which tyre is compatible with pirelli dragon front.

jonoono69 · Post by **jonoono69** » Jul 12th, '06, 19:59

Rear tyre is now due for a change.
I have pirelli dragons front and rear on a k3 gsxr600.
what tyre would you recommend for the rear?.

DynaMight · Post by **DynaMight** » Jul 12th, '06, 20:25

Diablos? or have a real good hunt around for Dragons..

boyscout · Post by **boyscout** » Jul 12th, '06, 20:43

All of the current and past Metzeler and Pirelli sport radial ranges except the MP7 are technically compatible with your Dragon front. However you should not put a "softer" rear on than the front. So Dragon, Dragon GT, Diablo, Diablo Strada, ME Z1, ME Z2, ME Z3, ME Z4 and ME Z6.

Bear in mind though, that although the carcass and compound are compatible (identical) between Pirelli and Metzeler, the tread patterns are optimised front to rear within the brands... so... on a ZX, in UK... I would try for a Dragon, Diablo, Z1 or Z3 in that order of preference... then again it is 12 years since I did the Metzeler Race Tech Course so take your pick!

(all of the above are just "IMHO", no liability implied or accepted for decisions made etc etc... and no damned stroppy posts in reply please!

)

boyscout · Post by **boyscout** » Jul 12th, '06, 21:00

"ZX"? .... I mean't "GSXR" of course!

Funky · Post by **Funky** » Jul 12th, '06, 21:06

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pirelli-DRAGON-EV ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pirelli-DRAGON-EV ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pirelli-Dragon-Su ... dZViewItem

hope that helps, sorry i don't know the fitment so blunderbussed it

boyscout · Post by **boyscout** » Jul 12th, '06, 21:35

The "Evo" will be fine of course but you should really avoid the Pirelli Corsa and Supercorsa as well as Metzeler Race if you have a standard Dragon/Evo on the front.

age · Post by **age** » Jul 12th, '06, 21:49

Boyscout is right Soft tyre always on the front as the rear will follow !!

Top help mate

Post by **TLS-Moose** » Jul 12th, '06, 22:34

Try here .... http://www.bfmmotorcycles.co.uk/catalog ... gonevo.jsp

ZXR400Lee · Post by **ZXR400Lee** » Jul 12th, '06, 23:50

Does it even matter? I never really understood people saying one tyre better than another..

I understand choosing between different compounds.. but is there really much difference between pattern and brand?

I always used to run on ex-race tyres or second hand tyres from eBay as I couldnt afford new tyres for my ZXR.

Funky · Post by **Funky** » Jul 13th, '06, 00:05

I have a dunlop 20 something or other on the front and a bridgestone bt-020, i know i definately notice it. Thinking of getting diablos next as i like Pirelli. bridgestones always feel a bit greasy to me.

jason · Post by **jason** » Jul 13th, '06, 00:29

ZXR400Lee wrote:Does it even matter? I never really understood people saying one tyre better than another..

I understand choosing between different compounds.. but is there really much difference between pattern and brand?

yes it matters. Different tires suit different bikes better than others. You really should be able to notice the difference. (and as we have mentioned numerous times never run a different branded front to rear - unless you dont mind risking your bike hadling like a crock of s hit.)

I have run "not for road use" race tires on the road before - for every day use they are s hit, to the point of being dangerous. (michilen pilot race I think it was - quite a few years back on an SRAD 750). I did about 500 miles on them before I went and got them taken off.

for fast road use gixxers work very well with bridgstones (their stock fitments 010 or 014 not the sports touring 020 thing).

the answer to your question is simple though if your retaining a pirelli dragon front then fit the same option as a rear - or change both tires.

ZXR400Lee · Post by **ZXR400Lee** » Jul 13th, '06, 00:48

Hmm... ok..

I ran a BT010 on the front of my ZXR, first I had a BT010 on the rear, then replaced this with a Pirelli, then a dunlop, then an avon..

Then when my front went down to the thread, I put on a Pirelli Evo, and ran 4 different rear tyres. Before I sold the bike back in February for my GSXR1100.

Anyone that knows me knows how I ride, I never had any issues, riding everyday, every weather. A tyre is just a tyre, whatever the road brand, and works in whatever the weather. I only choose a tyre as to how long its going to last, not what brand it is.

jason · Post by **jason** » Jul 13th, '06, 09:12

ZXR400Lee wrote:Hmm... ok..

I ran a BT010 on the front of my ZXR, first I had a BT010 on the rear, then replaced this with a Pirelli, then a dunlop, then an avon..

Then when my front went down to the thread, I put on a Pirelli Evo, and ran 4 different rear tyres. Before I sold the bike back in February for my GSXR1100.

Anyone that knows me knows how I ride, I never had any issues, riding everyday, every weather. A tyre is just a tyre, whatever the road brand, and works in whatever the weather. I only choose a tyre as to how long its going to last, not what brand it is.

I guess we just expect different things from bikes. How long a tire lasts does not really matter to me. All I am concerened with is that my bikes handle at least as well as when they where first taken out of the crate (this doesnt mean Im a fast or great rider just that I have high expectations of how a sportsbike should perform)

hell I replace tires the minute the profile starts to go no way would I run a front down to the thread. The turn in on your bike will have been ballsed up way before you got down to the thread - 4 rears to one front is seriously stretching out the life of a front tire. There is no way you could do that without adversly affecting the handling of your bike.

andrew · Post by **andrew** » Jul 13th, '06, 09:25

got to agree with jason here Lee.

People often underestimate the difference the tyres make they are the MOST important part of your bike when it comes to handling. Running a front tyre down to the carcass will definately adeversely affect your handling as well as completely ruining your stopping ability (rememebr nearly all your grip comes from the front tyre).

I think the reason you felt your bike still handled well wwas because it gradually deteriorated over time while your were riding it all the time. I'm sure if you had jumped of your zxr with mismatched and worn out tyres onto a zxr with fresh BT014s front and rear you would have noticed a HUGE difference in the bikes handling.

ZXR400Lee · Post by **ZXR400Lee** » Jul 13th, '06, 09:26

From brand new front, to the thread, I got 8000 miles out of my Pirelli, I'm a rider that rarely uses front brake though, only to stop, or in emergency, otherwise I dont really brake, just a slight dab on the rear. I was taught that the bike is more capable than I am, so keep head up and look where you want to go and the bike will follow.

The ZXR wasnt the best handling bike no at those low tyres, when down to the thread, but I was a struggling student, with a love for bikes and no money!