[abronzetiger]

Due to a nail I picked up somewhere on the highway, I recently upgraded my rear tire to the Metzeler Roadtec Z8-C Interact Sport Touring Rear Tire. The 'C' version has a more rigid sidewall than the standard version and is aimed towards the BMW touring bikes.

After a couple of hundred miles on this tire, I'm going to state that it is a far superior tire to the Z6 that was initially on my bike. I still have the Z6 on the front since it still has plenty of life in it but come spring that may change.

I swapped the tire in conjunction with my 6000mi valve adjustment, so, I really feel more like a hooligan than a tourer even with my current setup (BMW System Panniers, Z-Tech 18" windscreen, 2" touring risers). I have much improved acceleration and braking which definitely inspires more confidence in corners and tight turns. It allows a much deeper lean into turns and a lighter feel to the whole handling profile. It feels like a narrower tire than it actually is.

These tires stick the road in all of the conditions I have run them in so far. Street, gravel, sea shells, in both dry and rainy conditions. In traffic they are light and make the bike much more able when changing lanes or stopping suddenly. On the highway they eat up miles.

In light to moderate rain the tire is superior in grip and handling ability. In the city, including intersections, heavy traffic and a rotary, handling was consistent and confident. On the highway, I fell in with normal traffic and she handled very well.

I would not hesitate to rate these as a buy for anyone with an R1200R.

 

[Hoshiko]

Thanks for the review, that's most likely the one I'll end up with.

Dud you had to change your brake and clutch lines in order to install that 2" riser?
Avocet it's picking his wife's bike on Saturday and he is wondering if about getting risers, and if he needs to change the lines too.

 

[avocet]

I use the Metzler Z8 tires on my K1600GT, and I agree they are very good tires. I think they are part of the reason that a bike as big and heavy as that one can handle so well. I have been planning to try them on my new R1200R, so it's good to hear confirmation that they work well on the R also.

I do have one word of caution about the Z8s however. there are no grooves in the tread in the center of the tire, where it wears the most, so there is no good way to know when you are about to wear through the rubber and expose the inner carcass. This has happened to several riders on the K1600GT forum. There are wear bars in the tread grooves to either side of the un-grooved center section, but depending on how and where you ride, they may still look OK when the rubber in the center has become very thin. That has never happened to me, probably because I try to avoid straight roads that square off the tire. That slight flaw hasn't stopped me from enjoying the tires though, but I would be cautious and keep a close eye on the center of the tire if you ride a lot of straight slabs.

 

[abronzetiger]

Thanks for the review, that's most likely the one I'll end up with.

Dud you had to change your brake and clutch lines in order to install that 2" riser?
Avocet it's picking his wife's bike on Saturday and he is wondering if about getting risers, and if he needs to change the lines too.

Hoshiko,

I purchased the bike with the parts installed, but I given to understand that the lines had been swapped out at the time of the riser modifications.

I have a unique windshield mount adaptation and some modifications to the risers by the mechanics due to the original owners requests, so, I cannot definitely answer that without contacting the dealership that installed them.

 

[abronzetiger]

I use the Metzler Z8 tires on my K1600GT, and I agree they are very good tires. I think they are part of the reason that a bike as big and heavy as that one can handle so well. I have been planning to try them on my new R1200R, so it's good to hear confirmation that they work well on the R also.

I do have one word of caution about the Z8s however. there are no grooves in the tread in the center of the tire, where it wears the most, so there is no good way to know when you are about to wear through the rubber and expose the inner carcass. This has happened to several riders on the K1600GT forum. There are wear bars in the tread grooves to either side of the un-grooved center section, but depending on how and where you ride, they may still look OK when the rubber in the center has become very thin. That has never happened to me, probably because I try to avoid straight roads that square off the tire. That slight flaw hasn't stopped me from enjoying the tires though, but I would be cautious and keep a close eye on the center of the tire if you ride a lot of straight slabs.

Thanks for the heads-up.

I'll have to search out more twisty ways to drive to and from work every day to be sure.

 

[rebobd]

personally i've never been a metzler fan, dunlop roadsmart 2's are the best touring tire i've had so far. to be fair, it's the first touring tire i've mounted on my R, having gone with power pure and pilot powers before that. but the roadsmart is a fantastic tire as long as it's the roadsmart 2. also like the q2 from dunlop for canyon/track

 

[NightBird]

Thanks for the review, that's most likely the one I'll end up with.

Dud you had to change your brake and clutch lines in order to install that 2" riser?
Avocet it's picking his wife's bike on Saturday and he is wondering if about getting risers, and if he needs to change the lines too.

Hoshiko,

I had the 2" riser installed recently and I don't need to change the brake and clutch line. The mechanics just adjusted the existing lines.

However my R12R is the 2010 model. May not be the same for 2011 onwards

 

[Hoshiko]

Hoshiko,

I had the 2" riser installed recently and I don't need to change the brake and clutch line. The mechanics just adjusted the existing lines.

However my R12R is the 2010 model. May not be the same for 2011 onwards

Thanks for the info, I'm happy with mine the way it is but this info could help someone else looking to do this comfortable mod.

 

[avocet]

Thanks for looking out for me Hoshiko. I've been riding without adding risers yet, and I may be OK without them. The longest ride I've had so far is only around 3 hours though, so I'll need a longer ride to decide if risers will be needed. It'a good to know that modifying the brake lines may not be necessary.

 

[lawmandean]

Strong Recommendation for Metzeler Z-8 Interacts

The Z-8 Interact is a superb tire on the R12R. My '09 had Z-6's on it when I got it. They worked pretty well, but when I put Z-8 Interacts on it 1000-1500 miles later it was a whole different ballgame. The Z-8's now have about 5K miles on them and still have plenty of tread left, despite the fact that most of my riding is canyon-carving, which usually wears tires down much faster than straight-line highway riding. Having ridden on many different tires in my 46 years of motorcycle addiction, I have no hesitation in saying that the Z-8 Interact is the most competent, confidence-inspiring tire I have ever used. In fairness, however, it should be noted that my experience with other tires was on different model Beemers (K1200RS, R1150GS, K100, R90S) and, in moments of weakness, on old 1975 Triumph Tridents.

 

[PinchiHuerinchi]

I'm probably going to pick up a pair of these. I just noticed that my front tire is showing cables - too much leaning ;-)

 

[phubai]

Probably?

I'm probably going to pick up a pair of these. I just noticed that my front tire is showing cables - too much leaning ;-)

I'd change that to "definitely" if my tires looked like that. :clown: Maybe tie some old sneakers on there until they come in

2bob

 

[PinchiHuerinchi]

The maybe was on the metzelers, not the tire change :001_tt2:
There will be new tires on this week, metzelers or otherwise