Metzeler TD Slicks.. Any Experiences?

[Steve Bass]

As per the title really..

Looking at these as they offer a 190/55 rear which is becoming a rare size as 180/200 60 profiles seem to be the new thing. Issue is these taller profiles prove to be a challenge on a Ducati with clearance to the swingarm and room for tyre warmers.

I've read these TD slicks are basically an untreaded Racetec RR (which I love) and as a bonus, the rear is reversible...

Anyone have any real world experiences to share?

Cheers

[dibblecorse]

I last used the Comp K, it was awful, enough to send me running back to Bridgestone, but the later tyres are really well regarded and a staple in the paddock at all the euros I go on, including a number of my immediate lot all being more than happy with them, I rode a 2023 V4 at Brno recently with a set fitted and they were more than adequate, would I switch back from the VO2, probably not but they do seem to have come on leaps and bounds from the initial wooden feel of the CompK

[KurtFlew]

I've been using a rear TD slick for a while, came from a supercorsa v3 and it feels very similar. No complaints.

[Birky_41]

I remember those CompK they proper packed feel and would just let go

Latest ones as already said are similar to Metz racetec rr road compound

For some reason I don't get on with Metz that much but I love pirelli SuperCorsa (and no they are not the same tyre as some might think)

If you want a good but not V02/KR level grip then go with them. They last a long time, warm up well and will run a fast group pace on track... They just don't have the feel or absolute grip Vs the next step up as already mentioned

[GreaseNipple]

I run a td slick on the rear when I'm on track; I keep a supercorsa on the front. I made the switch when I got through the right hand side of a supercorsa in one day. I'd estimate they last 3x longer because you can swap directions. Grip levels seem very similar to the supercorsa IME as a top of inter/ bottom of fast group rider. I don't use warmers and they warm up like a road tyre does, a couple of laps and you're good to go, even in mild (14 ambient) days.

[HughiusMaximus]

GreaseNipple said:

I run a td slick on the rear when I'm on track; I keep a supercorsa on the front. .

Out of curiosity, which supercorsa on the front?

[Steve Bass]

Thanks all,

So I was using a Pirelli SC3 slick on the 1098 and even the 190/60 profile is rubbing against the back of the swingarm leaving big smears of tyre up the casting as the tyre grows under high speed...Unfortunately, it's one of the drawbacks of the single sided swingarm design so as more and more manufacturers are going to 60 profile, it's becoming more of a squeeze.
I'll see what the clearances on the 998 bikes looks like but I really want to standardise a single tyre as it allows me to swap wheels between bikes and once I've fine tuned the traction control parameters ot the tyre, I can keep a standard setting map across the bikes...

[Eatpies99]

Interesting to read this as I have a brand new set to put on my 848. Some people seem to say the front lacks feel. In fairness I'd be too slow to notice anyway.....

[Steve Bass]

Eatpies99 said:

Interesting to read this as I have a brand new set to put on my 848. Some people seem to say the front lacks feel. In fairness I'd be too slow to notice anyway.....

Do you run a 180 on the848?? I believe they have a 5.5 rear wheel rather than a 6?