Installed a Continental Contiforce SM on the rear of my SM610 this past weekend. Went online to order a front and noticed that this silly tire comes in two different version. I asked around about that at some online vendors and nobody knew anything. Hey, and obviously, neither did I, as I ordered and installed the SM version. Having said that, I'm concerned b/c the Sport Touring version of the Contiforce looks like the better tire... at least for my commuting and everyday non-track riding needs are concerned. For one, the speed is rated W whereas the SM is only rated H. Which is kinda' weird... a SM tire with a lower speed rating... doesn't make sense? Also, from what I've read and gathered, those that are experiencing shorter tread life are the ones who are running the SM version of the tire. I'm guessing, but I suspect that the Sport Touring version of the Contiforce is superior in that way too... you know, longer treadlife? Absolutely hilarious that I would discover both versions of the tire on the website that I ordered from the other week. I didn't bother to look for the other version, b/c I was convinced that they were the same tire and that vendors had confused the tires somehow. Even Continental's website makes no reference to different versions of the tire. However, according to the vendor that I ordered from, there are two version. One for the track and one for the street... and as fate would have it, I ordered and mounted the freggin' track tire. So I'm thinking I'll be lucky to get 2K miles out of this tire. So more fun and games with yet another soul sucking rear tire change in another five months ;o( Hey, let me know what you know about the SM and ST versions of the Continental Contiforce. Don't see why they would use the same name and tread pattern for two different tires (?) It only confuses and complicates matters. Upside is that I got the silly tire on the bike. Any tire is better than the stock Dunlop, I guess. Nonetheless, I'm really chapped about purchasing the wrong version of the Contiforce though ;o(
As for the speed rating, the SM compound is made to heat up more quickly for better grip, while the street compound is designed to dissipate excess heat at continuous highway speed. Temperature is the enemy of tire life, especially at highway speeds.
you got the right one for a supermoto. the compounds are very different because sumos have very different characteristics from st bikes. i suggest a avon distanzia for your next set if you value mileage over grip. if you are the sort of person that will never come near slipping a tire (purposefully or accidentally), just buy the cheapest tire you can find, because you wont ever near the edge of grip for any modern tire.
Thanks for the feedback fellaz. Hopefully, as Kingmoochr suggests, I got the right tire, despite my mostly highway/freeway commute. Like most, I bought the bike for recreation, however, truth is, I really don't have time to ride it on my days off, so I ride it to work whenever the forecast is 0 to 10% rain. Ironic as all out, but that's the way it works out. So, I'm on the friggin' freeway most of the time, if not all of the time with the bike. I'd say about 90% of my 70 mile roundtrip commute is all highway. I could take the backroads, but I don't like the traffic. Hardly any traffic on the highway that I use to get to work. Oh well, speaking of which, I'm off to work. Again, thanks. If anyone else knows the specifics of the compounds used for each version of the tire, please post a reply.
As much as I like SM's, sounds like you might have picked up the wrong bike. What kinda speeds are you running on the highway? I ride mine to work most days too, but it's only 10 miles one way, in town and some backroads, and occasionally I'll take off down the highway, but I wouldn't want to take 30miles of crowded freeway twice a day on it if the speed limit was over 60. About 1/3rd of my riding is for fun though.
Hey, appreciate and respect the thought, however, I don't know any other motorcycle. I had a trail bike as a kid, but nothing since. This is my first bike as an adult, so I don't really have anything to compare it to, as I don't know what it would be like to ride a bike specifically designed or more geared towards the highway. So, again, ironically and comically enough, I'm on the highway on my SM, more often than not. It's really not that bad to me. Again, I have no other experience to compare it to, so that's prolly' why it's okay to me. I took the back roads the first week I had it, but quickly switched to the freeway. Crazy as it sounds, I like it better than the backroads. Especially when work is hanging in the balance. I want to get there as quickly as possible, you know? Again, thanks for the feedback.
Hey Dualie...like you, I have no problem getting on the freeway when I've gotta be somewhere. It's faster and safer than the backroads. For commuting, I'd look at a higher mileage tire like the Distanzia next time. You could double your mileage with those....
@ RDTCU: I run 70 MPH or more when on the freeway. I'd say approximately 40 to 50 miles of my 70 mile roundtrip commute is highway. @ ContraHusk: I was looking at Distanzia's early on in my tire replacement search. I like the tread design on those more than any tire I've looked at. However, for 100% street or highway usage, I'm not too confident of the road noise. However, I'm guessing they're great for fireroads (?) Having said that, most suggest it's best to have a set of both off and on road wheels n' tires, if you plan to ride in both environments. Same suggestion goes for street vs track tires. Most say it's best to have two sets... a set for the street and a set for the track. Again, for those that do both. So as far as the Distanzia's go, I question their ability and fit for street applications. Kinda' ironic and comical coming from a guy that posts as "dualie" online, huh? ;o) Hey, but to my credit, the name is on the surface and nothing more. Hey, and not to start a Streeted SM riot here, but the same holds true for my SM610 purchase ;o) Truth is, before anything else, I bought my SM610 as an homage to the sport or culture of SuperMoto and Motocross. Superficial and surface as ever, but I bought into the idea or fantasy of a streeted SM primarily for the looks. The performance, while important, was sort of an afterthought or by product ;o) Having said that, for it's intended purposes, the SM610 exceeds my expectations in both looks and performance ;o) It's a foundation that can only be expanded upon. You know, something from the current crop of 800cc to 990cc Adventurer/Tourer/SM's [Tiger, Nuda, GS or comparable offering] ;o)
Dualie -- I like how you think. I put SM wheels/tires on my TE and though, "Hey! This is a pretty cool everyday ride..." I don't have a dual-sport now...I have a tri-sport.
