I just put a new Metzeler Z6 Interact on the rear of the ST3. This has become my favorite tire for this bike. I like them so much this is the third one on the ST and I have gone through 2 sets on the Monster. It just does everything right for me. But since putting this last one on the rear I just haven’t been feeling the love. At first I thought it just needed scrubbing in but that feeling just hasn’t gotten any better. I just don’t get the same feeling of confidence; grip and extremely precise steering I normally get from this tire. It sort of feels like a cold tire that just won’t warm up. This morning I was out in the garage and the ST and Monster were sitting side by side and I started noticing that the new one on the ST just looked narrower than the one on the Monster. I measured them and sure enough the new tire was 3/16” narrower. First thought was crap I got a 170! Checked the sidewall and no, they are both 180’s BUT there is a big “C” embossed into the side wall. I checked the Metzeler web site and this is the OEM tire for the Yamaha FJ1300 and couple of the big BMWs. Looking at the tire composition the OEM version uses a 2 ply Rayon sidewall and tread and the standard tire only uses 1 ply. Even though it’s narrower it also weighs over a pound more.
Lesson learned is it do make a difference. This really is a different tire compared to the standard version and sucks in my opinion. The really bad part is it’ll probably last forever. Grrrrrrr.
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