New Tyres for my R1150R

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:17 pm

Got incredible milage out of the factory MEZ 4's, and good grip.
I put 14k km on a set of Michelin Pilot Roads and I thought they were very good.

For long distance I'd go (again) with Metzeler 880's. They have lasted the longest so far. The sacrafice is a little comfort (harder compound = more road feel) and a little cornering grip.

My next set will be Z6's, as I've yet to ride on these and the endorsements on here (THE most trusted R board) have been quite positive.

Mar · Post by **Mar** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:45 am

I've got ME 880s on my R1150R now. I really like them, except that they are cupped now at about 11K miles. I had a pair of Z6s before the 880s and I did not like them. They wore quickly and the rear was slick. And I could not tell how much wear was on the rear because it has no sipes in the center.

John I. Stephen · Post by **John I. Stephen** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:48 am

Yesterday I received a private reply saying that he swears by Conti Road Attacks; he stated that "I would not touch the Metzelers with my own money, Michelin & Bridgestone are "OK", but I would unhesitatingly recommend Conti Road Attacks. Good value & they grip like the proverbial to a blanket, "

This chap rides for a living (police m'cycle rider) so I wonder how these tyres don't feature in your recommendations?

Still pondering .........

pneuby · Post by **pneuby** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:21 pm

John I. Stephen wrote:Yesterday I received a private reply saying that he swears by Conti Road Attacks; he stated.... I would unhesitatingly recommend Conti Road Attacks. Good value & they grip like the proverbial to a blanket, "

This chap rides for a living (police m'cycle rider) .........

That really makes feel even better about my choice to try Road Attacks.

Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales · Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:30 pm

Hi John. Yes I have been pondering about this too. I currently run Z6's and am happy with them, though I don't generally grind my footrests into the tarmac.

I'm 'old school' and come for an era when we were told that the tyre grooves are there to clear the water and stop us aquaplaning. I was given to understand that the volume of the groove was a guide as to how good a wet weather tyre it was - tyre compound being secondary. The Z6 is basically a bald tyre in the centre, so I'm not quite sure of its ability in this direction.

Hmm.......

Rog

Brady · Post by **Brady** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:18 pm

Just ordered the Pilot Attacks last night. I agree with the previous post about the grooves on the Metzler's. I am sure it an issue they addressed but I just didn't feel comfortable with them. I'll let you know how the Conti's feel, this will be my first new set of tires, I bought the bike with 4k and Dunlops, got about 8k out of them but they are pretty thin.

Brady

Post by **challey** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:31 pm

Rog(UK) - Yorkshire Dales said

The Z6 is basically a bald tyre in the centre, so I'm not quite sure of its ability in this direction.

I was worried about this as well when I put the Z6's on but have been told that the large circumferential groove on the front tire clears the water out for rear on the straights and the grooves in the rear tire channel the water away adequately when you're leaned over.

I spent quite a bit of time in the rain this summer on some longish road trips (maybe there's something to this global warming thing?) and after a few hours of tentative riding in the wet, found that the Z6 does indeed grip pretty well.

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 9:34 pm

Another vote for the Z6

I ride (relatively) hard (I've worn off the elephant logo on the edges of the tires) and in all weather with them. No complaints about the grip, wet or dry. I don't think it's too difficult to tell visually when they are getting too worn.

Don't like Avons; as others mentioned, the handling gets funny as they wear out... more slip than I like on the dry... I prefer consistent grip over the life of the tire.

The R1150R I got came with Bridgestones... they are a bit more slippery on dry than I like as well.

Have not tried Conti's

R4R&R · Post by **R4R&R** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:01 pm

challey wrote:.....but have been told that the large circumferential groove on the front tire clears the water out for rear on the straights and the grooves in the rear tire channel the water away adequately when you're leaned over.

While I agree about the wet grip of the Z6's, I find this hard to believe. Does this mean that other tires don't clear water from the center of the front tire? I'm sure it naturally does like any other tire but that way of justifying the lack of center tread on the rear is a little far fetched to me.

Now, after saying that, I'm sure someone will be glad to insert my foot into my mouth.

Croc · Post by **Croc** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:13 pm

I am running the Z6's. So far I have about 7000 miles on them and they still look okay. Many of these miles have been in the wet. (Typical english weather!)
How important is grip at the rear when the bike is straight up anyway? as that is when the centre of the tyre is on the road. When cornering you are on tread front and rear and I think that is when it counts.

Croc

Post by **Ed K** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 5:07 am

Have been through many sets of Z4s/Z6s, and now just through Pilot Roads...

IMHO, PRs are much better tires for the R1150R.

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:36 pm

Ed K wrote:PRs are much better tires for the R1150R.

Would be interested in your thoughts in what ways the PRs are much better...

Post by **Boxer** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 9:57 pm

I'm on my second rear Pilot Road, and my first front one. I like them. I've used Metzlers, and they were nice in the twisties but didn't get good mileage on them.

I'm gonna check out Paul's advice on those ME880s. They may be my next set.

Brady · Post by **Brady** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 10:25 pm

Waiting on my Conti Road Attacks from swmototires. When I found out that you could get the OEM's for the R1150R that made up my mind for me. Anything would have been better than the Dunslops with 8800 miles on them after getting caught in the "flash flooding" conditions we had today!

Brady

Mr Episkopos · Post by **Mr Episkopos** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:48 am

MikeyD wrote:\

The R1150R I got came with Bridgestones... they are a bit more slippery on dry than I like as well.

Have not tried Conti's

Not with Dunlop?

Post by **MattPie** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 5:55 pm

Mr Episkopos wrote:Not with Dunlop?

Not mine either (US, 2004). Rear is a BT56. The front I can't remember off hand.

http://www.sidcupmotorcycletyres.co.uk/bridgestone.htm

Bottom of page, those both look about right. I find it hard to believe production ceased in 2001, since I put a new rear on in Nov 2005 when I had a flat. I hope it wasn't sitting around that long!

I too need tires. I've read the other threads here (and a couple other places). Seems like the Conti Road attacks get good reviews, other than a few people (Riceburner) seeing short life.

RideandDrive · Post by **RideandDrive** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:18 pm

Another vote for Pilot Roads. I tried the Z6's but the mileage wasn't good for me and the rear wore quite unevenly in the center.

I'm going to try the Continental Road Attacks next time.

NachtRitter · Post by **NachtRitter** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:37 pm

Mr Episkopos wrote:Not with Dunlop?

I got the RR used; the Bridgestones were recent replacements...

Tripton · Post by **Tripton** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:01 pm

I have BT020s on my rockster right now and they are the worst. Ever. Several times on dry pavement in town with them have I had "supermoto moments" .....like when the rear slides and drifts far out leaving faint black marks. Scary.

The z6s that I have had never lasted more than 4000 miles.

Next I am going to try pilot roads.

ranmar850 · Post by **ranmar850** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 9:05 pm

How the hell do you get 14,000 MILES out of a z6 rear-mine went 9,400 kilometres down to steel. Which beat the 6,400 kilometres of the Dunlop 207rr original. And the front Z6 is the noisiest front I have ever had; that said, I am happy with them. Was talking to a GSX1400 owner the other day, uses the bike daily , from our town, on a run 45 km of open (very open)down to his workplace at a minesite. Rear Z6 (190 section) lasts 2,500km

and the front, 10,000.Cost him as much a week for tyres as it does fuel