New tires for RS

[Panhead_Jim]

We're talking about my r1100rsl. All this talk about asymetrical tire wear has worn out my front tire. It's gone from bad to worse in a matter of 1,000 miles, and will very soon be in need of replacement, especially on the left side. Since I don't think I can rotate the tires, or turn the front one around and wear out the other half, I have two questions, and would appreciate ya'll's experienced input on both.

1. high mile tire. I am not a throttle jockey, nor am I a twisty twister. I do most of my miles straight up at a high velocity. Please give me some input on your favorites.

2. Given no BMW dealer within about 250 miles of my home, where would you take the wheel/tire combo to have it mounted and balanced? I've got Honda, YamaZuki dealers nearby. Do they, in your opinion, generally have the equipment and experience to handle this job? On our precious equipment?

Thank you all very much for help.

[Prof. Robert]

Hey Jim, I'm always pleased to discover another RSL owner; unfortunately, I can't answer your questions, but I can recommend a site where you can find a plethora of info on your bike:

www.bikersoracle.com

www.bikersoracle.com has a RS specific forum, and I've seen a discussion (debate?) on tires a time or two there. If you haven't yet visited this site, take the plunge; you might find the trip interesting and informative.

Robert

[PGlaves]

We're talking about my r1100rsl. All this talk about asymetrical tire wear has worn out my front tire. It's gone from bad to worse in a matter of 1,000 miles, and will very soon be in need of replacement, especially on the left side. Since I don't think I can rotate the tires, or turn the front one around and wear out the other half, I have two questions, and would appreciate ya'll's experienced input on both.

1. high mile tire. I am not a throttle jockey, nor am I a twisty twister. I do most of my miles straight up at a high velocity. Please give me some input on your favorites.

2. Given no BMW dealer within about 250 miles of my home, where would you take the wheel/tire combo to have it mounted and balanced? I've got Honda, YamaZuki dealers nearby. Do they, in your opinion, generally have the equipment and experience to handle this job? On our precious equipment?

Thank you all very much for help.

Voni and I are using Metzeler ME880 tires front and rear on her R1100RS and R1100S and on my R1150R. We run the bias ply versions of the same tire on our K75s too. Excellent tread life - good traction wet or dry. Not too good in the snow though.

Many non-BMW shops have no issues with BMW wheels - some do. It just depends on what tire machine and what adapters they have/use. Go ask them. Especially ask at a shop that stocks or orders Metzeler tires.

I mount all of our tires myself with a JC Whitney bead breaker and regular long motorcycle tire irons. Not everybody likes to do this though. You can get the equipment you need for about the cost of mounting 3 tires. The economy of all of this really depends on how many tires you go through. Our high point was 1999 when we went through 26 tires.

[breyfogle]

It's been my experience that front tires are no problem, BMW's are not really any different than J-bike fronts. The dealer may or may not want to do the work but there is no reason they can not. The rear can be a bit of a problem because of the single sided swingarm and no rear axle configuration. This is not a problem mounting the tire but the shop may not have the axle adaptors necessary to spin balance or even static balance the new tire & wheel. Seems like if a Honda shop could mount VFR750 rear tires they should be able to do BMW rears as well.

[RebeccaV]

Voni and I are using Metzeler ME880 tires front and rear
+1

[torags]

+1 for the Metzler 880s.

Check your front wheel alignment. Even on Z rated tires; a 1000mi wear down is too much. If a dealer installed them; I would pay them a visit & show them your problem.

[GregFeeler]

Voni and I are using Metzeler ME880 tires front and rear on her R1100RS and R1100S and on my R1150R.

:thumb

Our high point was 1999 when we went through 26 tires. :jawdrop

[MCMXCIVRS]

Our high point was 1999 when we went through 26 tires.

You should have cleaned up those nails in the driveway sooner :stick

I'm running Metzeler Z6s on my RS. They are a bit softer, so you wouldn't get as many miles out of them. I got about 14,500 Kms out of the last set Actually 15,500, but the last 1000 the cords were starting to show on the rear, so I really don't consider that fair to count in. I really don't like doing that, but there was no where to get a tire.

I like them because I do enjoy draggin the cylinder guards in the corners once in a while. I'm willing to sacrifice a bit of wear for the extra traction. The Z6s are also the best tires I've ever ridden on in wet conditions. Rode down to Mt St. Helen's a couple years ago through pouring rain for most of the trip and was still able to make it fun in the twisties.

[saab93driver]

I have run Metzler Z4 and Z6's on both my R11RS's - best tires I have ever had, though the Z6 gets fewer miles on the rear and is difficult to gage wear.

Haven't tried the ME880's but they would probably be fine for what you described (and probably for my style as well).

Most modern shops should be able to mount and balance the tires. You may find some will be resistant to mount tires bought elsewhere or will charge you much more for the mounting.

[GregFeeler]

You should have cleaned up those nails in the driveway sooner :stick

I'm running Metzeler Z6s on my RS.

...

The Z6s are also the best tires I've ever ridden on in wet conditions. Rode down to Mt St. Helen's a couple years ago through pouring rain for most of the trip and was still able to make it fun in the twisties.

I'll vouch for that. I run Z6's on my K1200RS and on the last set put on far too many miles in the rain, but they were fantastic. I got 9,335 miles out of that set on the K12, which is the best mileage I've gotten on any tires on that bike, so I like them all the way around.

[rinty]

How do the Z6's hold up on the rear, riding one-up at steady 80+ mph speeds?

Rinty

[PGlaves]

You should have cleaned up those nails in the driveway sooner :stick

Two tires retired early due to punctures.

Miles - not nails. Miles! and sMiles

Mostly sMiles