Ok, I have searched and read numberous threads about tires. I have a 99 Fatboy and I am in need of a new rear tire. I think I am going with the Metzler ME880. My question is can I replace my rear tire only with a Metzler and leave the Dunlop on the front? The bike has less than 5K miles on it and the front tire looks just like new. The previous owners must have like burnouts to ware the rear down so fast. I am just wondering what your opinions are. Thanks Bryan!

 

It's just my opinion that replacng both the tires will give you a better ride. I personally don't mix brands like that. You will be amazed with the difference I would imagine.

 

Also, where can I find Metzlers for the best price?

 

I bought my metzeler's from Wally's cycle world.$147.00 for the rear(18x180) and $90.00 for the front.(21x90).

 

Everything I've read says NOT to mix brands. I just put on a set of the 880s and absolutely LOVE them. A big difference in feel and handling than the Dunlops. Got them on eBay from American Classic Motors , 315 Big Road Zieglerville, PA 19492. They have tons of stuff listed on eBay

 

I guess, I will just get another Dunlop. I do not want to spend the cash for 2 tires right now. Maybe I can replace them both next year. I will just have to ride the Sh** out of it next summer to ware them down. Thanks for the input guys!!!

 

Don't know what to problem with mixing brands could be. I've got 4 harleys, and a couple still have a metzler on the back, and a dunlop on the front. As a matter of fact, a couple of years ago, the 21" 880 front wasn't tubless, and I had tubless rims. I put the 880 on the rear of both my wideglide and softail, but had to stick with a dunlop on the front. And before everyone starts telling me I could have run the tube tire tubless (I always thought you could), metzler advised me against it (I called them).

 

Actually, I thought it was the other way around: ok to run a tubeless with a tube, but not the other way.

Cheers!
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reh13: No handling issues with the 2 different tires on the same bike? Thanks

 

Clammy, thats exactly what I was saying. According to Metzler, you shouldn't run a tube type tire, tubeless. They explained to me, that there was a difference in the sidewall construction, and on low air (not necessarly a flat) the bead could come away from the rim. On the harley/dunlop tire, it's written on the sidewall, tube or tubeless. And HarleyArcher, I've put a little over 10,000 miles (combined), on the 2 bikes with mixed brand tires. I've never had a handling problem. This all came up when I was in Myrtle Beach a couple of years ago. On the last day there, a guy was giving a great deal on Metzlers. I purchased 3 set of 880's, 150's for the rear, and 21" for the front. I didn't notice the front being tube type tires, until I went to mount them. I just assumed all the 880's were tubeless. Getting a lot of different opinions from people about running or not running them tubeless, I decided to call Metzler and ask. I ended up selling the front, tube type Metzlers, and ran my dunlops that came on the bikes. One of the guys I sold the 21" Metzlers to, put it on a tubeless rim, and ran it until he wore it out, with no problems (go figure). I told him what Metzler said, and he didn't care. He said he'd run them before like that. Anyway, I sold the dunlops off the back of my bikes to a guy I know. He said he didn't care about the brand, just the price. He's been running mixed (whatever he could get) brand tires for years. I believe the handling problem comes in, when you mix radial and bias ply tires.