BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Oh bugger - wrong forum ... .. still, any of you guys with experience of these tyres (Yep, I know the R12R has a very different road feel to the Rockster)

These tyres haven't had the workout in R12R tyre "discussions" so much - has anyone used them for any real distance in the touring end of sport-touring? My personal criteria are (1) absolute consistency in "feel" from side to side - ie the tyre feels the same whetehr upright or leaned over (this is the defining characterisitic of the Z6 for me), (2) consistency in wet and especially braking in the wet; then (3) mileage - but I sometimes replace for age before I get to 12km (this change is one of the first for distance befroe age).

My non-dealer tyre guy is recommending them as a Z6 Interact alternative - he has lost or given up Metzeler. Pretty sure I'll go to the dealer and get Z6 Interacts beacuse they're a known quantity, but I am open to alternatives. (yep, I know about the cute image switch thing)

.. and before the PR2 guys chip in - I hate 'em. No, it's not rational. I had PR and PS on my F650CS and the whole feel of the tyre was wrong for me - they felt skittish. PR and Contis on the R12R test bike - felt squiggly too. Yeah, yeah, some of you call that "nimble", I know. It's a Michelin characteristic as much as consistency is a Metzeler one, and I've loathed it since the M48s on my new 1982 Ducati 900SS (chucked for Pirelli Phantoms) and I threw the 48 / 49s off my K100RT as soon as Metzeler developed the Marathon / Lazer combo.

oh gawd I sound grumpy today - shouldn't, since I had a great little blat into the city on my Vespa this morning (it has Pirellis) ... maybe it's an R12R thing

I'd go for it.

Pirelli and Metzeler are made in the same factory on the same tooling anyway (afaik), so the Z6 interact is very probably the Angel ST with different tread pattern and slightly different rubber/carcass.

Had Angels on the Rockster, they lasted a couple of thousand longer than the Diablo Strada (my usual favourites), and seemed to grip well. Feedback was a little muted though, and due to my riding pattern (99% dual carriageway - ie straight up) they wore oddly (the front squared off - NEVER seen that happen before), but gripped well throughout.

Talked to a tire rep one day while visiting a BMW dealer in D.C., forget which one, he recommended the InteractZ6, and or the Pirelli Angel ST-EMC, which are for longer tire wear. I was speaking to him after being dissatisfied about my tire life. My original Bridgestone BT020 that came with my bike were the best in my opinion, but only got 4500 miles till the front was "cupped" too bad to continue. I plan on putting the Angel ST-EMC when I change them later in the year.

I use Pirelli Angel, my choice because of the weight of the Bike.

I have done 1500 klms on them and they are AWESOME.

Cheers FOX.

Thanks for the input, guys - I stayed with Z6 Interacts as a familar tyre, and because my dealer gave me a reasonable price on them. Based on your comments, I might try the Angel ST next time (I do a set a year).

I know these are likely to be very similar tyres given shared ownership / manufacture - I've always found Metzeler ME3, ME4, Z6 to have a particular feel which I've not found on Pirellis (though I've only ridden those on test bikes so it's hardly a fair comparo) ... this time, since I'll be taking off to Phillip Island in 4 days of (forecast) rain, I chose the tyre I "know". Let's see if the full Interact is the same as my last Z6.

Interesting comment about weight - the R12R is over 15kg lighter than the Rockster, but as farkelled I'd be back up there!