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View Full Version : Front tire hiSTory for my '03

dond
02-12-2005, 08:37 PM
Front tires miles and types:

#1 OE D220 - 9.1K
#2 MEZ4 - 8.4K (changed before a long trip)
#3 MEZ4 - 13K
#4 MEZ4 - 14.5K
#5 MEZ4 - 9.1K
#6 Z6 - 10K

New Z6 next Sat. 2/19/5

Have you noticed I like Metz? 8)
Bones
02-12-2005, 08:48 PM
You've got many more miles on your '03 than I do, but I found a noticeable improvement in handling when I replaced the stock Bridgestone Battlaxes with MEZ6's front and back.

Some guys like a softer tire in front, like a Z6, with a harder compound in the back, like an ME880. Anyone use this combination? Comments?

:03biker:
dond
02-12-2005, 09:02 PM
You've got many more miles on your '03 than I do, but I found a noticeable improvement in handling when I replaced the stock Bridgestone Battlaxes with MEZ6's front and back.

Some guys like a softer tire in front, like a Z6, with a harder compound in the back, like an ME880. Anyone use this combination? Comments?

:03biker:
Yes! That's what I've been using for quite some time..I'm on my 4th 880 rear and like it a lot. Been avg 14k per.
dond
02-12-2005, 11:58 PM
BoooooooHisssssss....
Pansmiker
02-13-2005, 12:15 AM
Charlie is this true or an "in" joke?


Paul

PS Is it OK to mix tyre types? :biker:
dond
02-13-2005, 11:27 AM
Not enough to panic but certainly be aware and watchful. If we STart seeing more, well..
As you can see, I've had several Metz's and "so far, so good" right?

Thanks for the headzup.
SporTnTR
02-14-2005, 11:40 AM
If the rear 880 is harder than the Z6, wouldn't that allow for a slide easier, that might turn into a high-side? Although, granted i do agree in having the stickiest on the front if you're gonna mix. I used to run a Dunlop 207 GP [race spec] on the fr of the VFR with a humble 020 on the rear and had great results. Surprisingly, it [the GP] didn't seem to suffer from heat cycling. Can't get those anymore, they were replaced with the 208's.
dond
02-14-2005, 08:17 PM
The mix is almoST necessary cuz Metz doesn't make an 880 in the 1300 front size. I really don't want a Z6 rear, I'd be unable to make my normal 1 month long summer trip without replacing a tire OTR. Besides it's fun backing a 700 tubby tourer into corners 8)

The 880 does rather well actually.
Ypu can abuse it and it STill hangs in there for many miles.
I really don't know how the tire got a spotty handling reputation. It's certainly no sport compound but the ST is certainly no sport bike.
dond
02-05-2006, 04:10 PM
'03 ST, Superbrace and 38 psi.
BentAero
02-06-2006, 09:46 AM
Don,

How on earth are you getting that much mileage out of a tire?

I just changed yet another Z6 front at (about) 7,200 miles, (I'm not home, so I don't have the exact figure) and it was uniformly worn out -no way it would pass dmv inspection. The little 1/2" long sipes along the edges were completely gone in some spots.

NCSam and I are riding from here to Avon, CO for the HSTA STAR rally in June, 1,550 miles of freeway each way for me. (more for Sam) I'm thinking of putting on a 880 just for the trip, as a Z6 will be 45% used up just in the superslab miles.

BTW, on that trip I'll be two-up 100% of the time, and will have the unigo on for the freeway miles.

I rode Sam's bike last year when he had an 880 on and I hated it for umm... well, 'aggressive' riding. He couldn't figure out why he was sliding all over the place. We switched bikes (I had a Z6 F& R) and he soon found out the 'problem'.

Any ideas on other brands of tires for this trip? Pilot Roads? Pirelli Diablo's?
ccryder
02-06-2006, 10:27 AM
Gary:
Look for me there in CO. We are doing the STAR 06 and heading NW to do Bear tooth and Going to the sun road. Toal for 2 weeks will be ~6,000 miles. I'm already trying to schedule my tire changes so I can have a fresh set installed just b4 we leave.

Neil S.