Change is good sometimes!
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
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Change is good sometimes!
After 14 years of running Dunlops I broke down and bought a pair of Metzeler 880's for my RoadGlide. Took off for Arkansas last Friday and ran the twisties and some superslab on the way home today.
I like 'em........they seem to feel a bit stickier in the corners and feel a little "softer" for lack of a better description. No rain experience yet, but I understand from other users that they perform well in the wet.
An old dog can learn a new trick......and I listened to the kudos given this brand by others on the forum here.....and I'll add mine, as well.
I like 'em........they seem to feel a bit stickier in the corners and feel a little "softer" for lack of a better description. No rain experience yet, but I understand from other users that they perform well in the wet.
An old dog can learn a new trick......and I listened to the kudos given this brand by others on the forum here.....and I'll add mine, as well.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 1
From: North West Ohio
RE: Change is good sometimes!
i used to run Metzlers on my Gold Wing and loved them. I have been thinking about going to them when mine need changed. I would be curious to know how many miles folks are getting on them.
Ride Safe,
Mike
Ride Safe,
Mike
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Change is good sometimes!
ORIGINAL: Mr Wonderful
After 14 years of running Dunlops I broke down and bought a pair of Metzeler 880's for my RoadGlide. Took off for Arkansas last Friday and ran the twisties and some superslab on the way home today.
I like 'em........they seem to feel a bit stickier in the corners and feel a little "softer" for lack of a better description. No rain experience yet, but I understand from other users that they perform well in the wet.
After 14 years of running Dunlops I broke down and bought a pair of Metzeler 880's for my RoadGlide. Took off for Arkansas last Friday and ran the twisties and some superslab on the way home today.
I like 'em........they seem to feel a bit stickier in the corners and feel a little "softer" for lack of a better description. No rain experience yet, but I understand from other users that they perform well in the wet.
If they "seem to feel a bit stickier," maybe it was because they were. All new tires feel stickier and handle better because the shape of the tire is more rounded. A new tire always transforms the bike, for me anyway, so I wonder if this feeling that a different tire brand or model is stickier is simply the new-tire feel. I also wonder if some of this might be a result of anticipation that the tire will improve the handling and/or ride, a psychological effect.
Anyway, I don't understand exactly what people are saying about Metzelers having superior handling, and would like someone to explain it in tangible terms. Maybe y'all will say "Try them, then you'll know," but that's really not good enough. I dare say that you could never quantify the superiority of one tire over another without taking two identical bikes, one with a 402 and another with an 880, and run them through identical tests under strict guidelines.
For me, I'll be trying Dunlop Elite 3's next, as they are developing a reputation for better durability, something that's easier to quantify, and the more nebulous claims of excellent handling. The D402 rear on my new SG is not wearing acceptably and I will be moving on. Since Metzelers seem to wear worse than the D402, they won't be on my list for that reason. Elite 3's were designed for Gold Wings to extend service life without performance degradation, and they reportedly do that job well.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
RE: Change is good sometimes!
let me try to help you out on the explanation for the 880's Mr.Wonderful...what I noticed on the SG was that when both bikes tireswere properly inflated my SG tended to follow the little cracks in the road more than my buddies identical SG with the 880's on it...thats just my 02...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 2
From: Arizona
RE: Change is good sometimes!
I too just changed over to the ME880's. I also feel the handling is improved with the new tire. I'll try to explain how I feel they differ. First, they don't "hunt" a line in grooved or ridged pavement like the 402's did. They just roll over the uneven spots without following them. Second, they do grip better. You don't have to have a complete loss of traction to tell when a tire is slipping slightly. When pushed a bit, a tire will surrender some of it's traction without completely giving up. You can feel this in the corners as a bit of drift where the bike will use up a bit of road from entry to the apex. The turn is still negotiated without incident, but the grip of the tire is not solid. The 880's ride like the bike is on a rail with no slip or loss of traction even in hard cornering. I've not ridden in the rain yet with them, but am very pleased with the first few hundred miles. I don't think I'll be going back to 402's any time soon.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
RE: Change is good sometimes!
