save money.

At this point in my life...or money...I personally want stick and safety.

Did you have a suggestion on different tires?

Sincerely,

Jammer

At any point in life, Safety is number one !

[inspiron]

My experience to date:

My bike came with a set of Brigestones. I'm not sure what model, but in any case, I was not happy with them. They just didn't give me a "warm fuzzy" feeling that they were going to stick to the road in any conditions.

At 8000km (5000 miles), they were replaced with a set of Continental Road Attacks. I immediately felt comfortable with the Conti's. I could lean the bike with confidence, and never had the feeling that that the bike was about to slide away.

At 14500km (9000 miles), the Conti's were down to the warning bars. They still rode great, but were no longer street-legal (and the police DO check these things here).

I decided to try a set of Metzeler Roadtec Z6 this time. After the first few miles, when the new tires were up to temperature (I hate riding on brand new tires!) I started to take some twisties. The Metzelers responded just as good as the Conti's. I've now put about 500km (300 miles) on the Metzelers, up and down several Alpine passes, and am very happy with them.

[Nexus242]

I may not be a speed demon but my Z6s never gave me anything to worry about railing up and down the dragon this past weekend.

[GABRIEL]

Originally Posted by inspiron

My experience to date:

My bike came with a set of Brigestones. I'm not sure what model, but in any case, I was not happy with them. They just didn't give me a "warm fuzzy" feeling that they were going to stick to the road in any conditions.

At 8000km (5000 miles), they were replaced with a set of Continental Road Attacks. I immediately felt comfortable with the Conti's. I could lean the bike with confidence, and never had the feeling that that the bike was about to slide away.

At 14500km (9000 miles), the Conti's were down to the warning bars. They still rode great, but were no longer street-legal (and the police DO check these things here).

I decided to try a set of Metzeler Roadtec Z6 this time. After the first few miles, when the new tires were up to temperature (I hate riding on brand new tires!) I started to take some twisties. The Metzelers responded just as good as the Conti's. I've now put about 500km (300 miles) on the Metzelers, up and down several Alpine passes, and am very happy with them.

This sliding away from you feeling is it similiar to when you ride over a bridge and the bike feels like the forks are made of spagetti? What im saying is the feeling that riders get with certain tires is that feeling just a combination of other factors?

[inspiron]

I can't really describe the feeling. The Bridgestones just didn't give me confidence that I could lean the bike agressively, and that they were going to stick to the ground. This is totally subjective.

Maybe this was because when I started with this bike, I didn't set up the suspension correctly. I left everything at the factory settings at the beginning. Only later did I dial the proper settings for my weight on the forks and shocks.

In any case, as soon as the Conti's were installed, the bike felt totally different, and gave me much more confidence. And this feeling continues with the new Metzelers.

[GABRIEL]

Originally Posted by inspiron

I can't really describe the feeling. The Bridgestones just didn't give me confidence that I could lean the bike agressively, and that they were going to stick to the ground. This is totally subjective.

Maybe this was because when I started with this bike, I didn't set up the suspension correctly. I left everything at the factory settings at the beginning. Only later did I dial the proper settings for my weight on the forks and shocks.

In any case, as soon as the Conti's were installed, the bike felt totally different, and gave me much more confidence. And this feeling continues with the new Metzelers.

This may be a dumb question but I read an article about motorcycle/Formula 1 style tires with no trend(basically ball looking tires) Once they heat up fill in the imperfections of a race track. How can tires with obvious trend designed to repel water help you stick to the pavement better when there is obvious gaps between the road and the groves where the trend is? Just a question

[inspiron]

Slicks (tires without a tread) are only used in dry conditions, since they are not able to displace water fast enough.The 'channels' of the tread design channels water out of the way so that the rubber can make contact with the road surface. A slick can't displace water fast enough, and will start to ride on top of the water surface (Aquaplaning).

Since about 5 years, slicks are not used in Formula-1 racing anymore. They have 3 sets of tires for each race: The "normal" racing tires have 6 parallel grooves, then they have "intermediates" for light rain/damp conditions, and rain tires for heavy rain conditions. The use of intermeidates or rain tires cost about 5 to 10 seconds per round. The rain tires look like your typical car tire with lots of channels to funnel water away.

[mark]

Originally Posted by Jammer

A My old 208's the front tires was capping...uneven wear.

Retail cost at the local dealership here in York, PA is 199 for a rear 159 for the front...we usually get 10 percent off of that..and something free..mine was an inspection.

I bought a Qualifier rear from Chaparall, 121 bucks including shipping.

As for the uneven wear you previously experienced, I would check your tire pressure. Often tires look fine from standing, but if you actually check them, they could be 5lbs or more under the recommended.

OH yeah, I like the qualifiers as well.

[wookie]

Jammer:

How would you compare the qualifier with the BT014 ?

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by wookie

Jammer:

How would you compare the qualifier with the BT014 ?

Honestly I can't say since on my Gixxer I've only ever used Dunlop...I've heard good and both bad things on Brig tires...but then again same as I hear on anything.

[Jammer]

11-24-07 finally I've reached the point where I've reached the wear bars on my Dunlop Qualifiers. Total Mileage is alittle over 8K. I think I only ever did 1 burnout on them. The tires I like. I'm going to go get another set of them the begining of the summer.