Another tire question

[IMFASTTOO]

They have been discontinued. And it's a bugger! - So far can't find another Z rated but there are a few other V rated. Mostly for GS-BMW type rears.

Had to use Metzlers a couple of weeks ago - yuk.

JUST run the Bridgestones front and rear they work great and they are cheap

 

[barbagris]

JUST run the bridgestones front and rear they work great and they are cheap

Pretty sure the E-Max rear wont fit with the THUGS, Art. They sat close to the Metz and the extra 1/2" I think would cause it to rub. Plus I want Z rated rubber if I can find it. Either way - I've a good year before it becomes an "issue".

Tempted to get an Azaro before they run out, as a spare. Because it really does grip and corner VERY well. I'm frankly a wee bit worried about dropping to a 130/70 front - more so a 120/70. But time will tell.

 

[IMFASTTOO]

Pretty sure the E-Max rear wont fit with the THUGS, Art. They sat close to the Metz and the extra 1/2" I think would cause it to rub. Plus I want Z rated rubber if I can find it. Either way - I've a good year before it becomes an "issue".

Tempted to get an Azaro before they run out, as a spare. Because it really does grip and corner VERY well. I'm frankly a wee bit worried about dropping to a 130/70 front - more so a 120/70. But time will tell.

Z rated rubber why ?

 

[barbagris]

Z rated rubber why ?

Because so far I've turned the OEM size V rated tyres BLUE and had the rubber "balling off" at even fairly moderate (legal motorway) but sustained speeds in summer heat. - i.e Overheated them. You've seen blue peeling track tyres, I know.

I do not (in my opinion) ride that hard. But I maintain speed - in bends unless they're tight. And the road surface here is often cheap and full of sharp gravel, like a file.

Here it's absolutely standard for pretty much ALL vehicles to run 1 speed/heat grade higher. If it was colder/wetter then V would be fine.

I find Z's take longer to warm up - I'm fine with 5 mins of gentle warm up riding. But I shredded both Me880's and Cobras. I had a LONG chat with a guy in the UK I know (friend of a friend of a friend) who is a development tech' at one of the Bike tyre marques - he suggested I try a Z. So far I have to say it was sound advice. The Azaro was the one that felt right at the time. E-Max's etc arrived here a good 18 months after the US.

Thought I should add - I had similar though nowhere near as severe wear on my 1979 Guzzi (with about 60bhp) - this is factory spec'd with H rated rubber - went up to V and the shredding disappeared. It also seemed not to get on well with Metzlers and is happy on Avons. Bike dealers here seem generally to favour Avon over Metzler especially as you go south where it's hotter. I know In Germany the southerners seem to favour Cobras over Me880s and the northerners (where it gets ruddy cold) prefer the ME880.

 

[IMFASTTOO]

Because so far I've turned the OEM size V rated tyres BLUE and had the rubber "balling off" at even fairly moderate (legal motorway) but sustained speeds in summer heat. - i.e Overheated them. You've seen blue peeling track tyres, I know.

I do not (in my opinion) ride that hard. But I maintain speed - in bends unless they're tight. And the road surface here is often cheap and full of sharp gravel, like a file.

Here it's absolutely standard for pretty much ALL vehicles to run 1 speed/heat grade higher. If it was colder/wetter then V would be fine.

I find Z's take longer to warm up - I'm fine with 5 mins of gentle warm up riding. But I shredded both Me880's and Cobras. I had a LONG chat with a guy in the UK I know (friend of a friend of a friend) who is a development tech' at one of the Bike tyre marques - he suggested I try a Z. So far I have to say it was sound advice. The Azaro was the one that felt right at the time. E-Max's etc arrived here a good 18 months after the US.

Thought I should add - I had similar though nowhere near as severe wear on my 1979 Guzzi (with about 60bhp) - this is factory spec'd with H rated rubber - went up to V and the shredding disappeared. It also seemed not to get on well with Metzlers and is happy on Avons. Bike dealers here seem generally to favour Avon over Metzler especially as you go south where it's hotter. I know In Germany the southerners seem to favour Cobras over Me880s and the northerners (where it gets ruddy cold) prefer the ME880.

SO your just cruising at what speed ? and at what temps ? we run fast and hard at temps over 90 on rough surfaces and modded bikes with 270 HP and we have no problems so its a mystery ??

 

[barbagris]

SO your just cruising at what speed ? and at what temps ? we run fast and hard at temps over 90 on rough surfaces and modded bikes with 270 HP and we have no problems so its mystery ??

120-140kph (GPS) and air temps up to 50ºC in summer - Ground temps will fry an egg.

Can tell you, Art - week before last I swapped wheels over - Had both sets off and after 30-60 mins in the autumn sun (greasing diff etc) - They were all HOT - after 90 seconds or so back in the shade the Z rated were notably cooler (sort of luke warm) - the Metz's took a good 10minutes to cool down as much (could feel the heat radiating off them across the garage). I was really taken aback. I knew they were heating up and cooling down differently but that was a real eye opener.

This mystery - and it is - is also why I really cannot see me adding torque/power above what I have by simply removing restriction (headers/pipes/filter).

 

[IMFASTTOO]

120-140kph (GPS) and air temps up to 50ºC in summer - Ground temps will fry an egg.

Can tell you, Art - week before last I swapped wheels over - Had both sets off and after 30-60 mins in the autumn sun (greasing diff etc) - They were all HOT - after 90 seconds or so back in the shade the Z rated were notably cooler (sort of luke warm) - the Metz's took a good 10minutes to cool down as much (could feel the heat radiating off them across the garage). I was really taken aback. I knew they were heating up and cooling down differently but that was a real eye opener.

This mystery - and it is - is also why I really cannot see me adding torque/power above what I have by simply removing restriction (headers/pipes/filter).

OH you will gain HP and TRQ if you go with a good Intake and Exhaust

 

[1olbull]

They have been discontinued. And it's a bugger! - So far can't find another Z rated but there are a few other V rated. Mostly for GS-BMW type rears.

Had to use Metzlers a couple of weeks ago - yuk.

Well $hit, that indeed sux!!!
@albertaduke got me all excited for NUTIN!!!
PS: FYI side note:
Depending on weather, shall be going out Thursday nite for my first MC lighting tests.
First up will be my Roadster with new Daymakers and an Ultra Classic HD with stock lights.
Hope to do a stock Roadster with the EB conversion next.
Will try to locate a motor with the Truck Lights. Do you know which model lights the Triumphs are using?

 

[HansO]

That'll be right get us all worked up by the thought of a better tyre option and then tell us it has been deleted, Geeez Chris

 

[IMFASTTOO]

120-140kph (GPS) and air temps up to 50ºC in summer - Ground temps will fry an egg.

Can tell you, Art - week before last I swapped wheels over - Had both sets off and after 30-60 mins in the autumn sun (greasing diff etc) - They were all HOT - after 90 seconds or so back in the shade the Z rated were notably cooler (sort of luke warm) - the Metz's took a good 10minutes to cool down as much (could feel the heat radiating off them across the garage). I was really taken aback. I knew they were heating up and cooling down differently but that was a real eye opener.

This mystery - and it is - is also why I really cannot see me adding torque/power above what I have by simply removing restriction (headers/pipes/filter).

SO your saying the tires became superhot baking in the direct sun as I would expect them to be being black but I dont understand why the Z rated tires would be that much cooler Can you post some pics of the tires that you shredded that turned blue ?