Tire Recommendations Welcomed

[bmwdave52]

I'm lucky if I get 5K out of a set of tires.

[wncbmw]

While doing service on my bike this week, I noticed the rear will need to be changed before the Bash. Checked the bike log and for the 3rd consecutive Pirelli Strada, I got about 5,500 miles. I will probably put on another Z6 to go with the Strada front for now. Although they are supposed to be essentially the same tire, I think the Z6 got slightly better mileage and handled very well, wet or dry.

I intended to put on a pair of Michelin Powers for some fun but with me having to burn up probably at least 1,000 miles of interstate to get to the Bash next month, it would be a waste. I will try those next time, when I can do more mountain riding!

All the tires I have tried, including the Z4 and the Avons, got about the same mileage, except the Avons were dumped with miles left on them because uneven wear or something made them get squirrelly before they were wore out.

[riceburner]

I ride a mixture of 2-5 (sometimes all at once ).

Get about 8-9K Front, and 5-6K Rear on Diablo Stradas.

Have tried:
Stradas
Z6
Z1/Z6
Pilot Sport
Road Attacks
Strada/Scorpion Sync.

Prefer the Stradas from them and have had about 6 pairs I think. (over 2 bikes).

[Cohiba54]

Cohiba
try Photobucket, its free.

Thanks bluelight, test things out with an excel file

[Rockosmith]

I have run several sets of Z-6's and consistantly got 8000 mi. from the rears and 12000 mi. from the fronts. I switched to a set of Michelin Pilot Roads and got 10,500 miles and replaced them before they were totaly worn out due to an upcoming longish ride. My current tires are the Michelin Pilot Road 2CT's. Currently at 6000 miles and they still have lots of life left. A friend has a set of these on his R1100R with slightly over 12000 miles on them and they are real close to being worn out. Probably within 1000 mi. I like the feel of the PR2's but they seem to develop a slight vibration with you are leaned over at relatively low speed (15-20 mph) like when you are rounding a street corner. It almost feels like riding on a knobby tire on asphalt. This is only noticeable at very slow speeds, on the road they are great.

[Cohiba54]

Thanks guys keep the info coming in..... I'll post an update after I get 3-4 more rider reports in.

[R4R&R]

Out of the tires I've had on this bike, I like the Metzeler best, but I'm currently on a pair of the new Dunlop Roadsmart dual compound. So far I like them. Alot.

I've posted this around in the forums before, but it's still good info, and up to date.

Front tire changes
model miles
Dunlop D208 12925
Metzeler Z6 11101
Metzeler Z6 10787
Avon AV45 8619
Pirelli Strada 7677
Pirelli Strada 5037
Dunlop Roadsmart current

Rear tire changes
model miles
Dunlop D208 (flat) 846
Dunlop D220 7385
Metzeler Z4 9920
Metzeler Z6 (flat) 7699
Metzeler Z6 9602
Avon AV46 7981
Pirelli Strada 6195
Pirelli Strada 6332
Dunlop Roadsmart current

[bluelight]

If you are interested in the Conti RA, this may be helpful to you.
You want the Z in front not the C as previously posted here.

Dear Ray,
The different letters means different specification for different bikes,
where tests has shown us that the regular tyre will not work properly.
More or less is necessesary for the german market with his own homologation
due to the high speed on motorways.
There is no special recommendation that a "Z" specification will work on
all bikes properly.
Some for example need a special specification some not.

"B": Same construction as regular tyres
"C": Reinforced especially for BMW bikes
"Z": Different construction on the front wheel
"K": Different construction especially for high speed bikes like Hayabusa
or ZZR 1400.
"A": Special construction of the RaceAttack for a few different bikes.
"H": Special construction of the RaceAttack for a few different bikes.

I hope I could help you a little bit to understand the differences. If you
are not sure you could also always look into our technical factbook or on
http://www.conti-fitmentguide.com/


Mit den besten Gruessen/Best regards

Florian Sollich
Marketing and Sales
Business Unit Motorcycle Tyres

Continental AG
P.O. Box 169, 30001 Hannover, Germany

Phone: +49 511 235-5380
Fax: +49 511 235-5386
Mobile: +49 160 90407735
E-Mail: [email protected]
http://www.conti-moto.com
_____________________________________________________








An
Andre Voigt/ti4/ti/cag@CONTI04
Kopie

Thema
WG: Road Attack

[bmwr1150rbmw]

Pilot Roads with 2500 miles.

The tires have continued to outperform my abilities. Thank God!

[KHaynes]

I ride an R1150RT so my situation is not identical to yours but may still be of some value.
I've been running Metzeler ME-Z6 for the past 30,000km. I changed the first after 15,000km but this pair will ceratinly do more; perhaps 18,000km. I commute each day with a return trip of about 35km and my riding is then conservative.
I ride two-up on the weekends and cover larger distances without too much aggressive riding.
In choosing tyes, I look at: expected wear rates, expected load, traction and feedback (feel). It's more or less a compromise between these charancteristics.
I have ridden my RT with the discontinued ME-Z4 and been satisfied. The bike came with Michelin Macadams but I found that they scalloped on the edges of the tread after about 10,000km. I haven't bothered going past the ME-Z6 since I tried them.
I am only around 165lb and my wife (weight is secret) is well under that so we're not a great load on the tyres on straight roads.
I hope that this is some help.

[Greybeard]

I don't ride for long distances anymore but do hoon about like a teenager.
The OE Bridgestones on my '04 have plenty of tread left, but they are dry as a bone!
I'm thinking a fresh set of Z6's are in the offing but I'm open to suggestions for suitable rubber for 150 mile weekend romps.
Anyone?

[Dr. Strangelove]

Didn't like the Pilot roads that came with the bike--they sang, but did hold well wet or dry and about 8800 miles

Then Diablo Stradas. I felt they handled better than the PR's, but again 8800 miles. I liked them much more than the PR's

Now I am running Metzeler Marathons--that's the ME880's, right? and have over 8000 miles on them and there is much life left.
They "mostly" handle well, but on weeklong tours of W NC and Ark I did feel the rear "dance" a bit in a corner, but only once on each tour, maybe I hit a rock??? I like them.
Mostly I ride commute on a very straight route--about 70 miles. However, all chicken stripes are gone front and rear. Does that make me a 3? 3+?

I am intrgued by the Pilot Road 2's, but would buy the marathons again.

John

[kantuckid]

My RR's original MacAdams were pretty much gone @ 5k and I am running Metzeler Z-6's now @ 7k and counting. They are a great rain tire and ride well too. Having read several comments that the wire will show through, I keep looking , but none as yet!. The rear is getting kinda flat in the center-on another thread I was told that they wear that way out west due to the road construction style there and the fact that a rider in the east cannot do the 75-80 mph speeds possible in the west? HUH?, I have a GA and VA speeding ticket on my 3yr record right now that will argue that point! The slab is open for speeding most anyplace in the country and chip tar roads are common in many states.I paid $234/layed in from http://www.buymoto.com on a price match from Ron Ayers Racing (they were out of one size and I needed the tires sooner) for the Z-6's.Great price and quick service! I would like to hear from the Metzeler people RE the wire showing on their tires? It sounds like they have stray wire belts in the green tires before they are cured in the mold? Some of you in the retail end of tires out there need to ask them about this issue, as this is the most popular tire we are discussing.