Sportec M5 Interact Tyres

[simon]

Well I thought I would share my experience with these tyres.
I had done 7,300 kms on the K3's and the rear was at it's limit.
I did a few reviews looking at the Diablo II and others but the review of the M5 Sportec gave me a lot of good feelings about this tyre.

See here : Metzeler Sportec M5 Review

Anyway, I wanted a tyre that would last longer than the K3's as I ride the bike everyday, any weather and let's face it, the K3's are Track Day tyres as specified in Metzler's blurb.

So I fitted the new M5's last Thursday, scrubbed them in for 100kms and went out for a ride yesterday on a un-seasonably warm day out of Melbourne into the country.
Wow, I am sooooooo impressed with these tyres. The grip is fantastic in the dry, after the flat spot on the K3 it's like getting the S1000 from the shop again from new.
It'll be raining later this week so I'll try them in the wet as well, but as you can see from the review it's looking good.

[Prowler]

how would you rate them against the k3?

[simon]

Originally Posted by Prowler

how would you rate them against the k3?

Not as soft but after a good run at the weekend out on the road I was very happy with the grip in the dry, the next test will be in the wet
I have never done a track day on the K3's but will later this year on the M5's. I am pretty confident they will hold up well plus give me a lot more mileage this time.

[nutty1000rr]

Hello,

Replaced my K3's with M5's after 2,800 miles in order to do my first ever track day (VIR Cornerspeed). Bike's stock suspension was too soft and VIR pretty much beat my tires up (as well as me) after first 20-minute session. Have done 2,000 miles on the road since then and they are a great road tire. Very dependable and predictable in the dry.

Will replace them with K3's for my next adventure on the track however. Might try a softer compound for the front since I always replace both tires at the same time.

[RRrider]

My experience was the K3 were noticeably better in dry twisties and noticeably worse in wet. M5 was about 80% K3 dry handling. They didn't last too much longer for me (about 3k miles on k3 and 3500 m5)

[nutty1000rr]

Update: I have 3,400 miles on the M5's, which is pretty good given the 520 conversion and lower gearing (-1+3). They look like they'll last until 4,000. Now it's getting cooler, I'll replace them with another set of M5's.

[Karlb]

for street riding I have used the M5 lots, very nice tire, for track I prefer Dunlop GPAs

[roddy]

Hi Simon , i have had a set of Diablo Rosso Corsa's for 1200 kays now , perfect for me for hard/fast sunday rides also excellent in the wet (altho rain mode was used ) other riders were sooking about how slippery it was over old wet timber bridges , the s1r powered over them without a problem , could be the mode i reckon it was the tyres . Looking forward to Phillip Island on cupday , i have heard the Corsa's are better than the Rosso 2's on the track ,time will tell . Also there may be a few forum guys going to the Island on the 16th of december , i'm already booked in , it'll be good to catch up with everyone either at the island or with MSR on a sunday

[mark421]

Thought I'd add my bit ....
Had 2 S1000s now and done about 10000 miles on each..
Had both K3s and M5s on both of them ...

K3 wins hands down for dry fast riding - pretty crap in the wet, but that's to be expected given the amount of cut there isnt in the tyre!
Fantastic confidence braking hard into corners while cranked over - they just seem to stick and go where you point them :-)

Only managed to get between 1100 and 1400 miles from the rear K3 - something to with an over zealous right hand methinks?

M5 is the best all round tyre. Lasts 3000 - 3500 miles on the rear. Great in the wet and I would agree with a comment above that they are about 80% of the K3 in the dry....

Only done one track day on the S1000 and was on M5s. Just as well as it pissed down for the morning sessions!

So to summarise M5 is the best all rounder for mileage and all weather riding.

Just had a blast to the Italian Alps and back. 3000 miles in 8 days, 1500 of them 2 up. The rear lasted the trip - just!
Stelvio pass was a hoot! Maybe a supermoto would be better than a sports bike for that one though!

I do however find that the front doesnt last for 2 rears .... front goes off at about 4500 miles.

On another note, does anyone know of a spring supplier to soften the suspension? My mate has an S1000 and he only weighs about 10 stone, and constantly finds it hard on bumpy roads ...

I can also strongly recomend Caulfield Leather for Gel sests for the pillion - ask my girlfriend! 1500 miles - no pain! Although her knees are hurting a little ...

Ah well, best gte out for the last of the dry roads before the evil winter settles in :-(

Come on England in the morning - - - stuff Les Bleus (fingers crossed)