8 Best Tires For Kawasaki Concours 14
In my great search for tires for the Concours 14, I tried to stick to the Original Equipment (OE) stock size because things can go too quickly off the rail the moment you try to customize, even if you match the stock size. Fortunately, most of these tires come with a wide range of sizes to further customize your bike once you've checked that the customization will fit.
1. Pirelli Angel GT (A Spec Version)
You might already be familiar with the Pirelli Angel GT rubber if you have any experience in sports touring the world or are just an avid motorbike commuter. Pirelli also prides itself on having unmet performance and fully asserting itself as a competitive sport touring and high-power sport bike, which goes without saying that such performance is perfect as runners for all Kawasaki Concours 14 that they fit. Like other brands like Michelin, there's great pride in the bi-compound tire design, which increases the Angel GT's performance and corner handling.
This reinforced 2-ply carcass dual compound formula gives these Pirellis longer life and superb traction in the wets. The center area is also built to increase the tires' life further and works with the shoulders to keep the rider up on straights and aggressive cornering.
There's often apparent bias when it comes to tire brands. However, riders from influential brands Dunlop, Bridgestone, and Michelin agree that the Pirelli provides exceptional grip on dry roads and fairly good traction in the rain. Snow is different as it seems to vary from rider to rider.
If you also want to tear away and burn rubber, the tires won't succumb to the high speed and will hold together without being unstable. Even though the tires heat up, they keep holding corners tight and don't become mush.
Some riders even found dabbling with gravel wasn't a terrifying ordeal, although it isn't recommended. The tires are priced right in the upper-middle to lower-high price range compared to similar performing tires, which is something that starts stealing away from their impressive offering.
Riders returning to these sets instead of the Angel GT2 report better consistency and do not mind getting 6,000 miles to 10,000 miles on a pair. Getting only 6k miles on these would not be ideal, but another rare negative to these is that heat dissipation that sneaks back into the frame.
The rears have been reported to succumb to hotter days and become slicker. Fortunately, they continue to handle with predictability.
Pirelli Angel GT Specifications
Despite any shortcomings, Pirelli Angel GT is ridiculously popular on Revzilla with over 275 ratings that rate them at an incredible 4.8 out of 5 stars. Customers also took time to rate the tires 4.6/5.0 for value, 4.6/5.0 for all of the improved aesthetic and safety features, 4.8/5.0 for stylistic choice, and 4.8/5.0 for their grip on both wet and dry roads.
You can get the Angel GT fronts on Revzilla for $151.08 and rears for $206.57 with free shipping; that’s always included by the online store. Cyclegear has the fronts and rears matching Revzilla’s discount, and Cyclegear also includes free shipping.
2. Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT
Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT is one of the best runs for the Pilot Road line, and hundreds of positive feedback affirm just that. The Pilot Road 4 brings Michelin’s performance safety in a wide range of riding conditions to an unassuming road tire.
The tire maintains rider confidence on wet roads while braking and reduces the chances of the bike losing traction with the ground and interloping with the dastardly hydroplaning. Michelin uses their newer XST+ siping and treads technology for reliable traction performance.
The Pilot Road 4 is reported to offer tread that lasts 20% longer than the tread pattern on its PR 3 predecessor. These tires are perfect for your Concours 14 as they are made to perform on heavy tourers with their stiffer casing. The casing uses Michelin’s bi-compound technology with silica-charged rubber compounds that hold extremely well between 23 degrees and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Michelin stands strong that the Pilot Road 4 stop shorter on wet tests than leading competitive sport touring tires and their previous generation. This goes without saying that the tires provide great comfort whether you are riding by yourself, with luggage, or with a second.
There was some outlier feedback from other riders that the rears suffered noticeably at higher temperatures which is an issue considering that they are made to be ridden for long hauls at a time. Luckily, the resounding community chorus is that the PR 4 are fantastic all-rounders.
The tires seem not to struggle to churn out around mileage in the 8,000 to the 10,000-mile range. You shouldn’t worry about running these for what they are worth on wet roads and windy routes. They should be true, just like your love for Kawasaki Concours 14.
Michelin Pilot Road 4 GT Specifications
The tires also have 195 reviews on Revzilla, with customers rating specific performance categories out of 5 stars. Customers found that tires have a good return on value, are aesthetically pleasing, have a high-performance grip, and have a tread that has good longevity. The average of these is around 4.6 stars.
