Tires

[brikmill]

I've got 9000 miles on my '07 Nomad. The original Bridgestone's are fading fast.

On my '99 800 Classic I replaced the 'stones with Metzler 880 Marathon's and they were great. Right up until I totaled the bike in '06.

I'd like to replace the OEM tires with new Metzler's but the rear is a "+1" and while I think that's OK, I'm wondering if anyone has real world experience with Metzler's on a Nomad?

My riding is split roughly 60/40 highway local.

Thanks.

[cactusjack]

I've got 9000 miles on my '07 Nomad. The original Bridgestone's are fading fast.

On my '99 800 Classic I replaced the 'stones with Metzler 880 Marathon's and they were great. Right up until I totaled the bike in '06.

I'd like to replace the OEM tires with new Metzler's but the rear is a "+1" and while I think that's OK, I'm wondering if anyone has real world experience with Metzler's on a Nomad?

My riding is split roughly 60/40 highway local.

Thanks.



Probably half of us have used or are using ME880's on our Nomads. I wasn't that impressed with them, apparently they aren't the tire they used to be. Avon Cobras seem to be the "tire du jour" nowadays. I gave up completely and went to a car tire a couple of months ago.

By "+1", I assume you mean going from the stock 170 width to the 180 width? No, there's no problems with that.

Only 9,000 miles on an 07? You need to get out more... http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[nomad561]

Welcome to the forum from SC.
There are dozens of threads about tires around here.You can find a review on just about any tire.I have a Bridgestone G850 on mine(I'm one of the oddballs here),but I'll be going to a CT next time.

[ccmjr77]

I currently have the 880s on my 2007. I have the 180 on the rear. Radials front and rear.
They are ok, no problems. Tire wear has been good so far, but handling is not as good as I expected. They have about 7500 miles on them and looks as if they will go a few thousand more. I had put 880s on my old C50 and really liked them. On the Nomad, they are ok. I will either go with the Avon Cobras or Dunlop for my next set.

[dank]

I had 2 of the 180 Metzlers on mine. No problems. Really good tire, but I'd give a good look at Elite III's. It was my final tire. I liked it's performance in rain, definitely better cornering, and longer mileage life better than the 880's. But it cost more too.

[ridemslow]

Save yourself some headache, and money too.. go Darkside.

[Top Cat]

Metzler's were the hot thing on this forum last year. Many of us went to them.
I have an 07 with 40,000 miles on it and have had 4 sets of tires so far. Bridgstone,Metzler,Cobra and now have elite 3 on back waiting for Cobra on front to wear out.
Metz were noisy and at 12,000 the steel belts were showing :-[
Cobras were good tire got about the same mileage as Metz but were quieter.
The Elite 3 on the back now is the best so far for me. Like the handling and it is quiet and good in the rain.
I also have the 180 size on rear with no problem.

[ells]

Ran nothing but Metz on my '99 VN800 and was real pleased. On the Nad I got 16K out of a Metz 160 bias on the rear but got less out of a radial (Brazil) on the front. Now have a set of E-IIIs, 160 bias rear and radial front. Real happy with E-IIIs so far at 6K.

[soverton]

Have 31K on my 04, replaced the Stones (with 9k) with a pair of Dunlop 404. Have used Dunlop on my Harley, Goldwing, & BMW and was pleased with the ride, handling and mileage. So far very pleased with the 404, at about half the price of E3 REAL HAPPY. From Cheap Cycle Parts both were $156 delivered to my door.

[MikeInFla]

I put ME880's on all my other bikes and they worked fine. I put a set on my Nomad and they are the biggest piece of crap ever.

After 1200 miles (thats 1200 not 12000) the tires front and back not only cupped but had a big wave in the center of the tire. I took them back to the dealer and they replaced them with no charge. The second set has on 10K on them and they both need to be replaced for the same thing. Never again.

I have Dunlops on order right now.

[toophun]

I just got an E3 the other nite from American Motorcycle Tire for $104 ($10 shipping). The rear is about $170. I paid $220 from a "stealer" in SLC this summer on a road trip. Ran them on my Wing and always liked them.

[landman]

the dunlop e-3 bias tires work well for me,160/80 on the rear.

[fakebikerdude59]

I swapped out the Dunlop 404s on my 09 900LT for the Bridgestone Exedra G702 on the rear and G701 on the front. I got 16,000 out of the original Dunlops and they still looked OK.

I am very impressed with the Bridgestones. Quiet, smooth, good cornering and excellent in the rain.

So far I have 2000 miles on them and they look barely used, so wear seems good. Provided the wear factor holds out, I will be putting them on the Nomad at the tire change, too. And I'll be going to the 180.

[nomad561]

This is what I'm running on the rear of my Nomad. I liked the idea of having a Kevlar belted radial under me. So far,I've put around 6000 miles on it and it handles everything I put it through with ease.
http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=191&products_id=676
I'm also running an E3 on the front.

[flavor]

Welcome to the board. I've used Metzler's, Dunlop's, Cobra's Elite II's to mention a few, but now a car tire in the rear. I like the cobra's best though I liked the elite's II's as well. If I run a different tire on the front I would try the elite III's. I run the cobra in the front, and just replaced my front with another one and got almost 16,000 miles out of the last one. My suggestion is to use the search function on this site and search for blogs about any specific tire to read what has been written.

In the end you will have to make an educated decision according to what you research. I personally will always keep a car tire on the rear on my nomad. If you stay with a M/C tire my only suggestion is to go up in size on the rear. !80/70 16.

Good luck.

[ringadingh]

Ive had three sets of ME880's but no more, I don't find them as good as they used to be. I switched to Dunlops and so far they ar pretty good.

[brikmill]

Thank you all. It looks like overall the E3's are coming out slightly ahead.

That's this winter's project... (and Cactus Jack - you're right 9K on an '07 is light. What can I say? Up north here, we do have a riding season and while I ride from March to November, when it snows I prefer my Arctic Cat...

[macmac]

Metz was a good tire till they moved the making of them to Brazil. This is the self induced screw, if you ask me. It will be 30 years to get back the rep they once earned and have lost.

That is 30 years after they get it right again, which isn't happening yet. One bean counter too many.

Look at Avon Cobra, and Dunlop, in MC tires.

I too am one that crossed over to the Darkside, I did that last year and am running a Dunlop D 251 radial ft, in the stock size.

With the SP 5000 ct, this match is made in heaven. Apx 5,000 miles on that rear and I have 7/32nds left to go from 10/32nds new.

I did this to get more than a lousey 9,000 out of a tire. What I didn't know, was how much better handling would be.

Now what ever that was I forgot, as I don't notice wooden covered bridge decks being slippery, no bother really on a cheese grader bridge either. What painted lines or tar snakes?

If you have false teeth do look out when braking hard http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif