I ride intermediate. Generally about mid pack. So, I ain't fast but i have fun. Just went through a set of Bridgestones 003 RS (Racing street). I liked them and never had any problems with them. My local shop is encouraging me to go Dunlop 211 GPA which i'm sure is an incredible tire - Maybe too much tire for me I reckon. When i began track days (on a street bike) i ran Mich. Pilot Powers and i liked them just fine. As i got a little faster i had the PPs step out a couple times but it could have simply been me being a ham fist. I'm considering the Power One, Dunlop 211 GPA, or stay with the Stones.
personally i am not a dunlop fan and it's not completely based on performance. dunlop has failed to address issues over time that as a consumer did not set well with me, so as a consumer they are gone from my list of tires for consideration. as for Bstones I haven't been on those for some time, but I found them to be a good tire. as for the michelins I've had a great deal of time on them and found them to be reliable and cheaper when compared to the other brands. the slide is very controlable and I found when they start sliding around it's time to look for a new set (for the most part). Mind you if you're skilled enough you could slide any tire out of the box so to speak, but I am not anywhere near that level. does that help?
This is a way old thread, but I wanted to give a shout out to Dunlop for their 212GP tires. I was on Q's before that and never had any complaints. But, it was time to replace them (seven seasons later . . .) and after some research, I decided on the 212GPs. I wanted something that had a nearly slick tread pattern (just enough to be street legal - I do not ride in the rain) and the 212GPs seemed to be the fit for what I was looking for. I was BLOWN AWAY by the difference. I drag my knees around freeway on-ramps because that is the only place on the road where you don't have oncoming traffic and are completely by yourself in a turn tight enough to do that. And it was apparent the first time I put any lean into those tires that they were a significant upgrade. I always felt myself drifting wide and figured that was just the limit of the bike and thought nothing of it when leaned over in an on-ramp turn. Not with the 212s on. Wow, what a difference. Not only did I no longer drift wide, but I could actually tighten my radius mid-turn. Also, there were occasions where I would experience a slight (just enough to notice) wheel spin on certain corner exits. I have yet to experience that with the 212s. And I have tried. Granted, I'm no pro and I'm not capable of testing the limits of these tires, but I have found that the limits of the 212s is noticeably different from the Qs. The Q is a great tire, but those 212s are way better than I expected. They aren't going to last 7 seasons, but that's OK. I'll be happy if they last one season as good as these things are. I think I'm running 32 psi front and rear (I found out recently that race setting is 17 - 19 on the rear; have to try that next). As for me - I don't think I'll buy any other tire - outside of tinkering with racing slicks someday (or not - as my riding level can't exploit slicks anyway, so why bother?).
I have used Bridgestone S-20's, S-20 Evo's, Dunlop Q-3's and Michelin Power Supersports. All have worked just fine for me at upper intermediate to lower advanced level. I don't use warmers, I just take it easy for a couple laps to get some heat in and then up my pace gradually. I'm on a budget so I buy when there are sales with rebates included and usually get 2 rears and one front for less than $300. The B-Stone standard S-20 does not give as good of wear as the Evo's and the Q-3's and Power Supersports also give good wear.
