Got a ways to go yet before Old Man Winter settles in to stay though.
PR3's are probably as good a winter-weather commuting choice as you can make.
I don't commute, but have mounted a set of Bridgestone S20's for the off-season. I still wanted a "hypersport" tire, but one with more tread siping for damp/wet roads and a compound more suited to cold than the Supercorsas. Haven't really had a chance to fully test them yet, but so far they look to be a good choice for the reasons I chose them.
The rear is a 190/55, and despite it actually measuring 5mm taller new than the worn 200/55 Pirelli it replaced, the TC is definitely affected; i.e. it kicks in more often. I usually ran it on 3 on the road or else just turned it off, and with the S20's on, now I find it's too intrusive on 3. Before, 3 would let me get sporty but still provide plenty of idiot-proofing. I've mucked with it a bit and have it on 1 now, but I think 2 is closer to how active the TC was on 3 with the OEM Pirellis. I can get the rear to move around a pretty good bit with the throttle on 1 now, but 2 keeps that to a minimum, just about like 3 did before. So 190/55 tires (and TC) are definitely useable in a street environment despite the size variance, but I'd say likely not on the track.
I still have to shut the TC off altogether to see how they feel with no nanny onboard, and while I've ridden in mild temps (70F) to coolish (hi 40's F), I have't been out in truly cold air yet. Probably won't, except on rare days when the sun is shining and I get cabin fever...
Here are a couple of pics of the rear on it's first day out, just to show how much more tread siping they have. I still had the old "v"ed off Pirelli on the front that day since I couldn't find my torx bits the night before to pull the front discs. Felt pretty funky with the combo as a result, but it's fine now with the fresh, matched S20's on. Neutral, plenty of grip for the street. I don't expect they're as grippy as the Supercorsa's on a nice warm day, but probably don't give up much.
Generally avoid posting pics of myself to avoid catching #$%& for not holding my nose right, but hey - it's all about sharing some tire love!
If you ride like that on the street I would recommend leather pants.
Ba-Zing! Knew I should've cropped those pics to show just the tire; that's what I get for being lazy...
Those are actually quite slow corners; plus a peek at the background should suffice to say that's a place to leave plenty of margin for error. Screw up there and you're either going into the side of a bluff, off the side of a bluff, into a dense stand of trees, into a guardrail or under an oncoming car. Or if you're really good, all of the above. Some folks will drill it through there, but not this old guy. Most of the lean there was just to finish scrubbing the shine off and get a feel for the S20's on their sides.
Speaking of the S20's since this is a tire thread, I should have added that my TC notes will apply only to them, since different makes and models of tires, even in the same size will vary in actual measurements. The rear S20's are quite tall for a 190/55, but it's really the front/rear ratio and profile that affects the TC. The front S20 is a bit taller than a new Supercorsa, while the rear S20 is 7mm shorter than a new 200/55 Pirelli. Close enough to be taller new than the worn tire that came off, so I was honestly surprised the TC was as affected as it is.
Michelin list both static and "in use" diameters for the PR3's, and I don't know which to use to compare with Pirelli's and Bridgestone's specs for the SPV2's & S20's. So it would be hard to guess how they'd do TC-wise. However, going by the static they're a good bit shorter in the rear and the same up front, and by the "in use" numbers they're the same in back but 12mm larger up front; so it looks like the effect on TC would be more than with the S20's.
Don't know that's a bad thing for winter riding though, since at freezing temps you're not going to have much grip anyway. More a question there of safety and not sportiness. Which brings up the matter of ABS effect, which I can't address since mine doesn't have it!
Yeah, I'm more concerned with effect on TC and ABS (since the whole point is slipping on cold and wet) than I am about the exact tire. Plenty will work, not a fast or sporty commute, just need to put around during winter. So I want to find the tire that will match in size the most accurately to the Supercorsas. And anybody know where I can get some snow chains?
Likewise - just put the Pirelli Rosso Corsa on the bike (190 in the rear) - haven't had any issues with electronics or the overall feel of the bike (on the street). Also, put heated grips on the bike
Likewise - just put the Pirelli Rosso Corsa on the bike (190 in the rear) - haven't had any issues with electronics or the overall feel of the bike (on the street). Also, put heated grips on the bike
Angels, PR3's, Conti Road Attack II, Metzler Roadtec Z8's or Dunlop Roadsmart II's would likely be fine for your purposes, and are the only sport touring tires that come in a 190/55 rear which you'll definitely need to avoid running into real issues with TC/ABS.
What you're effectively looking for is, in automotive parlance, an all-season tire, whereas the S20's and DRC's that I and other's have mentioned are really just less aggressive summer tires than the Supercorsas, with a nod towards damp roads and cooler temps. Funny that every summer tire I've ever bought for my car (RE11 Bridgestones at the moment) came with dire warnings about use in cold weather, but I've never seen such a warning on a supersport motorcycle tire, even though they're much more aggressive, softer compound tires.
Just a guess, but I think the additional TC engagement and likely more active ABS at the front from the smaller rear tire might even be a benefit in the kind of really cold weather you're talking about. Not as much as the built-in butt warmer, but still...
