Metzler Z8s anyone?

[banditrider]

First set of tyres I have owned where the front hasn't triangulated. Got 8k on them now. The rear needs replacing soon, might get another 1k out of it.
A lot of these kays have been done riding two up (our combined weight is over 180kg), on a heavy-ish bike and with side cases and top box loaded.
So from that respect I am quite happy with the mileage. I have the "C" version tyre on the rear designed for heavier bikes and loads.
I would like to replace with another set of Z8's. I like the fact these tyres are not dual compound and therefore haven't got the softer rubber on the edges which wore out prematurely on the previous set of tyres.

What are they like in the wet? I was looking at some the other day and they don't seem to have a lot of grooves compared to a PR2 or 3. My 3's are shot, considering these or back to PR2's (can get for $550 a set).

[Andy67]

What are they like in the wet? I was looking at some the other day and they don't seem to have a lot of grooves compared to a PR2 or 3. My 3's are shot, considering these or back to PR2's (can get for $550 a set).

They are good in the wet even CBD commuting is no drama.

[Cloggy]

Although I ride my bike every day, rain hail or shine, I'm a bit of a pussy rider in the wet. I err on the side of caution and therefore unlikely to explore the limits of adhesion of any tyre in the wet. So all I can say is they haven't let me down because I don't push them in the wet. Being honest, I more than likely don't come anywhere near the tyre's limits in the dry either.
As for cost of a set of PR2's for 550, I am pretty sure I got my Z8's for similar coin from TSS in Lower Hutt as that is around about the maximum I willingly spend on a set of tyres.

[Scruffygit]

Just got the response from Metzler about mixing a M5 front with a Z8 rear:

"We do not recommend mixing Z8 tyres with M5's as these should run as pairs"

A bit vague, is that Z8 and M5s should both be only run as a matched pair or only Z8 or M5?

Almost certainly a large dollop of corporate ar5e covering involved in that statement but now that it has been made, how does that affect insurance liability? Don't know about here but in the UK insurance companies will use anything to wriggle out of paying. Using a non-recommended tyre combination would be a gift to them.

[Highlander]

What are they like in the wet? I was looking at some the other day and they don't seem to have a lot of grooves compared to a PR2 or 3. My 3's are shot, considering these or back to PR2's (can get for $550 a set).

I have the "Z8 Interact" on the BMW. Wioeka in torential rain was great fun. Have yet to have any scary moments with these tires, wet dry, solo or 2 up they feel well planted on the road. I have just over 5000km on the pair so far, and they are looking and feeling good.

[Stylo]

Has anyone used the Metzler Z8 and got opinions they would like to share?

If they have been fitted to a Blackbird even better because the Avons currently fitted to mine don't have much life left in them.

Thanks.

I've had a Z8 on the back for around 4,500kms so far and just put a Z8 on the front to replace the OEM on my Gen 2 Busa. Seems to be holding up so far pretty good considering it's done a day at the drags a few weeks ago .

[caspernz]

Just got the response from Metzler about mixing a M5 front with a Z8 rear:

"We do not recommend mixing Z8 tyres with M5's as these should run as pairs"

A bit vague, is that Z8 and M5s should both be only run as a matched pair or only Z8 or M5?

Almost certainly a large dollop of corporate ar5e covering involved in that statement but now that it has been made, how does that affect insurance liability? Don't know about here but in the UK insurance companies will use anything to wriggle out of paying. Using a non-recommended tyre combination would be a gift to them.

The practice of mixing a sports tyre up front with a more touring oriented rear is quite common amongst riders of some experience. I'm not into it myself, but the logic is there, especially when you've got a bike with some serious grunt. Sporty sticky pointy tyre up front, and a gentler profile harder compound on rear...the only thing to get used to is the steering response.

You didn't really expect Metzeler to endorse something which is technically incorrect? When I first tried Michelin Power Pure and asked Michelin the recommended tyre pressures, they said to stick with the bike manufacturers' pressures. In reality you need an extra couple of psi at both ends for the tyre to 'feel right' and wear right. And no it didn't surprise me that Michelin took the safe option...

[pritch]

Sporty sticky pointy tyre up front, and a gentler profile harder compound on rear....

Except that in the wet it is likely that the effect will be the opposite of what was planned.

Manufacturers seem to put their best wet weather technology into their ST tyres, so suddenly you may find that your "sticky" front is less sticky than the rear.

They aren't necessarily just playing safe, there are reasons they recommend matched pairs.

