Tire recommendations

[Filmcamera]

I am looking to get some Metzeler Roadtec Z6 for my K100RS 16V.  I admit to being a little confused by the right tire size.

I currently have a 120/60 ZR 17 on the front and a 160/60 ZR 18 on the back - they both have tread left but are very old 2108 front and 2406 rear so with the dry season fast approaching I am thinking it is time to change them.

Some sources I have seen say the standard tires are 100/90 17 front and  130/90 18 on the back others (like this site) say 120/70 17 and 160/60 18.

I think I would like the wider tires and since I am already running a 160/60 rear I know it will fit.  The Shinkos all seem to be in the narrower size only.

Has anyone tried these Metzeler Roadtec Z6? I was looking at the pilot road 4s but cannot seem to find the right size for the rear, I see 160/60 17 but not 160/60 18.  The Pilot Road 3s are also an option but I think I read they do not make them anymore so I am worried about how old the tires would be.

I want to be fairly sure they are the right tire before I buy since they have to come over from the States via boat...

[Andrew2]

AMT sells the 100/90-18, 130/90-17 set for $125.89 shipped. Tourmasters have been praised by well-respected members here. Use them.

Tha wasn't so hard was it.

[Laitch]

AMT sells the 100/90-18, 130/90-17 set for $125.89 shipped. Tourmasters have been praised by well-respected members here. Use them.

Tha wasn't so hard was it.

Does that mean you understood it on the first try? :giggles

[Filmcamera]

While trying to un-addle (de-addle??) my brain I came across this site

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=130-90r18-160-60r18

It should help anyone trying to work out the relative differences between different tire sizes.

[Andrew2]

Does that mean you understood it on the first

   :hehehe Always 1 in every group who has no life and thinks he "is" the forum :2thumbup: . Thanks to all that have helped me out. :2thumbup: . catch you later.

[K1300S]

Just replaced my Michelin PR tires (radial) with the Michelin Activs (bias ply) and now have about 1,500 miles on them.
Verdict: The Activs cannot match the Pilot Road tires for handling. The difference is quite noticeable. I have now become a 10-15 mph slower rider.  I will be going back to the PR (4) tires when these wear out...or before.
If you have not ridden your brick with radials, you have NO idea what you are missing.

curious your definition of "cannot match..for handling".  10-15mph slower?  really?  were tire pressures the same?  same size tire?  lean angle? type of use?

i think that comparison has more to do with modern multi compound tire design than a bias vs radial ply design.   the PR4 is a multi compound tire that may have a different radius profile.

as i mentioned before, the modern compound on the Activ and the tire design is pretty amazing.  having spent several hundred miles on the Activ on a race track...the tire is not the limiting handling factor, the bike is (well, and the rider a bit).  Activ had easy tip in and more grip at the edge of the tread than the bike has lean angle available.  it only took a few laps to get total confidence in the tires....at the limit, not tooling around on the street.

I have PR3's on my K1300s.  less impressed with those.  have not put them on a track, but on street the tip in is slow and the stabilty of the front tire in a decent turn is not inspiring.  but that is just my limited impression of some half used tires.

the tires capabilities are different, but it is not a bias vs radial ply issue, there are so many other factors involved.  heck, modern RACE car tires are....bias ply..in many cases.

everyone has their own "feel" for a tire, but let's not dis bias tires just because of their ply direction.  ALL tires have different capabilities....and there are some junk radial tires...

[Filmcamera]

curious your definition of "cannot match..for handling".  10-15mph slower?  really?  were tire pressures the same?  same size tire?  lean angle? type of use?

i think that comparison has more to do with modern multi compound tire design than a bias vs radial ply design.   the PR4 is a multi compound tire that may have a different radius profile.

as i mentioned before, the modern compound on the Activ and the tire design is pretty amazing.  having spent several hundred miles on the Activ on a race track...the tire is not the limiting handling factor, the bike is (well, and the rider a bit).  Activ had easy tip in and more grip at the edge of the tread than the bike has lean angle available.  it only took a few laps to get total confidence in the tires....at the limit, not tooling around on the street.

I have PR3's on my K1300s.  less impressed with those.  have not put them on a track, but on street the tip in is slow and the stabilty of the front tire in a decent turn is not inspiring.

the tires capabilities are different, but it is not a bias vs radial ply issue, there are so many other factors involved.  heck, modern RACE car tires are....bias ply..in many cases.

everyone has there own "feel" for a tire, but lets not dis bias tires just because of their ply direction.  ALL tires have different capabilities.

I have not been able to find the PR4's in the right size for the rear - have you?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[beemrdon]

I have been through 3 PR4 and 1 PR2 rear in size 150/70/17.

[beemrdon]

Myltle, My thoughts/feelings on the Activs...

The Activ is a stiff tire and feels somewhat harsh on rough roads. Michelin suggests 32 front and 36 rear for the K1100.

