Metzler Z6

[Mike2165]

Need a new front tyre and I've got a Z6 on the rear. I'm having a Z6 on the front on wednesday, anyone got any experience, are they any good? And what's a reasonable price, I've been quoted £95 fitted, everything balanced and checked out.

[Stu]

Commonly accepted on this site as the best tyre for the SV.
Maybe superseeded now by Mich PR2 (but better for you to match tyres).

[Mike2165]

Thanks Stu

[fizzwheel]

+ 1 on what Stu said

[Baph]

Commonly accepted on this site as the best tyre for the SV.
Maybe superseeded now by Mich PR2 (but better for you to match tyres).

A little nit picky perhaps, but the best tyre for the SV depends on it's use.

I wouldn't want to ride on Z6's on a track if I had the choice & money to burn. But I wouldn't want to ride on race soft tyres whilst commuting either.

Personally, I favour the PR2's over the Z6s. That said, the Z6's are an amazingly good tyre.

[Smudge]

Ive done 800 miles on my Z6's and there nicely scratched in now i replaced Dunlop d208r's which were really sticky you could dig your nails right into them when they were warm the Z6,s are not at all sticky even when hot they cost me £210 fitted and balanced ride in ride out and they have not slipped yet and im cornering just as low as i did on the dunlops the dunlops did slip but regained grip again the Z6's seem to have more grip but not as sticky doesnt sound right but thats what is happening

[Baph]

Ive done 800 miles on my Z6's and there nicely scratched in now i replaced Dunlop d208r's which were really sticky you could dig your nails right into them when they were warm the Z6,s are not at all sticky even when hot they cost me £210 fitted and balanced ride in ride out and they have not slipped yet and im cornering just as low as i did on the dunlops the dunlops did slip but regained grip again the Z6's seem to have more grip but not as sticky doesnt sound right but thats what is happening


IMO, a tyre doesn't need to be sticky (like glue) to give you grip. You just had a lot more potential grip on the Dunlops, and never used it.

I find the PR2s more of a sporty tyre, but still last as long as the Z6s (when riding harder on the PR2s).

I prefer the PR2s because I'd got used to pushing them hard, then had to change back to Z6's, and without changing my riding style any, I found that the bike was sliding all over the place. That's more to do with my style of riding rather than the tyres though.

[Smudge]

yep thats like me Baph with the sticky dunlops the rear wheel used to ride out on powering out of a corner but i dont get that with the non sticky Z6's, i can get much lower on the Z6's than the D208's without any slipping i guess its like you say there more suitable for my riding style, i'll have to try some PR2's next time

[Baph]

yep thats like me Baph with the sticky dunlops the rear wheel used to ride out on powering out of a corner but i dont get that with the non sticky Z6's, i can get much lower on the Z6's than the D208's without any slipping i guess its like you say there more suitable for my riding style, i'll have to try some PR2's next time

I did a pretty exhaustive comparison from the Z6 to the PR2 a while back, it's in the tyre section somewhere. It should give you some idea of what it's like changing to the PR2s once you've been on Z6's for a while.

[Smudge]

ok cheers Baph i'll check out your threads to find it i think im gonna be meeting up with you and luckypants at ruthin next sat for the ride out i'l post something in the rideout thread as to times and places

[RingDing]

I'm currently running Z6's on my K3. So far they've done 7000 miles and are holding their profile reasonably well (started to suqare off at 5000 miles). They've squared off a bit but it doesn't effect the handling drastically. They grip great in the dry and the wet. I'm sure there are grippier tyres out there but I think you'd struggle to use the extra grip on the road (TT course excluded) unless you are riding like a twot. No offence intended to anyone who thinks they aren't grippy enough! :D

The only comparable 'modern' tyre I've used is BT020 and they are much superior IMO. That was on my Trophy 900 though so not a completely fair comparison.

That said I'm going to try the Avon Storm ST's next time as I'm hoping they might hold their profile better whilst offering the same amount of grip wet and dry.

[Tim in Belgium]

I use the Pirelli Diablo Strada which is the same tyre as the Z6 (carcass and rubber but with slightly different tread pattern) and have got good miles out of them including trace tracks, tours of the alps and the yorkshire dales and moors. They're pretty good on track, and progressive when they do start to go/slide which is nice. I'll probably try the Michelin PR2s next, but only once I've heard back how they handle track days first.

[thebluelion]

I was thinking of putting a Z6 on my rear but have a pirelli diablo strada on front but should be alright. But i have a voucher for an M3 has anyone tried the M3 yet and are they any good?? So dont know realy what to do?

[carsounds_dan]

I had an M3 on my zxr400 and was great on the back... bit hard for the 400 I thought but great all the same

[Warthog]

Just an update from me to keep people informed. I had Z6's fitted last september and now I am heading back to get a new rear. Done 7100 miles on them, mainly commuting, rideouts and one trackday. Really pleased with them in all weathers, plus the pair fitted and balanced ride in ride out were £175! Robsom Racing.

Only thing I would say is that when they go they go quickly, will deteriorate in a few days to sudden ripping of the rubber in the centre. back has no tread in the middle and so needs the front Z6 too, so I am having the another rear Z6. Hopefully the prices have dropped even more!

Great tyre though :thumbsup:

[Grinch]

That good mileage, anyone betten that? Its just I've had 9k out of my conti's, so not likely to swap brand preference at the moment, but always open to a change for a better tyre.

[wheelnut]

Do a little search on Roadtech Z6 and it will direct you to a post from 2004.

I am not often right, but over 11000 views and over 4 years says I could have been:joker:

[pmapp]

Mine will be coming up to approx 8000 - 9000 ish miles. The back is now squared off nicely after our 700 mile motorway stint from France the other week.

Rideouts
Trackday
IOM TT last year

A superb all round (no pun) tyre. Got a quote for a new rear fitting before we went to france and it was 119 squid. eek. Only paid 180 I think for the pair originally.

A big thumbs up from me :thumleft:

[Warthog]

Mine will be coming up to approx 8000 - 9000 ish miles. The back is now squared off nicely after our 700 mile motorway stint from France the other week.

Rideouts
Trackday
IOM TT last year

A superb all round (no pun) tyre. Got a quote for a new rear fitting before we went to france and it was 119 squid. eek. Only paid 180 I think for the pair originally.

A big thumbs up from me :thumleft:

Yep, my pair fitted were £175 IIRC but I just had me rear done and it was £159 (plus rear pads and fitting too). I think the fronts are like £30 :lol: