Best Tires For Yamaha YZF-R6

In this article...

‍Best Tire Overall: Bridgestone Battlax S22

Bridgestone has always been known for its strong presence in MotoGP, so it's no surprise that they are taking the hypersport segment seriously with the Battlax Hypersport S22. The new tire comes with Bridgestone's new enhanced compound, which has already been implemented on race tires and promises to improve braking performance under wet conditions.

There are two compounds available – Dual compound (3LC) for the front, which offers low rolling resistance, and Triple compound (5LC) for the rear, which possesses increased grip at maximum angles. Each compound has a different color marking to easily distinguish them from each other.

For the street, Battlax S22 Tires are very grippy at all lean angles but what surprised us most was that they are also very stable on the straights. This makes these tires perfect for Yamaha R6 since you can really push them hard through any corner without worrying about losing traction suddenly. Plus, they provide good feedback when riding at high speeds.

Every sportbike rider knows how important it is to maintain your tires when you're riding fast every day, especially through the summer heat. The Battlax S22's sidewall utilizes Bridgestone's 'Tubeless System', which consists of reinforcing beads made out of aramid fiber in order to make them resistant against high-speed damage from rocks or road debris. Aramid is a material known for its extreme durability yet being light enough so that it doesn't add any unnecessary weight onto the tire itself. In addition, there are some small but noticeable fins molded into the carcass to reduce heat build-up during heavy braking, resulting in more responsive braking performance.

We decided to test Bridgestone's claims and see if they were accurate by using the S22's as daily drivers for two months on the Yamaha YZF-R6.

As soon as we mounted up the first tire, we immediately noticed how supple the sidewalls felt against the hands. This may not sound like a big deal, but it's a nice feature for a track day or fast-paced commuting, considering most sportbike riders travel over uneven ground every so often, with speed bumps being the most common culprits.

We then decided to take them for a spin around the neighborhood, which was about 30 minutes away from our place at that time. We couldn't help but notice how much more confident the rider felt while leaning over, no matter if it was during slow-speed hairpins or fast-paced sweepers.

After accumulating about 700 miles on the rear tire in varying weather conditions, our rider recalls feeling more confident in leaning over during daily commutes. When we measured the wear grooves after this amount of riding, they were still fairly consistent throughout the entire length of the tire, which is a good sign for longevity.

After measuring out 500 miles at a later date without going too hard into corners at all times, we did not notice any significant change in wear pattern except that there was a slight 'V' groove appearing across the center of each tread block. This will eventually become a straight line when sufficient wear occurs. This is a fairly common characteristic of sport tires which find themselves on the track every so often. Needless to say, they still felt like new when commuting through daily traffic

After using these as our only daily commute tires, we knew exactly how well these tires stood up to track days and fast-paced commuting throughout all kinds of weather and riding conditions! Thanks to its enhanced cornering ability, the front tire could handle tight hairpins with ease while also feeling planted during high-speed sweepers. From this point onward, we can say without a doubt that these tires are worth every penny for daily commuters and track day enthusiasts alike.

If you want tires with loads of grip but still provide decent feedback when pushing hard on the street or at the track, Battlax Hypersport S22 Tires are just what you need.

Order your set of Bridgestone Battlax S22 tires today from Revzilla to get a 28% discount.

Pros

Great value for money
Enhanced cornering ability
Doesn't feel 'squirmy' when going through tight hairpins or fast-paced sweepers
Improved heat dissipation means they'll perform better in warmer climates.
Supple sidewalls add to the comfort factor while commuting on rough roads.

Cons

Not ideal for cold weather climates, according to Bridgestone.

Best Tire For Daily Commutes: Michelin Road 5

The Michelin Road 5 is the successor of the popular Pilot Road 4, which was one of my favorite tires. I rode many miles on it and was very happy with its performance. When comparing the two different generations of this tire, the first thing you notice is that the new one looks like it has way more rubber on its shoulders.

Putting them next to each other shows how much bigger the new tire actually is compared to its predecessor. The extra rubber does not come for free, though, as this will also result in an increase of weight. Michelin claims that a 3000-mile driven Road 5 has the same braking capability as a brand-new Pilot Road 4s and provides even better grip on dry surfaces.

Both front (120/70-17) and rear tires (180/55-17) are equipped with a stiffer carcass than their predecessors to help cope with the Yamaha YZF-R6's power output.

The Michelin Road 5 combines both old and new technologies, including 2CT and 2CT+ dual compounds, Adaptive casing technology (ACT+), refined rubber compounds, and Evo Siping for improved water drainage. The Road 5 also features highly complex molds that deliver better grip on wet roads and offer a longer tread life.

