Punctures and the Z6

[miSTa]

I picked a puncture yesterday (my second in the last week) and the third I've had running with the Metzeler Z6s in the last year.

A puncture killed my first Z6 with about 1000km left, now on my 2nd Z6 punctures have again reduced it's life by 1000km. In both cases there's about 3mm of tread left in the centre so there should be plenty of life in them for short trips. To me a sign that a tyre has reached its used by date is a lack of tread (indicated by TWIs) not a series of punctures.

So who else here has got any experience with punctures and their Metzeler Z6s? Is it the tyre, bad luck, or me being a scotsman (a 1000km is a 1000km, thats $40 worth of tyre)?

[Pixie]

I've had several Z6's and they do pick up crap that will work it's way into the tread.It's the sticky compound,and I've heard some pirellis do the same.
I check the tread regularly and pick out any stones etc. before they can penetrate too deep.
I just ram a dog turd in the hole and maybe squirt some Slime in for security and run the tyre to it's full life.

[NinjaBoy]

I check the tread regularly and pick out any stones etc. before they can penetrate too deep

Most important check I do after comuting home. In general as the tyres get thinner it is more prone to puncturing. I once had a tiny shard of glass work its way thru the tread to cause a slow leak which would deflate the tyre overnight. Just because I was trying to use the last mm of tread.

[dangerous]

I just ram a dog turd in the hole and maybe squirt some Slime in for security and run the tyre to it's full life.
Is that one of them crunchy white dog turds or a more fresh type a turd and should the slime be green, or colour matched to the bike.:spudbn:

FWIW having seen the tyre on ZZR's bike at the moment, I would not expect to have to replace it and after putting a plug in it... there was SFA meat under the tread.

[V Twin Raver]

So who else here has got any experience with punctures and their Metzeler Z6s? Is it the tyre, bad luck, or me being a scotsman (a 1000km is a 1000km, thats $40 worth of tyre)?

Mate, I have just run a Z6 around the South Island (4800km) Coro Loop (400km) and a run to Taupo - incl. Track Day (800km) and it is still going strong. This is on a late model Sportsbike that chews M1's in 2500km!! The Z6's I had used previously on a 1K V Twin and consitantly got 5000km out of it. I was dubious about its performance on a full sports bike but after 6000km it is an awesome compromise to get mileage & grip be it wet or dry. Even on the track it was fine - I was aware of what was fitted so didn't go beserk but my day was a blast nonetheless - plus it still has in excess of 1000km to go before it is toast. I have run a Z6 down to the chords and once home it went flat in the garage. On that basis may I suggest you are plain unlucky.

[pritch]

A puncture killed my first Z6 with about 1000km left, now on my 2nd Z6 punctures have again reduced it's life by 1000km. <snip>
To me a sign that a tyre has reached its used by date is a lack of tread (indicated by TWIs) not a series of punctures.

Time you rethought that one I guess.:whistle:

There are sensible places to save money, trying to eke the last few Ks out of
(a set of) tyres is not one of them. Repeat punctures are a sign that either the neighbourhood needs a clean-up, or more likely you definitely need new tyres.

[Madness]

Us ZZR owners must all be tightfisted Scotsmen. After running my rear M1 down to the steel belts I threw on a used Diablo last week. $50 on Tardme.

As tight as I am, I'm yet to have a puncture on any bike.

[dangerous]

or more likely you definitely need new tyres.
well he needs a new tyre now... but like I said above, the tyre has a respectable amount of meat left on it, but the center of the tyre is very thin (I mean carcus not tread)
Hows bout a close up pic ZZR



After running my rear M1 down to the steel belts I threw on a used Diablo last week. $50 on Tardme.
Ya bloody mad... steel belts used tyres :bash:

[miSTa]

Thanks for the comments. I'll post some pictures tomorrow night to try and show how much tread is left and how thin the actual carcass is.

I think the Z6 is a great tyre and is everything I want in a tyre. Each rear should last me 7-8,000km, but I don't expect to get to 6,000km and have to replace the tyre because it is going to puncture by merely looking at it despite a shitload of tread being left. If that's the case then its time to re-evaluate what tyres (need front and rear) to get later in the week.

[Madness]

If that's the case then its time to re-evaluate what tyres (need front and rear) to get later in the week.

I'm due for a set also. Too many bloody choices, no one stand out winner. The Conti Road Attack and Michelin Pilot Road have caught my eye along with the Pirelli/Metzeler options. I'm hoping to come across a deal somewhere soon.

[Korumba]

On my first Z6..done 6000ks and its about stuffed...Great tyre and no punctures, but not much fun in the wet...I don’t mind wet weather riding(22 years in Invercargill) but not much fun on the ZZR, I think it may be the weight of the bike and not the tyre thing!

[pritch]

There was a very friendly price available on the Road Attacks a while back, whether this was in the nature of an introductory "special" or not I couldn't say.

They received favourable comment from testers who tested them at the Conti test facility, with the proviso that they would like to try them on their home turf...

[Pixie]

Is that one of them crunchy white dog turds or a more fresh type a turd and should the slime be green, or colour matched to the bike.:spudbn:

FWIW having seen the tyre on ZZR's bike at the moment, I would not expect to have to replace it and after putting a plug in it... there was SFA meat under the tread.
Brown and sticky and the slime is green and lumpy

[R6_kid]

i have a semi-puncture on mine, there is a hole left where somethign obviously stuck into the tyre, but luckily it didnt go right through so yeh, my tyre is still sweet. Needs replacing though, its got a goot 10,000-12,000km on it.

[beyond]

No problems at all with my Z6's. I find it good in the wet and the dry.
Got a way better run out of my Pilot Roads though and handling was very much the same as the Z6's.

Pilot Roads, 7,000kms on the rear. Z6 was 4500kms.

I like either and have had no punctures on either.

[miSTa]

Replaced both tyres yesterday with another set of Z6's. Comparing the old with the new was interesting - the old tyre was rooted despite there tread being left, next time I'll just replace the fucker, in other words the scottish ancestry was coming through.

[beyond]

Amazing how much difference a new set of donuts makes, isn't it. I suppose we all like to economise, me included, but it's false economy in the end when it comes to good handling and grip, as we generally find out. :)

[Hitcher]

So who else here has got any experience with punctures and their Metzeler Z6s?
I picked up a nail in my rear Z6 somewhere in Auckland back in October. Didn't really notice the squishyness until Thames, when it was down to 15psi and looking a bit hot and shabby. Inflated it to 50psi and proceeded to Coromandel. It was down to 25psi on arrival. Rode to Tauranga the following day, losing pressure at about 10psi per 100km. Bought a new Z6 from the guys at Mount Motorcycles (the BMW shop) as it was getting really shabby at the edges. That (touch wood) is my one and only puncture experience and, I suspect, nothing to do with a Metzeler Z6.