New tyres in the wet

**Hitcher** · 9th April 2004, 18:08

Yesterday I allowed myself to by "guinea pigged" and got a set of Metzeler Roadtec Z6s fitted to the Zrex. When I was collecting the bike at Motorad, Kerry gave me the usual warning about riding on new tyres and then took me out the back and showed me what was left of a Yamaha TRX850 that had slid out on its brand new Battlax 020 at the Basin Reserve the previous day. Ouch!! Only 1km travelled...

Given that it was persisting down, I took things VERY carefully on the way home... Shiny side still up!!

Is anybody else running Metzeler Z6s??

**6Chris6** · 9th April 2004, 19:11

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Yesterday I allowed myself to by "guinea pigged" and got a set of Metzeler Roadtec Z6s fitted to the Zrex. When I was collecting the bike at Motorad, Kerry gave me the usual warning about riding on new tyres and then took me out the back and showed me what was left of a Yamaha TRX850 that had slid out on its brand new Battlax 020 at the Basin Reserve the previous day. Ouch!! Only 1km travelled...

Given that it was persisting down, I took things VERY carefully on the way home... Shiny side still up!!

Is anybody else running Metzeler Z6s??

No, but i've just bought a shiny new pair of diablo's was gonna put them on tommorro for ride but you've just put me off that idea

**Antallica** · 9th April 2004, 19:12

Nope, but my Pirelli MT75's gave me the real shits when I pulled out of a driveway when I first got them. Rear end came sliding out, lucky I was able to save my ass and my ride with my foot. Roads were rather wet of course. Something about the waxyness of the tyre when it's brand new huh?

**Racey Rider** · 9th April 2004, 19:19

You'ld think that with all the money they put into tyre development, and the cost of those tyres to us, and the fact that the tyres are So critical to our safety and wellbeing, they would have got that 'slippery new tyre' thing sorted by now.

I remember reading somthing about something you wipe over your tyre to remove the 'gloss'. Don't know what it was tho. Can't of worked that good or we'ld all be doing it.

**James Deuce** · 9th April 2004, 19:35

Originally Posted by Racey Rider

You'ld think that with all the money they put into tyre development, and the cost of those tyres to us, and the fact that the tyres are So critical to our safety and wellbeing, they would have got that 'slippery new tyre' thing sorted by now.

I remember reading somthing about something you wipe over your tyre to remove the 'gloss'. Don't know what it was tho. Can't of worked that good or we'ld all be doing it.

The waxy coating is there to let them get the tyre out of the mould without wrecking it. Its really important to scrub your tyres in gently to avoid heat fixers and other chemicals going "off" through being over heated. And of course to get all the shiney stuff off.

The only thing you can wipe on your tyres is really fine grain sandpaper. Anything chemical can make them go "off" (hard and slippery) before they are worn out.

**Jackrat** · 9th April 2004, 20:00

Never tryed Met'z yet,but your reminder is rather timely as I am having a new Batlax put on the rear next week.Iv'e noticed the slippery thing is worse now than it used to be but the tyres are also a lot better than they used to be as well.I ride a few KMS on a local gravel road with new tyres,That seems to solve the slippery problem,I then take it easy for around 200 kms to make sure the compond settles properly before I push them.That leting them settle thing makes a big difference in how long they last.
Cheers.

**jrandom** · 9th April 2004, 21:45

Originally Posted by Antallica

Pirelli MT75's gave me the real shits when I pulled out of a driveway when I first got them

aha, so you did get the MT75s. How'd you rate them then?

And yes, new tyres seem to be rather waxy these days. My last pair of MT75s were much the same. Just pays to go reaaal easy in the wet, ho yuss. Not so bad on a wee bike like the FXR of course, less chance of spinning the rear up and sliding impressively into the curb.

**jimbo600** · 9th April 2004, 22:37

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Yesterday I allowed myself to by "guinea pigged" and got a set of Metzeler Roadtec Z6s fitted to the Zrex. When I was collecting the bike at Motorad, Kerry gave me the usual warning about riding on new tyres and then took me out the back and showed me what was left of a Yamaha TRX850 that had slid out on its brand new Battlax 020 at the Basin Reserve the previous day. Ouch!! Only 1km travelled...

Given that it was persisting down, I took things VERY carefully on the way home... Shiny side still up!!

Is anybody else running Metzeler Z6s??

Normally I run Metzeler Rennsports, but I am getting a Z6 fitted tomorrow. Press in UK have been raving about these having a great combination of longevity and grip. It'll be interesting to see how they go at a track day.

They have huge Rennsport shoes to fill though

**dangerous** · 9th April 2004, 23:24

Originally Posted by jimbo750

Normally I run Metzeler Rennsports, but I am getting a Z6 fitted tomorrow. Press in UK have been raving about these having a great combination of longevity and grip. It'll be interesting to see how they go at a track day.

They have huge Rennsport shoes to fill though

I havent heard of 'rennsports' or 'Z6' but I run MEz4's on the Guzzi never had them let go (roled the rear of a couple of times tho) apart from geting the rear replaced being told 'go easy' and leaving the shop side ways for a reasonble distance. Must of looked bloody good but it was not intensional the words 'go easy' went in one ear and out the other.

Last week I put a new pair on the VTR, I was thinking of Metzeler again as they last a good 10+k's on the Guzzi but they just dident seem to suit so I went with Dunlop. Went straight home and used sand paper to remove the silicon release crap of them.

