Alternative Tires For Stock Irc Tires

[Richard-BKK]

If you discus the IRC OEM tires of some motorcycles sold in Thailand, the discussion quickly turns to replacing the tires.

So what is your experience with the originally IRC tires fitted on your Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki or any other brand?

If you replaced the tires, can you tell why you replaced them and why did you selected the tires you currently use.

One person in my neighborhood asked me about advice for replacing his IRC RoadWinner or Road Wing... sounded like that... for something other but still affordable... My knowledge stops a bit after the word affordable as that is normally not my selection criteria...

Edited March 14, 2013 by Richard-BKK

[moe666]

When I bought my PCX changed from the Dunlop to IRC wings. The IRC have a better ride and better grip cornoring 4,000baht installed for 2

[loserlazer]

only good thing about IRC s on my cbr250 is their longevity. There are on 21k km now and still has some tread left around 1 mm at the rear and front is still OK around 2mm. Good for commuting purposes for economy minded people.

Apart from that, IRCS never provide enough feedback, it takes time to make them warm and their flat profile makes the bike hard to lean. Handling wise they suck! I never trust them on curves as couple of time they slide like out of nothing! They are not that sticky.

I never recommend them if you are a sport rider but if you are just riding from a to b, they are OK and long-lasting.

[bramds]

I replaced them on my CBR150 after one too many slides.

Replaced them with Michelin Sporty, that was a huge difference. 3000 baht for the pair and fitted.

[mania]

As others have said IRC Road Winners are high mileage

capable tires. They are fine in wet & dry conditions

if commuting.

Due to their harder compound they last a long time.

Also due to their hard compound they provide little

if any feedback to a rider with a more aggressive technique.

If you like to lean anywhere close to the edge of the tire

you are best served changing these ASAP to something with a softer

compound. The softer compound will not only provide better grip

in all conditions/situations especially cornering but in my experience

also improve braking & overall ride quality.

Most importantly the softer compound in my opinion provides important

feedback/warning when you are reaching the edge/limit of adhesion.

You will feel the tire starting to go away gradually before it is too late in a heavy

lean. Where as the IRC is there & suddenly it lets go & skittles.

Also under heavy late braking when sport riding etc. The lack of adhesion

will show again IMO & the tire/wheels will many times skip on the slightest

of uneven surfaces.

My 2013 Ninja 250 came with these stock. I gave them a good shot &

took them pretty much to the edge of the tire. I did not lose it but

had many close calls where the bike went from planted to skittling

sideways once close to the edge. Also experienced the reduced grip in fast downhill tight

cornering where small ripples or bumps in the road would cause the tire to hop.

At first I thought it may be suspension but have not been able to reproduce the same symptoms

with the Pirelli Rosso II's on the same tight downhill turns even when going faster.

I changed out the IRC tires for the Pirellis with only 900km's on the IRC's

I felt that for the riding I like to do it was inevitable that I would toss

the bike sooner than later on the IRC tires.

Sold them for 1600 baht which helped offset the price of the Pirelli Rosso II's

which cost 7500 baht

I would say if your riding consists of touring, commuting, etc.

The IRC's are fine for most. Use them & get high mileage low cost.

If your more inclined to sport riding, tend to smile when your

zipping thru fast tight turns then by all means spend the money

for better tires instead of repairs to bike & body because the

IRC's are not suited or meant for that. They were probably just

what was economically viable for the manufacturers

Of course with their softer compound you are not going to get

anywhere near the mileage/usage on the Rosso's that you would on the IRC's

Don't ever buy tires based on price.

Buy based on your type of riding.

Generally the softer/stickier tires will always handle better,

you can be more aggressive on them because of the added grip.

The hard compound tires give a non-aggressive rider the bonus of

longevity & lower cost in exchange for less handling ability.

All just my opinions of course

Edited March 14, 2013 by mania

[Beardog]

As others have said IRC Road Winners are high mileage

capable tires. They are fine in wet & dry conditions

if commuting.

Due to their harder compound they last a long time.

Also due to their hard compound they provide little

if any feedback to a rider with a more aggressive technique.

If you like to lean anywhere close to the edge of the tire

you are best served changing these ASAP to something with a softer

compound. The softer compound will not only provide better grip

in all conditions/situations especially cornering but in my experience

also improve braking & overall ride quality.

Most importantly the softer compound in my opinion provides important

feedback/warning when you are reaching the edge/limit of adhesion.

You will feel the tire starting to go away gradually before it is too late in a heavy

lean. Where as the IRC is there & suddenly it lets go & skittles.

Also under heavy late braking when sport riding etc. The lack of adhesion

will show again IMO & the tire/wheels will many times skip on the slightest

of uneven surfaces.

My 2013 Ninja 250 came with these stock. I gave them a good shot &

took them pretty much to the edge of the tire. I did not lose it but

had many close calls where the bike went from planted to skittling

sideways once close to the edge. Also experienced the reduced grip in fast downhill tight

cornering where small ripples or bumps in the road would cause the tire to hop.

At first I thought it may be suspension but have not been able to reproduce the same symptoms

with the Pirelli Rosso II's on the same tight downhill turns even when going faster.

I changed out the IRC tires for the Pirellis with only 900km's on the IRC's

I felt that for the riding I like to do it was inevitable that I would toss

the bike sooner than later on the IRC tires.

