2012 Street Tire Test | Absolutely Tired

METZELER SPORTEC M5 INTERACT SR RATING 62.0

The Metzelers have a soft feel that provides one of the better rides over highway bumps, and when ridden at an average pace in the canyons, the Sportec M5 Interact behaves fairly well. Begin to ramp up the pace however, and the Metzelers start to disappoint. Bump absorption at moderate to aggressive lean angles becomes poor, with bigger hits often upsetting tire grip, requiring additional attention in the corners. Kento and Bradley also complained of a lot of squirm from the rear at max lean that sapped confidence, and steering habits were heavy and high-effort, especially when trying to tighten your line midcorner; “Steering effort is wrist-achingly high,” lamented Bradley after the test loop. Traction feedback at moderate lean angles was pretty numb, only adding to the confidence erosion. Break-in and warm-up were deemed slightly better than average.

Truthfully, the Sportec M5 Interact just has that heavy, durable feel of a sport-touring tire compared to the others in this group. And the wear rates almost seem to confirm that assessment, with the Metzelers looking basically like they’d been nicely scrubbed in.

PIRELLI DIABLO ROSSO II SR RATING 74.5

Like the Metzelers, the Diablo Rosso II tires had a nice, compliant ride on the highway heading toward the canyons. Steering habits also felt similar, with Bradley feeling the effort was just as high as the Sportecs, although Kento wasn’t as harsh in his assessment on the 600, despite agreeing that the Diablo Rosso IIs didn’t like trail-braking; any front brake usage instantly made steering sluggish and heavy. Both riders agreed that the overall traction was a far cry from the Metzeler, with much better edge grip and a more consistent feel at max lean angles. Bumps and pavement irregularities tended to upset the Pirelli however, and feedback was deemed average at best, with not much communication at any lean angle.

Wear rates were light to moderate, with the different compound sections on the rear tire clearly visible after the test loop. Break-in and warm-up were better than average, with the Pirellis coming in fairly quick up the first canyon road.

SHINKO 010 APEX SR RATING 59.6

The 010 Apex is the company’s model “designed for serious sportbike riding.” The rear 010 Apex utilizes a zero-degree JLSB (Joint-Less Steel Belted) construction, while the front tire features aramid belts; both tires are made with an “intermediate compound” and have a tread pattern with less void ratio than the usual street tire.

Break-in and warm-up with the Shinkos was the worst in this group, with both Bradley and Kento experiencing a lot of initial squirm and requiring a good five miles up the first canyon road before they had any confidence in the tire. The tire carcass rides smoothly on the highway, but any big bumps can become spine-rattling, and anything more than moderate lean angles quickly cause bump absorption and compliance to go out the window. Overall traction wasn’t bad, but rocks and pavement irregularities upset the 010 Apex more than the other tires, requiring more attention midcorner than usual. Steering was high-effort and lethargic compared to the others, and trail-braking caused some stand-up tendencies that needed some muscle to correct. Wear rates were light to moderate, with a lot of feathering at the siping edges.