Hi Tatty
First ride, first corner at slow speed (with 36psi from the installer) i thought the front end was going to low side me.
Though maybe it was just the mold release on the virgin tyre.
However the squirm & slip continued for the first ride of over 200km.
During the ride the TPS showed front pressure at 37 and later 38 so i let some air out and the TPS showed 34.
The squirm & slip seemed less but was still there.
Next ride with TPS showing 35 it felt about the same as 34 and no way was it confidence inspiring.
The entire surface of the rear tyre is being used but there is 10-15mm chicken strip on the front tyre. This is surprising as the PR blurb says these tyres profiles complimentarily match each other.
When leaned over the 2 edge tread gaps that run longitudinally around the tyre are about the center of the contact patch. What i am feeling i believe is the individual tread blocks flexing & distorting, compounded by the offset to each other by the 2 tread gaps. Now this works on unsealed surfaces as the multiple and varying offset edges of the side tread blocks provide some sideways bite.
After only 400kms of mixed surface riding the side edges of the edge tread blocks are rounding off and showing signs of aggressive wear due to side slippage of the tyre, which is normal, but road tyres and road based adventure tyres do not have this type of tread pattern and the signs of slip wear are not so apparent.
I will experiment with pressures some more. Higher pressures should reduce carcass distortion but put more load on the individual edge blocks. Less pressure (34?) will allow the tyre carcass to flatten somewhat and put more rubber on the road and the 2 edge tread gaps and the tread blocks will become more 'one with each other' and should squirm less. This may raise tyre temp and wear but it may also provide more traction and better feel and in fact reduce slip and tyre wear.
I don't think there is a grip issue as such with these tyres, it is about the feel for me, and i have forever been over sensitive to front tyre feel and my paranoia of loosing the front end mid corner (i ride with high corner speed). I think these are the wrong tyres (the front anyway) for my riding/cornering style on sealed roads. Not that i can afford it financially, but atm, the sooner the front tyre wears out the better and i can try a Metzeler Karoo Street or go back to Scorpion Trail II.
If my experience with these tyres change, i will report back.
Any suggested solution (other than toughen up) will be appreciated
cheers