The tire earns Michelin's 2CT+ designation by combining two construction technologies: One is called 2CT (Twin Compound Technology), which consists of a harder rubber compound in the center for stability, and a softer one on the shoulders to improve grip in turns. The other technology is called 2CT+ (Two compounds are better than one) which means that both rubber compounds are combined into one. This results in an even balance between durability and grip while resulting in less wear of both types of rubber on the tire.

The patented Adaptive casing technology (ACT+) consists of a less stiff, more flexible construction in the center portion to enhance stability and handle very well in straight lines while increasing cornering performance.

Michelin also uses an aggressive tread design on the Road 5. It consists of many sipings, which Michelin calls 'Evo Siping'. The new Evo Siping uses fine thin longitudinal grooves that are deeper on the shoulders for better water drainage when braking or accelerating. As the name implies, the tire is supposed to be good for touring as well as sports use.

When looking at its profile, there is no doubt that the Pilot Road 5 has more rounded shoulders than any other sport touring or racing tires. This results in an even contact patch without having too much rubber on the outer shoulders. It is also worth noting that this tire has one of the most prolonged profiles we have seen so far at 3.22 inches for the 180/55 version mounted on one of our bikes. This can be an important thing to consider when choosing a front tire for your bike.

When testing the Michelin Road 5 on our Yamaha YZF-R6, we immediately felt better stability at all lean angles when compared to our old Michelin Pilot Power 4 tires which were already very stable at high speeds. We also received plenty of feedback compared to other sport-touring tires. The Road 5 also has better stability when braking hard corners, thanks to its stiffer shoulders. This is especially important for doing track-days where you have to brake really hard in turns while still leaning over; otherwise, your lap times are terrible.

The front end of our Yamaha YZF-R6 never felt so good before! On the street, the Pilot Road 5 offers one of the best combinations we have ever ridden: Good long-term performance and high-speed stability without sacrificing any agility. We also prefer to use a less stiff front suspension since the Road 5 delivers better feedback in turns than most sport-touring tires out there.

What's not as impressive is the tire warmup times. It takes some time until this tire fully warms up on the racetrack, which results in a lower grip level at first. Another concern we had was longevity since these tires have softer rubber compounds and a less stiff carcass compared to other tires. However, after riding them on the street some miles now, we have to admit that their lifespan seems quite good.

Our final two cents on this tire: For racetracks, the Road 5 is a very good tire that offers great feedback and still delivers excellent stability at high speeds. On the street, it behaves like a sport-touring tire with increased handling capabilities. It takes some time to get used to this type of tire on the racetrack, but once you do, it's hard to go back to less flexible tires that need longer warmup times before they work properly.

Compared to other sport-touring tires out there, this is our new favorite tire for day-to-day use! It's also the best tire we have ever tried so far on our Yamaha YZF-R6 since handling was never so good before. This tire definitely gets two thumbs up from me, and we strongly recommend it for any Yamaha YZF-R6 owner out there looking for the perfect tire.

Order your set of Michelin Road 5 tires today from Revzilla and get 26% off.

Pros

Exceptional wet weather performance
Great Cornering Stability at all Lean Angles
Longer Wearing Life compared to other Sport-Touring tires
Great value for money
Provides good feedback

Cons

Slower Warmup Times than other Sport-Touring Tires (Not an Issue on the Street)

Best Tire for Track: Pirelli Diablo Rosso III

The Pirelli Diablo Rosso III is another great sport-touring tire and probably the best choice for a Yamaha YZF-R6. This tire comes close to Michelin's top performance but offers better cold grip and feedback, especially when changing directions quickly.

We put them through their paces by doing a number of different performance tests and also by checking out how they do on the street. We tested them by riding at high speeds to see if we noticed any wobbling or anything like that. We also noted their feel and grip in a couple of different conditions, including wet roads and dry ones.

After spending some time with them on our Yamaha YZF-R6, it turns out that these tires have an excellent combination of grip, stability and durability, giving you great feedback from the road, which is important because good feedback from your tire means being able to push your motorcycle's handling limits a bit further.

On the racetrack, the Pirelli Diablo Rosso III is your best friend! This tire provides so much feedback and loads of grip on all lean angles, making you feel like an invincible hero when attacking any corner out there. The tires also offer excellent stability at high speeds, which should be perfect for trackdays as well as training sessions on any racetrack out there.

Don't even dare riding your Yamaha YZF-R6 without them – It definitely needs a sport-touring tire at both ends to perform well on the racetrack. Compared to the Michelin Road 5, this tire is one step down in terms of feedback and handling capabilities, but the increased stability makes it a perfect choice for day-to-day use as well.

