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?!

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

[R6_kid:Me]

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:Me]

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

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.