Anyone running Metzeler Z8?

[fishhuntride]

There are not many choices for sport touring tires in a 190/55 17 rear.  The Z8 is one of them.  I know the Z6 had a good reputation and the Z8 is now replacing it.  Cycle World, Motorcyclist and MCN all have positive "first ride" type reports.  But not much in first hand reviews so anybody?

[WBill]

Ordered a set today.  I've been running Z 6's on my FJR for fifty K miles, changing out about every ten K, or once a year.  Will let you know.  WBill

[fishhuntride]

50k on one bike is pretty good but 50k on one brand/model of tire is impressive.  I assume you really like the Z6?

[Justin]

I used to run the Z6's (at least the rears), until the Michelin PR2 came out (and now the PR3). Metzeler will have a tough time against Michelin, but maybe they will come out with something that can compete in the Z8. The z6 wasn't a bad tire, it was my tire of choice until the Pilot Road 2's came out. The one thing I really did not like about them is that the middle section has no tread, so the wear indicators were useless on them. It looks like the z8 is pretty similar in that respect from the pics.

[marty2]

Z6 fan here. I just put a set of Z8s on my RT. I only have 200 miles on them and haven't push them hard yet.
The bike is easier to turn in and feels more planted in the curves. Haven't done wet yet.

Marty

[dm_gsxr]

I've been riding Z6's for the past 5 out of 6 sets of tires. I tried the Angels last year and really didn't like the transition between the harder center and the softer sides. As they wore, the transition got more abrupt until I was quite adverse to taking corners at any speed.

Last Wednesday I put on the Z8's and I have to say the dual-zone approach vs the dual compound seems to be best for my riding style. I took the 'busa up into the mountains and it didn't take more than a few turns to get the tires scrubbed in and then really enjoy the ride up the mountain, down the Peak to Peak highway to Nederland and then back down to Boulder then home. I felt immensely more confident in my bike again.

Carl

[Xanth]

I've been riding Z6's for the past 5 out of 6 sets of tires. I tried the Angels last year and really didn't like the transition between the harder center and the softer sides. As they wore, the transition got more abrupt until I was quite adverse to taking corners at any speed.

Last Wednesday I put on the Z8's and I have to say the dual-zone approach vs the dual compound seems to be best for my riding style. I took the 'busa up into the mountains and it didn't take more than a few turns to get the tires scrubbed in and then really enjoy the ride up the mountain, down the Peak to Peak highway to Nederland and then back down to Boulder then home. I felt immensely more confident in my bike again.

Carl

You'll have to keep us updated on how they wear compared to the Z6's.

[dm_gsxr]

You'll have to keep us updated on how they wear compared to the Z6's.

Will do. Best on the Z6's was 14,000 miles. It'll be tough to beat that

Carl

[LENSMAN]

  Z6s on both of my bikes (SV650- CBR1100xx). They are around 5 years old, around 6k on them, and handle well.

[Cablebandit]

 They are around 5 years old, around 6k on them, and handle well.

 

[Prubert]

I have had a Z8 on the front and rear of the FJR for about 7K now and they look like they have about another 2K in them.  They don't wear any faster than the previous Z6 Interacts that I had on there 3 times prior.

The tires do work well on the FJR, I have no complaints and I have had them in all conditions.

[Robus]

800 miles on a pair on my RT. They feel good. Excellent in rain.

[Xanth]

I have had a Z8 on the front and rear of the FJR for about 7K now and they look like they have about another 2K in them.  They don't wear any faster than the previous Z6 Interacts that I had on there 3 times prior.

The tires do work well on the FJR, I have no complaints and I have had them in all conditions.

Thanks for the info. Do they feel the same as the previous Z6? I think this is probably my biggest question. I really liked the feel of the Z6 vs the PR2 I'm running now.

[Prubert]

Thanks for the info. Do they feel the same as the previous Z6? I think this is probably my biggest question. I really liked the feel of the Z6 vs the PR2 I'm running now.

Why yes, they do feel the same, pretty neutral on the turn-in and they stick very well.  I have not really noticed a difference in handling as they got more miles on them and the temps have dropped.

I would say they are similar to the Z6 but better in some aspects, they feel more planted when leaned over.

Later.

[MisterSmooth]

I used to run the Z6's (at least the rears), until the Michelin PR2 came out (and now the PR3). Metzeler will have a tough time against Michelin, but maybe they will come out with something that can compete in the Z8. The z6 wasn't a bad tire, it was my tire of choice until the Pilot Road 2's came out. The one thing I really did not like about them is that the middle section has no tread, so the wear indicators were useless on them. It looks like the z8 is pretty similar in that respect from the pics.

Same here.  I've think it was the Z4 I tried on my BMW; the middle section with no tread just sorta gave me the willies.  Roads are often wet in Seattle and not having some channels for water to move off the center of the tire seemed like folly.  Also, they were noticeably slow steering relative to the M-series Metzelers.  I've got M-series on both my Aprilias.

I'm on my second set of PR2's on my Guzzi; they feel both nimble and planted at the same time.  I set up a tire swap in Santa Rosa on the way back from the GP, anticipating that they'd need replaced after roughly 6K miles.  The PR2's still looked pretty good and the guy who swapped my tires was surprised that I was changing them.  



That said modern tires from the big manufacturers are uniformly excellent, and it's hard to go wrong.  The difference between the street tires of the late 1980's and the modern radial tire is like the difference between a biplane and a fighter jet.  And current tires compared to the radial tires of fifteen years ago are way better in both grip and wear.  

[Xanth]

Why yes, they do feel the same, pretty neutral on the turn-in and they stick very well.  I have not really noticed a difference in handling as they got more miles on them and the temps have dropped.

I would say they are similar to the Z6 but better in some aspects, they feel more planted when leaned over.

Later.

Very nice, I'll have to give them a shot at my next tire change.

[WBill]

I now have about 2500 miles on my Z8's, mounted on an FJR.  Compared to the Z6's I used to run, the only difference I can discern is that the front seems to transmit every little irregularity in the road surface to the handlebars more than did the Z6's.  This is especially so when they are cold and I am going at in-town speeds, and when I first noticed it, I stopped to check if there was a nail stuck in the tire.  There's no particular difference over the Z6 in handling at the casual pace I ride, which is to say they work very well.  WBill