Tire Pressure for '06A w/Metzlers

[paste007]

I believe that the owner's manual for my '06 A recommends 39 & 42 for tire pressue on the Metzlers, however the tech at my dealer recommended 34 & 36. Any feedback on this matter will be appreciated.

Around 750 miles in 6 days. If it'd stop this unseasonal rain in Cali's central valley, I could get some decent miles on this ****, that likes to go fast. I call her a ****, because I like to ride her hard and I know that she can take it all day long. I'm talking all day long.

 

[HIGHLANDER]

Most guys are running 41 or 42 psi on their bikes, with good results. Your dealer recommended pressures are for a lighter sport bike or a track day on the FJR, not for a heavy sport tourer.

Since your another mid Cali guy, you should hook up with Toecutters ride this weekend.

 

[chickey191]

I've always run Metzlers at the high end of their range.

Here is the way I set my tire pressure.

Take a cold tire reading at recommended pressure.

go for a good hard ride - long enough to get heat in the tires.

take a reading. If the pressure goes up more than 10% then I add air. Depending on how much more than 10% I will usually start with 1 or 2 psi.

Let tires cool and get a good reading and repeat until pressure increase with heat load goes up NO MORE THAN 10%.

It SHOULD GO UP - when you get the tires hot -

this has worked well for me on bikes and cars. It OFTEN does not agree with the manual or the tires manufacturer recommendation. Usually - it is a tad higher than they recommend for heavy load or touring.

I have always had the best wear pattern this way and tires have lasted the longest and my mileage isn't the absolute best (if you want mileage - run 'em hard), but it is close.

 

[twowheelnut]

Don't matter what you air 'em to. Those POS tires are gonna blow up, anyway!

H/L has the good numbers for those. But, seriously: Careful on those Z6's. Not much bite in the corners and the front will triangle mais vite. Not much roll on the rear, and they hate rain grooves.

They do, however, make for great dock fenders!

 

[Feejer/Weejer man]

Don't matter what you air 'em to. Those POS tires are gonna blow up, anyway!

Come on now, don't hold nothing back. Tell it like it is. Don't pussyfoot around the subject. Give us the truth.

 

[Mike-H]

Sorry twowheelnut....going to have to call you on this one....when was the last time you ran on a z6?????.....don't thonk so but nice try

 

[madmike2]

They do, however, make for great dock fenders!

Rim protectors?

I am not that aggressive a rider, but I wasn't impressed by the 020's on the '04 or the Metz (Z-4) OEMs on the '05. Both felt "wooden" and I didn't trust them in the twisties. 5K on the Metz Z-4s, and adios! I enjoyed the Pilot Roads and now I'm trying the Pirelli Stradas. Now that I've added a couple of clicks of preload to the rear shock, I like how the Stradas exit corners under power.

Highlander's advice is the best if you want more mileage out of your tires. I always run a minimum of 40 lbs of air pressure, up to 42 if I load up the bike (uhm, 30 lbs+ this rider's weight is a "load").

 

[SkooterG]

(uhm, 30 lbs+ this rider's weight is a "load").

uhm........

Specifically, a "load" of what?

 

[madmike2]

Specifically, a "load" of what?

Stuff! :lol:

 

[panthercity]

Well, personally, my tech's dozen years of twirling the wrenches for mediocre pay at a variety of dealerships easily trumps the combined knowledge of the engineers who designed the FJR and worked with the relevant tire companies to promulgate the tire pressure in the owners’ manual…

 

[weekend rider]

Why all the fuss about tire pressure and who is rite? Just read the side of the tire

and follow what is prnted for air pressure, can't go wrong. I will believe the engineering data from an engineer that puts his stamp on the test to get the data for that tire.

 

[twowheelnut]

Sorry twowheelnut....going to have to call you on this one....when was the last time you ran on a z6?????.....don't thonk so but nice try

You called wrong, Lil' Buckaroo. I just replaced the front Z6 with 9K and the rear Z6 with about 4K on 'em about 3 weeks ago - there was another 3 or 4k left in the rear. The front was trash from the git-go and the rear was a piece of ****. Worst effing tires I've EVER run on any of my bikes - bar NONE! A thousand poxes on the engineers who designed that crap!

And, didn't you mean to say, "don't thonk si but noce try"? :haha:

 

[dfpextraordinaire]

Hey two wheel!

xactly what kinda rubber ya run on yer scoot?

 

[panthercity]

Why all the fuss about tire pressure and who is rite? Just read the side of the tire and follow what is prnted for air pressure, can't go wrong. I will believe the engineering data from an engineer that puts his stamp on the test to get the data for that tire.

Two things;

1. read the letters before the numbers molded into the tire side wall. Then get someone to explain the meaning of "maximum tire pressure".

2. Yep, them tire engineers know exactly which bike that tire is gonna be mounted on and it don't make no difference if that 120/70-16 is on the front of a R1150RT, FJR1300 or CBR600F4i. All dem should run the same pressure...

 

[Bearly Flying]

Chickey has it right....Heat is the single biggest killer of tires, the hotter they run, the shorter their life. The biggest contributor generating that heat is carcass flexing. As Chickey stated, (and numerous other people in other threads) to set up a tire for a given bike, with a given load. Take the cold pressure, ride it to warm up the tires, check the hot pressure. If it is more than 10% increase, add air. Once your within the 5% to 10% range, that will be the pressure to run to give you maximum tire life.

I have 7K on the original Z4's and they are still going strong.

 

[twowheelnut]

Hey two wheel!
xactly what kinda rubber ya run on yer scoot?

My bike came with Z4's, which weren't all that bad, really. Long wear (for me), but they were real slimy in the corners, especially, the rear. Put the Avons on next, which I really liked except they gave up the ghost at 6,500 miles. I then ordered up the Pilot Roads, but the parts kid mucked up the order and got the wrong tires in. They had the Z6's in stock and I was forced to put 'em on as I was to depart for a long trip the next morning. The rear ate a rather large rock and punctured, so I had to trash that and hoop another as again, that's all the dealer had in stock at the time.

Now, I'm on the Pilot Roads and I'm quite pleased so far. The front turns out to be a bit off balance, so I'll pop it off and have the dealer re-do that. But, so far, so good. Nice stick in the corners, negligible wiggle on the rain grooved highways and wear seams to be at least as good as the Avons.

Next I'll try the Bridgestones, then decide between those, the Avons or the Michelins which will be my tire of choice for this bike.

 

[weekend rider]

Have Michn. pilots road on mine, cam with metz's ok but pilots are way better and the handling in to and through turns is great

Maybe only problem short life 5-6k will see.

 

[Mike-H]

2 points for you twowheelnut (so I can't hit the right keys..."I'm OLD"), I just wonder about all the complaints on the metz, back in the day you rode with what the team put on (whoever the tire sponsor was) you didn't ***** (in public) & you made up the difference with your riding ability.....if your sliding around that bad.....you gotta be riding too hard for the street.... you should save it for the track...(traffic flows one way only) ....& the ambulance arrives a lot quicker h34r:

 

[rogerfjrfaster]

Since I';ve had my 04 I've tried them all Avons got the best milage Z6's, Roads now running Tomahawk tires from Dresser we put them on the bike just befor doing the 50cc last month . They had 7/32 before leaving got back they had 4/32 with over 6k for the total trip mine are still doing fine and you cant beat the price, bought two sets for 235.00 thats 4 tires. There sticky and handle well.

rogerfjrfaster