After a minor c*ck-up with the insurance, as well as dragging the bike out over the weekend, I finally took the Marea out on it's new boots.
As is typical for the Welsh Valleys at this time of the year, it was absolutely pissing down.
Well, what can I say about the Goodyear NCT5s. Absolutely brilliant. Sharpened up the steering, brought the rather wayward tail-end back into line, and I no longer panic when I encounter standing water at 80mph.
On the old tyres, hammering through roundabouts at full throttle in 3rd would provoke a chirp from the tyres and understeer as they hit the 'hump' between surfaces on the exit, but the Goodyears keep the power down and stop the understeer.
Cheap as chips, comparatively, too.