I just picked up a set of 880s at a cycle shop grand opening sale. I couldn't pass up the deal at a hair over $160 for the pair, even though I don't need tires for another thousand miles or so.

The rear is a 130/90-16 and says "REINFORCED" on the sidewall. I'm wondering if they make a non-reinforced rear in that size as well. This tire is STIFF. It reminds me of the big load range E split-rim truck tires I used to change for a living. I'm not looking forward to wrestling it on with my tire irons.

For those of you running 880's in this size...

Does the sidewall on your rear tire say "REINFORCED"?

Yes it did..........

I don't recall that on mine,I'll have to go take a look.
I know they make a police tire that is supposed to run flat and is reinforced in the side walls to run with no air,thinking that may be what you have.

hmmmm.... metzeller???
no thx,take a look,
this is the tire after a few of kilometers......
http://www.caputmundicrew.it/images/varie/DSCN1756.JPG

F77,

Like to know more about that tire. How many mile/kms, model, etc.

Metzlers are usually pretty good tires especially compared to the stock Dunlops.

Kong

well,11.000 kms,if i don't remember bad the model was the "marathon"
for my fortune
i check the tires before every ride,otherwise......

now i set up the dunlop again
and i rode 20.000kms
before i replace..

F77, don't know what happened there, but I've literally put hundreds of thousands of miles on Metzlers, specifically Marathons. Never had a problem.

But you CAN have an isolated problem with just about ANYthing.

K

F77, don't know what happened there, but I've literally put hundreds of thousands of miles on Metzlers, specifically Marathons. Never had a problem.

But you CAN have an isolated problem with just about ANYthing.

K

I've got to agree with Kev here,I've run multiple hundreds of thousands of miles on Metzlers and on heavyweight bikes with no trouble and better handling than the stock Dunlops.
I wonder if that tire didn't run over some debris in the road causing damage that started the premature failure.
Y2K:smoke

What will happen to a tire if it's mounted backwards??????

Ed

What will happen to a tire if it's mounted backwards??????

Ed

Your transmission will run in reverse :rolleyes: :roflblack


Seriously though I'd have it remounted due to handling concerns if nothing else,not worth the risk running it that way.;)

well,11.000 kms,if i don't remember bad the model was the "marathon"
for my fortune
i check the tires before every ride,otherwise......

now i set up the dunlop again
and i rode 20.000kms
before i replace..


I've learned that the Metz will wear prematurely if not run at a bit more pressure than the Dunlops.I'm getting just as good a mileage out of the Metz as I ever got from the Dunlops now that I'm running higher air pressure in them.

I too can say that I have never had a problem with Metz and it is the only tire I will run.

originally posted by Y2K:
I've learned that the Metz will wear prematurely if not run at a bit more pressure than the Dunlops.I'm getting just as good a mileage out of the Metz as I ever got from the Dunlops now that I'm running higher air pressure in them

Y2K,
How much higher pressure if riding solo on a sporty? I think I've read one of your posts about how good the ME880's are in wet riding conditions, any trade off's for dry? As you know it's about 60/40 wet vs. dry here in the PNW.

I am also curious about the "Reinforced" on the sidewall, if there are different types of ME880's?

Metzeler has three types of rear tires in the 880 series: Bias Ply, Belted Bias Ply and Radial. The belted bias tires are designed for heavier bikes like Harleys and the big yamakawazukidas. The standard bias ply rear would be spec for a lighter bike. I assume your tire is of the belted varity and thus is marked "Reinforced". The designers prolly thought it looked tougher than "Belted".

Interesting that Metzeler states on their site that the 880 series is allowed to run a radial rear and a bias front. No other tire manufaturer I know of allows that combination!

Y2K,
How much higher pressure if riding solo on a sporty? I think I've read one of your posts about how good the ME880's are in wet riding conditions, any trade off's for dry? As you know it's about 60/40 wet vs. dry here in the PNW.

I am also curious about the "Reinforced" on the sidewall, if there are different types of ME880's?


That's a good question and I don't have an answer at this point.
Our Sporty still has the OEM Dunlops and my daily ride is an EG Classic.
I'm running 40psi front and 48 psi rear cold on the EG,the tire says something like 38 min. front and 40min. rear on the sidewall.
This would prolly be too much on a Sporty especially solo.
As for trade offs wet or dry,I've had great handling in either condition with the Metz even in the desert SW with temps nearing 120degs.

I was just checking in the Metzeler V-Twin tire guide and suggested tire pressures for Touring / Cruiser ME 880 Marathon solo rider front 36-40 psi, rear 44-46 psi based on a 170lbs rider. FSM for D401 Dunlops 300 lb load, front 30 psi, rear 36 psi. Thats quite a difference in pressures. Without doing all this research I would probably just went by the FSM and ran the ME880's dangerously low on air? I understand that Metzeler is just "suggesting" these specs, but they quite different than HD.

