Unusual tyre wear (or is it)?

[Paul_C]

Check out the attached photos of the rear tyre on my bike (Metzeler Roadtec Z6 185/55 17). Tyre is approx 15-16,000kms old and seems to have plenty of grip left around the outer edges/shoulders of the tyre. As you can see the rubber is significantly worn away on the centreline to the point of the steel banding showing through.

I have a matching Z6 on the front, keep the rear it inflated to the 42psi as specified for the bike (and check it regulary) and don't do burnouts or tax the tyre too much when cold.

Obviously i'm not going to ride it anywhere other than Cycletreads for a new one, but can anyone tell me if this wear pattern is normal or if I'm doing something horribly wrong?

[boomer]

Do you commute on it by chance?!

:lol: dude u should go find roads with corners in 'em... :wacko:

[R6_kid]

Can anyone tell me if this wear pattern is normal or if I'm doing something horribly wrong?

You're keeping your tyres too long... 16,000km is a lot of mileage for any tyre. No wonder its worn through to the wires. If that tread pattern went across the centre of the tyre you would have been down past 1.5mm of tread at least 2000km ago.

[Hitcher]

16,000km is a good stretch for a Z6. I wore through the middle of a Z6 in similar fashion once on my ZRX1200R. As these tyres don't have tread groves across the middle, they don't give up their wear clues as do other tyres.

[Paul_C]

16,000km is a good stretch for a Z6. I wore through the middle of a Z6 in similar fashion once on my ZRX1200R. As these tyres don't have tread groves across the middle, they don't give up their wear clues as do other tyres.

+1, good answer.

Don't commute daily, but ride around Auckland a fair bit (at normal town speeds). Generally get out most weekends for a ride through the Hunuas/Clevedon/Maraetae/Kawa Kawa bay/Coromandel for more exciting riding but still working on confidence/lean angles.

If 16,000km is a good stretch for those tyres then I'm happy with that. You're right though, not having the centre tread line does make it difficult to guage wear, especially considering I've a) never had a Z6 on the rear before and b) have no idea what the average mileage I can expect out of a tyre is.

Guess i'll just have to get a new one...

[boman]

Yea, that kind of wear is normal. When you ride around town, you spend alot of the time upright with minimal wear on the edge of the tyre. One way to slow this down is to buy a tyre with a hard compound centre, and a soft compund on the shoulder. Michelin do a 2CT tyre which has this feature. I have 3000kms on mine and they are not showing any sign of flattening out in the centre of the tread.

[The Pastor]

16 000km from a tyre?????? good lord how do u do it? i only get 5k max

[Coldrider]

I'd take the wheel off the bike & deliver it to cycletreads.
That tyre is gunna let alot of air out in a hurry.

[doc]

I like those tyres, because of the good life from them. Last Sth Island trip I had the same problem, with wires showing through, was concerned about tyre lasting to get me back to Wellington. Going over the hills leaving Nelson wires appeared. Got from Nelson to Picton to make the 6pm sailing with no real problem with more wires showing. Wouldn't repeat it but, gone off these patterns because you can't really monitor wear at the end.

Im just trying not to be so miserable trying to extract the last km out of the tyres life. I only get 8 to 10k km out of them and Im usually the nana. You did well getting that 16k out of them.

[The Stranger]

Looks like a warranty claim to me. Tyres (like inkjet cartridges) should last forever.

[firefighter]

Man you really needa get more corners into your rides!

Riding like that I reacon a cheaper tyre designed for commuting would be better.......like a conti motion. Rather than a sport touring tyre......

That is pretty rediculous......

[hospitalfood]

try more gas in corners when the bike has a lean on, and less gas in straight lines. should change your wear pattern and the bike will feel more stable if you are on the gas round corners, get your line first then apply throttle

[Paul_C]

Well, I'm booked in to the Superbike school in November for the level one course, so hopefully that should sort cornering and wear pattern issues out :woohoo:

Now all I need is a tyre...

[NDORFN]

Your chicken strips are more like ostrich. Do you bury your head in the sand often?

[Coldrider]

Matey you have a VFR 800 and you ride with a tyre in that condition....I wouldn't want to come across your mess, seriously, you taking the piss with this thread.

[duckonin]

With tyres like that you wouldn't be invited on many rides, you end up killing yourself or some other poor buggars...:argh:

[Paul_C]

Er... obviously as soon as I noticed the state of the tyres and the lack of tread I stopped riding on them.

I don't making a habit out of riding with a rear tyre like that, hence my comment:
Obviously i'm not going to ride it anywhere other than Cycletreads for a new one

[Coldrider]

Er... obviously as soon as I noticed the state of the tyres and the lack of tread I stopped riding on them.

I don't making a habit out of riding with a rear tyre like that, hence my comment:Good on ya mate, we want you to keep on riding after all.

[AllanB]

Personally I have a issue with tyres being made like that - I have seen so many like yours that it's not funny - people love them as they hear about the great mileage you get - the reality is they should have been biffed 2-3,000 kms ago.

Usually the rooster-tail of sparks at night is a giveaway that your rear tyre needs replacing ;)

Now wouldn't it be a easy thing for the tyre maker to put 3 or 4 very small evenly spaced 'holes' of 'tread' in the centre of the tyre that would indicate you need to replace it when they disappeared ............

[mouldy]

Personally I have a issue with tyres being made like that - I have seen so many like yours that it's not funny - people love them as they hear about the great mileage you get - the reality is they should have been biffed 2-3,000 kms ago.

Usually the rooster-tail of sparks at night is a giveaway that your rear tyre needs replacing ;)

Now wouldn't it be a easy thing for the tyre maker to put 3 or 4 very small evenly spaced 'holes' of 'tread' in the centre of the tyre that would indicate you need to replace it when they disappeared ............

yep tread depth holes in the centre like slicks have would be a good idea on tyres like z6s' stradas etc , I've seen heaps wiith wire showing cos people don't realise how bald they are . If your south of the bridge don't go to Circustreads go to Drury Performance instead .

[Paul_C]

I would agree wholeheartedly that a centre wear gauge would be good.

Didn't realise Drury Performance did bike tyres. I'm in papakura so that's just down the road...

[gwigs]

Er... obviously as soon as I noticed the state of the tyres and the lack of tread I stopped riding on them.

I don't making a habit out of riding with a rear tyre like that, hence my comment:

I don,t want to sound like a smart arse but its a good idea to check out your bike before you ride it ,then you might notice things like dodgy tyres..

[The Stranger]

I don,t want to sound like a smart arse but its a good idea to check out your bike before you ride it ,then you might notice things like dodgy tyres..

I don't want to sound like a smart arse, but this is a very common issue with the Z6. I wont use them again for this reason. They are an excellent tyre, however as there is no tread in the middle there is nothing to accurately indicate wear, until the canvas shows.
So maybe he did check his bike before he rode it.

[SPP]

I didn't realise Drury Performance did bike tyres. I'm in papakura so that's just down the road...

Just down the road... you could push it there! :)

Being 180/55 you'll have heaps of choices and Mouldy will look after you (prices just as good as CT)