From reading the 2012 test reviews from valencia they said it came with metzler R3 (racetec or something, just from memory)...and it was commented they were as good as it gets for an OEM tire, it handled valencia in slick mode very nicely from what I read....but now I keep reading here how crappy the 2011 contis were...do the U.S. 2012's come with the better metzlers or was that some euro only tire? If the 2012 does not have world class tires I will be very disappointed. So does anyone know what they come shoud with? If it is not an excellent Hipo street tire/track day tire can I get some recommendations?
I am supposed to take delivery next saturday of a red beast.
The two 2012's at my dealer have Metzlers My 2010 had contis (which I didn't mind), my friends 2011 came with Metzlers. It's probably a toss up at the factory.
From what I have seen it is a crapshoot on the tire you get. My original 2010 came with the K3, but the dealer and I were off by $500 bucks on my trade so I went some place else. It had the conti's. At first I didn't mind them, but the more I read about the conti's and the K3 and I read a huge tire review it was clear that the K3 was a better all around tire. After 3500 miles I switched out the conti's for k3's and it cost me, yup $500 by the time I got everything done. At the end of the day I should have just bought the first bike with the K3's.
My 2010 came with Conti's and they were ok, my 2012 has Bridgestone Battlax BT016R's.
I've run the BT016's on some previous bikes I've owned and they are one of my top three favorites so I am pleased. Not much of Michelin man and haven't had great experiences with the Metzler line either. I'll take a Bridgestone or Pirelli any day.
Which tires come on U.S. 2012's?
2003 Yamaha V-Star 1100 Custom
2010 BMW 
2010 BMW S1000RR
Linear Mode
