• Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password.

    If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?

Metzeler Question

roadsmart, Dunlop tires

Anyone have success with these tires? What of traction and wear have you experienced?
 
Only about 600 miles thus far. They have impressed me as I had them installed and had to ride home in the rain! Not a hint of traction problems, but I was taking it very easy, too. Took off for a two-up trip loaded and they seemed very stable there, too. We'll see how they wear.
 
The z6 is an interesting tire in the rain when you consider the rear tire is a slick in the middle. A slick is not good in the rain. It was explained to me that the front tire tread is made to clear a path of dry pavement long enough for the rear slick to pass through. When turning, the rear tire tread comes into contact with the road. BS? I don't know but the Z6 is an excellent wet surface (and dry) tire so it works for me.

It was also explained that you should not put a non Z6 front on with a Z6 rear as the rear depends on the front pattern to do this work.
 
Well, I literally got on the computer to order some Z6's and came to check out the forum news first for the day. Glad I read this thread. Now....I am not sure what to do. I have been pondering for about 2 months and was going to buy my tires today...but now I am back at square one. Guess I will research the michelins now. Who knows!!!!! Also debating on where to buy them. Where does everyone buy their tires.?????
 
Well, I literally got on the computer to order some Z6's and came to check out the forum news first for the day. Glad I read this thread. Now....I am not sure what to do. I have been pondering for about 2 months and was going to buy my tires today...but now I am back at square one. Guess I will research the michelins now. Who knows!!!!! Also debating on where to buy them. Where does everyone buy their tires.?????

What did you read here that makes you hesitate to buy the Z6's?
 
Well, I literally got on the computer to order some Z6's and came to check out the forum news first for the day. Glad I read this thread. Now....I am not sure what to do. I have been pondering for about 2 months and was going to buy my tires today...but now I am back at square one. Guess I will research the michelins now. Who knows!!!!! Also debating on where to buy them. Where does everyone buy their tires.?????

I get my non track tires from Motorcycle superstore.com. They are always sending me a coupon code usually for $20 and they ship free, no tax. There are other places as well but I stick with them. If you order from them, google "motorcycle superstore coupon" and you'll find a code, or PM me for a code.

Choose your tire by how you ride. If you are very aggressive, and corner very hard and low, the Z6 is a great tire, as is the Conti Road Attack--but both will not give high mileage. The Metz 880 or the Pilot Roads will work fine if you are not super aggressive in your corners and you'll get longer life. I have not tried Bridgestones or Avons, but some like them. I stick with the Z6 because it has never failed to hold the road in bad situations. I misjudged a corner and had to push hard and lean hard, didn't have time to slide off the seat. I drug the foot peg and made the corner OK. Then it was time to change my shorts!

Z6 is an awesome tire.

Robo
 
Last edited:
Anyone have success with these tires? What of traction and wear have you experienced?

I am currently running the Roadsmarts on my Ducati ST3, after wearing out a set of Z6's. I was also confused by the lack of wear indicators on the Z6's. I wish I had discovered those "hidden" wear indicators before the cords started to show! Mileage was just 5,000. I now have just over 5K on the Roadsmarts with maybe 1-2K left. My riding is 30/70 highway to twisty plus I have 2 trackdays on the tires as well. The Roadsmarts have performed exceptionally well for me. Wet, dry, hot, cold, highway droning, twisty carving, rough roads, smooth roads and at the track, these tires just plain work!! Never any drama and always predictable. Plus they are cheaper than Z6's or PR2's. I can't think of any negatives.

I will definitely use them again.

Rick G
 
Want to try something different?

I got tired of wearing out Z6 and ME880's and thought I would try this tire:

Shinko rear.jpg

Shink0 006 Podium (rear)

Its about half the price of a Metzler and I am impressed. Spend a day in wet twisties (Georgia Mountain regatta) and it felt sure footed. In the dry it is quiet and smooth. It is available for my K bike which is a fairly unusual size. Cannot comment in longevity yet, but shows no sign of wear after 2K miles.
One glitch - it took a fair amount of weight to balance - about 50 grams
 
Last edited:
Roadtec Z6 Interact 10,000 mile report

I know, can you say "Holy thread resurrection, Batman!"

10,000 miles with the Metzeler Roadtec Z6 Interacts on the R1150RT.

First off, I'm happy to have gotten to 10,000 miles with them!

Performance wise I'm not displeased. I do notice that they are slippery when going over painted lines on the road or tar snakes (as compared to the Z6's in the past) when it's wet.

I'm getting ready to buy new tires b/c both of them are getting close to the wear bars. I find it's easier to keep tabs on them when marked with a wax pencil. (see pics below)

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Fk3HSrD6fJCJ09XzGnBxTw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_j1VwXfeMPTM/S8NGLRU2_fI/AAAAAAAACi0/RTw_aIChYio/s800/P1060444.JPG" /></a>
Front

<a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Bz8eK3yX1qOS4xHPO_3jVg?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_j1VwXfeMPTM/S8NGjXFZBSI/AAAAAAAACjQ/UbV4y-Dkl0k/s800/P1060453.JPG" /></a>
Rear
 
I suffered the rare double tire flat this past weekend at the Georgia Mtn Rally. We plugged the tires and headed off to Blue Moon Cycle in Norcross, GA. Big shout out to the crew there. I normally run the model specific Z6 on my 2004 R1150RT, but Blue Moon had only the Interact Z6s in stock, so that's what I put on the bike.

This will be my third set of Z6s. I get pretty much 10,000 miles out of the set. For me, they wear almost evenly. I still have a head full of snakes from a spill I took years ago, so I'm not aggressive in the twistes. The group typically does a handful 1500 trips and one 10-day 5-6,500 mile trip each year.

The Interact took a lot more lead to balance this time. I could have been that the tech didn't have the time to jockey the tire around to minimize the lead. I've only got 330 miles on them but so far I like them. Very smooth and during the short jaunt in the wet sweepers around Lake Lure, NC they seem very sure footed.

I typically run the 2-up pressures all the time unless I know I'm going solo for a weekend of canyon carving, then I back off the pressures. I'm a fan of the Z6. I may try the 880s next time just to see if I can feel any difference. YMMV.
 
Back
Top