ponters
254 RWHP Lush Racing Engine
Okie Dookie, I'm starting this thread as every other thread I have read regarding tyre options either digresses or simply doesn't offer straight opinions on which of the two standard size tyres are preferred.
Please post your opinion as it all counts and everybody's personal experience is great knowledge.
REAR
Standard Roadster size is 240/50R16. My understanding the only 2 manufacturers able to supply this exact size is either AVON or METZLER.
Now, to clarify, I have been involved in high level motorsport for many years, (Cage Racing) and also have an interest in a Car Passenger tyre company in Australia. I often frequent product information release functions etc. I have also been an advanced driving instructor, motorsport tutor and conducted seminars and education on the physics of driving and relevance of tyres. Although not an industry expert in design or manufacture I certainly am well qualified to advise on car, 4WD and truck tyres.
I make no representation of having much knowledge on Motorcycle tyres however my findings are as below.
The Metzler does have a slightly softer compound rubber and the tyre design is mostly about ultimate performance (for this size) and really is the better handling tyre and performance slightly better in the wet (slippery surfaces include dampness etc). Millage is the only down side. Now ONE VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember, in hot conditions particularly high speed and or long distance at extreme or high temperatures, it is possible to feather, scrub on scallop a Metz within 1,000k's if you do not adjust your temperatures appropriately. every road surface, road temperature, ambient temperature and tyre temperature, including what you have used to inflate your tyre will impact on handling and durability.
In saying this, I NEVER USE COMPRESSED AIR to inflate any of my car tyres, race or road. Nitrogen is far superior. Benefits offer, greater stability in temperature, decreased permeation through rubber, no oxidisation in tyre, no internal moisture, better economy, infinitely more stable on a molecular level offering overall better handling and more stable ride. This said, 1 I do not know the suitability of running Nitrogen in a motorcycle tyre and 2 given the constant adjustments required the practicality would be prohibitive. I suggest when adjusting your pressure you visit a tyre shop where they bleed their compressed air vessels daily to ensure limited moisture enters your tyre. Although the moisture evaporates when you are at operating temperature it does create greater fluctuation in pressure than compressed air alone.
Now back to the tyres, the Metz will give you better handling and grip as long as you actively adjust your pressures and bleed the pressure down on longer rides in warmer weather. If you do this you milage will increase dramatically. Given the nature of the softer compound you will never manage to get the same milage as the Avon though.
The AVON is a more consistent tyre. Not as effected by tyre pressure (obviously you must always run proper inflation) in weather oscillation and reports indicate it may even give you a slightly more comfortable ride. Milage will most certainly be up if you could do an exact side by side comparison but this would be near impossible. Also the final 20% of tractable surface area in the Avon is designed with a higher degree of tapering which would suggest leaning would be a bit more of an effort. The Metz are a rounder tyre across the TSA (tractable surface area) and hence rolling onto its side would require less effort particularly through chicanes where you are leaning from side to side. This action would require more work with the Avon.
In Summary, if you are after the highest performance tyre of these 2 and really want to ride hard through the bends, the Metz will be hard to beat. This coupled with slight advantages in the wet make the Metz a winner. Conversely, if you are after millage and the majority of your riding is longer straights the Avon offers better performance and the only compromise is wet weather handling.
Personally, I think that either tyre is great in the dry and if you really were to push a 400+ KG (rider and wet weight) hard enough to warrant a concern with either tyre, I suggest you buy a sports bike and a pass to a closed circuit. I feel, that any advantage on a public road in the wet however small, is worth having to replace tyres more frequently. When you work out $ per kilometre the Avon will win by a bit but diligent monitoring of your pressures in the Metz will help.
Well, that said, Im off to buy a new Metz for my rear as 200+hp at my rear wheel needs as soft a compound to keep it for skating.
and......... before you reply about darkside...let me say, I'm happy for you if it works for you, your insurance covers you and your road authority permits the use of a non specified tyre and your riding conditions and uses all suit what you like. I myself think that a bike tyre is a good idea for a bike, as is a race slick for my F3 car and Rudders are for my plane. Any how, what Im saying here is please add or correct anything I have said if it applies to a Metz or Avon.
