Ok, here it is...

[moondog]

Just got off the phone with an engineer from Metzler, 30 years in the business and an avid motorcyclist: first of all, thanks to Metzler for actually calling me back. The guy was in a hotel room in Italy, spent all day on an airplane, and called at 1:00 am his time!! Class act. There is an extra belt in the "p" spec tire. The "p" spec was developed as a hayabusa specific tire to handle the extra weight (heat build-up) at warp speeds and to assist with stability when bending light. After looking at the specs, the tire is closer to a 198 then a 190, just like the oem Bridgestone BT056ss. This tire was developed as a result of Suzuki's requirements for the busa, not the other way around. Now, will a regular spec M1 work? You bet. If it lets go at 185, your widow can skip the call to Metzler....their fitment chart specifically calls for the "p" spec tire to be used on the busa. After picking this guy's brain, I'm having the local dealer stock a set of p's just for me...my fifth set of M1's will be "p" spec. moondog out.

 

[JINKSTER]

fine but...two sundays ago?...Silver and I were at a buck 80 for a good minute or so...

and just this past sunday we went a good solid hour or so in triple digit land with several moments of 150+ action and on all occassions she/we was/were as stable as disneys mono-rail....on pilot powers.

widow?....call?....michelin?...faulty tires?

 

[busafish]

moondog, i'm with you on this one. Suzuki made the bike, I take it they know a thing or two about the kinds of tire that should be on the bike.

 

[grabntwist]

Aint nuttin wrong about runnin the right equipment on your machine.

 

[sportrider1296]

exactly, things are specifically designed for an application. Just as the others said, If you are not out acting crazy you can get by with about any tire.

 

[Tio Loco]

Thanks for answering my question with this new post. I find it puzzling that Metzeler advertises the M1 standard and the M1 P to the same specifications. I went directly to the Metzler web site and pulled their chart as seen below. Now I must be blind because they look the same to me. No doubt your guy is on the money but I now have the wrong tires on my bike. If anybody is wondering about the B designation its specifically for a BMW. I’m mad at Metzeler I could not find any info about an extra belt on their site. Thanks, Moondog for your help.

 

[mjn]

Thanks for clearing that up moondog.

This does, however, lead to another question.....Are there any other manufacturers that make a Busa specific rear tire other than Bridgstone and Metzler?

 

[Tio Loco]

Just emailed Metzeler wondering why they don’t come clean about the extra belt and the wider tire. You can see clear as day that the M1P is listed at a 190 not a 198 somebody at Metzeler dropped the ball.

 

[justintime2]

Tires are quite commonly refered to as a rounded number and not there specific measurement so there is nothing wrong. The P is a 198!

It does have an extra layer of carcass in it for added strength, and our bikes need it.

I have always used the (P) spec, why not for a few extra bucks, I mean that literally, get the right parts for your machine. Sure the non P's will probably work just fine but why bother?

The M1 is a badass tire at a great price so I look forward to the new M3's Revils was telling us about.

 

[Tio Loco]

Tires are quite commonly refered to as a rounded number and not there specific measurement so there is nothing wrong. The P is a 198!

It does have an extra layer of carcass in it for added strength, and our bikes need it.

I have always used the (P) spec, why not for a few extra bucks, I mean that literally, get the right parts for your machine. Sure the non P's will probably work just fine but why bother?

The M1 is a badass tire at a great price so I look forward to the new M3's Revils was telling us about.

Not trying to save a buck its all my local shop had if Metzeler would get off their butts and provide the right information I could have drove to the next city and purchased the M1P’s if its that important. I’m just not too happy spending the time and money only to get the wrong tire.

 

[chevelle]

there is the michelin,pilot sport,hpx,i picked up a set from charles 120/190,the intent was to put them on the 12,but now that i have a muzzy steering damper,i don't think it will matter to much,i run bt 56 j's on both bikes(very stable,to bad they don't make a 180 bt 56 j),which work fine for me,but they don't last long,i hit the wear bars at about 1800-1900 miles,no burnouts,but as they start to wear,they break loose easier,which is the beginning of the end,on either bike (rear)

 

[moondog]

The guy told me to call the other manufacturers and ask them about their busa specific tires, he says they all have them in some form or fashion....I don't know because I've always run the (regular) M1's after the oem axe's. The metzler dude was kind of vauge when it came to the actual size of the "p" spec, but he eluded to the fact it was not an exact 190.

 

[unkleslapnutz]

So do I need to go to the store and ask them to order me one? Or is there a place on the net that I can order one?

 

[moondog]

After reading Rev's post on the M3, I would (if u can) wait on them. Sounds like a superior tire to the old M1. I'm going down to my local shop today to see when the M3 is coming out. Metzler says Jan 06'.....