Best touring tyres for NZ road conditions?

[RentaTriumph]

Hi Guys

Currently I run Bridgestone BT 020's on my Triumph Sprint. I reckon I will get 6000km out of the rear tyre before it needs replacing. I have been told to try Michelin Pilot Road 2's.
The bike is used almost exclusively for highway riding so is the Michelin Pilot Road 2's the best tyre I should use for our roads here in New Zealand?.

[200BUSA]

Try Metzler z6 should get 8-10k out of them.Hard centre soft sides.nice tire.

[Colapop]

I've got pilot road 2's. Put about 1000 miles on them so far. Early days, but they seem good.

[MSTRS]

Got PR2s on the 750 - 4000 miles so far and holding shape as well as the road

[tri boy]

Got metz z6 on the 95 Daytona. All good. Had Pirelli Diablo's and Bridgestones previous, but the Z6's will do me for the future.;)

[jafar]

Hi Guys

Currently I run Bridgestone BT 020's on my Triumph Sprint. I reckon I will get 6000km out of the rear tyre before it needs replacing. I have been told to try Michelin Pilot Road 2's.
The bike is used almost exclusively for highway riding so is the Michelin Pilot Road 2's the best tyre I should use for our roads here in New Zealand?.

I got over 10,000 out of a BT020 rear on my cb1300. I have replaced it with a Pirelli Diablo Strada & that seems to be a better wearing tyre than the BT 020.

Michelin Pilot Road 2 is a dual compound tyre & they were having 'issues' with wear when I was looking for tyres. I'm not sure if it was just a bad batch or a inherent problem from the dual compound, it would pay to ask a few questions before buying them.

[cowboyz]

big vote for the pilot road 2s. I rode them for over 12000k on the back of the 9 in a mix of commuting/ highway riding to some pretty irresponible back road riding and they never let me down once. Great tyre that lasts.

Went for the MeZ4 cause they were dirt cheap and find them ok up to legal speed limits. Had 5 unexpected slides on them so far when giving the bike a nudge in the tight stuff but in saying that rode Manfield trackday yesterday on them and only had one slide out of the hairpin. They dont let go big time, just enough to keep you on your toes. The Z6 is a way better tyre from what I hear.

[homer]

Try Metzler z6 should get 8-10k out of them.Hard centre soft sides.nice tire.

Yep go for roadtec z6 i go t a new rear about 800km ago and really cant see any sign of wear yet " well if there is its like a quarter of a mill "

You need to run them at 40 psi for the best mileage

had pilot roads there just shit and sooner i get the front off the better

[RiderInBlack]

Try Metzler z6 should get 8-10k out of them.Hard centre soft sides.nice tire.
Yep, Z6's for "Roxanne". Good in the wet and average 10,000km out of them.

[Blackbird]

Avon Storms - best tyre I've ever had on the Blackbird, especially in the wet. Never had a tyre which inspires so much confidence when ridden hard. Initial intermittent problems with front tyre balance have now been solved with a slight change to the manufacturing process.

[homer]

Yes avons are wicked tyres but what about the cost

[limbimtimwim]

I got about 10000km out of a Z6 on my GXR750 with a pillion and baggage about 2/3 of the time.

I kept them stupid over-inflated, like >43psi, most of the time and they were fine. Let them down for a track day. I had a minor rear slide with them at a trackday too, but I didn't crash.

There might be a better tyre than the Z6, but I think most people would be happy with it.

[miSTa]

Just replaced 020s on the Duc with PR2s last week, only done 1200km on them so far but still look like brand new. The PR2s are a huge improvement on the 020s (not that I had/have a problem with the 020s).

[Jinx3d]

I found these to be great, somethiong others have not metioned, the rear holds a good shape all the way till the end, none of this squaring off leaving you with two edges that leave the bike wriggling when you turn in. Lasted well and grip well.

[Blackbird]

Yes avons are wicked tyres but what about the cost

Cost? Don't think there is much difference compared to other tyres but cost isn't a factor when protecting my arse, same as a good helmet and clothing.

[scumdog]

Just ordered a pair of Conti Tours for CB and I, we tour at a modest pace and ride like nana's in the wet, anybody have anything good or bad to say about these tyres?

[homer]

Cost? Don't think there is much difference compared to other tyres but cost isn't a factor when protecting my arse, same as a good helmet and clothing.

Oh ok
I actually thought they were actually quite expensive
good to know if theres not to much diff in the price

[warewolf]

Michelin Pilot Road 2 would be my pick. I've just finished my second set of Pilot Sport front with Pilot Road rear - very happy with them. Even wear, plenty of grip and feel, good handling. Other Triumph mates say the Pilot Road 2 grips better than the Pilot Sport and wears better than the Pilot Road, doesn't have the dual-compound dual-wear problems like the older tyres (not Michelins, IIRC) did 10 years or so ago.

Ran plenty of Z1, Z2 and Z4s, never felt truly comfortable with them; haven't tried the newer-generation Z6 (or any other xxxxTec) as the Pilots got great reviews and I loved the Michelin Macadam 90. Dunlop and Michelin provide a supple tyre that gives me feedback. The Metzs and Pirellis usually were too stiff or something. Was warned off the Bridgestones as a cheaper, inferior tyre to the likes of the Michelins and Pirelli Diablos, but it is sold in NZ at the higher price of the better tyres. And I didn't like the BT54 so it wasn't worth the gamble, even if you could buy them at the right price.

[Delphinus]

Z6 here as well. Ran a Sportec M3 on the rear previously but chewed through it in 6000kms on the coarse roads we have. Have noticed no less grip with the Z6 so far.

