Tyres

[Davey B]

Metzeller Z8 Interact suited my LC 1200RT, well priced, relatively long life and for me good performance in all weathers so now use them on a Honda NC750X.

I've just picked up a 2012 RT today and it is fitted with a newish pair of these (200 miles on them!) Previously had Michelin Road 6 on an NT1100 and Contis on an AT....It'll be interesting to see how I get on with them.

 

[MRDDD]

Thanks for all advice but now fitted with Michelin 6 gt let’s see how these feel

 

[Larry Langford]

Thanks for all advice but now fitted with Michelin 6 gt let’s see how these feel

I have the same on my RS ... about 4000 miles and they look really good, no cups starting to wear, and no where near the wear bands yet. And these are the GT version. Bike came with Z8's, shredded at 3000 .... partly my fault though .... They stick like glue all the time. they do show some wear on the chicken strips on the front ....
But there are several decent tires out there for these bikes, not too many bad tires anymore .....

 

[Bravo]

I have the same on my RS ... about 4000 miles and they look really good, no cups starting to wear, and no where near the wear bands yet. And these are the GT version. Bike came with Z8's, shredded at 3000 .... partly my fault though .... They stick like glue all the time. they do show some wear on the chicken strips on the front ....
But there are several decent tires out there for these bikes, not too many bad tires anymore .....

Im changing my part worn Road 6 GTs for standard 6s as I find the sidewalls too hard for my RS ,as said elsewhere they spoil the ride.

 

[wessie]

my usual tyre place wants £377 to fit Road 6 to my V85

 

[Rusty]

As said before me here Conti Road Attacks are jolly good but each to their own so in time you will find what suits you best.

 

[Larry Langford]

Im changing my part worn Road 6 GTs for standard 6s as I find the sidewalls too hard for my RS ,as said elsewhere they spoil the ride.

There will always be a stick in the mud when your barefoot ..... But really, do we need to go thru all this again .....

 

[Davey B]

Going by what Larry mentions regarding wear rates....(and bearing in mind I've done about 200 miles on my new to me RT and there's maybe 500miles max on the existing tyres)...a pair of Z8 Interact are £235 fitted, a pair of Road 6 are £330 at my local tyre place. By my simplistic maths, 4500 miles out of the Z8s are the same pricewise as 6500 miles out of the Michelin. I'll see how I feel abiut the Z8s and decide when it's renewal time.

 

[Larry Langford]

Going by what Larry mentions regarding wear rates....(and bearing in mind I've done about 200 miles on my new to me RT and there's maybe 500miles max on the existing tyres)...a pair of Z8 Interact are £235 fitted, a pair of Road 6 are £330 at my local tyre place. By my simplistic maths, 4500 miles out of the Z8s are the same pricewise as 6500 miles out of the Michelin. I'll see how I feel abiut the Z8s and decide when it's renewal time.

I agree with your math, and there are people that use the Z8 somehow. But the thing to keep in mind is that these two tires are not equals. And the RT and the RS are not economy bikes so to speak. But I have always preferred the stronger tire, like say dunlop touring tires on my airhead as well. If you can feel the tire squirming, that is not handling, that is a fail. Hang out with a racing team a few sundays.
Fact is that road 6 GT is the same tire they use on the 1600 at 42 lbs on the front. That bike tends to shred them, but at 200lbs lighter on the RS they make a great fast riding tire. And the big rain cutouts make them decent on dirt too. And they had the fastest lap time in the rain in that comparison. You can't go wrong with road 6 GT's or any of the top four tires in the previously posted tire shootout on RS's .... if you ride slower they will last longer ......