Hayabusa Tyres/Tires Review.

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Last Updated : 19 Dec 2007

These are various tyres/tires reviews I have used on the Hayabusa. 

Note: Your experience may vary to mine due to variances is suspension set-up, your body weight, tyre pressures, road surface, climate, temperature, wear and tear in general.  My comments should only be taken as a guide.

Bridgestone BT56R J Spec
Bridgestone BT56R
Avon AZARO AV36
Dunlop D207 J Spec
Other tyre choices...

Original Tyres (OEM) or J Spec.  This tyre was 190 and looked it.  Great tread life if riding moderately. Stable and suited the Hayabusa perfectly.  Profile was not as round as the 'sports tyres'.  Check the archives section on the site to read more.  Would have lasted 10,000ks.

Conclusion : It was made for the Busa and it shows.

* Didn't have a picture but looks the same as the J only a tad rounder and looks smaller.

These are the ordinary BT56s seen on normal sports bikes R1s, Fireblades, GSXRs and so forth this one was 190/55.  These tyres were not designed specifically for the Hayabusa.  Using the BT56 tread pattern the tyre profile was distinctly round.   I didn't like these tyres at all.  Made the bike feel a tad nervous and didn't feel at that great in corners after awhile. 
Would have lasted 8,000ks.

Conclusion : Nah try again.

* Looks much bigger on the ground than up on the center stand.

This tyre was unashamedly bought on looks alone.  The tread pattern is unique, a sort of S shaped.  The tyre was rated 190 but in all honestly it looked at least 210.  It looks HUGE.  It has a very flat profile and quite sticky.  It warms up pretty quickly.  The wear pattern is very flat but hard to notice at stand still.  However tread life is very LOW.  5000km max under very normal riding.   Quite a stable tyre on the straight and at high speed.  As the tyres got older the cornering became a tad resistant to leaning - probably due to the profile.  There aren't many corners where I live so it doesn't really bother me.  Due to the grippy nature this tyre was great when new.  Very sticky is a best way to describe it.  It's got the LOOK.

I realise that the look of the tyre shouldn't matter but the fact that I have to pay $300+ for the rear tyre at least twice a year I want it to look like $300 worth as well as performing.

Conclusion : If it came in J Spec I would not consider another tyre.

My last Hayabusa tyre - maybe.  Unlike the regular 207s this one is J spec which means its supposed to be made to factory specifications.  Looks wise I DO miss the AZAROs, they are the best looking tyres to date.  The D207J have the same look as the regular 207s which is nice but not impressive compared to the former.  So far the tyre seems to transmit less feedback to my butt than the prior tyres.  They also look more curved hence not as large as the AZAROs.  This is mere perception of course.  They're new so they just flop over in corners, quite responsive, pretty cool so far.  They feel reassuring firm and grippy in corners.  On the straight they are feel that they dig in and thrust noticeably more than I recall with the AZAROs towards the end.

Conclusion : They are OK tyres in the end however they lost a lot of rubber very quickly.  Fine for just cruising around on.

There are other suitable tyre choices too although not many with the 'made for the Hayabusa' description.  Does it matter ?  Check out the latest survey page for details.

Survey Results

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