Tyres, Tires

[ribbert]

You say tires, I say tyres. Hopefully should be ready to fit new 17in rims next week, so wondering which tyres to go with. I've read good reports on the Metzler Roadtecs Z8's has anyone tried these on the FJ or is there a preferred brand amongst the members, not so concerned with mileage but do like to have fun in the twisties.

Cheers, John

John, I've been using the Metzler Roadtec Z8's since March. Got about 6,500 km's on them so far and are the best tyres I've tried so far. Here's a list of the tyres that I've used in the last 4 years;
Pirelli Angels 10,500 kms good tyres front tyre wore to an egg shape.
Michelin Pilot Power 2CT's 6,500 kms great tyres.
Continental Road Attack 2's  7,100kms great tyres.
Michelin Pilot Road 3's 9,000kms great tyres front started pushing in corners near the end of their life.
Metzler RT Z8's 6,500kms, still going, great turn in feel very even profile. Great in the wet.
  Let me know if you need more info on any of the above. Regards, Pete. 

That's interesting Pete, I have been wanting to try the Z8 the last two tyre changes. The first time the Attack 2 GT's had just come out and I had to try them, and the last time I was heading off on a trip and didn't want to experiment. Next time.
Having tried all of the above (except the Z8) my favourite to date is the Attack 2, but you having also tried many of the others I put a lot of weight in your endorsement of the Metzeler.

There are a couple of attributes the Conti has that I'm reluctant to move away from but it's probably time to give something else a shot, they only last 6 mths anyway.

I rode 400 km's today to Apollo Bay, went down inland and came back around the Great Ocean Road. The rain came and went but didn't see a dry corner all day, the temp peaked at about 7c until I got back near Melbourne.  The inland route was covered in crap, mulched wet bark and if you wandered too far off the car tracks, the road was literally green with moss, the centre covered in lichen and even the "clean" parts were greasy. This time of the year the road can stay wet for weeks and sees very little traffic.

John, as Pete said there are many good tyres out there and choosing anything from his list will serve you well, but I still like my conti's!
Below is a copy from my post 2 weeks ago after a 2000km ride with probably no more than an hours worth of dry roads and single digit temps.

Tyres. Continental Attack 2 GT's: These never cease to amaze me and I'm on my 5th set. New rear before I left (damn puncture) and near new front. My boot even hit the road on a few corners in the wet. Even with the rear of my bike raised you can scrape the belly pan mounting bolts and mufflers (and everything else) in the dry. The front tyre profile transforms the FJ handling like no other tyre I've tried.
Interesting that in the wet at 3 deg C ambient temp, the tyres were still running at about 30 deg C

Noel

[Fj.itis]

Gee it must be wet in that picture! He is riding on the wrong side of the road.... 

[axiom-r]

tyiresess....  thought I would let you know of my experience with the brand new Bridgestone T30 sport touring tires...

I bought them new just before heading off for a 3294 mile ride.  They are still virtually new.  Some tread depth is gone from the rear but it is minimal. The front looks like it was scrubbed in earlier today.... I have used the BT-016 and the BT-023 in the past and I can say that I am super impressed with the T30's.  After the 3000 + mile ride you can see on the rear where the hard center is hanging tough and the softer shoulders are rippled a bit from cornering.... 

Highly recommended!

tim

Shot of them new...

[oldktmdude]

   Noel, I agree completely about the Cont RA2 GT's. They are certainly high on my list of favourite tyres. They did everything I asked of them and did it well.
I think if you get around to trying the Z8's you may well have a new favourite tyre. And if not, I'm sure they will be the second best tyre you've tried.
If I only had access to any of the previous tyres that I've mentioned, I'd still be very happy to use any of them.
   Re your ride along the GOR and interior roads; sounds like you had the exact weather conditions that we had. Not so good for sight seeing but great for testing tyres.       Regards, Pete.

[Klavdy]

It's sometimes difficult to get a good review on tyres sold in different markets.
Road composition, the materials they are made from, varies enormously between countries and states.
New Zealand for example has very abrasive, sharp stone in their blend,most Aussie roads are a lot "softer", older, go longer between resurfacing and get worn to a polish, bit like river stones v.s fresh milled hard gravel or virgin aggregate.
Grippy new hotmix versus traffic flogged patchwork.
Temperature comes into play as well, a tyre for the Northern European market probably wont last too long in a South Australian summer.
Curve radii of road design also comes into it,generally  the U.S has longer  horizontal curvature with positive superelevation (banking) compared to most Aussie roads, the U.S has bigger cars and trucks,with higher speeds for the main.
Then you add in driving on different sides of the road and the effect on road camber, i.e , it's a further distance in Australia to go around a right hand bend and vice-versa.
It's quite a complex state of affairs, roads and tyres.

[Pat Conlon]

Klav, that's interesting. I never considered that.....

Isn't it's great we are having this discussion on all the different choices offered to us now that we have modern 17" rims?

I imagine not a lot of choices left in the 150/80-16 and 120/80-16 tire sizes.

[FJmonkey]

Klav, that's interesting. I never considered that.....

Isn't it's great we are having this discussion on all the different choices offered to us now that we have modern 17" rims?

I imagine not a lot of choices left in the 150/80-16 and 120/80-16 tire sizes.

That is pushing it Pat... tire threads.... Oil... Politics....

[Klavdy]

Hmmm,
Guess you're right,there's other stuff to talk about, here's a couple suggestions for new threads:
Anteaters V.S Helmets, sensitivity and whether hooker tears make the best anal lube.
Whaddya reckon?
Give it a go?

[Pat Conlon]

...and you were doing so well....

[The General]

...and you were doing so well....

[aussiefj]

Well if I wasn't confused before I am now, and now my head hurts too. I think I'll put the old rims back on it was easier.

[Pat Conlon]

John, *any* 170/60, 180/55, 120/70, 17" tire you choose, will be better....vastly better, than any oem sized 16" donut.

Any flavor ice cream is better than no ice cream.

[yamaha fj rider]

John, *any* 170/60, 180/55, 120/70, 17" tire you choose, will be better....vastly better, than any oem sized 16" donut.

Any flavor ice cream is better than no ice cream.

+1
There are just a few choices with the sixteen inch rear tire. The seventeen inch rear tire, a lot of choices and more to come. Make the switch. You will be glad you did.

Kurt