Tire advice: Longevity Metzeler ME 880 VS Michelin Pilot 2

[sugardoo]

Hi,

My factory installed Metzeler Z6's are about done. On an older R1150R bike I wanted higher mileage with good performance so I ran a Metzeler Z6 up front and a Metzeler Marathon ME 880 rear and was pretty pleased with the handling and longevity. I do hear much praise about the Pilot Road 2 (and am sure the 3's will be good as well) so I'm wondering what to do for my next set. Assuming the ME 880s will out last the Pilot Road 2 or 3, I was thinking about trying a different combo this time: a Pilot Road 2 up front with and ME 880 for the rear. Is it safe to have 2 different brands or are the newest Z6 tires just about has good over-all as the Pilot Roads?

Thanks,
Andrew

[iowabeakster]

I am in the same boat. My bike came with Dunlop's. When I switched to Z6's, I was much happier.

I've gone through 3 Z6's on the rear, and 2 on the front.

The 880's will definitely last longer, but will have less stickiness in the corners. Which is what they were designed for with a harder rubber compound.

The dual-compound PR2 and PR3 are supposedly the best of both worlds. Some people report getting about 10,000 miles on a PR2 (that's for the rear tire). If that is true, then I can't see any reason to sacrifice the stickiness in the corners that you must sacrifice with the 880's. Since I have only been getting about 6000 miles (for the rear) on the Z6's, I'm gonna give the Pilot Roads a try. This is a big jump in mileage over the z6. I'm gonna order a rear PR2 for both my bike and my wife's bike, soon.

I don't entirely buy into the claim that you must have the same brand (and model and milage) of tire on both the front and rear. Although, I think there might be some combinations that could work strangely together, and give poor handling characteristics. If one tire is brand new and the other is extremely worn, there might be some strangeness... but then you would be replacing the extremely worn tire anyway. I have no intention of replacing either front tire until they are worn out (I am expecting at least 4000-6000 more miles on both front tires), or unless the handling goes completely wonky, which I don't expect.

[tlwood28]

I purchased my 2002 RR two years ago and put new Pilot 2's on her right at 5100 miles. This past year I forgot all about having the bike inspected, so went up to the dealership to do just that just this weekend. The bike has 17564 miles on it, and the rear failed the inspection (although it still had thread left) and I was told the front was soon to fail as well. So that's personal experience for achieving almost 12.5k miles.

No one could believe that the tires had those kind of miles. I love Michelin and highly recommend them.

I also see that there are now P3's out. Don't know there story but see no reason to change.

Hope this helps.

Tom W.

[Airman]

I purchased my 2002 RR two years ago and put new Pilot 2's on her right at 5100 miles. This past year I forgot all about having the bike inspected, so went up to the dealership to do just that just this weekend. The bike has 17564 miles on it, and the rear failed the inspection (although it still had thread left) and I was told the front was soon to fail as well. So that's personal experience for achieving almost 12.5k miles.

No one could believe that the tires had those kind of miles. I love Michelin and highly recommend them.

I also see that there are now P3's out. Don't know there story but see no reason to change.

Hope this helps.

Tom W.

I've had 2 sets of Pirelli Diablo Stradas, and am about ready to buy a set of PR3's. I get 15-17k from tires, so your mileage seems normal to me. The reason your dealer was surprised is that some riders only get 4-5k on their tires.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I've run two sets each I believe of both the ME880 and the PR2.
I got somewhat better mileage out of the ME880s (11k & 13k) than the PR2s (~~10-11K), but the PR2s hold the road much better. I remember a lot of chirping coming from the rear at Deals Gap with the 880s, not so w the PR2s.

I would buy the PR2s again over the ME880s. I've also run Diablo Stradas and liked the feel, but got 8k from them. It will be time again soon, my current PR2s have about 7k on them, but still sig tread left. I will check out the PR3s. Never run Z6s. I did NOT like the PR1s. They held well enough, but they sang and I got only 8k from them

JOhn

[wncbmw]

I have run Z6s, Diablo Stradas and PR2s (current) and have been happy with all of them and honestly, not discovered much difference in mileage. I get about 6-7,000 out of a rear and slightly more (but not much) out of a front. I could not imagine getting 10K out of tire! Any of these tires should serve you well.

No doubt the 880 would get more mileage but I am not willing to give up the traction.

The only brand I would avoid is the Avons, unless they have redesigned it. I replaced a pair at 4,500 miles because they had cupped so badly, the front end wiggled while riding the curves!

I might try the new PR3s or I think Metzler has a replacement or upgraded Z6. Might try those next also.

I find it amusing when some people claim one or another of these tires is slippery in the rain, since I have ridden all of them in frog-stranglers with no problems.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Vann, you're just showing off because you have those fine roads to ride. Some of us are saddled with pool table flat and arrow straight and that may have something to do with a tire's lifespan. They all felt fine in the rain, though I admit I do not push things when in the wet.

John