Sold them for 1600 baht which helped offset the price of the Pirelli Rosso II's

which cost 7500 baht

I would say if your riding consists of touring, commuting, etc.

The IRC's are fine for most. Use them & get high mileage low cost.

If your more inclined to sport riding, tend to smile when your

zipping thru fast tight turns then by all means spend the money

for better tires instead of repairs to bike & body because the

IRC's are not suited or meant for that. They were probably just

what was economically viable for the manufacturers

Of course with their softer compound you are not going to get

anywhere near the mileage/usage on the Rosso's that you would on the IRC's

Don't ever buy tires based on price.

Buy based on your type of riding.

Generally the softer/stickier tires will always handle better,

you can be more aggressive on them because of the added grip.

The hard compound tires give a non-aggressive rider the bonus of

longevity & lower cost in exchange for less handling ability.

All just my opinions of course

You hit the nail on the head Mania.Any of the bikes I have bought in Thailand come with trash tires so you can hate them till they are dead(or you are in the twisties.

The ER6n comes with the possibly worst tires in the world imho!

A friend came from upcountry recently & had Rossi 2 tires on his bike. He let me try the bike & handling was way different in a great kinda way. They adheared to the road , heat up to the road quickly & stick great around hard cornering. He tried my bike & said same as his before he changed the tires to the Rossi's.

Just to be objective he let me use his front & rear tire to see the difference on my bike. With the Rossi's I was able to lean hard & was very confident with the bike. My bike was the same as his when we switched tires.

Recently I went on a ride with Jonnie & the boys & was real embarrassed when I did a wheelie & the bike got squirly & the back end just was as loose as a goose. In the U.S. I never bought a new bike with the stock tires either & always made the dealership give me a portion back for the stock crap tires & put on good tires from the gate. The stock tires they put on in Thailand must have a c-c rating or maybe a d-d rating (if there was such a lame rating system in Thailand.

3 times trying to do tricks the back end just went sideways. Unfortunately I really roasted the tires expecting to get a 2-3 gear wheelie & looked like a fool almost loosing it from the tires being stock. This was an hour of heating the tires up. 2 kilos it should have been adhearing to the road like glue. But NOOOOOO!

I can't wait to get a set of Rossi's cause I won't attempt any tricks or heavy leaning with the stock tires on it now. Even the tire being decent for long term , they fall way short of letting the good times roll. My Z1 liter bike would do a wheelie & controlled every time not the stock Er tire at all!

[mania]

Beardog, on 14 Mar 2013 - 20:03, said:

A friend came from upcountry recently & had Rossi 2 tires on his bike. He let me try the bike & handling was way different in a great kinda way. They adheared to the road , heat up to the road quickly & stick great around hard cornering. He tried my bike & said same as his before he changed the tires to the Rossi's.

Just to be objective he let me use his front & rear tire to see the difference on my bike. With the Rossi's I was able to lean hard & was very confident with the bike. My bike was the same as his when we switched tires.

Yes that is the difference & it is best experienced like you did rather than try to have someone explain it to you.

Now you "Know" what that feels like.

It is very hard to explain feel. But good tires have "Feel"

They let you know what they intend to do. You have feedback as to where you

are in grip & when it is getting near the limit. Most of the better tires

have more than one type/hardness of compound in different sections of the tire to handle

different scenarios.

Cheaper Hard single compound high mileage type tires are round & roll fine

but tell you nothing of the bikes intentions when pushed.

They seem fine then boom they are squirrely

because the side wall couldn't flex like it needed to

or the grip was just not good enough for the footprint at that lean angle

Edited March 14, 2013 by mania

[Beardog]

Well just sold my Yamaha nuovo & talked myself into new pirrelli Rossi 2's Anyone know of any shops in Pattaya area or from Chonburi- Rayong that actually has a tire balancer & knows how to use one. I would drive to BKK(& I may have to) but my knowledge of BKK is next to nill & no gps. Plus I am a little intimidated in the traffic in that city!

I am ready today if anyone has any knowledge on tire balancing when I buy the tires. Can't wait. Besides it was an easy sale when I told my girl the tires are not a new toy but for safety.

[billd766]

Well just sold my Yamaha nuovo & talked myself into new pirrelli Rossi 2's Anyone know of any shops in Pattaya area or from Chonburi- Rayong that actually has a tire balancer & knows how to use one. I would drive to BKK(& I may have to) but my knowledge of BKK is next to nill & no gps. Plus I am a little intimidated in the traffic in that city!

I am ready today if anyone has any knowledge on tire balancing when I buy the tires. Can't wait. Besides it was an easy sale when I told my girl the tires are not a new toy but for safety.

Try K Pairoj at Big Bendum tyres and got excellent service with a large choice of brands available.

He speaks good English and they kept me supplied with that ice cold weak Chinese tea for which I was grateful as it was a very hot day and I had just ridden 385km to get there.

He can also send them to you via EMS.

http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/showthread.php/28052-Tyres-what-amp-where-to-get-them post 4 also post 5

Edited March 20, 2013 by billd766

[kiske]

The stock IRC tires are pretty much trash (roadwinner/wing), however, the IRC IZR003 are VERY good tires and are super sticky. I find them comparable to the pirelli superbike slicks.

Run about 7k a pair I think, for a 140 and a 110.