Cyclegear also has a similar rating situation going on. The tires only have 51 ratings in similar categories, and the average rating is 4.7 out of 5. The only additional categories that Cyclegear considers are wet traction and the customer’s willingness to repurchase the product.
Revzilla has the fronts on sale for $176.26 and rears going for $227.59 with free shipping. Cyclegear gear has the fronts and rears on a matching discount with free shipping.
3. Pirelli Diablo Rosso II
I shouldn't have to introduce offerings from Pirelli anymore, but I will for the Diablo Rosso II because these tires are devilish beasts. They embody technology made for superbikes on tires that you can run on daily on the streets.
Diablo Rosso II has a grip for the track and longevity for riders who count themselves as sport riders looking for a performance upgrade that doesn't compromise aesthetics and bank.
The dual-compound composition of the Diablo Rosso II is applied to three zones on the front tire and has three compounds applied to an astounding five zones on the rear tire. This translates to tires with a leading tread design with optimized drainage, consistent tread wear, and reliable maneuvering.
The multi-compound engineering introduces a balanced mixture of Black Carbon and Silica to provide extraordinary traction in varying riding conditions and lean angles. Both the rear and front seem to last an average of around 7,000 miles, even though Pirelli claims that the mileage has seen a 20% extension of the previous iteration.
The price also supports the tires' features, and it's challenging to beat the precision in handling and revamped tread pattern that holds the tarred road. Another critical feature advertised on these is the Enhanced Patch Technology (EPT), which improves contact area with road and for uniform handling and wear.
This EPT contact area is primarily due to Integrated Contour Shaping (ICS) engineering, which does what it sounds like and makes wear more consistent and predictable. The shoulders are also slick for full lean angle cornering without sticking to the road.
Lastly, the performance in wet conditions isn't by fluke as there's Functional Groove Design (FGD) to wick water away without stealing from your speed or causing the bike to fight with your steering input.
Pirelli Diablo Rosso II Specifications
Pirelli is a famous brand despite only enjoying 159 reviews on Revzilla and 31 reviews on Cyclegear. After rereading the other recommendations, I realized that giving a combined highlight of both site review categories is easier because it’s about getting an idea of the performance and value before springboarding off into your own research.
I could’ve changed my post to reflect this late epiphany, but I wanted you to also suff–I mean, I wanted us to bond a little. I hope we bonded. Here is an amalgamation of the rough metrics I considered before in a more logical lay:
- Bang for Buck: 4.7 out of 5.0
- Features & Technology: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Grip: 4.8 out of 5.0
- Wet traction: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Tread life: 4.2 out of 5.0
- Style: 4.7 out of 5.0
- So good would repurchase: 4.5 out of 5.0
Revzilla has the front tires discounted for $132.19 and the rear tires for $192.77. The sister company, Cyclegear, also has both front and rear tires for the same discount. Both companies offer free shipping.
4. Avon Storm 3D X-M
Avon Storm 3D X-M is touted as lasting longer than its Spirit line sibling and is a guaranteed fit for your Kawasaki GTR1400. Don’t be dismayed by the high mileage advertised on the tire; it doesn’t abandon performance to last you longer. Avon vows that the Storm 3D X-M (Extra Mileage) will give you 15% to 20% more range than its other Storm series products.
The “3D” part of the tire’s name is a pointer toward the interlocking three-dimensional points neatly tucked into the spine. This engineering choice gives the tires better grip, limited flex, and more reliable stability. The feature also allows the tire to warm up quickly during your ride, giving you its best leaning traction from the get-go.
The radial tires are a hassle-free tubeless type with a generous speed rating for most of your “speed demon” needs. With the speed rating, Avon built these knowing that riders will want to push the needle and made sure to give you only the best performing single and multi-compound Silica tread for all the wet gripping you’ll reasonably need.
Aside from outliers, these tires have stuck to their “extra mileage” branding. Their average mileage sits between 7,500 to 12,000 miles, which is not too bad considering that many riders report pushing the tires and taking corners hot.
I also found that a genuine set of the Storm 3D X-M maintains its shape and stays intact longer than other tires in this same price range. This commendable performance seems to hold up through vigorous riding; however, other riders that use these as their daily drivers have reported poor traction on any terrain that’s not warm and just right.
Not to say that the grip doesn’t hold up as advertised, but rides in the rain seem to punch further up than these can take.
Avon Storm 3D X-M Specifications
These Avon’s don’t have as many reviews, with 36 reviews on both Cyclegear and Revzilla online stores. But, they should get more love than what they currently have.
