General Comments

The conservative choice is the proven ME-Z1/Z2 combination from Metzeler, in stock sizes.  It performs well on wet and dry roads, has reasonably tread life, and just plain works very well.  You can't go wrong with it.

Nothing is inexpensive for this bike.  Whatever you do, you'll be paying over $200 for a set (unless you fit bias-plies, which I would definitely not do on this bike).  The recent downward trend in Dunlop's prices makes the D205 sport-touring tyres an obvious choice.  They're just a little cheaper than the Michelin Macadam 90X's, and while I'm not particularly fond of Dunlop's sport-touring profiles, they're certainly good tyres.  They'll last well, too, making them very good value for (relatively) not much money.

Metzeler's new ME-Z4, while not yet as widespread as the Z1/Z2, should be a superb tyre for this bike.  Improvements in compound, construction, and tread depth all result in a tyre that can bring noticeable benefits to the Monster.  For general riding it's even better than the proven Z1/Z2 combination, and for sport-touring it's definitely superior to those older Metzelers.  For most riders, this should be the tyre of choice.

For riding which tends to square off the rear, such as commuting and those long straight roads on the way to the mountains, the narrower 170/60 will provide more even wear characteristics than the wider 180/55.  With these tyres, the difference in traction characteristics is certainly not enough to make it worth fitting a tyre which would square off more readily.

The radical Avon Azaro tyres work superbly well on Ducatis, and the Monster is no exception.  They provide excellent grip and handling, superb conformation to pavement irregularities, and for sport-riding in the real world of uneven street surfaces they can be better even than the Michelin Hi-Sports.  Thanks to the unusual construction they last surprisingly well for a sport tyre.  None of the other manufacturers have a tyre that performs like these -- the Michelin Hi-Sport may stick a little better, but is more prone to squaring off the rear.  Be certain you get the correct tyre for the rim -- the Azaro rear is designed specifically for one rim width only, and is offered in several models in the same nominal size to accomodate different rims widths.

I'll go with the Azaro rear, but on the front I prefer the AV27.  It has none of the uneven wear tendencies of the Azaro front, and provides excellent stability with good traction and handling.  Also, I'll stick with the narrower stock size rear -- it'll provide plenty of traction, but should give a little more even wear for general riding.

Avon

Bridgestone

Continental

Dunlop

Metzeler

Michelin

Pirelli

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