SAFE RIDING AND HAVE A BLAST!!!!!!!!
Please post your opinion as it all counts and everybody's personal experience is great knowledge.
REAR
Standard Roadster size is 240/50R16. My understanding the only 2 manufacturers able to supply this exact size is either AVON or METZLER.
Now, to clarify, I have been involved in high level motorsport for many years, (Cage Racing) and also have an interest in a Car Passenger tyre company in Australia. I often frequent product information release functions etc. I have also been an advanced driving instructor, motorsport tutor and conducted seminars and education on the physics of driving and relevance of tyres. Although not an industry expert in design or manufacture I certainly am well qualified to advise on car, 4WD and truck tyres.
I make no representation of having much knowledge on Motorcycle tyres however my findings are as below.
The Metzler does have a slightly softer compound rubber and the tyre design is mostly about ultimate performance (for this size) and really is the better handling tyre and performance slightly better in the wet (slippery surfaces include dampness etc). Millage is the only down side. Now ONE VERY IMPORTANT thing to remember, in hot conditions particularly high speed and or long distance at extreme or high temperatures, it is possible to feather, scrub on scallop a Metz within 1,000k's if you do not adjust your temperatures appropriately. every road surface, road temperature, ambient temperature and tyre temperature, including what you have used to inflate your tyre will impact on handling and durability.
In saying this, I NEVER USE COMPRESSED AIR to inflate any of my car tyres, race or road. Nitrogen is far superior. Benefits offer, greater stability in temperature, decreased permeation through rubber, no oxidisation in tyre, no internal moisture, better economy, infinitely more stable on a molecular level offering overall better handling and more stable ride. This said, 1 I do not know the suitability of running Nitrogen in a motorcycle tyre and 2 given the constant adjustments required the practicality would be prohibitive. I suggest when adjusting your pressure you visit a tyre shop where they bleed their compressed air vessels daily to ensure limited moisture enters your tyre. Although the moisture evaporates when you are at operating temperature it does create greater fluctuation in pressure than compressed air alone.
Now back to the tyres, the Metz will give you better handling and grip as long as you actively adjust your pressures and bleed the pressure down on longer rides in warmer weather. If you do this you milage will increase dramatically. Given the nature of the softer compound you will never manage to get the same milage as the Avon though.
The AVON is a more consistent tyre. Not as effected by tyre pressure (obviously you must always run proper inflation) in weather oscillation and reports indicate it may even give you a slightly more comfortable ride. Milage will most certainly be up if you could do an exact side by side comparison but this would be near impossible. Also the final 20% of tractable surface area in the Avon is designed with a higher degree of tapering which would suggest leaning would be a bit more of an effort. The Metz are a rounder tyre across the TSA (tractable surface area) and hence rolling onto its side would require less effort particularly through chicanes where you are leaning from side to side. This action would require more work with the Avon.
In Summary, if you are after the highest performance tyre of these 2 and really want to ride hard through the bends, the Metz will be hard to beat. This coupled with slight advantages in the wet make the Metz a winner. Conversely, if you are after millage and the majority of your riding is longer straights the Avon offers better performance and the only compromise is wet weather handling.
Personally, I think that either tyre is great in the dry and if you really were to push a 400+ KG (rider and wet weight) hard enough to warrant a concern with either tyre, I suggest you buy a sports bike and a pass to a closed circuit. I feel, that any advantage on a public road in the wet however small, is worth having to replace tyres more frequently. When you work out $ per kilometre the Avon will win by a bit but diligent monitoring of your pressures in the Metz will help.
Well, that said, Im off to buy a new Metz for my rear as 200+hp at my rear wheel needs as soft a compound to keep it for skating.
and......... before you reply about darkside...let me say, I'm happy for you if it works for you, your insurance covers you and your road authority permits the use of a non specified tyre and your riding conditions and uses all suit what you like. I myself think that a bike tyre is a good idea for a bike, as is a race slick for my F3 car and Rudders are for my plane. Any how, what Im saying here is please add or correct anything I have said if it applies to a Metz or Avon.
SAFE RIDING AND HAVE A BLAST!!!!!!!!