- Bang for Buck: 4.4 out of 5.0
- Features & Technology: 4.6 out of 5.0
- Grip: 4.6 out of 5.0
- Wet traction: 4.8 out of 5.0
- Tread life: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Style: 4.6 out of 5.0
- So good would repurchase: 4.8 out of 5.0
The front tires are currently going for $141 on Revzilla, with the rear tires at $200.07. Cyclegear has the fronts and rears for the same discount. Both companies offer free shipping.
5. Continental Road Attack 3
Despite the name, Road Attack 3 is the one that strikes the asphalt and not the other way around. We already know that Continental creates some of the best tires on the market, but their brilliance is often lost because of their many options, which often sound similar.
However, the RA3 takes the cake over its Sports Attack 3 sibling. The RA3 is a possible further refined product for the casual rider and has a profile that’s more practical for sport touring and daily commuting.
The SA3 is more suited for riders that relish performance, but for your Concours 14, you want a fuller fruit and will maintain its draws for the long ride. Continental made the RA3 perform at its best in hot and dry conditions, but that doesn’t mean it underachieves in cold and wet challenges.
Multi-Grip technology is used in tire construction, which means that the center is made harder than the shoulders and that transition is smoother than regular dual-compound tires. The MultiGrip is a better technology because of the reduced “step” between the harder and softer compounds on the tire.
This hard-soft construction helps the tire achieve more even wear due to compound reaction to temperature changes. Again, the RA3 is made to last a few seasons while performing superbly throughout the different seasons.
However, if you live in States where the seasons go to the extremes, you might want dedicated tires for those troublesome seasons. If you have milder changes from dry to wet, you should find that the tread pattern is optimized for water drainage without compromising on speed and handling.
Continental also uses their TractionSkin mold release-free manufacturing method to reduce the miles you have to put in before you can start enjoying the tires. Riders have also attested to this quicker break-in period, reporting that the tires were performing exceptionally after only a few miles.
The tires come alive when riding in welcoming conditions, with the compound feeling controllably sticky when hot and showing that chemical process through tight and secure leans.
Continental Road Attack 3 Specifications
Road Attack 3 is perhaps criminally underrated, with only 63 reviews on Cyclegear and Revzilla.
- Bang for Buck: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Features & Technology: 4.7 out of 5.0
- Grip: 4.6 out of 5.0
- Wet traction: 4.0 out of 5.0
- Tread life: 4.2 out of 5.0
- Style: 4.6 out of 5.0
- So good would repurchase: 4.5 out of 5.0
Cyclegear has fronts at a 34% discount for $176.14 and rears for a 36% discount at $235.01. Revzilla has the fronts and rears priced the same, and both companies offer free shipping.
6. Shinko 009 Raven
Unlike tires with “fancy” tread designs like the Michelin Road 5, the Shinko 009 Ravens have a familiar and tested pattern design. It may not invite compliments from the first go around, but you’ll be riding with a smiling wallet and heart.
Shinko cranks out other good tires like the 10 Apex and truly praiseworthy tires like the 016 Verge, which are also too little known. Still, the 009 Ravens are a perfect combination of high-performing radial tires that seemingly last a lifetime.
I mean about 2 or 3 seasons on the road by a lifetime if you are a pusher. Other eager riders have reported getting over 10,000 miles on a brand new set of these, and some aiming for 20K miles.
We all know that the lifespan greatly depends on a rider’s driving style, but the Ravens seemingly have far more advocates that swear on the higher side of the mileage range. The tires remain as comfortable to be on over 1K plus mile trip as they are when you begin.
You’ll also realize that the compound provides exceptional grip on the tarmac that’s both dry and wet. There’s added robustness with the aramid belt over the carcass plies, and everything comes together to produce one of Shinko’s best performing and longest-lived treads on their sport performance radials.
Don’t be confused by the name change from Yokohama; the Shinko brand is reliable, safe, and has its business in order. To further emphasize the high traction capabilities of these tires, they hold stable and accurate speeds over 150 mph, which is close to their maximum speed rating.
There have been other riders that complained about grip in the wet and premature squaring, but the overall verdict is that these affordable tires do hold up.
Shinko 009 Raven Specifications
Cyclegear and Revzilla have a combined sample of 107 reviews, giving a better view of the performance metrics.
- Bang for Buck: 4.9 out of 5.0
- Features & Technology: 4.2 out of 5.0
- Grip: out of 5.0
- Wet traction: 4.3 out of 5.0
- Tread life: 4.4 out of 5.0
- Style: 4.2 out of 5.0
- So good would repurchase: 4.5 out of 5.0
Cyclegear has the rears for $132.48 and fronts for $95.13 with free shipping. Revzilla has the same discounts on the rears and fronts with their standard free shipping.
