Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200/1250 RT

Best tyres and oil for your R1200RT/R1250RT get other users opinions here.

What Tyres are on Your RT.

Bridgestone Battlax BT 021
2
2%
Continental Road Attack
0
No votes
Dunlop Roadsmart I
1
1%
Metzeler Roadtec Z6
0
No votes
Metzeler Roadtec Z8
17
16%
Michelin Pilot Road 2
0
No votes
Continental Road Attack 2GT
0
No votes
Michelin Pilot Road 4GT
30
28%
Michelin Pilot Road 3
0
No votes
Pirelli Angel GT
3
3%
Bridgestone T30 GT
0
No votes
Metzeler Roadtec 01
17
16%
Avon Storm 2 Ultra
1
1%
Dunlop Roadsmart III
7
6%
Avon Spirit ST
0
No votes
ContiMotion
1
1%
Pirelli Angel GT2
3
3%
Michelin Road 5 GT
21
19%
Bridgestone Battlax T31
3
3%
Dunlop Roadsmart IV
1
1%
Bridgestone Battlax BT 023
1
1%
Continental ContiRoad
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 108

User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

RTman10 wrote:The factory over the years have tended to swap from one recommended tyre make to another at random. Its a supply thing, but for some time now they seem to supply more with Z8s.
It's interesting that the number of BMW recommended tyre manufacturers for the LC RT is only 3, Continental RA 2GT, Metzeler Z8 & Michelin PR 4GT.

Previously, with the Twin Cam, Bridgestone & Dunlop were listed, together with both Z6 & Z8, a choice of 6 tyres.

Going back further to the first 1200 RT, there was a BMW list of 8 tyres, those already mentioned, plus, Bridgestone Battlax BT 020 & Dunlop Sportmax D220 ST.

The Metzeler Z8 is the only tyre which has continued to be listed for all 3 models of RT.
Last edited by David. on Sat Feb 28, 2015 7:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Budman
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:28 pm

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by Budman »

Ive just had better luck in mileage and ride quality with the PR4s. It may be all in my mind but I just prefer the PR4 tire. I put a set of Michelin's on my R1100RT and had really bad  luck with them so it took a lot for me to switch from Metzeler back to Michelin. Once I did with the PR3 I was sold on them.
I dont have anything bad to say about the Z8, I just like the PR4s better and since motorcycling is mostly mental it just seems reasonable to me to go with what keeps my mind right.
Budman
Posts: 134
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:28 pm

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by Budman »

This is a PR3 with 14,000 miles on it. 5/16th tread left. Hard to beat that mileage.


She rides one up all the time. Most of those miles were done last summer on her National Parks tour. 
Attachments
IMG-20150227-00299.jpg
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

Thanks for the feedback & as in the original post, "I appreciate tyres are also a personal choice".

For the reasons given, I'll probably still go with the Metzeler Z8 when it's time to change from the existing, original, Bridgestone Battlax BT 021's.

Any more votes, help or comments are most welcome, thanks.
User avatar
Levisp
Posts: 1114
Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 12:57 pm

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by Levisp »

DaygloDavid wrote: It's interesting that the number of BMW recommended tyre manufacturers for the LC RT is only 3, Continental RA 2GT, Metzeler Z8 & Michelin PR 4GT.

Previously, with the Twin Cam, Bridgestone & Dunlop were listed, together with both Z6 & Z8, a choice of 6 tyres.
As already posted, the Metzeler Z8 is the only tyre which has been listed for both bikes.

Call me an old cynic but I wonder how much the tyre manufacturers pay BMW to have their tyres recommended. From BMW perspective having 3 manufacturers supplying keeps them competitive on price and no supply issues. Certainly here in the UK there would no issues in fitting any Sport Touring tyre that complies to OEM specification with regards to speed and load rating. Not so sure in Germany.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

Levisp wrote:Certainly here in the UK there would no issues in fitting any Sport Touring tyre that complies to OEM specification with regards to speed and load rating. Not so sure in Germany.
You could well be correct, looking at the BMW Tyre Options, they state, "This information is not binding and is based on the statutory provisions and technical regulations for Germany - changes and deviating provisions may apply abroad. Before fitting your chosen tyres, please ensure that they are based on an up-to-date version of the relevant clearance certificate for your BMW motorcycle. BMW Motorrad recommends obtaining a clearance certificate from the tyre manufacturer and keeping this certificate with the vehicle at all times."
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

Budman wrote:This is a PR3 with 14,000 miles on it. 5/16th tread left. Hard to beat that mileage.
PR3's certainly give good mileage, I'm surprised they haven't got more votes in the Poll.

It will be interesting to see how the PR4's compare,
Michelin say, "Thanks to improved 2CT technology, new MICHELIN Pilot Road 4 tyres last up to 20% longer than the MICHELIN Pilot Road 3 tyres,

and

"The new MICHELIN Pilot Road 4 GT tyre has been successfully homologated on BMW R 12000 RT and will equip 40% of its new models."
Last edited by David. on Sat Feb 28, 2015 5:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
guest2360

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by guest2360 »

14000 miles out of a back tyre and still going must be a world record.  That's at least twice what most of us get. 
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

This isn't my bike, nor is it a Metzeler Z6, but it is how mine looked when I got caught out in Scotland.

Image
User avatar
richardbd
Posts: 1468
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:40 pm
Been liked: 2 times

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by richardbd »

RTman10 wrote: 14000 miles out of a back tyre and still going must be a world record.  That's at least twice what most of us get.

I was about to say the same thing.  I'd be delighted to get 7,000 out of a rear tyre.  I've never managed it yet - maybe the RT will be the first time...
guest2360

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by guest2360 »

I think the only way to get mileage like that is the way I got a 1600GTL the 600 miles from central France back home with no tread wear at all, in the back of a van.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

Z8's are coming up on the rails.
User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

DaygloDavid wrote: This isn't my bike, nor is it a Metzeler Z6, but it is how mine looked when I got caught out in Scotland.

Image
This tyre looks like a Z8 to me, with the "Pi" tread pattern.

Image

https://www.metzeler.com/site/uk/produc ... ion=950350
Last edited by David. on Sat Feb 28, 2015 9:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Dori928
Posts: 3
Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 1:11 am

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by Dori928 »

The photo of the PR3 rear tire in Reply 17 by Budman has 4mm of tread after 22,000 km (14k mi)

The previous rear & front tires, both PR 3's, were replaced after 26,000 km (16k mi), but still had a little tread left.

My next set will without a doubt be PR-4's !

User avatar
David.
Subscriber
Posts: 8007
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 7:29 pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Bike Model and Year: R1200RT (Camhead) 2012
Been liked: 332 times
Great Britain

Re: Poll of Tyre Options - R 1200 RT, K26 (2012)

Post by David. »

DaygloDavid wrote:I've used Z6's for 8 years without any problems, except, they do tend to break up in the centre of the rear tyre without warning because of the tread pattern being slick in that area.
A bit like this, "I had them once but never again because of the lack of wear bars near the center."

http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/showt ... n-the-road

Image
Post Reply