Which is the right rubber

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 12:50 am

I keep hearing that it is a huge benefit to replace the stock tires that come on the Stella. Which to chose and why? I am looking for something that will work both wet and dry and roughly 32 degrees F to ~100 F.

Anyone tried the Prima whitewalls?
http://www.scooterworks.com/Prima-White ... 2C566.aspx

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 1:36 am

Whitewalls look great but they are mostly gimmicky, there is no performance whitewall available that I know of.

By far the best tire I have ever put on my Stella was a Heidenau. The K58 are great in the cold and wet but wear out faster at high speed during the warm season (I got ~3k miles out of a rear in mixed winter and summer).

The Heidenau K61 is their four season tire and has a really aggressive racing profile. Erik has mentioned getting over 10k miles on his rear K61 on his LX. I just mounted a new pair on my Stella today but did not have a chance to try them out yet as I managed to lose my keys

Heidenau tires run approximately 50 bucks each which isn't much more than other brands but deliver a greater performance than any competitor. Revzilla carries them but they are out of stock right now (I bought the last two

)

Maximus53 · Post by **Maximus53** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:48 am

Do you replace all three tires? Or just leave the spare as it is as a spare?

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:51 am

The 2 stroke stella came with blackwalls, mine had MAXXIS installed. They were halfway decent so I just kept them and used them up (only got 2500 miles on the rear).

My front still had life in it by the time I used two rears so I kept it as spare tire and changed two to Heidenaus, then swapped the old maxis and one of the Heidenaus with the latest heidenaus I ordered.

Lovelandstella · Post by **Lovelandstella** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:04 pm

Just to make sure readers have all the info:
I am still using the stock tires and I haven't died yet. that includes driving in 100+ heat in the summer and also in the wet and cold, and foolishly driving during 3 snowstorms.
you can always get better tires, but it's not like the scooter is a piece of junk with stock tires.

grip in the wet and cold, they were even good enough to head out in a snowstorm

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:09 pm

+1 on the Heidenaus. I've only had them on for one week, but I've ridden close to 300 miles on them already and the 'nubby' rubber string thingys (yeah that is the technical term) haven't even worn away. I think that's an amazing clue as to the strength of the rubber. If they last as long as people are reporting, I'd say that they are a steal at double their price.

As far as performance, I'm not a flashy rider, but my ride back from Goleta to Ventura after putting them on, I did notice a much increased willingness for to lean from the scoot. Don't know if it was just me being warmed up on the turns, or the tires, but something happened..

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:45 pm

Just to make sure readers have all the info:
I am still using the stock tires and I haven't died yet.

I agree, Sava's aren't THAT bad. I'm in no hurry to change them.

I'll wait until the back wears out and then I'll change both of them.

We aren't riding Hyabusa's here.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:53 pm

lempira wrote:
Just to make sure readers have all the info:
I am still using the stock tires and I haven't died yet.
I agree, Sava's aren't THAT bad. I'm in no hurry to change them.

I'll wait until the back wears out and then I'll change both of them.

We aren't riding Hyabusa's here.

No doubt. I'm mostly impressed with the longevity of the Heidenaus more than anything else. I did use up my stock tires, and had no problems with them, but they only lasted a little more than a tenth of the distance reported by Eric for the Heidenaus. Still kept one of them (was the front tire) as my spare.

Bcon · Post by **Bcon** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:53 pm

Tom wrote:As far as performance, I'm not a flashy rider, but my ride back from Goleta to Ventura after putting them on, I did notice a much increased willingness for to lean from the scoot. Don't know if it was just me being warmed up on the turns, or the tires, but something happened..

Yes, new tires always feel great. The old ones get squared off with wear (get flatter across the middle of the tread), so when you install new tires with a fresh rounded profile, they turn in much nicer and feel more stable.

New tires on a two wheeler - one of the best feelings out there.

desmolicious · Post by **desmolicious** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:18 pm

lempira wrote:
Just to make sure readers have all the info:
I am still using the stock tires and I haven't died yet.
I agree, Sava's aren't THAT bad. I'm in no hurry to change them.

I'll wait until the back wears out and then I'll change both of them.

We aren't riding Hyabusa's here.

Yes they are that bad.

I changed mine after maybe putting only 150 miles on them, and the better tyres transformed the way the bike handled.

Sure you could deal with Savas. But the huge improvement makes it worth dropping $100...

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:21 am

Yes they are that bad.

No they aren't.

You just had to change them because you needed to do knee drags while riding kanan dume on your stella right!!?

GTFO!

it's a 150cc SCOOTER! please, you sound silly.

Nobody is going to die because they ride the stock Savas.

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:09 am

lempira wrote:
Yes they are that bad.
No they aren't.

You just had to change them because you needed to do knee drags while riding kanan dume on your stella right!!?

GTFO! it's a 150cc SCOOTER! please, you sound silly.

Nobody is going to die because they ride the stock Savas.

I'm not sure I like that attitude there. Plenty of people enjoy pushing the limits of a small bike and would never be satisfied with the whitewalls. I sure enjoy leaning the stella till it drags.
There is nothing wrong with taking it easy. There is also nothing wrong with pushing your limits. I don't see what gives you the authority to tell a fellow rider that the way he enjoys riding is silly because of his choice of vehicle.

