My Roadster is strictly a freeway commuter. Lots of straight-lines, and broad sweeping curves. Metzler Road-Tecs are on it now, but I'm looking for suggestions as to what you may think is a wiser choice.
The only thing I don't like about them is that there are no tread grooves crossing the centerline of the tire. Not that it's rainy here, but there's plenty of sand on the surface streets.
So far, I've been told to consider Continental's new BMW-oriented tire, or Michellin's Pilot Roads.
If it matters, I like to inflate them up to 42/42, or 42/44, as I'm over 300lbs. with gear on and some load in the bags.
Pneuby, I just finished a pair of Pirelli Diablo Stradas. They are great tires, but wore out pretty quickly. 5,000 miles to be exact. The Pilot roads will give you more miles than the Metzlers, but you will lose some grip. Let me know if you get the Conti's. I have been thinking about trying a pair myself.
I am on my second set of Pilot Roads, and the first set was the most even wearing tire that I have had on the R. I got around 8500 miles out of the first set, and they seem to be as sticky as the Metzelers. Also very confidence inspiring in the rain.
I installed a set of Pirelli Stradas recently and am quite pleased with them. I also spend a lot of time on the freeway. My original Metzler ME-Z4's had nearly 13,000 commuter miles on then when I took them off.
The Stradas are brothers to the Z6's I think. I am not too concerned about the lack of wear bars the way I ride, short daily trips. The way to relieve yourself of tire wear worry is to have another new set hanging on the garage wall. Depends on how far you commute, but I'm thinking you'll get a lot of miles out of those Road-tecs.
Biff's R wrote:I am on my second set of Pilot Roads, and the first set was the most even wearing tire that I have had on the R. I got around 8500 miles out of the first set, and they seem to be as sticky as the Metzelers. Also very confidence inspiring in the rain.
I've got over 13,000 out of 'em... mostly slab... but they never let me down on the twisters either. on a contrary I have only got 7,000 out of Batlaxes...
I have the Z6 and love them but the R1200R I tested last Saturday had the Conti Attacks and they were fantastic. Got right to both edges even on damp roads in light rain and fog. Never felt unstable at all. Should be awesome on dry roads. Dunno how long they'll last tho...
I have a set of Pilot Roads coming, will fit next week before I go on holidays.
My tyre man told me that there is 2 versions of the Pilot Road.
The one for the Beemer is Pilot Road A. It is a heavier construction
suitable for heavier bikes. Michelin told him they should do around 25,000ks. I only wish.
I have Bridgestone 020 on at the moment, and 6,000ks will see them out.
I have had Metzelers on other Beemers, but no more than 8,000ks out
of them.
I currently have the Pirelli Stradas on and have just ordered a new rear. I have to say, they have been excellent tires except for the same thing Joel said - it appears I will get only about 5500 miles out of them, less than the 6-7K i got out of the Z4 and Z6 or the Avons.
I only ordered another one because they handled so well, wet or dry and I still have some life left in the Pirelli front.
Next complete set, I will try the Pilots.
Edited to add - it appears I might be getting closer to 6K on the Stradas, so they aren't too far behind the Metzlers. I am still going to try the Pilots, though.
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
I'm running Mez 880 Marathons. Great for slab. Lasted longer than my Pilot Roads, although the Pilot Roads offer a smoother ride, and they have grooves across the whole tire.
The 880's were fine in rain and I could get leaned over nicely on dry pavement. They also took a beating.
I'd consider the 880's for freeway riding with decent grip on wet surfaces.
BUT...once they start to wear, you really feel the road.
07 R12GS - Granite
04 R1150R - Black (sold)
Member #468
Don't know if you happened to see the post by Airman about the Avon free front tire giveaway, but it only runs till the end of September, and you have to snail mail the form (you complete online) to get there before the 30th. If you think you want to try it, the website he listed is http://www.tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIR ... _sp_ss.htm
I've got Pirelli Strada Diablos (from their BOGO sale!) and like them a lot for the roads I run (mostly city streets with some slabbing).
Went with Avon Azzaro - Loved 'em. Great in the wet, dry, cold (16,000 kms)
Changed for another set of Avons - Still great (16,000 kms again)
Tried a pilot road rear as a temp tyre to see me into my trip - Worst tyre I have ever had!
Went to Diablo stradas for my round Aus trip - Not bad, good for slab work, ok in wet, dry etc. Not as good as Avon when cold (two rears @ 10,000 kms each and front did 20,000 kms)
Going back to Avon next week.
I ride an R1150GS Adventure with sidecar. IBA #39193
Now I have Battlax Bridgestones...BT020s I believe....and they are like riding on wood. Terrible Grip....but they are lasting a bit longer. Pilot roads are next.
I used several sets of Avons - good mileage, good all round in fact, but I am now very smitten with the Conti Road Attacks - OE on the 1200RT, & they suit my 1150RT very well, to the extent that when the 1150R is Serviced next week, a set of Conti's is going on.
I am beginning to think tires are like underwear - peoples opinions and experiences seem to be personal. YMMV indeed!
I liked the Avons but found the handling got squirrelly toward the end of their service life. Mileage average. Others love them!
I loved the Z6s and got respectable mileage out of them. Others think they handle badly or don't give good life!
I like the Pirelli Stradas, although my first set may be a little below average for life. Others may think differently. Many of us tried their buy one, get one free special earlier this year and the returns on them should be coming in soon.
Overall, I will trade mileage for handling and wet weather traction. But opinions on what tire delivers that seemed as varied as "boxers or briefs"!
'02 in black - the real BMW color! (Now gone to a new home)
Vann - Lifer No. 295
pneuby wrote:My Roadster is strictly a freeway commuter. Lots of straight-lines, and broad sweeping curves. Metzler Road-Tecs are on it now, but I'm looking for suggestions as to what you may think is a wiser choice.
The only thing I don't like about them is that there are no tread grooves crossing the centerline of the tire. Not that it's rainy here, but there's plenty of sand on the surface streets.
So far, I've been told to consider Continental's new BMW-oriented tire, or Michellin's Pilot Roads.
If it matters, I like to inflate them up to 42/42, or 42/44, as I'm over 300lbs. with gear on and some load in the bags.
For your kind of riding....Metzeler ME880s.
They have great load handling capacity, handle nicely on wet roads, are fairly quiet and wear like iron.
I had a pair on my last bike, a Kaw Vulcan cruiser of about the same weight as the R. I rode it the same way I ride my Roadster...lots of twisties, a bit of highway thrown in, fairly aggressive off the line. I got 22000mi on my last set of 880s before I saw the BMW light....
For your freeway commuter, I doubt you'd come close to breaking out the rear end with a set of 880s on....
j magda
TripleLifer Member 454
04 Black (the Classiest Color) R1150R
Deep in the OH wasteland...
I have about 6000 miles on Z6's which replaced the Dunlop D207s that came stock.
I could not believe the difference going from the Dunlops to the Metzelers. Orders of magnitude superior.
And they still have lots of life left.
I'll vote for the Z6.
But the only comparison I can give is against the lousy dunlops.
wncbmw wrote:
Overall, I will trade mileage for handling and wet weather traction. But opinions on what tire delivers that seemed as varied as "boxers or briefs"!
What about none?
Jeff (lifer #289)
'17 F800GSA
'04 R1150R
There ain't no education in the second kick of a mule!