I, at first, ran them at max inflation pressure @42 psi, as I do with the PRs but then went lower to Michelin's suggestion because of the stiffness as I also have stiff suspension and a rather hard Corbin saddle.

My impression is these tires seem to want to go straight and the bike needs muscling to get it into turns.

The feel of the tire does not inspire confidence (for me at least) at speed. They now have a couple of thousand on them.

I don't do the track but I do ride aggressively and sometimes ride at triple digits on these somewhat empty Nevada highways but have not felt like it since these tires were installed. 100 mph feels a lot faster now!

If I start to feel differently about the Activs, I will report it here. If they work for you, great. They are fairly inexpensive.

Most likely, I will be going back to the PR series. YMMV...as they say. :riding:

[Filmcamera]

I have been through 3 PR4 and 1 PR2 rear in size 150/70/17.

Ah good to know so a 150/70/17 would fit in place of the 160/60/18 I am running now?

[K1300S]

Myltle, My thoughts/feelings on the Activs...

The Activ is a stiff tire and feels somewhat harsh on rough roads. Michelin suggests 32 front and 36 rear for the K1100.

I, at first, ran them at max inflation pressure @42 psi, as I do with the PRs but then went lower to Michelin's suggestion because of the stiffness as I also have stiff suspension and a rather hard Corbin saddle.

My impression is these tires seem to want to go straight and the bike needs muscling to get it into turns.

The feel of the tire does not inspire confidence (for me at least) at speed. They now have a couple of thousand on them.

I don't do the track but I do ride aggressively and sometimes ride at triple digits on these somewhat empty Nevada highways but have not felt like it since these tires were installed. 100 mph feels a lot faster now!

If I start to feel differently about the Activs, I will report it here. If they work for you, great. They are fairly inexpensive.

Most likely, I will be going back to the PR series. YMMV...as they say. :riding:

great expanded summary!  the key to reviews is the context in which they are made. 

[bizzaro]

Ah good to know so a 150/70/17 would fit in place of the 160/60/18 I am running now?

Did I miss some obvious sarcasm? Film Camera, there is no way to fit a 17 inch tire to an 18??

[Laitch]

Film Camera, there is no way to fit a 17 inch tire to an 18??

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what's a heaven for?
                         Andrea del Sarto
                         by Robert Browning

Good catch, Bizz!

[Filmcamera]

I was looking at the pilot road 4s but cannot seem to find the right size for the rear, I see 160/60 17 but not 160/60 18

Sarcastic? Moi?

[bizzaro]

I have been through 3 PR4 and 1 PR2 rear in size 150/70/17.

Ah good to know so a 150/70/17 would fit in place of the 160/60/18 I am running now?

This is his "rear' tire, not the front.  The RS has an 18" rear rim, and a 17" rim up front. (usually, unless someone has switched them up with an LT)  The LT has an 18" rim up front and a 17"rim on the rear.  First number designates the width of the tire, 2nd number designates the aspect ratio, and the 3rd is the rim size.  You can adjust the first two, width and aspect ratio around some, and still get it on the bike. But the rim size is not flexible for tire fitment! :oldguy:

Just trying to make sure you didn't order up a tire that would not fit your bike and get it all the way to Costa Rica! At probably double the cost with shipping, and find out it wouldn't fit!  I am sure you would triple check it.  But :beatdeadhorse:

[Filmcamera]

Yes, thanks.  I have not ordered tires yet but am thinking of going with the Metzeler Roadtec Z6 because I can get exactly the right tire size 120/70 17 front and 160/60 18 rear and they are not as expensive as the Michelin Road Pilot 3, IF they made the PR 4 in an 18 I might have gone that route but it seems I have no choice.  I know the Shinkos are well thought of but I prefer the lower profile and greater width of a 160/60 compared to a 130/90 which is what Shinko makes.

[beemuker]

I've decided on a set of Shinko 230 for my K75. I can get them online for less than $130 shipped. I haven't found a shop that will install them unless I buy the tires [$200 ] from them and then another $30/tire if I bring the wheels in, otherwise $75/tire. So $270 out the door. There tons of videos for DIY, so who changes their own tires? I do bicycle tires but moto tires look like a PITA.

[beemuker]

I've decided on a set of Shinko 230 for my K75. I can get them online for less than $130 shipped. I haven't found a shop that will install them unless I buy the tires [$200 ] from them and then another $30/tire if I bring the wheels in, otherwise $75/tire. So $270 out the door. There tons of videos for DIY, so who changes their own tires? I do bicycle tires but moto tires look like a PITA. It will cost me more than the $270 if I bugger up the rims and disks.

[John Lang]

Buying tires on sale online then mounting them yourself saves significant $$. But, yes, it's a PITA -- especially the first time. But it gets easier.
I use a pair of C-clamps (Home Depot), a pair of tire pry bars and some soapy water. The hardest part is inflating the new tire. Front tire was not a problem for my cheapo Walmart pump but the rear was, even with a tightly cinched ratchet strap around the tire. But the local gas station air did it easily without the strap.