I have also been in plenty of panic stops where I feel like cheap tires would have landed me into a crash. Like the time I had to brake in pouring rain because the car in front of me did not have working brake lights, my Heidenaus saved me from a hospital trip.

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:56 am

when attitudes collide...new show coming to fox this fall!

desmo is adamant that sava whitewalls are the worst tires ever made.
I'm adamant they aren't.

I prefer whitewalls and will replace them with continentals when they wear out.

now let's hear all about how continental white walls suck and how they aren't made in germany anymore and blah blah blah.

oh and did everyone just ignore this post?

just to make sure readers have all the info:
I am still using the stock tires and I haven't died yet. that includes driving in 100+ heat in the summer and also in the wet and cold, and foolishly driving during 3 snowstorms.
you can always get better tires, but it's not like the scooter is a piece of junk with stock tires.

grip in the wet and cold, they were even good enough to head out in a snowstorm
_________________
~Lovelandstella

Post by **ericalm** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:11 am

Oh, please. There's no need to be arguing about this at all.

Some folks may hate the tires more than others do. It's not an objective measure.

I freakin' hated them. Put about 1500 miles on the ones on Stella #1, under a thousand on Stella #2. Replaced with Michelin S81s in the first, Zippys in the second. Both much better.

The Savas are squishy. The don't handle hard braking well and don't handle cornering well. Worst ever made? Probably not.

I do rock the Heidenau K61s on my Vespa and am such a fan I'll never put another tire on that scooter. I'm thinking a got a really good rear tire for that one, because few others have reported the longevity I've had (13K). Need to change it soon. I am not easy on tires, taking them on a lot of high speed runs (70+ mph) and twisty roads, canyons, etc. Previously, non had lasted me more than about 6500. It'll be interesting to see how the replacement fares. It is a different size than Stella or Buddy tires, though still a 10".

The reason I don't use the K61s on the Stella is that they really shine at high speeds and doing the kind of riding I just don't do on the Stella. I've done a fair share of Stella canyon riding and twisties, but I can't throw it into the curves the same way I can the LX (or a Buddy for that matter).

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:19 am

ericalm wrote: The reason I don't use the K61s on the Stella is that they really shine at high speeds and doing the kind of riding I just don't do on the Stella. I've done a fair share of Stella canyon riding and twisties, but I can't throw it into the curves the same way I can the LX (or a Buddy for that matter).

Talking of K61, I finally managed to circumvent my lost keys situation (oh the joys of hotwiring) and had a chance to the new tires for a spin. All I can say is WOW! Not quite as grippy as the K58 when leaning (not that I was expecting them to be) but such a smooth ride past 40MPH! Easily the most stable high-speed tire I have had a chance of mounting on the Stella.

KABarash · Post by **KABarash** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:52 pm

Maximus53 wrote: Anyone tried the Prima whitewalls?

There's been quite a bit of talk over on the 'Buddy side' about these. Though they look good, and I at first loved them, they don't last.
I replaced my stock rear Maxxis WW at 8000 miles, the prima matched (kinda) but was significantly worn at 2000 miles, I'm now riding a 'baloney-skin' at 5000 miles. My stock Maxxis is still up front with plenty of tread at 13000+/- miles.
I do have a set of the Heidenau K61s on order......

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:01 pm

The reason I don't use the K61s on the Stella is that they really shine at high speeds and doing the kind of riding I just don't do on the Stella. I've done a fair share of Stella canyon riding and twisties, but I can't throw it into the curves the same way I can the LX (or a Buddy for that matter).

This!

I just don't look at the Stella as a performance machine.
I'm certainly not going to buy another set of Savas, but for cruising around town, they suffice.

"life in the not so fast lane."

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:37 pm

lempira wrote:
The reason I don't use the K61s on the Stella is that they really shine at high speeds and doing the kind of riding I just don't do on the Stella. I've done a fair share of Stella canyon riding and twisties, but I can't throw it into the curves the same way I can the LX (or a Buddy for that matter).
This!

I just don't look at the Stella as a performance machine.
I'm certainly not going to buy another set of Savas, but for cruising around town, they suffice.

"life in the not so fast lane."

10K miles on a tire and I'd put 'em on for shoes if I could. And my feet aren't performance feet believe me.

Lokky · Post by **Lokky** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:29 pm

lempira wrote: I just don't look at the Stella as a performance machine.

And that's fine, yet hardly worth calling someone silly because they do, isn't that right?

In Italy there is a monobrand Stella circuit race. People have raced largeframes and smallframes since before most of us were born. It might not be a performance machine in the sense of doing 0 to 60MPH while popping a wheelie in under 5 seconds. But they can be fiddled with a lot and many people see a great appeal in taking an angry chainsaw engine and using it to propel a human being horizontally as fast as they can make them.

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:22 pm

Any 'tyre' recommendations for a honda spree? I want to really lay into those turns.

next time I'm at a stoplight and an aero rolls up, he or she will have no idea what they're in for when that light turns green!

lighten up people.

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:44 pm

Posting with class! It's under rated..

lempira · Post by **lempira** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:15 am

U mad bro?

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:26 am

lempira wrote:U mad bro?

Not even a little bit! I was actually referring to Lokky's posting style, if it wasn't clear. I found his comments to be very socially adept, even in disagreement and thought I'd give a nod.

Modern Buddy

Which is the right rubber

Which is the right rubber

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