I was just checking in the Metzeler V-Twin tire guide and suggested tire pressures for Touring / Cruiser ME 880 Marathon solo rider front 36-40 psi, rear 44-46 psi based on a 170lbs rider. FSM for D401 Dunlops 300 lb load, front 30 psi, rear 36 psi. Thats quite a difference in pressures. Without doing all this research I would probably just went by the FSM and ran the ME880's dangerously low on air? I understand that Metzeler is just "suggesting" these specs, but they quite different than HD.

Well that comfirms what I was saying,I run 48 in the rear on my EG due to the tourpac on the back with all my leathers and other junk and the bags with tools,tire kit,mag lite,emergency belt kit etc. and the fact that I weigh 250 lbs and ride two up often.
I think under inflation is the leading cause for Metzler tire wear complaints.

Hey Trout,

Got those tires on yet? Give us a report.:tour

well, i follow scrupolously the suggested tire pressure....
but,it is the second time that happens,
from your positive feedback
i guess that i've catched wheels with factory defects.

Y2K,
How much higher pressure if riding solo on a sporty? I think I've read one of your posts about how good the ME880's are in wet riding conditions, any trade off's for dry? As you know it's about 60/40 wet vs. dry here in the PNW.


Reports I've read here and elsewhere agree with my personal perception that the Metzlers are superior to the Dunlops in dry handling as well.

I'm told the Avons surpass the Metzlers in dry handling, but cannot match the wet handling.

So in my book the Metzlers are the best all around.

Kev

Hey Trout,

Got those tires on yet? Give us a report.:tour

Not yet.

It'll take a while to get the full analysis done. First I need to get around to mounting them, then a few hundred miles of run-in, etc. I'm pretty sure I'll be happy. I'm easy to please when it comes to tires. I didn't ever have any issues with the stock D401's (2 sets), then this current set of BT45V's have been great (except for short life), so I expect the 880's will also be just fine.

Nobody except toe (thanks toe) has answered my original question. You guys with Metzelers (Y2K, Kev M, bplinson) does your rear tire say REINFORCED? Thanks.

Nobody except toe (thanks toe) has answered my original question. You guys with Metzelers (Y2K, Kev M, bplinson) does your rear tire say REINFORCED? Thanks.

Sorry man, I was a poser and drove both yesterday and today, and I forgot to check last night.

I'll try and remember tonight!

K

Reports I've read here and elsewhere agree with my personal perception that the Metzlers are superior to the Dunlops in dry handling as well.

I'm told the Avons surpass the Metzlers in dry handling, but cannot match the wet handling.

So in my book the Metzlers are the best all around.

Kev

I dunno...

I've been told that ther NEW dunlop Elite III's are supposed to be a pretty damn good wet tire, and have a long life, as well :dunno

Nobody except toe (thanks toe) has answered my original question. You guys with Metzelers (Y2K, Kev M, bplinson) does your rear tire say REINFORCED? Thanks.


YES, it does.

Mine say REINFORCED.

Mine says reinforced
_______________
yeller1200

Mine says REINFORCED too. !!!!

Thanks for the feedback.

I can now sleep easier knowing (assuming) that I got the right tire. It sounds like the 130/90-16 ME880 rear comes REINFORCED only.

Did any of you guys (or gals) "feel" the tire before it went on your bike? Those sidewalls feel like you could run the tire flat and not feel it. The tread is 5 ply and the sidewall is 3 ply. If I could make a sound by typing here, it would sound like Tim the Toolman Taylor...

Did any of you guys (or gals) "feel" the tire before it went on your bike? Those sidewalls feel like you could run the tire flat and not feel it. The tread is 5 ply and the sidewall is 3 ply. If I could make a sound by typing here, it would sound like Tim the Toolman Taylor...


I didn't pay attention to it before it was mounted, but before I put the current one on, I had a different Metlzer on the rear of my Guzzi and I took a key through the tire on the highway (in a construction zone, must have been sticking up through the cut ribs of the roadway they were working on). Anyway, it cut the tube and my tire slowly lost all pressure while I was 2-up at 70 mph. I just HAPPENED to need gas and turned off, and the bike got REAL squirrely on the off-ramp (I knew instantly what it was).

But I road on the flat Metzler about another mile to a gas station where I could pull over and assess the situation.


Oh, BTW, between last night and this morning I got to refamiliarize myself with the wet handling. Excellent, though I did brake kinda hard at one point and felt her get a little squirrely, so ya still gotta be careful.

Kev

If a Metz is reinforced, then you can only get that size in a reinforced tire, according to the site.

The 160/70-17 I'll be putting on is a reinforced type also.