Re balancing: I stripped the existing balance weights from the rims and inserted balance beads ($5 local tire store). this works fairly well but I detect a slight front wheel vibration at speed > 120 kph. I will take Johnny's advice: next time I'll have a tire shop balance the rims without the tires mounted and then use beads, if required (probably won't be).

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I do my own tires as well. 

Balancing is probably the most time consuming part of the job.  It also requires an expensive adaptor for the rear wheel.  Since the stuff needed to balance your tires will cost a bit over $100 it may be worthwhile to find someone who will balance your tires for a reasonable price if you bring in the wheel with the mounted tire.  If you ride 10,000 miles a year or less, it doesn't makes sense to balance your own tires if you can get them done for $10 a wheel.

The only thing I would add to the tool list for changing your tires would be a couple pairs of plastic rim protectors to prevent the tire irons from scratching the soft alloy of the wheel. 

I would also check all the Shinko dealers in the area for their installed price if you bring in the wheel.  I had a dealer in Salt Lake City install a 230 on the front of my RT For just under $80 after I pulled the wheel in his parking lot.  He even loaned me a jack to use.  For the $15 over the online price it was a great deal.

[bizzaro]

   :hehehe Always 1 in every group who has no life and thinks he "is" the forum :2thumbup: . Thanks to all that have helped me out. :2thumbup: . catch you later.

Boy I hear ya. :yow :clap:   It's like some guys that come on the forum, and in the first 3 days, post like 40 questions, and never use the search engine................. You'd think the forum was a replacement for their "MaMa"!  They just cry "fix my bike"! And how come Dad? :eek: They been on the forum 3 weeks now and know it all! :ba: Then shun sage advice from someone who has taken the time to do the research, knows his stuff,  and is a wealth of knowledge......................... Like a freaken K bike encyclopedia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!But also enjoys a bit o fun in the process of disseminated his knowledge............ :kill-sword-dueling:

[beemuker]

I've decided on a set of Shinko 230 for my K75. I can get them online for less than $130 shipped. I haven't found a shop that will install them unless I buy the tires [$200 ] from them and then another $30/tire if I bring the wheels in, otherwise $75/tire. So $270 out the door. There tons of videos for DIY, so who changes their own tires? I do bicycle tires but moto tires look like a PITA.

I bought the shinkos on Bike Bandit for $130 shipped and found a local shop that will mount them for $35/tire. so for less than $200 daddy's got new shoes. It would have cost me $270 at 2 other shops, but the Honda was the high price winner at $370. Maybe they were punishing me for having a BMW? Will report back but they gotta be better than the 2002 M88 and 2006 Lasertec that are on there.

[beemrdon]

Update on Michelin Activ tires. I installed the Activ set on Nov 1st @102,850 so about 3 weeks ago. I now have 105,050 miles. Just came back from an Arizona 2 days cruising around and put about 700 miles on. So anyway, I was looking at the tires this morning and the rear tire looks like it still has plenty of tread but the front looks like 2/3 worn out. Something isn't right. As I think I mentioned before, my bike is vibrating above 80 and it gets worse the faster I go. Also, the front tire grabs every little crack or groove in the road. It only started to happen with the new tires. I could ride at 100  before (w/ PR 3 front and 4 rear) and it was a smooth and "planted" feeling.
Looks like it may be time for new tires...Again.

[stokester]

I've decided on a set of Shinko 230 for my K75. I can get them online for less than $130 shipped. I haven't found a shop that will install them unless I buy the tires [$200 ] from them and then another $30/tire if I bring the wheels in, otherwise $75/tire. So $270 out the door. There tons of videos for DIY, so who changes their own tires? I do bicycle tires but moto tires look like a PITA.

Have you checked with your local BMW motorcycle club to see if anyone has a tire changer? 


I have a No-Mar tire changer and a Marc Parnes [size=78%]http://www.marcparnes.com/BMW_Motorcycle_Wheel_Balancer.htm[/size] balancer kit that I offer for any of our club members that wish to save a few $$ and do tire changes without the scheduling hassle. 

[K1300S]

Update on Michelin Activ tires. I installed the Activ set on Nov 1st @102,850 so about 3 weeks ago. I now have 105,050 miles. Just came back from an Arizona 2 days cruising around and put about 700 miles on. So anyway, I was looking at the tires this morning and the rear tire looks like it still has plenty of tread but the front looks like 2/3 worn out. Something isn't right. As I think I mentioned before, my bike is vibrating above 80 and it gets worse the faster I go. Also, the front tire grabs every little crack or groove in the road. It only started to happen with the new tires. I could ride at 100  before (w/ PR 3 front and 4 rear) and it was a smooth and "planted" feeling.
Looks like it may be time for new tires...Again.

agree, something isn't right.  sounds like a balance, head bearing, bent wheel or defective tire issue.  both my K75's are planted at 100 with Activs.