So what are these road tec Z6's like sport/tourer I would think if they went on a ZRX. I have seen the sport tec but they would be too soft for me and disapair in side 5000k's

**moko** · 9th April 2004, 23:37

Had a new 020 put on my Fazer 2 days ago,and it`s always bloody wet here.Guy in the tyre shop told me they`ve had loads of bikes dropped within sight off the shop after having new tyres fitted.Half the trouble is people not listening,they get told to take it easy for a while"yeah,yeah" then they do the hero bit exiting the yard,whack the front brake on and down they go.I agree that it`s high time this was sorted out by the manufacturers but I left the tyre place in the rain,across greasy city streets then hiked across the countryside for about 100ks to my parents place,kept it smooth,bit more restraint with the throttle hand than normal and no problem.Only precaution I do take,dont let them both get to the point where they`re both totally buggered before replacing them and replace them one at a time,that way you dont end up with potentially slippy tyres at both ends.mine both needed replacing,got the rear done and scrubbed in,next week get the new front and will be using the rear brake more than usual until it beds in.(Fazer has R1 brakes,heavy-handed braking with a new tyre not recommended)

**wkid_one** · 9th April 2004, 23:52

The tyre is a straight replacement for the MeZ4.....a touring biased tyre.

Successor To Fabled MEZ4

There was a time when buying a sport-touring tire was like kissing your sister: it was pleasant enough, but nothing like the real thing. Metzeler attempted to change that about six years ago with the introduction of their MEZ4 sport-touring radial. The Z4 emphasized the "sport" end of the sport-touring equation, and was the first tire to employ Metzeler's patented 0( steel-belted radial technology on both the front and rear tires (it had previously been only available on rears; and, in fact, up to that time it had been thought that 0( steel-belted front tires could not work). The front acted like a built-in steering damper; the rear provided exceptional stability and control. Reviewers and riders praised its performance, its handling - and its mileage. The result? Six years later, the MEZ4 was still one of the best sellers in the Metzeler line, and was OE on bikes as different as the Yamaha FJR-1300 and Suzuki's initial SV650.
Now comes the brand new Roadtec Z6. And according to Metzeler, it's as different - and as advanced - as its predecessor was at its introduction. The new Z6 takes advantage of virtually all of the company's technological advancements over the past six years. (Metzeler is unique in that it is purely a motorcycle-tire company, the only motorcycle tire manufacturer that is.) Also, sport-touring bikes have improved significantly, gaining increased capacity, suspensions, and power, and the tires had to match the bike's requirements in these areas.

The main focus points of the Z6's development criteria were a distinct improvement in dry grip, wet performance, light, neutral handling, comfort - and, of course, mileage. According to Metzeler, these criteria were met through four technological features: new compounding, an innovative tread design, advanced tire profiles, and the company's patented 0( steel-belted radial construction front and rear.

In compounding, a new extrusion process allows for use of the latest generation of high-performance polymers, carbon black, and silica. Called FCM - for Fine Carbon Matrix - the structure of the Roadtec's compound was specifically developed for the performance of modern sport-touring bikes. The benefits are said to be significantly improved wet handling, precise corner entry and progressive response, impressive dry grip in both cold and warm weather, and quicker warm-up over a wider ambient temperature range. Metzeler's testing showed that the Z6's new FCM compound delivers up to a 20% dry-grip improvement over the Z4. The Roadtec Z6 even offers two carcass constructions in the most popular rear size (180/55-17): one optimized for bikes less than 530 pounds; one for bikes over 530 pounds, with the tires' structural characteristics tuned for each.

The innovative new front and rear tread patterns, with improved land/sea ratios, are designed to work together for enhanced water drainage. The result is 30% better wet handling and grip than the MEZ4 (again based on Metzeler testing), better feedback in the wet - a sense of being "connected" to the road, more confidence in wet cornering, excellent grip and traction in all conditions, combined with extended mileage.

Metzeler's new CMT (Contour Modeling Technology) permits the development of the tire's profile by combining different designs, each one of which is optimized for a particular lean angle. In this way, Metzeler feels the best possible compromise is obtained to suit all riding conditions and provide neutral and progressive handling, stable trajectory, and "confidence-inspiring" cornering at all lean angles. New sidewall construction, specifically tuned for sport-touring bikes, provides a new level of bump absorption and tire compliance on rough or pitted surfaces; this higher level of self-damping is designed for more comfort for both the rider and passenger.

The Roadtec features the latest generation of Metzeler's patented 0( steel-belted radial construction. The result is a stable contact patch that minimizes tire deformation at speed - especially in loaded conditions, providing exceptional high-speed stability, excellent balance in transitions, and linear, predictable handling. The 0( steel's stable contact patch is not affected by braking in corners, so it greatly minimizes tire's tendency to stand up in corners. Metzeler's new Roadtec Z6 is available in a full range of sizes for all modern-era bikes:

FRONTS:............REARS:
110/70ZR-17 150/70ZR-17
120/60ZR-17 160/60ZR-17
120/70ZR-17 170/60ZR-17
110/80ZR-18 180/55ZR-17
120/70ZR-18 190/50ZR-17
160/60ZR-18 I will stick with Renner/Super Corsas me thinks.

**wkid_one** · 9th April 2004, 23:54

Originally Posted by jimbo750

Normally I run Metzeler Rennsports, but I am getting a Z6 fitted tomorrow. Press in UK have been raving about these having a great combination of longevity and grip. It'll be interesting to see how they go at a track day.

They have huge Rennsport shoes to fill though

Apparently a big step down from the Renners.....these tyres are third on the pecking order of Metzeler - Renners 1st, Sportec M1's 2nd and Roadtecs 3rd.

I wouldn't go expected anything near the Renners - I would still be putting M1's on my bike over the RoadTecs