Metzeler Z6 Mileage life - front

[Caroanbill]

What mileage / kilometres are people getting from the Metzeler Z6 on the R12R? For what riding style? I've checked the tyre threads but can't find much on tyre life for the Metzeler Z6 front, in particular.

My reason is simple - my Z6 front looks fine at 17,000km (10,600 mi) - but I'm off on a 4,500km ride and I won't get the opportunity to replace it on the road (I'm running a charity ride http://www.inspire.org.au/our-supporter ... nhope.html )

A few Rockster and R1150R owners report 9,000 plus miles (19,000 plus km), but nothing too specific (that distance would fall right into the middle of my ride). I'm usually conservative on fronts, and I'm pretty sure on current tread depth I could get 24,000 km (14,000 mi) - but I don't know how the Z6 fronts wear in their last few mm ... I got 12,000 easily from my first Z6 rear (replaced before a 3,000km trip as a preventive) but it's a long time since I really wore out a front - on my distances I tend to replace them because they've gone hard well before they actually wear out (I've got a second Z6 front on my F650CS, but I replaced the first for age at 20,000km).

I'm tempted to think I should replace it anyway - since it's 18 months old and therefore must've vulcanised a bit - but with the high silica content (and considerng my ecological footprint) I wonder whether I could get to 22,000km safely ...

[ShinySideUp]

I have no experience with the Z6 but I get about 10K miles on the front with the Continental Road Attacks.

If I were taking off on a 3000 mile ride with ANY front tire with 10K miles on it, I would not hesitate to change it out before the ride. You can always put it back on once you're back home if you really like to squeeze the miles out of a tire. (I'll sometimes squeeze on the back, but not the front.)

YMMV, but we're talking your life on the line with a blowout on the front. And we'll miss you!

[Caroanbill]

I would not hesitate to change it out before the ride... we're talking your life on the line with a blowout on the front.

Yep - that's usually my advice, too - so I'll probably take it. Can't see a modern radial blowing out with my conservative style, but I'm heading for the rainiest spot in Australia (west coast of Tasmania - makes Orgeon look dry) and I want my contact patch good 'n' sticky! My replacement decisons have been easier in recent years because I've done so few miles on each bike that my front tyres vulcanise well before they wear out. I don't like riding on a tyre over 2 years old.

I've been enjoying the R12R so much - this weekend I'll hit 18,000km in under 18 months- that I've actually got this dilemna. Can't complain about that! Consequently the Z6's on my F650CS have only had city distances to do, poor things - they'll be lucky to see 10,000km before they go hard.

Still interested in distance on a Z6 front - I'll be getting another (they just suit me, and my tyre guy reckons they're still as good a tyre as I can buy).

[bobw]

Heat cycles have a major role in tire life as well as visual inspection of tread depth, side wall degradation, etc. I think you are smart to change prior to the trip considering the factors you described. New tires always handle so nicely and in heavy rain a little better tire tread can be a huge benefit in it's own right. When in doubt I think of all the +/- including an approximate pro rating of the remaining tire life. Most times it is such few $ saved that it makes it foolish not to put on the new tire for added safety/peace of mind especially when going far from home/support.

Cheers!

[MJB]

Glad to hear you are getting good mileage out of your Z6's
I also have a set
Right now I have 11,000km (about 6,500miles) on them from 1 riding season.
When I took my bike in for the 10,000km service, my dealer said that I would need new tires before my next service, 20,000km.
The tires look fine too me, and I am still far from the indicators..... I’ll have a better look in April

How many kilometers on your rear tier

[Biff's R]

Going on a long trip with a questionable tire is pushing it, and may become a major pain in the arse if you need to replace it. New tires with deeper tread will do much better in the rain. You can always put the old tire back on when you get home. That will let you extend the new tires life.

