Tire Recommendations

[keiko]

Just picked up a 2004 Silver, R1150R with 13500 miles. It is a non abs version with hard bags, heated seats, BMW tank bag, rear rack, BMW charger and cover for $4750. The bike is in excellent condition and with the low mileage i am pleased with the purchase. The tires have lots of wear left on them but are older models and are mismatched. Not sure about age of tires, Bridgestone Battlax BT 014 front and Metzeler Road Tech z6 rear tire. I would like to purchase new tires based on the age of these tires ( not exactly sure when they came out ) and also to buy a matching set. Any recommendations out there on a well priced street/touring tire. I have heard good things about the Continental tires re, tire wear and performance and price. I also purchased a set of Dunlop Roadsmart 2's for my 1996 Honda VFR 750 and i am happy with them so far.
I mentioned in a previous post that i owned an 1150r briefly but didn't keep it very long. i went to the R1200r with a low seat and low frame and really enjoyed it for 2 years. Sold it to pay off some debt and i decided to buy another 1150r and am thrilled with my new purchase. It does feel very similar in many ways to my 12r but I have to admit I have always preferred the style and look of the 1150r. I didn't care for the look of the big saddlebags on the 12r as well as the shape of the seat. Also the low frame , low seat version gave the appearance of a low slung cruiser. My 12r also had bar risers and after riding the 1150 today with the standard handlebars i really like the slightly more aggressive riding position.....all in all i am loving the 1150. Thanks for any tire recommendations you may have in advance.

[captaincable]

Go back one page and you will find a couple of tire opinions, I will be changing a tire today as well as a friends. Michelin PR3's
is what I am running on a R850. Have fun
Mike

[CycleRob]

I'm partial to Metzler tires. Currently my F800ST has the "Z-8 Interact" set and they handle fantastic. The choice for what brand and model tires to buy usually boils down to price, longevity and customer feedback satisfaction.

BTW,if you want to know the week and year of your tire's manufacture, find the 3 or 4 digit number that looks like it was heat embossed into the tire -after- you go to this website that tells you how to decode them:
http://www.ehow.com/how_7168548_read-da ... codes.html

[macx]

I've put on 54000 miles since May 1, 2011.

I've got an 04 R1150R I picked up in 08 and have ridden maybe a dab under 10k miles,
so that obviously isn't the one.
'
However, on that bike I have Metzeler Z6's and the seem to have done quite well,
although haven't gone thru a set of tires from new to worn out.

I came out to a temporary 3 year job near Vegas in early 2011 and, having been thru
the area and knew there was a lot of scenery around the whole area, decided to splurge
on a 2011 R1200RT which I'll maybe have paid off about the time I have to go to a nursing
home (I'm retiring after this job and am just about 67 at this time).

Anyway, had 3 day weekends the first summer so took full advantage of the time.
I've tried a different type of tire every set, and have found some differences.

They all performed pretty well, but the mileage has differed.

I do drive fairly fast but am not any kind of "Kenny Roberts" on the curves - I ride
them fast enuf to have some fun but I do keep in mind I want to survive to ride
the mountains after I retire.

Anyway - I also ride the bike to work for 80 miles per day on what is mostly a pretty
rough road which began at about half the miles I have on it now.

The oem Battax lasted about 10k but I wasn't on that rough road yet and I was
still relearning how to ride after over 20 years unable to ride because of working
all over the country, plus was already 64, so was taking it pretty easy. Then I tried
Metzeler Z6 Interact which lasted nearly 12k, but mostly also on smooth road.
When I needed the next set, I found they no longer made the Z6 in an Interact
so tried the new Z8 Interact. By that time I was on the rougher road and I may
have not run them at quite high enuf pressure, but still they barely lasted 8k.
So I tried Michelin PR3's which didn't do any better, and were wearing unevenly
after only 2 or 3k miles. So tried plain Z6's which I did run with higher pressure
at 38 / 41 +/-. The front did real well at a dab over 12k but the rear made just
about 8k again.

