Continental Road Attack 2 Tires

The Best Tire You Never Thought of Buying

From the March, 2011 issue of Super Streetbike

You're probably a lot like us in that you want the stickiest, most reputable tires you can get your hands on. The one problem with such specifications is the price tag-most dealerships want somewhere close to $500 for a set of high-performance rubber.

But do you really need a tire that walks the fine line between DOT legal and all-out racetrack performance? For street riding-probably not. And after testing the new Continental Road Attack 2 tire on all types of bikes under various road and weather conditions we can justify that stance.

Naturally, we all scoff at the notion of putting a "sport touring" tire on our sportbike, but what if the tire was called something else...maybe a "street sport?" Let's forget the semantics and focus on the rubber.

If you assumed that tires are tires, some just stickier than others-you're misinformed. They all have unique features, and in the case of the Road Attack 2 there's something particularly special-Traction Skin. Essentially, this tire doesn't require any "scrubbing-in" and is ready to ride without worry of crashing due to the slimy residue that all other tires on the market have straight off the shelf. It could save you some embarrassment pulling out the dealership anyways.

Continental was so confident in its new tire that the German firm took us to its private test facility to see for ourselves. During sustained laps with speeds near 170 MPH the tire remained stable and firm without overheating or visible deterioration. On the twisty road course the tire proved more capable than the majority of bikes it was fitted to, as each lost ground clearance before the tire could lose grip. Clearly the emphasis leans closer to the sport than touring, and we're sure you won't be riding on the road any harder than we were pushing on the dry track.

Just as comfort and confidence in the tire began to settle Continental put us on its wet course to simulate rainy riding conditions, and again the tire was better than the riders. It took a lot of throttle to break the rear loose, and even during heavy braking at mild lean the front was steadfast. Try riding like that on an expensive race-spec DOT tire and you'll be on your head before you can say, "tuck."

Don't be afraid to broaden your scope the next time you're looking for street tires. The Road Attack 2 offers ample grip in both dry and wet conditions, yet manages to maintain mileage durability to keep you from flat spotting while you hump it out on the freeway to your favorite twisty road or mid-level trackday.