Tires (again?)

[psycle.vt]

Has anyone heard of using ME880s on the R12R (2009)? My dealer suggested that they would give good mileage and reasonable handling - I am a bit skeptical. Have the original Road Pilots (nothing about being a "2") on the bike - only 2200 miles on them so far and they are fine, but I will be adding another 2000 this week and then am planning on shipping the bike out to OR in a few weeks for the rally and then riding home via SF - another 4000 miles. Not sure what state they will be in (or in what state they will give out). Hate to swap tires early, but also don't want to push it...

[ka5ysy]

FWIW, the Pilot Roads generally do not seem to have the mileage capability of the PR2's, according to a couple of buddies that have ridden on both. The are now firmly in the PR2 camp.

[Don C]

I don't see the right size for the rear on their list.
http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/web/cata ... log/custom

[takemeaway]

My .02. I just installed my second pair of Dunlop RoadSmarts. Pleasantly surprised to get 12K out of the rear tire with some twisties, many country curves and a couple thousand slab miles. Love the tires, love the feel and grip across all road and weather conditions.

[Caroanbill]

The Me88 is the "new" Marathon - isn't it? There is a 120/70 VR 17 front and 180/55 ZR 17 rear listed for Australia at least.

I quite liked the "old" Marathon as a distance rear tyre on K100 and K1100 tourers - I quickly learned that the front would scallop out and so I never got much mileage from it (but note the pattern has changed). I switched over to the Laser front and got a stickier tyre, better in gravel, and effectively the same tyre life (about 12,000km or 7,500mi). Most K and R series riders I knew used that combination. The rear would give me up to 20,000km or 12,500mi - though more commonly 75% of that before I replaced them from squaring off (long, open roads where I lived then). That sizing seems to have been taken up in the Lasertec range, so I'm guessing they are the successors to the 'old' Marathon - there's a 120/70 VR17 front, but I can't find a 180/55 17 rear in there at all.

For about the same money, at least here, I'm running Z6 Roadtecs front and rear. My maximum mileages would be about 20,000 km from the front, 12,000 from the rears (they'd go further - say 15,000 - in easy touring). I know tyres are very personal - I didn't really like Pilot Roads but haven't tried the PR2. I didn't like the Contis at all. I'm very much a Metzeler touring style of rider, and I'd say the Z6 are the best I've had so far in that style - their principle feature is absolutely consistent feel: very much solid and very fixed to the road, regarless of wet or dry. Having never taken them close to their limits, I can't comment on whether they give any warning before they slide: the ASC has kicked in once or twice before I felt the tyre "give".

Maybe the Z6 would give you performance plus mileage ...

[celticus]

i've got Pilot Road 2s on right now and no complaints. They handle well .

[fastdogs2]

The ME880 Marathon was recommended for my R1200C (cruiser). I had a set and they did deliver good mileage. I think the ME880 tire also fits the LT bike.

This tire comes up, from time to time, on the BMWMOA and BMW Sport Touring forums, with posters asking if they can install them on their R1200RT's. If my memory serves me correctly, you can't get a ME880 for the front tire size, but you can approximate the rear tire sizing. That would not be a good solution, since you would have different tread patterns, if you mixed brands/tire types.

The Metzeler's website that I researched does not list any recommended tires for a R1200R.

I ran Metzeler Z6's on my RT. I would think these would fit on the R1200R, since the wheel sizes for the R1200RT are the same. I found them to be a good wet/dry performer, although I couldn't get more than 6,000 miles out of them.

They have a new Z6 tire called the Interact that you may wish to investigate.

[tl440]

+1 on the Z6. They came with with the R12R. They were a little overdue at 12,500, but I could have squeezed a little more local riding out of them. I replaced them with Z6s. The ME880 are great cruiser tires. I have them on a Virago, but don't think them suitable for a more sport oriented machine.

Dave

[Sander Abernathy]

My bike came with the Metzler Z6's from the factory. After 2500 miles they look new.