Overall, out of all those, I'd say the Metzeler Z6's did the best (being the Z6 Interacts
are no longer available).

Then I read about the new Pirelli Angel GT's that Pirelli says have tested to give
30% better mileage than their Angel ST's. So started with a rear being the Z6 front
was still going strong. I now have over 6k on it and it sure looks like it'll go at least
10 even on my rough road, which would be as good as any other I've had, even the Z6
Interact, and this is nearly all rough road riding. I put the front on after the Z6 finally
gave out and I only have about 2 or 2-1/2k on it yet but can't even see any sign of flat
topping at all yet.

The rear didn't show any flat topping until well over 4k, much better than any of all
the others except the now unavailable Z6 Interact.

So - - hope that isn't too confusing!

I mount my own using a Marc Parnes balancer which more than paid for itself the first
set (tires at Motorcycle Superstore about $350+ for a set delivered versus over $600
for the same exact ones put on by the local dealer). I got a cheap $35+ bead breaker
from Harbor Freight.

Hope that helps! Good luck.

[swamper]

Pirelli Angel GT's are great so far on our 2001. On our 2004 Avom Storm 2 and I like them also. I had the Dunlops RS's and didn't have a good feel of the road like the Pirelli and Avons do.

[rprothero]

using Metzler ME's on mine...I commute a lot on my bike , not a lot of twisties, they grip well in all weather and its amazing how you dont even feel the road cracks or tar lizards..if you look at the tread they almost look like hybrid offroad depth. Otherwise the Z6's were a solid choice as well for commuting..Put 12k miles on my last set was like riding on a cube i had flattened the back tire so much but still rode well...

[UberZogster]

I ran a set of Avon Storm 2 ultra's and really liked the way they felt and performed. When those needed to be replaced I wanted to try something else just because that's how I am.

I decided to try a set of Pirelli Angel GT's and absolutely love the way they feel. Seeing as I don't ride in the rain (much) I will probably stick with the Pirelli's when I need a new set.

[SteveJJ]

i got my R early July, and put PR3's on it. They were great in the rain last weekend (went to the ND rally at Fort Ransom) but surprised me on a bit of sandy pavement! Almost lost it pulling onto a divided highway when the rear broke loose unexpectedly.

I've Shinko 705's on my weestrom, and TKC80's before that. Neither would have slid that much or that quickly, but the wee doesn't have the R's torque, so... I can't be sure. I do know that I'll be more cautious about sandy patches on pavement, which we get lots of here in MN after the winter.

The PR3's are otherwise great tires if 4000 miles is any test. I'll likely get them again, but am curious if the 705s come in appropriate size for the R, they're great performers for the $! The siping on the front makes just a bit of noise, but I wear earplugs almost always so it's no bother. Lots quieter than TKC80s!

Hope that helps.

[wncbmw]

Just changed out a Z8 for a PR3. Don't know how they will do, but while the Z8 handled great, wet or dry, it only went 5500 miles. That just won't do. I'm used to reduced mileage due to the roads I ride and the way I ride, but 5500 miles sucks.

I am used to getting at least 7500 from several good brands of front tire.

[Nort]

I have the same bike, a 2004 R1150R. I bought it used a few years ago and it came with Michelin Pilot Power front and rear. I was able to get about 10k on those although the rear was getting squared off and it felt quite odd the first few turns before the tire warmed up. I replaced them last year with Michelin Pilot Road 2 even though those were not the newest version "Pilot Road" tires available. They warm up quickly and I am very happy with them but seldom ride in the rain so cannot attest to their wet traction abilities.

[DanH]

Go back one page and you will find a couple of tire opinions, I will be changing a tire today as well as a friends. Michelin PR3's
is what I am running on a R850. Have fun
Mike

Using exactly the same on the same bike, doing a lot of hard twisty riding and the PR3 tires are excellent.