I pushed a rear tire to complete baldness down the middle, and then had to ride 400+ miles home in a hard rain on the West Virginia Turnpike. High pucker factor, but the advantage of the WV Trunpike is that it is curvy enough that I was using the tread on the side of the tire. I was happy to get home, and put a new tire on.

[lewellen]

I went down "Start-a-road-trip-with-a-tire-that-should-last-the-trip" Lane once.

I got stranded in Apache Junction, AZ campground for a couple of days, and had to deal with a Honda dealer who did things like put the replacement tire on backwards, and left a crowbar sitting in the rear swingarm from when the levered down the shocks to change the tire. (You can't make stuff like this up....)

If you have to ask the question ... change out the tire. Just do it a hundred or so miles before you leave for the trip, to allow time for all that nice mould release to be worn off and for any nascent problems to show themselves.

Good roads,

- Lewellen180

[Caroanbill]

OK - lotsa helpful advice to do what I usually advise others to do. we're all in furious agreement (and the tyre change is booked in)

I STILL WANNA KNOW HOW LONG A Z6 LASTS ON THE FRONT AN R1200R!!

[bobw]

There are so many variables to include your weight, how hard you brake, road surface, speeds driven, ambient temps, etc., etc. Inspect your tires routinely for proper inflation, screws/nails. cuts, tread depth, etc. I would guess that an average rider would get at least 6-10K miles on a front tire and some get much more than that. It would be the same as asking how long does it take to clean your bike after a long road trip??? As long as it takes, due to variables of rain, mud, bug guts, how long everything baked in the sun, etc., etc.

Safe travels.

[Caroanbill]

Hmmm.

Is this an interesting phenomen about the R1200R forum ... I've had lotsa helpful directive advice, but not one whit of relevant information.
Perhaps I should have framed my question in technical terms or strated and argument!

try again - this time realising not many of us use Z6s (unlike R1150R owners)

Can anyone - anyone - comment on actual distance from a Z6 - with a note on riding location (temperature and road surface) and riding style?

EG (me): I got to 4mm on the front groove at 16,000km (10,000 miles) riding on coarse surface Australian roads of a range of temperatures from about zeroC (say 30F) to 43C (110F). This was almost entirely open road riding and I am a light user of front brakes in those conditions.

now I'm off to the R1150R forum to see if THEY can help (where's the smiley for a big huffy pout?)

[ShinySideUp]

I understand your frustration. I'm sorry.

I reviewed your original post to see why I was driven to offer a reply that started with "I have no experience..."

I think it was THIS line:
"My reason is simple - my Z6 front LOOKS fine at 17,000km (10,600 mi)"

So I addressed the reason behind your quest for facts. Sorry we haven't come up with any actual facts. I suspect that if your "reason" hadn't been included, the discussion than followed would have had a much different character.

I don't blame you for pouting, but I know you'll get over it!

[Caroanbill]

Hey Bill

Wouldn't be the first time I got a different answer from waaaaay too much detail in the quesion! (no, we won't go there)

So, a bit of research on the 1150R and 0ther fora gets the answer that a Z6 will give over 20,000 km (12,500mi) of mixed riding on large roadsters or tourers. Some reports of 24,000km (almost 15,000 mi). Faster / Harder guys seem to get as low as 12,000km (7500 mi) from large sports tourers. Hard to guess how this would translate to the R1200R: way better front brakes (so more wear) but a lighter front end (so probably evens out). BTW, I'm an (anti-Freidman) economist so I'm well accustomed to looking for meaning in heterogenous data. That's a self-important way o' saying YMMV.

Either way, it was running too close for me on a demanding run with no opportunity to take a day out to replace a tyre, even if I ordered one ahead (I'm orgainisng a charity run aroudn Tasmania for 30 bikes: http://www.inspire.org.au/corners-for-k ... -2009.html ). At home I'd take a tyre much closer to the end of its useful life (though I've always replaced early rather than risk an off). I've already replaced the front and thrown the old one into recycling - it'll have vulcanised far too hard for my taste by the time I wear this new front out.