Metzeler Sportec M-1

[welshrob]

I need new hoops (again) and I`ve been offered a new set for significantly less than the OEM Pirelli supercorsa diablo sport pro`s. I love the Pirelli`s but they just don`t last long enough. Has anyone tried a set of M3`s on a 675?

[Will]

Metzlers are pretty much the same as Diablo Corsas, if I remember right. They may be plain old Diablos, but I don't know how they translate back and forth. I wouldn't put OEM tires back on, for cost reasons, but if you are going to use the bike as it is intended, lousy tire life is just part of the deal. In 12K miles, I have got through at least six sets of tires, but I have lost track a bit. Unless you are destroying them on the track, you should get about 6K miles out of a set of Diablo Corsas, and if you go to Diablos or their equivalent, you can expect at least double if you are not flogging them to an inch of their lives all the time.

[welshrob]

Thanks Will. 80% of the time the wife rides the 675 it but when I ride it, I give it hell. We are only getting a maximum of 5000km out of a rear diablo supercorsa sport pro, and less than half that when I did a trackday on the last one.

[TripleThreat]

Rob,

I haven't tried the Metzlers on the 675, but I've been pretty pleased with the Pilot Power 2CT for street riding. The sides are a little soft for track day riding and I'm sure they are not as predictable as the Pirellis when they start to go away. I much prefer the Super Corsa Pros for the track. The 2CT's seem pretty well suited to the occasional romp through the twisties and the more mundane straight line stuff that tends to wear out the center of the rear...

If you give the Metzlers a shot, let us know how they work out!

TripleThreat

[welshrob]

Sorry, it was the M3, not the M1. I had them fitted today. I rode home in the wet so I haven`t had a chance to test them out but I noticed it seemed to tip in quicker.

I`ve run several sets of pilot powers on my Speed Triple, I think they`re great. I have a Standard Pilot Power on the front and a 2CT on the back, which is the best set up for it I`ve found so far. The Metzelers are a fair bit cheaper though.

http://sportecm3.metzelermoto.com/ve...N/default.html

[DaveM]

Metzeler may have changed the compound but I have had about four sets of the MZE3 which is the predecessor of the M3 I used to get 2000kms out of a rear on my GSX R600.

I hope they have improved, top line Metzeler sports tyres like top line Pirellis sports tyres have always been soft.

Dunlop Qualifiers are also very soft.

Out of the Sports tyres available the Michelin Pilot Power has been best for me averaging 4,500kms from a rear on my Sprint.

I am curious to know how you go.

DaveM

[Brooksie]

I don't really have a preference for mileage as long as they hold up reasonably good and have GREAT grip. If I get 3 to 5 thousand hard miles on a tire before it gets the inevitable street flat spot, I think it's OK. Metzler has always made good street rubber. I have a weakness for Pirelli though.

[DaveM]

Those are kilometers Brooksie not miles.

I get more out of a set of race tyres than I did with the older MZE3 and the Qualifiers I get only 3000kms and I can get that out of Michelin Pilot race or BT 002 Race.

If you get the same mileage from a sports tyre as a race tyre you are better off with the race tyre as the handling is at least 20% better than the sports tyre.

Brooksie I agree with you up to a point about sticky tyres.
My experience is all the full on sports tyres have great grip but handle considerably differently depending on profile etc.

DaveM

[Will]

The advisability of race tires on the street is directly proportional to the amount of heat you can get into them. If you ride in cold, wet weather, they are not going to heat up enough to stick. If you ride in blazing sunshine and intense heat then race tires might be OK on the street. I guarantee you a crash if you use DOT race tires in the slop we have had lately around here.

[DaveM]

I agree totally Will,
I should have said that as a qualifying statement. Where I live it is usually hot (not just this minute) and I don't commute or anything either. I should have made that clear you are quite right race tyres certainly are NOT good in cool weather and aren't that flash in the wet either.

I was talking about street legal Medium compound race tyres that have a very minimum tread (hardly any just enough to be legal) and not all manufactures make a street legal race tyre either.

thanks Will,

DaveM