I'm new to bikes in general, so this would be my first set of tires purchased. I am going to go up to a 180 in the rear (dont flame, I ride straight more much more then corners! and I want the better look). My first concern is price, but from what I am seeing they are all REALLY close (a few bucks), and my second is quality. My bike has old hard Metzelers on it right now that I am noticing are complete garbage. (I went for a very spirited ride yesterday and my tires never got sticky. Also, when I returned i noticed I was missing large chunks off the rear tire.)

SO! Where do I start looking? Michelin? Bridgestone? HELP!

 

I think the leading brands - Michelin, Pirelli, etc., are all quite close in quality. The main difference is really between types of tire, like sport touring, supersport, DOT-legal race tires. If you're really doing mostly straightline street riding, you would do fine with sport touring tires that give you better durability.

 

I commute on Bridgestone BT-021s. I got the set for $202 from SWMototires.com or something like that. Dual compound rear. I enjoy them. I think that SWMoto has the best prices. That includes shipping, which took 2 days to Seattle area. A friend of mine, ordered the same tires and got them just as fast.

 

+1 Pirelli.

 

shinko has pretty good prices and pretty good quality, not the best of all the tires, but getting better
i got my front tire for $109

 

I ride on michelin pilot power for my 600 f3 and i ride on pirelli's on my ducati. The pirelli's are very sticky and kinda expensive, michelin's are sticky one you get the oil off of them and not as expensive. I would recomend those two only. Hope i could help.

 

I'm looking at the Michelin Pilot Powers 2CT or the Pilot Road 2's. Both are a dual compound tires which, after reading up on, am interested in trying. I guess the main question for myself right now is; Which would I rather sacrific? Performance or Longevity? With how little I ride I'm leaning toward going with a more performance based tire (PP2ct)

 

I just bought a set of Dunlap sport max Qualifiers,stock sizes, and think thier great compared to the
michelin pilot powers that were on it. don't know about tread life only have 500 miles on them, but
feel so much better in corners and just going straight. price wasn't bad i they were about $240 for both.

 

the shinko's in the 180"s are great...it takes a bit more work to get them warmed up but once they are they work pretty well-of course I couldn't really get the bike over cuz the 180's are way to tall and caused me to slide out sometimes but yeahhhjust my 2 cents.

 

Well after reading a few more, more recent posts, I believe I will stick with the 160 rear.

Reading up on the Shinko 005's right now. Diggin the price ($167 / pair)