Tyres, Brakes and Suspension » Any experience with Michelin Road 6 on RS?

Hi all,

my bike recently came with the Metzler Z1's installed. So far they behaved in the dry but overall I find them less... trustworthy? in the foggy/damp/quasi-rain situation that are reasonably common on my commute.

My other bike has Road 5's with over 10k on the ridden incl. two-up and when riding (bar the odd 30kg difference between the bikes) the Road 5s are, for me, objectively better even when a little worn.

Now I doubt any reputable tire even OEM would fall apart and they are by no means terrible but I'm toying with not running the Z1's all the way and getting back to the fat donut guy (heard a kid call the Michelin mascot this when changing the car tyres last year).

I've seen a few threads mentioning the R5's being a bit wishy-washy while R4 were generally praised. On the SUV side of motorcycling (1250GS) and IRL experiences (because you'll see 100 GS riders for 1 RS) people also swear to the R5.

Has anyone had the chance to run some miles with the R6 on the RS? If so any meaningful feedback?

My 2020 RS came with Road 4s. I got about 8k miles out of those and replaced them with the 6s.

I’ve put about 1600 on the 6s and would buy another pair. They’re very nice.

Zitat von Valks im Beitrag #1

---

Hi all,

my bike recently came with the Metzler Z1's installed. So far they behaved in the dry but overall I find them less... trustworthy? in the foggy/damp/quasi-rain situation that are reasonably common on my commute.

My other bike has Road 5's with over 10k on the ridden incl. two-up and when riding (bar the odd 30kg difference between the bikes) the Road 5s are, for me, objectively better even when a little worn.

Now I doubt any reputable tire even OEM would fall apart and they are by no means terrible but I'm toying with not running the Z1's all the way and getting back to the fat donut guy (heard a kid call the Michelin mascot this when changing the car tyres last year).

I've seen a few threads mentioning the R5's being a bit wishy-washy while R4 were generally praised. On the SUV side of motorcycling (1250GS) and IRL experiences (because you'll see 100 GS riders for 1 RS) people also swear to the R5.

Has anyone had the chance to run some miles with the R6 on the RS? If so any meaningful feedback?

---

Got to love a convert! 👍

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #3

---

Z1?

Not sure they have made those in a decade!

Most bikes seem to be shipped with Michelin Pilot Road 4 or Metzeler Roadtec Z8. These are both designs from several years ago.

Do you have the Z8 or the more recent Roadtec 01? Or the even more recent 01 SE?

I changed my Z8 after 6500 miles as the front wore unevenly. They were okay. I'm sure you will get used to them if you have them. The efficacy of tyres is mostly psychological so maybe you will never like them...they are always blamed when any perceived lack of grip or handling is more likely to be the road surface, over enthusiasm by the rider or just a lack of talent!

---

Zitat von Valks im Beitrag #6

---

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #3

---

Z1?

Not sure they have made those in a decade!

Most bikes seem to be shipped with Michelin Pilot Road 4 or Metzeler Roadtec Z8. These are both designs from several years ago.

Do you have the Z8 or the more recent Roadtec 01? Or the even more recent 01 SE?

I changed my Z8 after 6500 miles as the front wore unevenly. They were okay. I'm sure you will get used to them if you have them. The efficacy of tyres is mostly psychological so maybe you will never like them...they are always blamed when any perceived lack of grip or handling is more likely to be the road surface, over enthusiasm by the rider or just a lack of talent!

---

I misstyped - they are indeed the z08 not the z01.

Glad to hear about the good experiences with the R6 by other comments, I think I'll get around to mounting them as big summer tours draw near.

So far thanks to the particularly funny weather I tried Z08's in below freezing, dry, slimy, salty, and down a wonderful twisty dried out and on the sunny side of the mountain. Overall i'd rate them a 3/5 when directly compared to the Road 5 albeit not on the same bike. The R5 give me more feedback and confidence and they are just ''this'' much more readable in sketchy road conditions.

It it a fair bit of subjectivity in there but I do trust the R5's more than the z08's - they also perform marginally better in sketchy over the Conti Roadattack 3 but underperform against them in the dry.

---

Mine came with the Z8's and had little confidence/feedback in wet or dry conditions. Did get close to 6.5K miles out of them, but for the first time ever on any bike I've owned the front wore our before the rear. Now swapped them for the Michelin Road 5's and been really impressed so far, only done about 1k on them so far. Went with them and not the 6's because of the price from memory about £70 cheaper for the pair.

I’m disappointed in the PR6 as, I only got about 3,200 miles on the rear while the front appeared to be half used. I ran about 40 psi on the back and 38 psi on the front.

Admittedly, that’s mostly from frisky riding on my local loop

Otherwise, I’m happy with the handling and road manners.

Zitat von Orson im Beitrag #10

---

I’m disappointed in the PR6 as, I only got about 3,200 miles on the rear while the front appeared to be half used. I ran about 40 psi on the back and 38 psi on the front.

Admittedly, that’s mostly from frisky riding on my local loop

Otherwise, I’m happy with the handling and road manners.

---

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #9

---

Zitat von Dieseldog im Beitrag #8

---

Mine came with the Z8's and had little confidence/feedback in wet or dry conditions. Did get close to 6.5K miles out of them, but for the first time ever on any bike I've owned the front wore our before the rear. Now swapped them for the Michelin Road 5's and been really impressed so far, only done about 1k on them so far. Went with them and not the 6's because of the price from memory about £70 cheaper for the pair.

---

I have used Z8 & Avon Storm 3D on my 2016 bike. On my 3rd set of the latter and front has always been first to go. I think it is a characteristic of the bike that the front wears first, regardless of brand.

---

Zitat von Dieseldog im Beitrag #8

---

Mine came with the Z8's and had little confidence/feedback in wet or dry conditions. Did get close to 6.5K miles out of them, but for the first time ever on any bike I've owned the front wore our before the rear. Now swapped them for the Michelin Road 5's and been really impressed so far, only done about 1k on them so far. Went with them and not the 6's because of the price from memory about £70 cheaper for the pair.

---

I had four Honda interceptors/VFRs before getting the RS. Always the front tire is shot and the back looks reasonable. Front wear pattern is as stated by others. Hard center looks way better than the sides. I know I'll need a new set in the spring. If the shop has the 6s, I'd try a set. Otherwise, I've been happy enough with the 5s to run them again. I've been getting about 10K miles out of a set on the RS, about 2 seasons.

They're ok.