Got your attention Need advice from those who have gone from 50 to 55 profile tyres: So I fitted Pilot Power 3s this spring with a 55 profile as that was all they had in stock at FWR(Landan) and everyone, everywhere (apparently) was saying that the turn in is much faster etc etc... and they do feel much better. Some background, I have always used 50 profile, ride all year, all weather. But mainly only commuting at the moment due to a very young sprog in my life I don't hang about but I don't use the road as a track either. I had only a few mm chicken-strips on the old tyres even though they had never seen a track, now after these 55s I have the second lane of the M1 on each side of the rear!! So whats happended? Is it.... 1) Yer crap son! 2) Fireblades aint for commuting only. 3) Its normal don't go get counselling over it ya great big jessie! 4) You can lean over a LOT more than before and just need to re-calibrate your brain. 5) other (please give details) I'm not saying the chicken strips are important, but I need to know whats going on to get an idea for how much ground clearance I have got left. I feel like I'm banked over as much as before... maybe they will disappear afte my trip to the Alps this summer. many thanks for your comments/insults
Fitted a new Metzeler M5 rear tyre on Saturday and took it for a spin up to Whitehaven. Normally I use sticky tyres like Racetecs or Rosso Corsas and always with a 55 profile. Changed to M5's for longer mileage as I'm going to Spain shortly and want the tyre to last. When the tyre I had ordered arrived it turned out to be a 50 profile but had it fitted anway. Didn't have any confidence in this tyre despite it getting good reviews, not sure if it's the tyre or the profile. It didn't help when the tyre let go slightly as witnessed by Ringding, gave me a heart-stopping moment I can tell you! By the way my knee was grazing the tarmac at the time! So as you can guess I won't be buying a 50 again anytime soon! Bigger contact patch on a 55 when leaned over and feels much more stable.
A 55 profile has a far more pronounced curve than a 50 which is rather flat in comparison. Hence for the same lean angle you are closer to the edge on a 50 than a 55 hence why your 55 'Chicken Strips' are bigger.
lean more and retrain your brain. I used to have no strips on the 50 then moved to the 55 power sport 3's and I did have a chicken strip for the first time.got it to the last line but I wont be happy until they are all gone lol.
No chicken strips here! I am now nearing the end of my first foray into 55 profile ownership and to be hones Ill get them again no problem. These are the PP3 and they give incredible amounts of confidence when cranked over and without a single issue so far. They don't ball up like some of the others and I've got around 3k miles on these so longevity isn't a problem. Why the 55's? You can lean, lean and then just lean some more! The chicken strips just an indication of how much you've got in hand. A good thing then.
What he said. The 55 is the default modern profile for sportsbikes. They'll all have them soon I reckon, now that all the manufacturers offer a range of tyres in 190/55.
Thanks all, does sounds like I just need to trust them and get some more recreational riding in than just my boring commute route. In a 14 mile hike into town, there are only three even half decent corners
You need to find a big roundabout on an Industrial Estate one quite Sunday morning! You can then do a recky to ensure no spilt Diesel etc then waz round it getting lower and lower. Choosing a quite Sunday morning you can then go round it anti-clockwise as well thus scrubbing in both sides of ya Tyre! Worked for me!
My brother leans over as far as me on his 55 profile tyre but also has much larger chicken strips, as said I think the steep curve means you can get more lean angle before you reach edge of tyre
I have never had a problem getting to the edge of a 50 (on the roads), but I am nowhere near on the 55; probably have around 15mm or so to go. I havnt actually made a special effort; maybe I will find that magic roundabout & see what happens. I think we are both crap son!
If a 55 profile is the one to have why does Mr Honda fit a 50 profile? Just wondering because on the road I've never had a problem with the bike dropping into a bend on my 50s - the bloody thing has ESP I'm sure.
I like to accelerate hard out of corners and that's where the 50 profile tyre works better so it suits me just fine
Honda don't always get it right! Do you remember the purple and yellow blade circa 97? Even in medicine there is such a thing as the placebo effect. A 55 profile is currently the tyre that gives me the confidence to push a little harder in the bends. Next year it might be a sticker but if it works, then I'm the fool that will buy it. Lol
Yes yes and once again yes !! Just had 55 profile supercorsa on rear and 70 profile on front, when I think about a bend the bike just does it, changing direction mid bend much easier, v handy when the bend tightens up, flip/flopping bike from left to right takes merest of effort on the bars, took same bend that's comfortable at 80 normally at 110 ( on track) with no extra effort, never ever going back to 50 profile Navvy, getting on the power is quicker as its easier to stand the bike up out a bend, can't wait to try it through murrays !!!
