R1200RT tyres

[Anonymous]

#4166

Does anyone have a recommendation for R1200RT tyres? Mine will last a couple more trips to the dairy but probably won't handle the next Sth Is trip. I'm looking for the best value, handling and wear combo (if such a golden goose exists). Current rubber is paired Metzelers.

[Anonymous]

#17252

Tyres are very subjective. What one person will hate, another will love. Seen it before with the same model bike and tyres. I hated the tyres, another loved them.The RT runs standard big bike tyres, 120/70/17 and 180/55/17, so choice is one thing you're not limited on. My current choice of tyre (not for an RT tho) is the Michelin Pilot Road 3. Wet weather grip that can't be beaten while still having decent life. I've used a few sets of Road 2 and love them. However, the carcass of the Road 3 is very flexible and on heavier bikes (especially 2 up, laden etc) then this may be an issue for you (again, personal taste) as the tyre will feel like it walks a bit, because it's so flexible.The Metzeler Z8 is newish as well, but a much stiffer carcass so won't move around on you.Ultimately, you'll need to try whatever you want, and see whether it suits you and your riding style. Modern sports touring tyres I find are excellent with good grip (wet and dry usually) and good life. They get into their operating temperature zone nice and quickly, unlike sports tyres that might never get there.Bear in mind the South Island is also harder on tyres than the North Island, so tyres never last as long down there.

[Anonymous]

#17253

Cheers for that, Gremlin. Lots of comparisons between PR3s and Z8s online, but given your comment, and the weight of 'my' hairdryers, clothes and handbags that 'we' take touring, I'm leaning towards the Z8s.The next bit of fun and games will be putting my bartering skills to the test for the new rubber to avoid as much of a credit card hammering as possible once I get my R12Rt back from Motomart. I noticed the nice, new, tyre-eating chipseal on the Kaikoura coast on my last trip from Chch too.  You can almost hear the rubber getting worn away.

[Mark Mackay]

#17254

Conti road attacks work well,good grip and feel good in the wet not bad for tyre life.Road attacks were on sale now Road attack2's are out.Conti motion are cheap if You are not a hard rider,had them on My RT felt OK but front whore flat on the front.Michelin pilot road3 gets very good write ups ,got one on the front of the GS grips very well.Just dont buy Shinko or Full bore Tyres. Cheers

[Anonymous]

#17255

Saw some new Continental tyres (ContiMotion, maybe) being offered for a shade under $350 a pair in (I think) the sizes you mention. Looks like they're a new “entry level” sport touring tyre, but at that price I'm almost sorry they're the wrong sizes for my GS. On the other hand, there's always that nagging fear of being stuck with tyres you don't like and that never wear out.

[Anonymous]

#17256

So I bit the bullet last week and got the Metzeler RoadTec Z8s to replace my Z6s.  Wellington Motorcycles were the best price ($563 fitted) and I've asked them to consider a BMWOR discount.Day two and barely 20km of use found me riding, nay paddling, back from Petone to Wellington in the middle of Wednesday's torrential rain that turned SH2 into a river.  And the verdict?  They stick to the road bloody well!  I got a little 'lost' in the City today and somehow ended up at the Rimutaka Hill summit - great edge-to-edge tyre workout leaving me very confident in my new rubber.  We're off two-up around the Mainland for a couple of weeks soon, so I'll find out what they're like two-up and loaded.Tally-ho!

[Anonymous]

#17257

You won't regret your decision. I have fitted the z8 after PR2s on my heavy k1200rs. The bike has done a few day rides, commuting, a track training day and a shitty weather weekend away ( Forgotten World Highway ) . I have not had any panics with no signs of early wear. It's not for the lack of trying and I have lost the buzz through the bars @ town speeds when leant over 🙂 ;D

[Anonymous]

#17258

Interesting to note that Conti have a BMW specific version for the Attack range ( C suffix) I have just about cut out my first set of road attack 2's which transformed the bike ( the Ohlins helped as well) The  ones fitted were just the standard road attack 2 , working on getting the "C" version for my R1100S. Apparently they have a stiffer case cosntruction to reduce the front tyre chiselling  which is less on the Conti than it was on the Michelins

[Anonymous]

#17259

So after three thousand kms or so, these Z8s certainly get my vote. Two weeks two-up and fully loaded around the Sth Island presented us with:- torrential liquid West Coast sunshine- 36degC between Kaikoura and Hanmer Springs that melted the road surface- gravel roads- a couple of very rapid stops to avoid idiot drivers doing dumb things- wet steel ferry ramps (especially the downhill one off the Bluebridge top vehicle deck)- roads becoming rivers between the ferry terminal and our house in WgnNot once did I doubt the superb grip of these tyres, and they're now nicely worn in almost edge-to-edge due to my increasing confidence in what is holding us onto the road.  My pillion-in-4-million was happy too; a smooth, stable ride for her equaled a very happy holiday. 

[Russell Taylor]

#17260

Conti road attacks work well,good grip and feel good in the wet not bad for tyre life.Road attacks were on sale now Road attack2's are out.Conti motion are cheap if You are not a hard rider,had them on My RT felt OK but front whore flat on the front.Michelin pilot road3 gets very good write ups ,got one on the front of the GS grips very well.Just dont buy Shinko or Full bore Tyres. Cheers

Yup, very personal choice. I've now worn out the Road Attacks, and the Z8s will be my next buy. But only because I have brand loyalty. I've had a good run with Z6s on the 800ST, and the Z6s and Z8s on the work bike, so Z8s for the personal bike it is for me.

[Anonymous]

#17261

My RT felt OK but front whore flat on the front

Nice typo, Richard - I missed it the first time round. So long as the front whore had a shapely bustle you'ld be OK with her being flat-fronted?

[Anonymous]

#17262

Tyre update – by the WOF on Wed, I've put 10 000km on the Z8s and have 4mm of tread remaining in the centre, with a metric oodle remaining on the outer thirds for the twisty bits.  Both tyres are wearing evenly/equally.  Of the 10 000km, 3000km was touring around the Sth Is and I add 80km a day commuting.  Factor in the occasional wrong-way turn leaving work that has me over the other side of the Rimutakas and not in the City (oops), the Z8s are doing their job very well.  Even surprised the hell out of a WRX driver who was wondering how the hell a big touring bike was keeping up with him coming back from Featherston to Wgn  😀

[Anonymous]

#17263

So after almost a year and ~20000km, my pair of Metzeler Z8s are almost ready for the scrap heap.  The centre of both front and rear are pretty close to minimums and starting to show horizontal (cross-width) cracks but the edges have plenty of wear left.  I've spent about 6000km two-up touring and the remainder solo commuting and touring.  Damn fine tyres!  Well done, Metzeler, I'll be putting another pair of your hoops on shortly…

[Anonymous]

#17264

Glad you enjoyed them. Nothing more satisfying than finding the right rubber for you.20k is an excellent run too, my GSA has never got to the 13k mark on a set yet (of anything). Nothing beats good quality rubber  ;D

[Anonymous]

#17265

20k is an excellent run too, my GSA has never got to the 13k mark on a set yet (of anything). Nothing beats good quality rubber  ;D

The team at Wgn Motorcycles were a little surprised that they've lasted so long.  I've gone and lost/thrown out the purchase info so can't give an accurate mileage (kilometerage??) of how long the Z8s have lasted until I drop the Red Horse off to get reshod with new rubber.  if only the unused rubber from the edge could be pursuaded to migrate a little closer to the centre, and I'd get even more distance...  A challenge for tyre engineers perhaps? 

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