ORIGINAL: iclick
I'm curious about something no one has been able to describe to me yet. You say the Metzler's "seem to feel a bit stickier," so how do you quantify that?
If they "seem to feel a bit stickier," maybe it was because they were. All new tires feel stickier and handle better because the shape of the tire is more rounded.
Anyway, I don't understand exactly what people are saying about Metzler's having superior handling, and would like someone to explain it in tangible terms.
I'm curious about something no one has been able to describe to me yet. You say the Metzler's "seem to feel a bit stickier," so how do you quantify that?
If they "seem to feel a bit stickier," maybe it was because they were. All new tires feel stickier and handle better because the shape of the tire is more rounded.
Anyway, I don't understand exactly what people are saying about Metzler's having superior handling, and would like someone to explain it in tangible terms.
Stickier they are. If you were to use a durometer on a Dun and ME 880 you would see the reading would be different. I'll borrow a durometer from work and post the results. Also the Metzler'sare not as round (more flat across the tire)as the Dunlops and that's why they don't follow the groves in the road.
Tangible terms well I'll do my best. The Metzler's are a softer tire, more flat, not as pointy as the Dunlops and from using both I can tell you that you can really feel the difference from the seat of your pants. The softer compound and flatter tire just gives you a smoother softer better handling ride. IMO.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,301
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From:
RE: Change is good sometimes!
Went to Metzlers in 2000 or 01. Won't go back.
I get about 12 k from them, depending on how much 2 up riding I do.
dunlops were 8k to 10k avg
Seem to handle better for me.
We get unexpected frost spots on the road here in spring and fall, Never slid there yet, And track good in water. Still have to slow down to prevent hydoplaning, but otherwise really good.
I get about 12 k from them, depending on how much 2 up riding I do.
dunlops were 8k to 10k avg
Seem to handle better for me.
We get unexpected frost spots on the road here in spring and fall, Never slid there yet, And track good in water. Still have to slow down to prevent hydoplaning, but otherwise really good.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2006
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From:
RE: Change is good sometimes!
ORIGINAL: iclick
I'm curious about something no one has been able to describe to me yet. You say the Metzelers "seem to feel a bit stickier," so how do you quantify that? Did the Dunlops ever slide or feel like they were losing traction in any way? I'm not defending Dunlops here, but I just traded a '96 RK that used about eight rear and three front tires, all D402's, in the 106k miles I rode it. In that nine years I had three stressful events, none causing an accident, all involving wet pavement and slick surfaces. One was a combination of oil and water, another plastic yellow lane dividers and water, and the third an unseen gap in the road in a driving rainstorm (actually a tropical storm) that almost caused the handlebars to jerk out of my hand. In each of those cases, I doubt if any other tire brand would've conducted themselves better. In riding the bike through 33 states, I never felt a tense moment with the tires except those three cases. No slides, no slips, no problems.
If they "seem to feel a bit stickier," maybe it was because they were. All new tires feel stickier and handle better because the shape of the tire is more rounded. A new tire always transforms the bike, for me anyway, so I wonder if this feeling that a different tire brand or model is stickier is simply the new-tire feel. I also wonder if some of this might be a result of anticipation that the tire will improve the handling and/or ride, a psychological effect.
Anyway, I don't understand exactly what people are saying about Metzelers having superior handling, and would like someone to explain it in tangible terms. Maybe y'all will say "Try them, then you'll know," but that's really not good enough. I dare say that you could never quantify the superiority of one tire over another without taking two identical bikes, one with a 402 and another with an 880, and run them through identical tests under strict guidelines.