[Robbo]

Am now on my third set of Michellin PR's on the Trophy and also have them on the CBR.
I have always found them to be an excellent handling tyre, especially in the wet. I run 36psi and 42psi respectively and get around 10,000kms per set. Handling and Safety come before price and mileage.

[Maha]

Hi Guys

Currently I run Bridgestone BT 020's on my Triumph Sprint. I reckon I will get 6000km out of the rear tyre before it needs replacing. I have been told to try Michelin Pilot Road 2's.
The bike is used almost exclusively for highway riding so is the Michelin Pilot Road 2's the best tyre I should use for our roads here in New Zealand?.

I have a Pilot Road 2ct on the rear of my Sprint and highly recommend it, any prior issues the had with them have been resolved.

[Zapf]

I have used Z6 and also PR2's. If you do highway riding mainly then get the PR2's.

PR2's goes around corners very well. For going around corners I perfer the Z6's as the tip in is more progressive.

PR2's should last longer than the Z6's for highway riding.

There you go!

[snuffles]

Conte attacks, get about 10,000 out of a set

[FilthyLuka]

for NZ road conditions? Id say about a medium/hard knobblie...

[Ixion]

By no means an irrelevant comment. To me, touring means having a bike that can cope with gravel. Cos sooner or later you'll come to some.

[MacD]

Another recommendation for Avons here. I have run an Azzaro rear/ Viper front combination for the past two years, first on an RF900 and then on a Bandit 1200. This combination literally took me from one end of the country to the other, in all weathers, sometimes with a pillion and occasionally onto gravel (on the Bandit anyhow), while providing excellent predictable peformance and good mileage (10~12000 km). I recently fitted a Storm/Viper combination and have travelled about 3000 km so far and find the handling is again excellent on the Bandit. I stayed with the Viper front simply as I am used to them now, and the front and rear wear at about the same rate so I change them together. These tyres seem to work very well on the heavier touring bikes.

And yes, I do get them from Kerry at Motohaus (http://www.motohaus.co.nz/) in Auckland ;)

[Blackbird]

Another recommendation for Avons here. I have run an Azzaro rear/ Viper front combination for the past two years, first on an RF900 and then on a Bandit 1200. This combination literally took me from one end of the country to the other, in all weathers, sometimes with a pillion and occasionally onto gravel (on the Bandit anyhow), while providing excellent predictable peformance and good mileage (10~12000 km). I recently fitted a Storm/Viper combination and have travelled about 3000 km so far and find the handling is again excellent on the Bandit. I stayed with the Viper front simply as I am used to them now, and the front and rear wear at about the same rate so I change them together. These tyres seem to work very well on the heavier touring bikes.

And yes, I do get them from Kerry at Motohaus in Auckland ;)

I'm fitting a Viper front this month as Dold Industries, the importer of Avon tyres want me to evaluate it on the Blackbird. Good to hear of your experience so far. For info, I've just finished a draft end of life report on the Storms for Dold and have attached it for interest.

[MSTRS]

Yep go for roadtec z6 i go t a new rear about 800km ago and really cant see any sign of wear yet " well if there is its like a quarter of a mill "

You need to run them at 40 psi for the best mileage

had pilot roads there just shit and sooner i get the front off the better

Z6's (Roadtec) are good, but when referring to Pilot Roads be careful...the PR2 is a very different tyre to the standard PR.
Also. be aware that your bike may perform best at 40psi but another make/model/riding style will require a different pressure. I ran Z6s on my old and heavy GSXR1100 at 36/42 and was happy with the result...10,000+k and plenty left on the rear.

[NZsarge]

Handling and Safety come before price and mileage.

+1 most definetely!

[NZsarge]

Conte attacks, get about 10,000 out of a set

What kind of "attack's" are you talking about mate?

Road attack or Sport attack?

[Mr Triple]

I got 16000 out of my 020 rear tyre, I must be a pussy :mellow: But then I'm not hard on the throttle all the time either. Got a 021 on now so see how that goes. Front tyre still the original 20000km now still got some left on it :woohoo:

[AllanB]

I was running a Conti Road Attack on the rear and Sport on the front of the Suzuki 1200ss, very happy with them, very acceptable wear from rear after 4000ks when I sold that, however with the sport on front I suspect it would require replacing at the same time as the rear.

In future I'm considering going for a road front, I don't think I push the Hornet hard enough for the sport. Tyres types once these ones wear out will depend on deals as well - like the sound of the PR2 combo.

Funny things tyre discussions they can get emotive and people have preferences to brands.

[Hitcher]

I have run almost all of the available sports touring tyres over the past four years, with the exception of anything made by Dunlop (I don't know why they bother actually). I haven't tried the Pirellis because they look remarkably similar to the Metzelers and the former owns the latter.

I'd rank them as follows:

1. Avon Storm: Handling 9, wear 9 (out of 10) (Run on FJR1300 only, two sets)
2. Michelin Pilot Road 2: Handling 8.5, wear 8 (Run on FJR1300 only, one set)
3. Metzeler Roadtec Z6: Handling 8, wear 7.5 (Run on ZRX1200R and ST1300, 3 sets on the ZRX and 1 on the ST)
4. Conti Road Attack: Handling 8, wear 7 (Run on ST1300 only, 1 set)
5. Bridgestone Battlax 020: Handling 6.5, wear 7.5 (Run on all three bikes as OEM, replaced first change on the ZRX because I didn't know any better and trusted Mr Kawasaki, replaced first change on the ST1300 because I couldn't get anything else at the time in an 18" front)

There is bugger all difference between any of these tyres in terms of cost fitted, but about 4,000km difference in wear from worst to best.

[Big Dave]

Black, round and whatever ST compound Kerry at motohaus has going cheap.
Apart from that I don't care. I find them all much the same lately.
Wear rates too.