I just had New Pirelli Diablos tires installed on my SWing a week ago. I have ridden about 200 miles this week and the feel is incredibly SMOOTH.
But what else, I asked the dealer to CAREFULLY BALANCE the tires, and now I am able to take my hands off the handlebar while going 25-35 mph with NO WOBBLE!!
Not that I do that often, but the fact is I can now do it confidently without shimmy or wobble, and for that I am grateful. It will be interesting to see if this last or returns with tire wear. billc.

Bill,

I had 2 sets of Diablo's and they are great tires. I liked them much better than the OEM Hoops. Each of my sets lasted about 10,000 miles and I probably could have gotten another 1,000 or so on the rear. The front always seem to last better.

I just installed 2 new Metzeler Feelfree's. I thought that the ride on the hoops was ok but not fantastic, and as they wear they ride worse. I wanted the Diablos' but at the last minute opted for the Metzelers for their...well its my first pair. They are suposed to last longer and perform better, I got 8-9K out of each set of Hoops. I'm not sure how many SWs ride on Metz's so I'll give a report after I get a chance to scrub them up a little.

...snow showers here today

I have the Metzlers now and really like them. They are very smooth and feel like the Diablo's. The Metzlers and Diablo's are better than the Hoops IMO. I have about 1,000 miles and glad I tried them.

I replaced the OEM Hoops with a set of Metzler Feel Free tires about the same time JeffR put his on. I also have about 1,000 miles on them and I really like them too. They seem to ride very smooth and track really well through the high speed sweeping curves.

I also got a pair of the Diablos installed on April 1. The original IRCs were okay (and being a new rider I didn't know any better) but the Diablos are a real improvement.

They are a bit smoother. They turn much easier - the IRCs used to need a lot of counter-steer to get the bike to turn while the Diablos respond well to lean.

I had 7400 miles on the IRCs and was wearing out the treadwear indicator. I hope that the 10,000 mile claims are accurate.

BTW, I was going to order the tires online (I think from Motorcycle Superstore, but am not sure) and was calling local Honda dealers to inquire about mounting. The one dealer sold me the tires for $105 for the pair, essentially matching the online price (but tax was extra). Their mounting cost when it was all said and done ended up higher than I was quoted on the phone - $115 vs the $84 phone quote. It seems that the little things like valve stems actually do cost extra, despite the impression I got on the telephone. This was at Charlotte Honda. So I ended up spending $230 when all was said and done, but I didn't have to do anything other than drive the bike to the store and wait 1.5 hours while they completed the work.

I got close to 9,000 miles on my originals and decided after reading about all the good features of the Diablo's, called the super Store and paid $110.00 out the door.

I am a hands on kind of guy and wanted to try replacing the tires my self.
Thanks again to this forum, it took all of maybe twenty min to remove the rear and with my sons help lifting up the front end, 10 min for the front.
I took the wheels and tires to my local shop and in half an hr. and $40.00 later was on my way.

So I was very happy with the price and installation process was a snap.

Only problem is at 62 years old, and with years of back pain I should have used a scooter jack and not my back to lift up the front end.

The tires them self are fantastic. Quiet,smooth and are far better at clinging to the corners than the originals.

Another vote for Diablo. Just recently switched rear to a diablo and it is worlds different for the hoop that I went with the last 2 times.

I have about 500 miles on my new Pirelli Diablos and the grip in turns while accelerating is far superior to the original Bridgestones on my bike. They are also very smooth and the Honda dealer did a great job of properly balancing them with minimal weights.
One other point, which I really like, is when I check the air pressure, it is virtually ALWAYS full, so at this time there is no loss of air pressure during a week!! and that is a good feeling. billc.

Hey all..don't want to ignite a tire holy war..just a question.

I ride more highway than twisties..so I'm looking for the better tire for longevity. I always squared off my motorcycle rear tires due to long highway miles so I need the harder compounded tire.

The Pirelli's or the Metzlers (or another quality brand) for better wear on the rear over time?

I can only speak from my experience with the stock Bridgestone Hoops and my Pirelli's. The Pirelli's won't last very long, and I really didn't like the Hoops I had. I'm replacing my rear tire with a Sumitomo darkside tire with Cosmic Jumper's help because I want my rear tires to last me a lot longer than the Pirelli's do (I'm replacing mine just a hair over 8k miles - could probably still go another 1k miles, but don't wanna chance it). If you're looking for ride longevity, I think some folks have found the darkside tire to be better in that regard... (and now I'm sure I'll get the obligatory "Are You Nuts?!" comment or 2.

Wow! That sounds awesome. Is it hard to get someone to put a darkside tire on? I'll be interested when I get where I need a one.

I just replaced my rear "Pirelli Diablo" with a Metzler. I had 7500 miles on the Diablo and just decided I would try the Metzler. So far I can't feel any difference in the two tires. Will be interesting to see how long this Metzler lasts. I put the 7500 miles on from September of last year to September of this year.
Old Dave

Hi All, just one quick question: my '06 comes with bias-ply tires, and I'm reading all the good things about Pirelli Diablos, which, as far as I can see are radials; has anyone addressed the possible issues one might encounter by doing the switchover?

Pendragon

Hey Pen,
I just switched from IRC's to the Pirelli's about 3 weeks ago. Being a less experienced rider (two and a half years), I nevertheless haven't noticed much, if any, difference between the two. But like I said, I haven't had them long.

I just wanted to comment though, that I never gave much thought as to whether or not the tires were radial or bias ply (lack of MC experience?).
Anyway, I "kinda" assumed that MC tires in this day and age were radials by default. Never dreamed there would be any bias ply units. Wouldn't radial ply design be of better use on a MC tire than bias? Just wonderin'.

That's my take, Dicko, but then, I've installed hundreds of both types in my days at the shop. I remember putting a set of customer-supplied radials on a 1500 Wing, and when I test-rode it I found them to be unmanageable. I so advised the customer, who rode it as far as Seattle from B.C. and changed back to Bias; so; hence my question. Just wondering if there might be some legal niceties involved.

Pendragon the perplexed.

http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/diablo_scooter.html

Available as a radial and conventional tire (or tyre).

i'm going to stick with my bridgestone hoops,

Thanks Dale, now I'll bet everybody will be looking at their ride to see if they have radials or not, eh? :-)

Pendragon


Things are more like they used to be than they were before!

Hi Sweendog, thanks for the comeback, good info.

Pendragon