Metzeler Z6 Road Tec

[northwind]

Out of curiosity Rictus, why would you pick the Avons over the Z6s?

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by northwind

Out of curiosity Rictus, why would you pick the Avons over the Z6s?

the Z6's are like the Bridgestones (although the profile turns in quicker), they have a distinct profile, which remains fairly static throughout maneuvering, there's very little sidewall deflection, because the internal banding is evenly spaced.

This gives a stable even cornering feel, which is dictated by the tyre profit and not the rider so much.

On the other hand, the Avons have a far more flexible sidewall,the side banding is graduated, they react better to pressure changed (unlike the Z6's & Bridgestones) so you can play about with pressure settings.

This in turn gives them more maneuverability for setup into corners, on a bike as light as the SV you can use the inside of your thigh to change your line through a corner at any stage, which isn't impossible with the Z6's but a lot harder.

this is why some people don't like the Avons as they interpret this as instability rather than flexibility.

It's all down to personnel taste, but I like to be in control and able to get the most out of the bikes I ride, through trial, I've found the Avons allow me to do this best.

Cheers Mark.

[northwind]

That makes sense- I was just wonderring because you seemed well impressed by the Z6s and then you said you were switching. I've only ever ridden on Metzler's lovely round carcasses so I don't know what I'm missing

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by northwind

That makes sense- I was just wonderring because you seemed well impressed by the Z6s and then you said you were switching. I've only ever ridden on Metzler's lovely round carcasses so I don't know what I'm missing

don't get me wrong, the Z6's is a top tyre and most would be totally happy with it, but I'm not most people, I tried to give an objective review

(now this is going to sound incredibly big headed, but I can't think of another way of saying it).

the Avons are less forgiving at the extreme, than the Z6's but do provide much more feedback to the rider, if you know how to interpret that then you can "tweak" your line accordingly, if not you can interpret it as " the bike feels funny in the corners", where as other tyres don't give you all this feed back, and some are glad of it, as they say "feels totally smooth through the corner".

See what I'm getting at?, I use fixed pegs for the very same reason, not the cussioned flipup ones, likewise I didn't go the steering damper route, but slightly heavier bar ends as I didn't want to damp out the feedback through the bars only control it a little.

Cheers Mark.

Trouble is mark, I bought the Avons as my first change up from the original Metz, They lasted me all of 4500miles, I'm not an extreme rider but this was crap. The bridgestones lasted 6000miles (about the norm). And i'm hopeing the Z6's last 10k. If so I'll buy them every time.
Let me think ermmmm 2x sets of Avons = 9000miles = £400
1x set of Z6's = 10000miles = £175.
It's all in the maths.
sexysi

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by sexysi

Trouble is mark, I bought the Avons as my first change up from the original Metz, They lasted me all of 4500miles, I'm not an extreme rider but this was crap. The bridgestones lasted 6000miles (about the norm). And i'm hopeing the Z6's last 10k. If so I'll buy them every time.
Let me think ermmmm 2x sets of Avons = 9000miles = £400
1x set of Z6's = 10000miles = £175.
It's all in the maths.
sexysi

Now as I've said before it's personnel taste, but I'd have Rennsports fitted all the time, money no object (1850 miles £230), just because they give me what I want.

However being practical, fitting a set of those hard plastic tyres which are cheap and never wear out makes sense( crap in just about every other way, but the maths make sense).

I can't afford the first and don't want the second, I can afford the Avons and they give me more than the Z6's do, so that's what I'll go for. (although a new Avon is due out around the end of Jan time.), I'm willing to pay the extra for the added feedback they give.

On the other hand, I can't see why anyone would choose the Bridgestones over the Z6's on either performance or price?


Cheers Mark.

Are you going to try the Conti Road Attacks at all (after the Avons maybe)?


.

ok, had my z6's fitted this saturday, they were immediately better than the dunlops that they replaced and even with the shiny coating I had more grip, felt smoother round tight bends and roundabouts and altogether more predictable in the corners..

Even in the cold, *REALLY* cold , frost of this morning they performed admirably and did me proud again this evening in the wet.

I'm happy

[rictus01]

Originally Posted by jonboy

Are you going to try the Conti Road Attacks at all (after the Avons maybe)?


.

to bve honest, I can see the next set of tyres being for the snow and ice, and I'd rather have something I'm happy with, so I don't have to worry about tyres when sliding the bike around, as I need all my consentration for the ride it's self.

After that who knows, I may stick a set on for the last set or if I transfer to the Triumph I may not need to.

Interestingly the Sppeed triple will get new boots before I put it on the road, I toying with the idea of Z6's for that, as I think they would work well.

Cheers Mark.

Mark, Greg and anyone else - if you write a review of the tyres you have tried - Mark - you could use much of your posts in this thread - and send it in as an attachment - I will try and get you a set of tyres to test...(cost £15)...Its not just racers who can do this...just visit 2onT !!