RE: Z8....opinions? - 2

Over many years I've come to the conclusion that some tyres seem to generate less rider confidence than others, regardless of ultimate grip.

I've been on trips with similar bikes equipped with the same tyres and I've been having a whale of a time while another rider has been stressed and riding gingerly due to 'the wrong tyres'. We've swapped bikes and nothing changed.

I tend to like all modern mainstream tyres and the only thing that puts me off a tyre is reading about how bad it is on a forum....

I also hear riders offering opinions on 'this tyre is crap' and 'this tyre is brilliant' and then when we meet or they post photos of their bike it shows chicken strips a mile wide........

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #16

---

Over many years I've come to the conclusion that some tyres seem to generate less rider confidence than others, regardless of ultimate grip.

I've been on trips with similar bikes equipped with the same tyres and I've been having a whale of a time while another rider has been stressed and riding gingerly due to 'the wrong tyres'. We've swapped bikes and nothing changed.

I tend to like all modern mainstream tyres and the only thing that puts me off a tyre is reading about how bad it is on a forum....

I also hear riders offering opinions on 'this tyre is crap' and 'this tyre is brilliant' and then when we meet or they post photos of their bike it shows chicken strips a mile wide........

---

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #18

---

Zitat von Sanemancured im Beitrag #16

---

Over many years I've come to the conclusion that some tyres seem to generate less rider confidence than others, regardless of ultimate grip.

I've been on trips with similar bikes equipped with the same tyres and I've been having a whale of a time while another rider has been stressed and riding gingerly due to 'the wrong tyres'. We've swapped bikes and nothing changed.

I tend to like all modern mainstream tyres and the only thing that puts me off a tyre is reading about how bad it is on a forum....

I also hear riders offering opinions on 'this tyre is crap' and 'this tyre is brilliant' and then when we meet or they post photos of their bike it shows chicken strips a mile wide........

---

as ever, tyres get the blame when most likely any problem was either induced by a rider error (including the wrong pressure) or more likely, a poor or contaminated road surface. It's odd, people decry the state of the roads and in another breath, seemingly ignore this, then moan about bad tyres. Plus of course, a 5mm slide on a cold, damp road on a Pirelli tyre in 2002 will mean that many riders will never use Pirelli tyres ever again.

A friend has been trying to persuade me that Michelin's latest hypersport tyre is something I should get for my XR. He hasn't even tried it but apparently, it is called Power 5 and as 5 is higher than 4 it is obviously better. The marketing blurb says:

Zitat

---

New velvet technology
The geometry of the texture allows to modulate the contrast and to create shades of gray on the surface of the tyre.

---

What does that actually mean? It's like one of those pseudoscientific claims on a shampoo advert. I'm sure it justifies over £100 more for a set compared to the Bridgestone S21 Hypersport I fitted to the XR last time. I see no need to get the S22 or anything more recent and costly as the difference on a road is going to be marginal at best.

---

I think that you talk much sense Wessie. Experience has taught me that there are times to push my tyres hard and times not to. Colder weather, cold road surface, cold tyres when just setting off, shiny, polished road surfaces, under trees, melting tarmac etc. etc. As well as watching out for where the road is going, moving hazards and static hazards the road surface must also be examined in detail. I'm sure that some taking up biking later having used cars don't fully scan the road surface or consider issues like temperature and damp spots.

I see some riders who push on regardless.

I just about never fully commit on the road. Not on the track either as I can't afford a new bike with no insurance cover.

Now come on... who wouldn’t want ‘velvet technology’ on a new set of tyres? If only I could go to the pub and brag about it.

“You know, I really thought I had overcooked that tightening right hander by the cattle grid, but I banged it into third, cracked the taps open and I could feel the velvet pile technology searching for every bit of shit to stick to, to get me round. Without it, well, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you right now. Bloody brilliant, I wouldn’t fit anything else now. Any other tyre is crap, just crap......

Zitat von Oscarguitar im Beitrag #20

---

“You know, I really thought I had overcooked that tightening right hander by the cattle grid, but I banged it into third, cracked the taps open and I could feel the velvet pile technology searching for every bit of shit to stick to, to get me round. Without it, well, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you right now...

---

Zitat von Oscarguitar im Beitrag #20

---

Now come on... who wouldn’t want ‘velvet technology’ on a new set of tyres? If only I could go to the pub and brag about it.

“You know, I really thought I had overcooked that tightening right hander by the cattle grid, but I banged it into third, cracked the taps open and I could feel the velvet pile technology searching for every bit of shit to stick to, to get me round. Without it, well, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you right now. Bloody brilliant, I wouldn’t fit anything else now. Any other tyre is crap, just crap......

---

There's a rather interesting (yawn) article in this weeks MCN about sport touring tyres,they use the new 1250.

Would believe Metzeler?

My favoured tyre The Road 5, that's ROAD5,I'll repeat that in case anyone was in any doubt (apparently there's a few) ROAD5 came fifth.

Almost: Dunlop Smart III were second, then Pirelli Angel GT 2.
Hard to trust any reviews these days!

That sounds remarkably like a BMW magazine article reference by Grumpy Goat on the RSWasserboxer site:

"In a recent (Jun 2018) comparison of sport touring tires over 3,600 kilometers and mounted on six RSs, no less, the overall winners were tied: the Dunlop Roadsmart III ($117.54 - $184.92) and the Pirelli Angel GT ($132.99 - $216.49) (Current Revzilla prices). The Pirellis were better in the wet and for long life, although the Dunlops improved with wear (I expect in the dry).

Read article here ... it is in German but using Google Chrome with the translator extension the article is translated adequately."

Article ref is: https://www.motorradonline.de/zubehoer/t...nd-landstrasse/

(You will have to add the https then a ":" then "//" then "www" at the beginning of that. Only way I can post it!) - fixed it

Sounds like it is not just Boris that rehashes old articles!!

Chris

Zitat von Boxerboy im Beitrag #27

---

Almost: Dunlop Smart III were second, then Pirelli Angel GT 2.
Hard to trust any reviews these days!

---

I was happy to finally remove these Metzeler Z8 and replace them with a set of Pirelli Angel GT 2. So far, I love these tires after 1000 kms. The bike feels lighter from the front, handle way better in the sharp curves. Very similar to the Dunlop RS lll which a run two sets before the Metzeler. A new version of the Dunlop his going to be release soon, RS lV. I will sure give it a try.