My thoughts on 4 Sets of Tires in 1 year (2 Metz, 2 Dunlops)

I've been mostly MIA on the forum for about a year due to work (ugh) but managed to get some riding in, though never as much as I wanted. Good to be back; I'll try and post some trip reports, but first... My thoughts on Four Sets of Tires this Season

It was a bit of an odd year for me: I went thru four sets of different tires . I thought I'd go through three, and began capturing notes as I rode with each, as I thought it might be helpful to others since they were largely back-to-back comparisons, on the same bike, over similar roads. Note, due to circumstance, I changed two sets before they were worn out, indicated with " * ", so mileage should be discounted as such.

Tires and Milage Ridden
Metzler Z8s: (stock tires): 3,866 mi
Metzler ME01’s: ~1,561 mi* (not the SE version)
Dunlop Q4: ~1,000 mi*
Dunlop RoadSmart4: 4,271 mi

The stock Z8’s were not that good. Heavy steering (yuck); grip was ok, but not confidence inspiring. I also thought they’d last longer than they did. When the front started to wear down to the wear bars on the side it got VERY squirely when leaned over, so much so that I abandoned an amazing series of roads during an 11 day trip to head straight to the shop to wait all day to install new rubber. I found these tires were the same as on my K1600GT: ok until they go and then the tread and then their grip vanishes overnight. Never again for me; should have changed them before I went. (A note on mileage, the mileage is accurate, but I bought my bike as a demo with ~1200 miles on them, so ~2,666 are mine. )

I wanted to install the Metzler Roadtec 01SE’s but they fitted me with the regular 01’s before I realized it. And I had already been at the shop all day so I left with them. it was a bit unclear if they had the SE’s anyway. These tires surprised me. I found them far more grippy than I expected, quicker steering than what they replaced and VERY confidence Inspiring. The shop that changed them left them under inflated (~38/34) and I scraped my cylinder heads on these tires climbing a mountain pass while leaned over on an off camber turn. Not recommended, of course! (but grip wise, i was pleasantly surprised, even after inflating to OEM spec). I would have kept riding them except...

I did my first track day ever last fall (CLASS school), and splurged on a pair of Dunlop Q4's for the event. I put them on a few days prior, took a 400 mile scenic route to the track, put ~250 miles on the track with them, using lower air pressure, and then took the less scenic way home because it was raining. A friend of mine said "you're gonna feel like superman." I didn't believe him, but he was right. Amazing grip, even when leaned over and at 36/42 psi. Very confidence inspiring and a delight to ride on the street or track. They seemed to wear well at OEM pressures too and I suspect you could get at least 1800-2000 mi on a set, with spirited street riding. On the track, with reduced air pressure, very gripping and helpful with braking once warm. BUT, the second day it started raining. And in a straight line, they were 'ok.' Leaned over past the snipes (cutouts in the tire), you started to slide. They held a bit/enough to correct if there wasn't standing water on the road, but if there was, very slick and I did everything I could to avoid this. Including on the 4 hour trip home in the rain. So, dry riding: amazing. chance of rain: no thank you. I recommend everyone try a set of these type tires once (in a dry summer).

After that and before a 1,000 mi weekend trip, I switched to the RS4's, as I wasn't quite sure the Q4's would make it and I didn't want to chance it. On my K1600GT, I had the RS3's and loved them. I wasn't sure how the RS4's could be better and was frankly a little worried they might be overhyped. Or that I'd wished I'd tried the Meztler Z1 SE's, but no, they are better. Even more neutral, even more sticky and wore better - for both me on my RS and a friend still on his GT. The neutrality is surreal. It feels completely the same (planted, comfortable, confident) in a straight line or carving corners. After that 1k, mi weekend, I did one more 400 mi day ride before winder and then set out for my 2850k mi trip in late April/May. 90% of the time i was on backroads; 10% interstate or boring 4-lanes.

The mileage is certainly lower than others have noted. While I can't point to a single difference at the moment, i suspect pavement quality, throttle control and riding style (spirited, touring, etc.) play influential parts.

For me, I am likely to stick with the RS4's. I'm not convinced there's a tire that'll feel this good that'll last longer and their performance holds throughout their lifespan (RS3's and now RS4's were good to the last drop - no degradation of performance as they wore down like the Metzlers). I like the neutrality more than the fall-in of the Metzlers. They are also a little cheaper. But the 01's were great and I suspect the SE's would be improved; so the SE's or Pirelli Angle GT's would be my alternates if the RS4's are out of stock. I"m starting to hear some interesting tales about the Michelin Road 6's too.

I'll stay with the RS4's on both motors for now. Great tires, the 16RS has them at 5100 miles and only half worn tread depth. Stick to the road as well as any other tire I've worn on the motors over the years.

The 2011 RT gets them put on in 2-3 weeks for a 3 week trip that'll cover 4K,