New Tires

[bearbait]

The Bridgestones on my 2008 Nomad are finally wearing out. I wasn't too impressed with them, and would like to find a better handling, longer wearing tire.

Could some of you folks who have used non-Bridgestones offer suggestions?

I notice that few manufacturers make rear tires in the 170/70-16 size the Nomad needs, but I have heard that some folks use Dunlop (I think) 180/70-16s. Is this so? Does it present any problems?

I have also heard that the new (made in Brazil?) Metzelers are not up to the old standards. Comments on that are welcome too.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[cactusjack]

Either the Dunlop Elite 3 or the Avon Cobra are good tires. The 180 width fits just fine.

I wouldn't recommend ME880's to anyone. They were good tires until a couple of years ago, now they are made in Brazil and there is a degradation of quality.

[macmac]

Your choices are pretty much Avon cobra tires, Dunlop, and or car tires for the rear end. With mc tires that larger size you posted works fine.

You can safely run a bias on ft with a radial on rear, but not the reverse.

If you can determine if the Metz was German made before you buy that is a choice too.

We don't call the Bridgestone oem tires the brick fer no reason ya know.

Me pet peeve is guys who replace rear tires with out servicing the swing arm. At this time it is a wiser move to make sure the U Joint is a good U joint, that the rear compound wheel is greased, both ends of the drive shaft are greased, and that the swing arm has any grease at all on the cage roller bearings. The top shock mounts also have cage roller bearings, and will need grease, while the lower mounts are standard, and should be rubber lubbed.

In the tech section below the garage are my comments on the doing.

[bearbait]

Thanks, guys, and <blush!> I just found the appropriate informative threads on later pages in this forum.

[macmac]

No big deal. So far as I know search is broken. There is a tech section below the garage too, but I have no idea if there is any tire disscustion there.

[ballast]

I just put Avon Cobras front and back. Only have 25 miles so far but they were a smooth 25.

[flightdoc]

I just installed my 4th set of Bridgestones (OEM). My bike has 43k on it. I've never had any of the issues that others have complained about. I ride in every kind of weather from March thru December. Never a flat, weird noises, bad grip in the rain etc. Tires have been flawless in every type of situation. Gas mileage is consistantly 40 plus MPG and I cruise at 70MPH, highway.

vin

[kawiman]

I have used the stones, metzlers and avons. I am most happy with the avons. I have them on both my bikes now. Its a soft smooth ride with lots of grip in the curves. Its all I plan to use unless they go down like the metzlers did in quality.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

See my thread "Thoughts on Dunlop Rear Tire" and leave me your thoughts. I am down to my last miles on the rear tire and am going to get it replaced this next week. Local guy sells and installs tires at his shop at his house. Metzlers and Dunlop 404 for $150 or Dunlop Elite 3 for $170. His charge for installing is $40.

[trosco]

I had no problems with the OEM stone on my 07. Got 12,000 on the first rear and 15,000 out of the 2nd rear. At 12,000 1st one wasn't to wear bars but was leaving on 5,000 mile trip and didn't want to do change on road. Got 22,000 out of first front and have 11,000 on 2nd front and about 1/2 worn. So I must not be hard on tires even though I am a big guy and ride quickly. I am a heavy user of the front brake, maybe that helps my rear tires?

After two rear stones I switched the rear to a Dunlop E3 160/80/16 because I wanted to go to a slightly larger circumference tire. But I wanted to stay with Bias front and rear and with the width of our rear wheel I did not want a wider tire. I have about 7,000 on the E3. Seems like it will go 15-20,000 for me. Handles decent and is quiet. And I like the extra clearance it gives plus it fixed about 1/2 my speedo error.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Trosco, if I had of gotten that kind of mileage out of mine I would have been happy with the Bridgestone's but I only have 9400 on the bike and tires. The front still has some life left but the rear is about to the indicators. Other than that their performance has been great.

[trosco]

Gene,
Everyone I talk to has the same complaint, poor tread life, on the stones. I don't know why they last for me but they do. I attached a pic of the rear stone that I took off at 15,000 well actually it was 15,600 miles and as you can see, I could have gone a little longer. Although the reports were that the E3 was doubling the stone miles I think mine is going to go 15-20,000 which isn't that much more than the stone went for me.
I was set to go CT on rear, when I made the steal deal on this E3 so that is probably where i will go when this one does wear out. I do know that I will go with a rear 150/80 OEM stone on the front mounted backwards next time (cause there is more tread on the rears) cause I just ordered it from DKirk, Less than $90 for that tire is to good to pass up!

[metricman]

I have been very happy with my Kenda K673 Kruz Cruiser Touring Rear Tire
Find it here cheap
http://www.jcmotors.com/p-9614-kenda...rear-tire.aspx

I have over 12.000 miles on it with plenty of tread left.

[dhodges]

I keep hearing about Metzlers being made in Brazil but I just bought a new ME880 Marathon and it is made in Germany. I asked the dealer where I purchased the tire about the Brazil connection and he said their tires have all been made in Germany. I'm wondering if when you order online from a discounter you may be getting the cheaper Brazil tires and if you are paying full retail from a local dealer if they are coming from Germany????

[danleb75]

I ordered 2 ME880 from americanmototire.com and the rear is made in germany and the front is made in brazil. The 180/70 rear fixed my speedo error.