For me, I'll be trying Dunlop Elite 3's next, as they are developing a reputation for better durability, something that's easier to quantify, and the more nebulous claims of excellent handling. The D402 rear on my new SG is not wearing acceptably and I will be moving on. Since Metzelers seem to wear worse than the D402, they won't be on my list for that reason. Elite 3's were designed for Gold Wings to extend service life without performance degradation, and they reportedly do that job well.
I agree 100% that new tires just have a better "feel" to them....regardless of brand. And I've obviously enjoyed many good miles with Dunlops or I wouldn't have replaced them time after time with the same brand.....and I might have done so this time, but since the rear was a suspected possible cause of my handling problem, I went to the 880's. 6000 miles on those Dunlops.....rear tire about half used-up. The front Metz just feels a little softer.....maybe it is a non-quantifiable and nebulous accolade by a baby Orangutan that looks like Don King, but that's how I describe it. As for wear, yes, they probably won't last as long as the Dunlops, but we're talking very small dollars/mile in this instance. For me, it was worth the experiment.....and I thought I'd just pass on an opinion as others have done.
I'm interested in hearing how the new Michelin replacements perform that Harley is going to offer instead of Dunlop.
ORIGINAL: Mr Wonderful
After 14 years of running Dunlops I broke down and bought a pair of Metzeler 880's for my RoadGlide. Took off for Arkansas last Friday and ran the twisties and some superslab on the way home today.
I like 'em........they seem to feel a bit stickier in the corners and feel a little "softer" for lack of a better description. No rain experience yet, but I understand from other users that they perform well in the wet.
After 14 years of running Dunlops I broke down and bought a pair of Metzeler 880's for my RoadGlide. Took off for Arkansas last Friday and ran the twisties and some superslab on the way home today.
I like 'em........they seem to feel a bit stickier in the corners and feel a little "softer" for lack of a better description. No rain experience yet, but I understand from other users that they perform well in the wet.
If they "seem to feel a bit stickier," maybe it was because they were. All new tires feel stickier and handle better because the shape of the tire is more rounded. A new tire always transforms the bike, for me anyway, so I wonder if this feeling that a different tire brand or model is stickier is simply the new-tire feel. I also wonder if some of this might be a result of anticipation that the tire will improve the handling and/or ride, a psychological effect.
Anyway, I don't understand exactly what people are saying about Metzelers having superior handling, and would like someone to explain it in tangible terms. Maybe y'all will say "Try them, then you'll know," but that's really not good enough. I dare say that you could never quantify the superiority of one tire over another without taking two identical bikes, one with a 402 and another with an 880, and run them through identical tests under strict guidelines.
For me, I'll be trying Dunlop Elite 3's next, as they are developing a reputation for better durability, something that's easier to quantify, and the more nebulous claims of excellent handling. The D402 rear on my new SG is not wearing acceptably and I will be moving on. Since Metzelers seem to wear worse than the D402, they won't be on my list for that reason. Elite 3's were designed for Gold Wings to extend service life without performance degradation, and they reportedly do that job well.
I agree 100% that new tires just have a better "feel" to them....regardless of brand. And I've obviously enjoyed many good miles with Dunlops or I wouldn't have replaced them time after time with the same brand.....and I might have done so this time, but since the rear was a suspected possible cause of my handling problem, I went to the 880's. 6000 miles on those Dunlops.....rear tire about half used-up. The front Metz just feels a little softer.....maybe it is a non-quantifiable and nebulous accolade by a baby Orangutan that looks like Don King, but that's how I describe it. As for wear, yes, they probably won't last as long as the Dunlops, but we're talking very small dollars/mile in this instance. For me, it was worth the experiment.....and I thought I'd just pass on an opinion as others have done.
I'm interested in hearing how the new Michelin replacements perform that Harley is going to offer instead of Dunlop.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,439
Likes: 2
From: Lancaster, PA
RE: Change is good sometimes!
As promised I brought home a Durometer from work today. The ME 880 is a 65 Durometer while the Dunlop 402 is a 75 durometer. FYI the Lower the#is softer the compound. That's it, over and out. 
