jcstokes wrote on 04/22/13 at 23:22:24:Pity, I hadn't read your opinion of Shinko's Serowbot. I declined a rear one in favour of a Michelin Commander which cost me $60NZ more.
Don't cry, JC...
You'll never be disappointed with a Michelin...
...
Shinko owns the Yokohama tire molds,... and their quality is first rate...
More than anything... you get what you pay for with tires...
A cheaper tire,.. will have less tread depth, and given equal traction compound, will last less miles than a comparable, more expensive tire...
... but,... today's tires, are all pretty excellent...
Buying more tire than you need,... based on the amount of miles you ride per year, is a waste...
If you ride a lot,... pay extra for a long lasting tire...
... but,.. tires only last longer for two reasons... they have a firmer compound, or, they have deeper tread...
... a firmer compound, has less traction...
... a thicker tread, has more unsprung weight...
....
... a light tire, with great traction,.. won't last long at all...
... it's all about balance...
Buy a tire that is aesthetically pleasing to you, and will last 4 to 6 years on your bike, based on the amount of miles you ride per year... (after 4 to 6 yrs, tires will start to dry out, and will loose traction, and mileage)...(when they harden too much,... they can become dangerous)......
Longevity, vs traction, vs weight...
There are various tread patterns... some look cooler than others... but, science has mostly made them all pretty darn good at shooing away water...
The rest is just fashion...
(Tread patterns only matter in heavy rain or dirt riding)... on dry pavement,... a slick has the most traction...
Not that I'm immune to fashion...
...
But, buy based on how many miles per year you ride...
... and what looks sexy hot, on your bike...
...