7. Michelin Pilot Power 2CT
Michelin’s Pilot Power series is an already impressive line, and the 2CT only multiplies that star power. The dual-compound technology is welcomed to the design, which puts a section of a harder compound on the spine to better the mileage and a softer compound on each shoulder for a stauncher grip.
Although the dual-compound here is still not as impressive as Continental’s MultiGrip situation, I haven’t found riders with outstanding complaints about feeling the transition from the top to side compound.
However, the tires seem to become increasingly stickier as they become warmer, which might bother some other finicky riders. I’m not sure if it’s because of the higher asking price or my bias, but the cupping and other bothersome wear issues are more noticeable as you continue running these tires.
Don’t worry; these tires will perform exceptionally well on and off the track throughout their lifespan. You should be able to run about two hearty seasons from a pair of the Pilot Power 2CT.
Michelin is an award-winning brand, so you know that most of the products they churn out will outperform most of the competition and the 2CT do just that without compromising comfort and safety.
Water dispersion is at the level you’d expect out of a tire at this price range, with the tire being able to crank out functioning without fussing at all the speed ranges. Few other bikes can hold the hearts of riders for daily commuting, night highfalutin, track competitor, and weekend adventure-partner.
The only wish I have is more mileage. Even though 8 to 10 thousand is a good average for these when they are abused daily, there are cheaper tires that focus on daily commuting and offer a matching or higher mileage.
All in all, you can see the reported rubber mix that’s been made 20% softer while pulling aggressive cornering on these.
The 2CT even touched 51.2 degrees of lean on Michelin’s test track, which is entirely something for a tire that’s not marketed towards competition. The feedback from the steering is also prompt and accurate, which is not only safer but just objectively better for spirited riders.
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT Specifications
Revzilla and Cyclegear have a more helpful review sampling with 186 reviews between the two sites.
- Bang for Buck: 4.8 out of 5.0
- Features & Technology: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Grip: 4.8 out of 5.0
- Wet traction: 4.7 out of 5.0
- Tread life: 4.4 out of 5.0
- Style: 4.5 out of 5.0
- So good would repurchase: 4.8 out of 5.0
Revzilla has the fronts on discount for $151.77 and rears for sale at $209.51 with free shipping included. As a sister company, Cyclegear customers enjoy the same discounts on the fronts and rears with their standard free shipping.
8. Bridgestone Battlax BT016 Pro
Bridgestone gets into the ring with their Battlax BT016 Pro, and they completely rip the competition a new one. The radial BT016 Pro is engineered to bring exceptionally high performance to modern sports bikes.
The BT016 Pro tires back up their lofty claim of bringing a competitive demeanor to the everyday rider. The tires have their multi-compound construction that’s born from MotoGP design.
This multi-compound technology gives each mile a spectacular grip in varying riding conditions. Because of this engineering, braking performance doesn’t wane on hot runs; there’s also maximum side grip when leaning hard on cornering and maintains that tight grip when exiting.
The front tire is a 3LC bi-compound that brings it regardless of the riding task. Again, the dual compound setup has a stiffer spine to hold on to those straights and softer sides to give into corners and real-time feedback.
You’ll find that the front tires have S-shaped grooves that add to the already excellent cornering performance and help to improve the tire’s handling and comfort over rougher roads. The grooves also help with wet performance without seeping speeds.
Battlax BT016 Pro tires are for riders with a more demanding riding style and can easily pull over 2,000 miles under the most aggressive riding. Fortunately, the greater masses that enjoy steadier riding on their Concours 14 can enjoy upwards of 6,500 miles.
Bridgestone Battlax BT016 Pro Specification
The performance metrics on Cyclegear and Revzilla come from a total of 95 customer reviews.
- Bang for Buck: 4.8 out of 5.0
- Features & Technology: 4.5 out of 5.0
- Grip: 4.8 out of 5.0
- Wet traction: 5.0 out of 5.0
- Tread life: 4.6 out of 5.0
- Style: 4.7 out of 5.0
- So good would repurchase: 5.0 out of 5.0
You can get the fronts at a discount for $109.62, but they are currently sold out and rears on sale for $166.38 at Revzilla. Cyclegear has the rears and fronts on sale, but the fronts are also sold out. Free shipping comes standard.
