X10 350 tyre choice

[Mike H]

Coincidentally about the same sort of time, viz about a couple of years ago, there was a 'bad batch' of Avon Roadriders that also got a bad reputation for Avon by developing cracks between the treads, and at no age at all and with plenty of tread left. It is spookily similar!

[Mr.Chips]

And with certain Michelins in the early 2000s - a problem with tyres delaminating - not funny at 60MPH.

Ask me how I know!

They were replaced free of charge.

 

[JohnF]

Need a little advice re. tyres.

I have had my X10 500 since new a couple of years ago. I wasn’t happy with the standard tyres, felt ok in town but on windy mountain roads especially in the rain they felt suicidal, so took advice from another member and had Power Pure fitted. Felt good, especially at speed on autoroutes, but discovered they are very suseptible to correct pressure - under inflated they are very edgy.

Today had light rain on the mountain road home, after a period of long dry summer. I hadn’t ridden for a while and I had two back end slides. plus a little sideways slip on take off. Just felt uncertain. Made me a little nervous!

I read about Pirelli Diabolos. Can anyone offer advice. Are they sticky in the wet? Are they better than Power Pure? This is for a 500 X10.

Riding is narrow mountain roads - urban - shortish autoroute runs at 120+ kph.

Any advice?

Thanks
John

[roadster]

Need a little advice re. tyres.

I have had my X10 500 since new a couple of years ago. I wasn’t happy with the standard tyres, felt ok in town but on windy mountain roads especially in the rain they felt suicidal, so took advice from another member and had Power Pure fitted. Felt good, especially at speed on autoroutes, but discovered they are very suseptible to correct pressure - under inflated they are very edgy.

Today had light rain on the mountain road home, after a period of long dry summer. I hadn’t ridden for a while and I had two back end slides. plus a little sideways slip on take off. Just felt uncertain. Made me a little nervous!

I read about Pirelli Diabolos. Can anyone offer advice. Are they sticky in the wet? Are they better than Power Pure? This is for a 500 X10.

Riding is narrow mountain roads - urban - shortish autoroute runs at 120+ kph.

Any advice?

Thanks
John

Presumably your X10 doesn't have traction control (I thought they all did). When roads become wet after a dry spell they will be slippery and unpredictable. You can't necessarily see what tractors, lorries, and cars have left on the surface, not to mention run-off water if you are riding in mountainous areas. No tyre will give enough grip to reach maximum lean angle or accept full throttle from start off in those conditions. You should take the back end slide as a warning to take it easy because if the front end goes you will be off. Most of us  have had at least one fall to learn this. I am using power pures at the moment but I have run Diabolos on other scooters and bikes in the past. Both good tyres in my opinion and not significantly different in the wet.

You mention tyre pressures and its worth saying that not all tyre pressure gauges are accurate. I have three and also two pumps with dial gauges. Only two of these are trustworthy.

Are you expecting too much from your scooters roadholding? I also ride a KTM and the difference is massive. The X10 will always feel bad when I swap back so I ride accordingly.

[JohnF]

Very fair points. Thanks.

My X10 500 does have traction control (as you said - they all do)

On reflection, I think you are correct in saying that perhaps I am expecting too much from a scooter. I had an X9 for  year or so, then got the X10 2 years ago. Previously I had bikes. 750 and 1000 Suzukis. There is a big difference! My wife's 125 piaggio is a great little shopping trolley, but the X10 does not handle as well as a bike! I lean heavily into corners. Bad habit on the X10.....

appreciate the comments.
John

[frankiej1949]

Hi John
Hope you are well. I never felt confident on the X10 in wet conditions always felt the back or front would slip away. I solved the problem by switching to the Burgman, no traction control and despite this is so much more sure footed. It is on the Bridgestone Battlax TH01 replacements as the TH01 is no longer available. Covered 11000 miles in 12 months with never a hint of losing grip.
Regards
Frank

[Mike H]

Presumably your X10 doesn't have traction control (I thought they all did).

The early ones only did if they had the 'Executive' tag. Else not. (Nor ABS.)

Now they all do and 'Executive' seems to have been dropped. This confused me when I was looking to buy the new one, no ads for new machines mention it, nor Piaggio's latest brochure.

HTH

[APH1967]

So far so good. Tyres are performing perfectly despite greasy road conditions typical for this time of year. I'm covering about 210 miles a week and temperatures have ranged from 2 to 20 degrees C over the past 10 days. I will update with a report on wear when relevant.

[frankiej1949]

Traction control is different to ABS. The X10 500 had ABS and Traction Control the Burgman just has ABS.

[Mike H]

After some umming and ahhing I've decided to bite the bullet and purchase a pair of City Grip Winter, to see what they're like. My main reason is for the amount of tread they have on them.

What is it with modern bike tyres these days? I find myself taking much exception (!) to this modern fashion that has developed surreptitiously for 'semi slicks', you know, a bald strip around the centre line and a few artfully placed, delicate scroll like, snipes to the sides.

Also I recently sold my BMW boxer 800, but before I did I had bought for it a new pair of Continental (I think) 'Classic', "especially made as OEM for old BMW '70's - '80's R-series boxer twins" (:: only BMW!   )

Anyway, when I first clocked them I thought blimey I'd forgotten how much tread motorcycle tyres used to have in the old days!  Never see this semi-slick nonsense with car tyres, at least I haven't. They still seem to have buckets of blocks and grooves and things.

I am still quite nervous about riding in the wet since I stacked and wrote off the blue X10 end of March, all I did was lean into a bit of a curve while trying to exit a flyover ... I say 'trying', 'cause I didn't make it.

Can't seem to get 15 inch size for the front in the UK, (max seems to be 12") can from Italy via eBay, but I also found a German based firm Tyreleader, anyway we shall see!

[Sekem]

The German "Heidenau" tyres are in the tests allways just a little bit better in rain as the City Grip, but both are very good tyres for rain. The Heidenau are also sold in a "Winter" Version here in Germany.

[Mike H]

I should mention the blue X10 DID NOT have city grip on, front was a Continental something-or-other, rear was a (practically new) Avon Vyper Strike.

It was the front that had let go, to be fair there was very likely spilt diesel under the surface water, which that location is often prone too.

[Mike H]

Before I forget again, were fitted Thurs 19th. Delivered the previous week.

[Mike H]

Again just remembered to write this ~ have now done two reasonably long journeys on these now, on a mix of roads (82 miles and 103 miles). Second trip on mix of dry to dampish to actually wet tarmac. Can definitely say I can feel them sticking to the road. As do the Summer version but the Winter ones more so. Front 33 - 34 psi, rear 35 - 36 psi.

[spannerman]

Mike H
When you had your off, did the ASR 'traction control' do anything. I assume not.
With the mixture of tyres fitted, it may have needed re-calibration.
I've never done it, but Beverly still has her original boots (8000 miles), so it has not needed doing yet.
I will probably get some winter grips if they sell them in the UK.
Spanners  

[Mike H]

Front wheel let go on spilt diesel, all I did was start leaning it over on exiting a flyover. (A bit too exuberantly for the prevailing conditions, possibly. [Wet roads and gusting to gale force.]) Maybe 20 mph if that. I wasn't braking or accelerating or anything, so neither ASR or ABS were activated. I suspect might not have been going fast enough for them to either.

I think if ASR needs recalibrating you get solid lit ASR dash light, but not sure offhand.

If it stops flashing first time you start moving off then it's saying it's OK.