Compared to other sport-touring tires, this one definitely wins in terms of sheer traction when cornering quickly. When riding these tires on public roads, we immediately noticed how better they stick to the asphalt than other sport-touring tires like the Bridgestone BT-021 or the old Dunlop Q2's. This is great for people who like to ride on the track after work or spend a day carving canyon and then commute home at night.

On the street, these tires behave just like sport-touring tires should: They offer high stability and grip levels but still provide good feedback and feel through the whole lean angle range. This makes them great both in slow or high-speed situations such as commuting or riding on curvy roads where you need stability most of the time but also enough feedback when changing directions quickly.

When it comes to warmup times, we were quite impressed by this tire as well since it only takes a few corners to get these tires up to full grip level and at that point, they already feel like race slicks. There are no heat spikes with these tires once warmed up, and they just perform flawlessly, making them one of the most reliable sport-touring tires on the market.

Of course, don't expect this tire to last as long as a pure touring tire since it is made for high performance rather than durability but keep in mind it will still outlast any other sport-touring tire out there, especially if you ride with smooth throttle inputs and brake gently every now and then. The price is also a bit steep for street use, but try finding one of these Rosso IIIs, and you'll see why - once people find out how well they work on a Yamaha R6, they'll buy up every single one available.

We've had a lot of experience with Pirelli's road tires, and we were very excited to see how they'd do on the track. And after riding them, we can say that we weren't disappointed. They offer excellent feedback, responding well to even minute changes in pressure, so you'll know exactly what your tire is doing at all times.

If you want a super grippy tire that looks cool and will last for quite a while, look no further than Pirelli Diablo Rosso IIIs - they're just what you need for your high-performance Yamaha YZF-R6.

Order your set of Pirelli Diablo Rosso III tires today from Revzilla and get a 32% discount.

Pros

Great feedback from this tire.
Outstanding handling capabilities when riding on the edge.
Feels super sticky and provides loads of traction.
Highly recommended for trackdays and training sessions!

Cons

The price might be a bit high compared to other sport tires out there, but we say it's worth every cent if you're planning some track time on your Yamaha R6.

Best Tire for Grip: Metzeler Sportec M9 RR

Metzeler is a German manufacturer that has been around since 1853. In those 163 years, they have been consistent in providing some of the best motorcycle tires on the market for many types of bikes, from cruisers to motocross racers alike.

The Metzeler Sportec M9 RR Tires are a prime example of why this company is still considered a top contender when designing sport bike tires that provide higher levels of performance and control compared to their counterparts. The first thing you notice when you roll it around is how well built this Dunlop like tire feels. It's noticeably heavy - it's not flimsy at all.

As we've mentioned in previous articles, we are firm believers that one should choose their tires based on feel instead of looks because the whole "looks good=handles well" argument doesn't hold water like some people think (I could go into detail about that but won't for now). That being said, if we had to pick out two things that I think best represent how this tire rides, it would be stability and grip.

The Metzeler Sportec M9 RR Tires are also fitted with unique silica compounds, 3D sipes and spirally-wound nylon, which make up the carcass. This design gives them their sharp handling and helps dissipate heat that builds up during track day sessions or daily commutes to work.

The tread pattern is also designed to drive water away from the tire's contact patch during spirited riding quickly while gripping onto loose gravel, just as well making it one of the best Yamaha YZF-R6 tires on the market today.

We have tested the M9RR on the Yamaha YZF-R6 on different types of road surfaces, including wet pavement, gravel and even some sections of dirt roads, with great results. The Metzeler Sportec M9 RR Tires are definitely up to the task!

Not only were they comfortable, but they offered loads of grip when it came to cornering at any speed. These tires won't disappoint if you want lots of feedback from your tires.

Under heavy braking and aggressive acceleration, there was no loss in stopping power or traction whatsoever. It also features a unique formula that helps dissipate heat during hard use, which can otherwise wear out the tire and make it prone to punctures.

At first, we were skeptical of this tire's wet weather capabilities because the M7 RR that it replaced did not impress us in wet conditions at all. However, the M9RR proved us wrong, and we were impressed by the amount of control it offered when pushing hard on wet pavement. This makes it one of the best sport motorcycle tires for Yamaha YZF-R6 money can buy, in our opinion.

The only downside we can think of is the tread life. If you do a lot of highway riding or commuting, you might need to replace it more often than other tires.

Overall, the Metzeler Sportec M9 RR is an excellent choice for those looking for sport tires that do well in all conditions. We were very impressed with its overall performance and feel that it's one of the best tires you can buy if you're planning to use your Yamaha YZF-R6 as a daily rider as well as a track toy!

Order your set of Metzeler Sportec M9 RR tires today on Revzilla and getl a 20% discount.