[Rider Rick]

My Pilot Roads are a couple years old but they hardly show the 3k I have on them, and I have had them in all-day rain, hot twisties in Texas Hill Country, and cold twisties in Arkansas and they just work without me even wondering about it no matter what I throw at them. It took me a couple of hard rides before I just relaxed and let them work, and that not only increased my enjoyment, it let me work the turns with more confidence knowing I could almost scrape road and still have good rubber working. I've had guys like CR also swear by the Metz. tires, too. I like the quick warm-up, and they invariably heat to the same temps time after time given similar scenarios according to my tpms. Mostly I just lean the sucker into turns and enjoy, lol.

[Rider Rick]

I've put on 54000 miles since May 1, 2011.

I've got an 04 R1150R I picked up in 08 and have ridden maybe a dab under 10k miles,
so that obviously isn't the one.
'
However, on that bike I have Metzeler Z6's and the seem to have done quite well,
although haven't gone thru a set of tires from new to worn out.

I came out to a temporary 3 year job near Vegas in early 2011 and, having been thru
the area and knew there was a lot of scenery around the whole area, decided to splurge
on a 2011 R1200RT which I'll maybe have paid off about the time I have to go to a nursing
home (I'm retiring after this job and am just about 67 at this time).

Anyway, had 3 day weekends the first summer so took full advantage of the time.
I've tried a different type of tire every set, and have found some differences.

They all performed pretty well, but the mileage has differed.

I do drive fairly fast but am not any kind of "Kenny Roberts" on the curves - I ride
them fast enuf to have some fun but I do keep in mind I want to survive to ride
the mountains after I retire.

Anyway - I also ride the bike to work for 80 miles per day on what is mostly a pretty
rough road which began at about half the miles I have on it now.

The oem Battax lasted about 10k but I wasn't on that rough road yet and I was
still relearning how to ride after over 20 years unable to ride because of working
all over the country, plus was already 64, so was taking it pretty easy. Then I tried
Metzeler Z6 Interact which lasted nearly 12k, but mostly also on smooth road.
When I needed the next set, I found they no longer made the Z6 in an Interact
so tried the new Z8 Interact. By that time I was on the rougher road and I may
have not run them at quite high enuf pressure, but still they barely lasted 8k.
So I tried Michelin PR3's which didn't do any better, and were wearing unevenly
after only 2 or 3k miles. So tried plain Z6's which I did run with higher pressure
at 38 / 41 +/-. The front did real well at a dab over 12k but the rear made just
about 8k again.

Overall, out of all those, I'd say the Metzeler Z6's did the best (being the Z6 Interacts
are no longer available).

Then I read about the new Pirelli Angel GT's that Pirelli says have tested to give
30% better mileage than their Angel ST's. So started with a rear being the Z6 front
was still going strong. I now have over 6k on it and it sure looks like it'll go at least
10 even on my rough road, which would be as good as any other I've had, even the Z6
Interact, and this is nearly all rough road riding. I put the front on after the Z6 finally
gave out and I only have about 2 or 2-1/2k on it yet but can't even see any sign of flat
topping at all yet.

The rear didn't show any flat topping until well over 4k, much better than any of all
the others except the now unavailable Z6 Interact.

So - - hope that isn't too confusing!

I mount my own using a Marc Parnes balancer which more than paid for itself the first
set (tires at Motorcycle Superstore about $350+ for a set delivered versus over $600
for the same exact ones put on by the local dealer). I got a cheap $35+ bead breaker
from Harbor Freight.

Hope that helps! Good luck.

HEY MACX, LONG TIME NO TALK, LOL

[DanH]

Ended up with the PR 3s, very satisfied. A really good tire for our rough roads and looking very durable at this point.

Thanks for the input.

[kirby]

Shinko 009 raven.

mike

[f4tweet]

Michelin PR3's

[pebmr]

Michelin PR2's. My bike came with the Metzler Z6's, and they squared off pretty good although it was after many miles. The PR2's rode so nicely after I put them on they were much better, and still ride well after many many miles. I won't tell you how many cause last time some thought it was too much. Let's just say I bought a replacement pair two years ago, and they are still in plastic since the PR2's are still going. I do ride them to the end...