[Scruffygit]

The practice of mixing a sports tyre up front with a more touring oriented rear is quite common amongst riders of some experience. I'm not into it myself, but the logic is there, especially when you've got a bike with some serious grunt. Sporty sticky pointy tyre up front, and a gentler profile harder compound on rear...the only thing to get used to is the steering response.

You didn't really expect Metzeler to endorse something which is technically incorrect? When I first tried Michelin Power Pure and asked Michelin the recommended tyre pressures, they said to stick with the bike manufacturers' pressures. In reality you need an extra couple of psi at both ends for the tyre to 'feel right' and wear right. And no it didn't surprise me that Michelin took the safe option...

Which is exactly the set up I have on the Bird at the moment - Avon Storm 2 on the back, Viper sport on the front. When I queried the mix with Avon in the UK they said pretty much what you have just said and that it was an "acceptable pairing" (notice they didn't actually say they recommended it) but not to use the either of the two sportier Viper (now replaced with the 3D ultra series) with the Storms because the increasingly sharper profiles at the front would cause problems when mixed with the relatively mild profile at the back.

Now that was the sort of response I was hoping for.

[Andy67]

Except that in the wet it is likely that the effect will be the opposite of what was planned.

Manufacturers seem to put their best wet weather technology into their ST tyres, so suddenly you may find that your "sticky" front is less sticky than the rear.

They aren't necessarily just playing safe, there are reasons they recommend matched pairs.

I hear what you are saying with respect to sport tyres due to higher operating temps and that point has considerable merit. I wouldn't however put tyres like the M5 into that category , they are a road tyre and their wet aether performance is equal if not considerably better than any other ST rubber that I've ever run. I run the rear Z8 for purely economic reasons and seem to have struck a pretty good match.

[jrandom]

I'll buy another rear probably and continue to run an M5 on the front, just for the mixed pair haters.

Some pairings are OK.

I'm going to try a Metzeler Marathon rear and Lasertec front, next.

[pritch]

I run the rear Z8 for purely economic reasons and seem to have struck a pretty good match.

I know people who were doing that, and I did once run an M3 with a Z6, but went back to a pair of Z6s.

There are three reasons I use ST tyres:
1) I don't really need sports rubber,
2) I was doing 20,000Ks a year and didn't want to buy three sets of tyres,
3) too many of my trips seem be in the rain.

[Andy67]

I know people who were doing that, and I did once run an M3 with a Z6, but went back to a pair of Z6s.

There are three reasons I use ST tyres:
1) I don't really need sports rubber,
2) I was doing 20,000Ks a year and didn't want to buy three sets of tyres,
3) too many of my trips seem be in the rain.

I really liked the M3s but boy were they soft. Rears done n 3000. I will likely do z8 on he front soon. Also toying with the idea of PR3 in which case I'll do both at the same time. I'd like to hear from a Busa, Bird, ZX rider etc what sort if mileage they are getting. I has these stick really good as well.

[caspernz]

I really liked the M3s but boy were they soft. Rears done n 3000. I will likely do z8 on he front soon. Also toying with the idea of PR3 in which case I'll do both at the same time. I'd like to hear from a Busa, Bird, ZX rider etc what sort if mileage they are getting. I has these stick really good as well.

Nothing wrong with PR3, on my 750 Katana I got around 12,000 kms out of a set. PR2 ran to around 18,000 kms. Power Pures are done in around 6,000 kms. Personally I like the PR3s, only negative is the relatively 'slow steering response' on account of the profile of the tyre, nowhere near as pointy as a sportier tyre.

Mind you, even though I'm a Michelin fan myself, tempted to try the Z8 once I've thrashed the last set of PR3s sitting in the garage...

[davebullet]

Nothing wrong with PR3, on my 750 Katana I got around 12,000 kms out of a set. PR2 ran to around 18,000 kms. Power Pures are done in around 6,000 kms. Personally I like the PR3s, only negative is the relatively 'slow steering response' on account of the profile of the tyre, nowhere near as pointy as a sportier tyre.

Mind you, even though I'm a Michelin fan myself, tempted to try the Z8 once I've thrashed the last set of PR3s sitting in the garage...

One problem I think I've found with the PR3s is their tendancy to "walk" when pushing corners. Have you found this? It's almost like understeer. It's as if all the extra grooves / sipes allow the tread to walk across the road surface - something I've not experienced on a conventional tyre (with just single water channels).