Tyre recommendation needed

[MSTRS:Me]

Hey dudes, thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated. I spoke to a chap at the bike shop after work today, told him of the suggestions made etc & we ended up going with a Metlzer Z6. Will see how that goes & if no good for me & the bike ill switch to another suggestion.

A good choice for performance, longevity and price. Probably not knee-down stuff tho.
I was over 11,000km out of a rear on my gsxr1100 when I sold the bike and it had lots left.

[Hitcher]

Not that you'll have any intention of buying them, but the Avon Storms are superb.

[saltydog]

hey boob

I got Michelin Pilot Road 2CTs front and rear - have done about 5-6000kms on em and probably still got another 2-3 to go, they are dual compound and as you know, I do a fair bit of 2-up as well

pretty happy with em and they'll probably set you back a bit over $500 for front and rear, fitted. rear by itself was $265 off the shelf i think

good tyre

GOOD CALL, I got 3500k out of a Dunlop208 (R1) and since got a set of 2CT's. They are wearing way better and I'm really happy with them.
For what boob is wanting these tyres will be the perfect match for him.

[TimeOut]

Hey dudes, thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated. I spoke to a chap at the bike shop after work today, told him of the suggestions made etc & we ended up going with a Metlzer Z6. Will see how that goes & if no good for me & the bike ill switch to another suggestion.

Good choice they topped a resent european test (PR2 a close 2nd) for milage and wet and dry handling.

[Blue Velvet]

Hey dudes... ended up going with a Metlzer Z6.

Good choice they topped a resent european test (PR2 a close 2nd) for milage and wet and dry handling.

Nice. I have one on the back of the SV.

Someone I met recently had to get one on the back of their R1 as an emergency measure (it was the only thing in stock). At first they likened it to an off-road tyre, but they might have started to like it? Maybe. I'm probably wrong.

[jrandom]

Not that you'll have any intention of buying them, but the Avon Storms are superb.

Do I detect a hint of bitterness?

[pritch]

Probably not knee-down stuff tho.

I don't know if they'd be any good for knee-down stuff. On the other hand if you want to do really fast cornering they'll be fine

[Hitcher]

Do I detect a hint of bitterness?

Cynicism more like. 95% of the times people post seeking "opinions" on tyres, all they're seeking is validation for a decision they've already made, in this case the Metzeler Roadtec Z6.

[jrandom]

Cynicism more like. 95% of the times people post seeking "opinions" on tyres, all they're seeking is validation for a decision they've already made, in this case the Metzeler Roadtec Z6.

Harrumph!

Well, I was genuinely looking for information to sway me between the Pilot Road 2s and the Storms.

While your experience with the Avons was certainly taken into account, the European bike-mag test of various touring tyres that I was linked to, combined with beyond's good experiences on his GSX1400 with the Michelins and the fact that the geometry and general nature of the known Storm-friendly bikes (RF900, FJR1300) is a little different to Betty's, swayed me in favour of the dodgy French rubber.

I will, I think, stick to my word and try a set of Storms next, though.



Edit: Not that the Pilot Road 2s aren't great; they are. I'd happily ride on them for the rest of my GSX1400 ownership span, but I'm all about sampling the market and developing informed opinions.

[Boob Johnson]

I hadn't made my mind up when I posted, I was genuinely seeking info & would of gone with whatever seemed the best & from what was said about the Avon it was a major contender. In truth most of the tyres suggested would of been suitable im sure. One thing that lead me toward to Z6 was the fact that it is a triangle shape, more rubber in the middle as well as harder centre compound & the shape also helps lead you into a corner according to the expert at NP MCC.

I just got home from scrubbing it in & I can confirm it certainly does

A good choice for a sports tourer like the RF900 which certainly benefits from such a design.

As Random J said might give them a crack next time

[homer]

Hey dudes, thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated. I spoke to a chap at the bike shop after work today, told him of the suggestions made etc & we ended up going with a Metlzer Z6. Will see how that goes & if no good for me & the bike ill switch to another suggestion.



Smashing stuff, thanks again lads & safe riding out there

I gurantee you ll be impressed
very impressed
itll feel so smooth and cnr almost by its self
i just got a new z6 for the front today but wont fit it till about 4 weeks time
just keep the pressure up to 40 psi if you want it to last the longest poss

[Boob Johnson]

I gurantee you ll be impressed
very impressed


just keep the pressure up to 40 psi if you want it to last the longest poss

Yeah impressed already

Cheers for the best PSI setting Homer

[MSTRS:Me]

Yeah impressed already

Cheers for the best PSI setting Homer

36f/42r...start there for the heavier sport/tourers. Give it a few weeks running and then get someone who knows about tyre wear indicators to have a look at what the surface is doing.

[Boob Johnson]

36f/42r...start there for the heavier sport/tourers. Give it a few weeks running and then get someone who knows about tyre wear indicators to have a look at what the surface is doing.

Rgr tht

[beyond]

Haven't managed to get on here for a bit and just caught the post.
My experience.
I've used three sets of Z6's on the GSX1400 as I couldn't get a set of Michelin Pilot Roads at the time.

Grip wet and dry as good as the Michelin Pilot Roads but longevity not so good. I managed 7,000 kms out of a rear Pilot Road and the front lasted as long so these tyres wore at the same rate front and rear. Now I don't generally muck about so I can assure you these are darn good mileages for me at any rate on the Pilot Road.
Rear tyre experiences:
Dunlops: reasonable grip wet and dry but 2800kms.
Pirelli Strada: Good grip wet and dry: 4,000kms
Metzler z6's: Very good grip wet and dry: best was 4700kms, worst 3500kms.
Brigestone BT020's: standard on the 14 but good grip dry, lethal wet: 2800kms

Summary:
Overall for my bike and riding style I have found the Pilot Roads to be the best for grip in the wet and dry and longevity. No other tyre lasts as long for the level of grip. I now have the Pilot Road 2's which have around 4700kms on them and they have the dual compound, harder in the middle and softer to the edges. They are wearing very well and are awesome tyres for my bike.