Looking for experienced opinions on the tires below.  I (will) have 18x4.5 rear and 18x2.5 front wheels and searched for tires in these sizes:

110/80/18
160/60/18.

The matching radials I found are:

Bridgestone Battlax T30's - $240/set
Continental Road Attack 2's - $252/set
Pirelli Angel GT's - $260/set

(all prices and availability sourced from jakewilson.com - free shipping, if anyone has a better source, I'm all ears)

Normally I'd just get the more economical tire but with only a $20 difference between the cheapest and most expensive, I figured I'd reach out and see what people like.

This bike does not go on long treks - it's a cafe style bike that goes at most 50 miles in a single direction.  I do like carving corners, I don't ride it in the rain (if I can help it), and I'm not too worried about mileage - it will only see maybe 3,000-5,000 miles per year (stored during Chicago winters).

Any opinions?

I've a T30 on the back and just replacing a BT023 on the front with a T30.

The rear one has been on for a 2000km trip, two up.


So far, no issues with grip or wear, in the wet or dry.

Can't speak for the other tyres, but the T30s are good.

I just bought T30 EVOs at Jake Wilson.

The reason I bought there is good pricing and they make the $50 rebate VISA card from Bridgestone (expires 8/31) very easy.  The rebate is only on the T30 EVOs, not the regular T30s which are the older version.

I bought the Bridgestones because of good experiences with the BT023.  Only have a few hundred miles on the EVOs so far but have no complaints.

Another vote for T30's. Got a pair on my K75 and love them.

Thanks!  Just put my order through for the T30 EVO's.  $250 shipped with $50 visa gift card to come in 6-50 weeks   Still seems like a good deal.

I have put T30 EVO 'GT' for bikes above 500lb (227k) kerb weight, on two of my mate's R1150R, and a set is waiting in the garage for my Pilot Road 3/4 combo to wear out and will soon be spooned onto my R1150RT. It's an OEM tyre on the Mighty K1600GT/GTL/B beasty and we often see over 8000 miles (12500 kms) on the back - dual compound - from even that weighty model. My R1150R mates say they've improved the feel, are more nimble, and they've no issues with rain riding as compared to the Metzeler Z8 and Michelin Pilot Roads they've replaced. Our K bikes really should use the GT version, so be sure to enquire if that's what you ordered and paid for. You'll notice less tyre mileage and perhaps a minor squirrely feel in the front at extra-legal speeds using the non-GT version.

A fine tyre indeedy.

I did not get the GT, but my bike is a cafe style bike that's likely around 500lbs.  It's a tank and a frame basically, the rest is gone

You should be right, then. A mate whacked the non-GT version onto his K1300S and immediately noticed his mistake. But that bike is heavier than yours and the Duolever front suspension 'pounds' a front tyre.

Two Wheels Better wrote:You'll notice less tyre mileage and perhaps a minor squirrely feel in the front at extra-legal speeds using the non-GT version.

A fine tyre indeedy.

I've had the non-GT EVOs on my 94 RS (supposedly about 600# wet) up in triple digit plus land several times and they've been very solid at those speeds.

I've never run GTs on any of my K bikes but if I were riding 2-up I probably would.

I've just worn out a set of T30 EVOs on my K1100RS. Top tyre. Couldn't fault them. The EVO is slightly softer so I was expecting considerably less mileage but managed to get around 15,000km out of the rear. The front still has about 3 or 4k left. I normally get about 14 to 16k km from a radial on the rear on that bike.
Replacing it with the standard T30 as summer is coming shortly.